Having difficulty with the driving maneuvers.

TheDruidWizard

I completed my EDT lessons and I've been practicing each week with my Dad.

I can drive around a lot and can things easily which I had a lot of difficulty with starting off. Such starting and stopping at the lights, right and let hand turns, working up the gears to get with the flow of traffic.

I also need to revise the theory part.


I have applied to do the test and aim to do it in August. What is still holding me back is the maneuvers. I'm still having difficulty with reverse around the bend and the three-point turn.

The hill start is not so much a problem.

I was thinking of getting a six-week lesson with and instructor again (I did the EDT last year) and ask for help on this.


Can anyone give me advice?

I can't tell you why

Your plan of getting lessons is perfect. The instructor is the best person to give you advice, specific to your driving.

Thorin

An instructor is a great idea, even for a lesson or two. They can point out any specific mistakes you're making.

In general, take the maneuvers very slowly, and concentrate on observation. There's no such thing as being too cautious with them, and going slowly allows you time to correct any mistakes before they get too bad.

Three-point turns and reversing around corners are easier once you get a "feel" for the car. It takes some time to get an idea of the acceleration (especially when reversing), the turning circle etc. It's hard to get right on the first time, so go somewhere deserted, and just repeat those maneuvers for an hour or so. You WILL get it wrong the first few times, but it'll become clear to you soon enough.

TheDruidWizard

My co-worker who passed his test about two years ago, said that you can't be failed for the maneuvers.

That it's really tested more so on the driver's patience and observation skills.

Is there any merit to this?

KCAccidental

you can be failed for mounting the kerb in your turnabout!

jimgoose

TheDruidWizard wrote: »

My co-worker who passed his test about two years ago, said that you can't be failed for the maneuvers.

That it's really tested more so on the driver's patience and observation skills.

Is there any merit to this?

If you touch the kerb during a turnabout or reverse, this is considered not being in proper control of the vehicle and you will fail.

OP, get some lessons wih someone who knows what they're doing. No-one can teach you this properly on an Internet forum.

ProudDUB

TheDruidWizard wrote: »

My co-worker who passed his test about two years ago, said that you can't be failed for the maneuvers.

That it's really tested more so on the driver's patience and observation skills.

Is there any merit to this?

That is nonsense. Of course you can fail your test if you make a complete mess of the maneuvers. If your wheel goes up on the curb, at any point during the test, that is grade three mark. A grade three is an automatic fail. It doesn't matter how well you have done in the rest of the test, if you get even one grade three, you have failed. If your wheel touches the curb (but does not go up on to it) that is a grade two mark. You can get up to eight grade twos before you fail the test. Once you get the ninth, you have failed the test.

If a person does not look around the properly during the maneuvers, they can get a grade two mark for poor observation. If their car is not aligned properly to the curb when they finish the maneuvers, they can get a grade two for incorrect road position. If they take far too long to perform the maneuver, they can get another one for lack of progress. If you don't indicate properly when starting/doing/stopping the maneuvers, you can get dinged there too.

It's not a matter of failing or passing a specific maneuver. It's about staying under the nine grade two marks threshold during your test. Those two maneuvers in particular, are the ones that most people would be at risk of picking up several of them in one go.