Driving test tomorrow - overtaking parked cars

AnSliabhCorcra

Hi there everybody,

Hope you are all well. I just thought I would share some of my recent experiences with you as well as my test nerves.

Test 1 - Cork Wilton

I, unfortunately, failed my first driving test. Whilst I do feel that the tester was a little harsh in some instances, I certainly agreed with some of the marks she gave me and as such overall, I see the test as having been marked 'with fairness'.

My 'major' of the first test was the following scenario. I am approaching a 'small' (not mini) round about whereby there is a box for one car and a pedestrian crossing. I am second in line. The car in the box pulls out onto the roundabout and I begin to proceed behind him. He breaks quickly as another car is on the round about and I break accordingly. My front two tyres end up on the pedestrian crossing and hence, I was given a grade 3.

I was also awarded a whole plethora of grade twos for signalling whilst overtaking; I believe this was down to my signalling whilst overtaking parked cars. I've attached my test report

Test 2 Cork Wilton

And so begins attempt number two. Now, I am lucky enough that I drive every day to work and back (with my partner) and drive most weekends reasonable distances. I'm not short in getting practice. My pre-tests (both) have been 'passes' with minor flaws.

However, my biggest problem and worry for tomorrow is bloody parked cars! I do not know for the life of me what they expect from me in terms of overtaking parked cars (particularly in estates where there is no centre line). I believe I was marked down for undersignalling in these circumstances; yet two instructors, my partner, colleagues and various online videos show that you should not indicate in these circumstances. When I search online, the information is conflicting and when I ask my instructor during the pre-test, I encountered some situations where I should indicate and some where I shouldn't. Examples of shoulds: came to a full stop behind a parked car, on a fairly busy/major road with parked cars and examples of should nots: in estates, where there is enough room left of the lane to overtake without breaking the white line.

An example of my frustration is (in this video!), why did 'yer man' not indicate at minutes 12.00, 14.52 and especially at minute 15.05. :eek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdVoy3SUJ5Y

Any advice, tips, hints, or general banter - welcome!

AnSliabhCorcra

My attachment didn't seem to attach. Anyway, my last test errors were as follows:

Grade 2

Position
On the Straight - 1 (agree with this)
Turning Right - 1 (agree)
Signals
Overtaking - 4 (unsure)
At roundabouts - 1 (don't recall this)
Stopping - 1 (don't recall this error)
Misleading - 1 (agree)
Vehicle Controls
Secondary Controls - 1 (disagree completely: she asked me to demist the wing mirrors, in my car the demister for the wingmirrors is the same as for the back windscreen. She argued that it was not. It is)
Gears - 2 (agree in one instance, not sure of the second instance)
Yield Right of Way
Roundabouts - 1 (agree: i over hesitated on one occasion)
Turnabout
Competency - 1 (disagree somewhat. Basically, a car approached me when i was mid-turn and I couldn't allow to pass, no room. She stated that I could have done it in less manoeuvres and as such, shown better courtesy to other road users.)

Grade 3s

Traffic Controls
Pedestrian Crossing - 1 (agree somewhat but think decision was somewhat unfair)

Urindanger

For overtaking parked cars my instructor told me if someone can benefit from you indicating, do so (i.e cars behind you or cars coming against you). Otherwise just move out and over take.

I've my test in Wilton this week too, best of luck!

AnSliabhCorcra

Urindanger wrote: »

For overtaking parked cars my instructor told me if someone can benefit from you indicating, do so (i.e cars behind you or cars coming against you). Otherwise just move out and over take.

I've my test in Wilton this week too, best of luck!

Thanks for that. Good luck!

Have you had a test before there?

Urindanger

AnSliabhCorcra wrote: »

Thanks for that. Good luck!

Have you had a test before there?

Cheers!

No it's my first test. I wouldn't care so much about it if it wasn't for the ridiculously long waiting times.

AnSliabhCorcra

Urindanger wrote: »

Cheers!

No it's my first test. I wouldn't care so much about it if it wasn't for the ridiculously long waiting times.

sending you a pm

AnSliabhCorcra

Hi everybody,

A little rant. I failed.
The tester was a nice guy: friendly, helpful etc. He commented that my driving was excellent but that unfortunately, I failed to make progress in a few situations. I agree with him in two of them but certainly wasn't aware of the lack of progress in the others. I failed by 1 point (6 grade twos in the progress section) with no grade threes and only one grade 1. To say I'm gutted is an understatement. Back in the queue now so, for the next available appointment.

Alanstrainor

AnSliabhCorcra wrote: »

Hi everybody,

A little rant. I failed.
The tester was a nice guy: friendly, helpful etc. He commented that my driving was excellent but that unfortunately, I failed to make progress in a few situations. I agree with him in two of them but certainly wasn't aware of the lack of progress in the others. I failed by 1 point (6 grade twos in the progress section) with no grade threes and only one grade 1. To say I'm gutted is an understatement. Back in the queue now so, for the next available appointment.

Hard luck. Definitely get back on it, apply for a cancellation if possible. The best thing to do would be to get another lesson soon, and work on progress specifically and then do the test asap.

AnSliabhCorcra

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Hard luck. Definitely get back on it, apply for a cancellation if possible. The best thing to do would be to get another lesson soon, and work on progress specifically and then do the test asap.

Hi Alan! Thank you for that. I most certainly will. Sadly, I must wait three weeks before they can consider scheduling me for an appointment/cancellation but I will get on it.

If I'm honest - I felt very saddened by this; I worry that the next time, it'll end up being something else!

Thanks for the words of encouragement. :cool:

RangeR

Hard luck on your test failure. Maybe, just maybe, take solace that you might not be ready for a full license. Don't lose hope and keep up with the lessons. I feel that lessons are worth more than driving experience which could lead to bad habits and erroneous information from "full licensed drivers".

Out of interest, how long are you driving?

AnSliabhCorcra

RangeR wrote: »

Hard luck on your test failure. Maybe, just maybe, take solace that you might not be ready for a full license. Don't lose hope and keep up with the lessons. I feel that lessons are worth more than driving experience which could lead to bad habits and erroneous information from "full licensed drivers".

Out of interest, how long are you driving?

I would say I feel like I am 'ready' for the full license: but certainly, the test is the test and I failed in this instance. Interestingly, there were no marks at all for anything other than progress. I also feel that the lack of progress could have been somewhat down to being under 'test conditions'. Anyway, this is starting to sound excuse-ful! :eek:

I have held a learners permit for 3 years but have been driving on a daily basis for 12 months or so now. Prior to that, it had been mainly just lessons. In a normal day I drive to and fro work (accompanied) and I drive most weekends reasonable distances. If I had to guesstimate my kms on the road over the last 12 months, I'd put it at somewhere between 3-4000 kms excluding the previous years of driving practice.

AnSliabhCorcra

Hi!

Thanks everyone. Little hope of getting a test date in Cork: they had zilch - I have managed to get myself one in Clonmel in a month's time, though. Wish me luck.

J_R

AnSliabhCorcra wrote: »

Hi there everybody,

Hope you are all well. I just thought I would share some of my recent experiences with you as well as my test nerves.

Test 1 - Cork Wilton

I, unfortunately, failed my first driving test. Whilst I do feel that the tester was a little harsh in some instances, I certainly agreed with some of the marks she gave me and as such overall, I see the test as having been marked 'with fairness'.

My 'major' of the first test was the following scenario. I am approaching a 'small' (not mini) round about whereby there is a box for one car and a pedestrian crossing. I am second in line. The car in the box pulls out onto the roundabout and I begin to proceed behind him. He breaks quickly as another car is on the round about and I break accordingly. My front two tyres end up on the pedestrian crossing and hence, I was given a grade 3.

I was also awarded a whole plethora of grade twos for signalling whilst overtaking; I believe this was down to my signalling whilst overtaking parked cars. I've attached my test report

Test 2 Cork Wilton

And so begins attempt number two. Now, I am lucky enough that I drive every day to work and back (with my partner) and drive most weekends reasonable distances. I'm not short in getting practice. My pre-tests (both) have been 'passes' with minor flaws.

However, my biggest problem and worry for tomorrow is bloody parked cars! I do not know for the life of me what they expect from me in terms of overtaking parked cars (particularly in estates where there is no centre line). I believe I was marked down for undersignalling in these circumstances; yet two instructors, my partner, colleagues and various online videos show that you should not indicate in these circumstances. When I search online, the information is conflicting and when I ask my instructor during the pre-test, I encountered some situations where I should indicate and some where I shouldn't. Examples of shoulds: came to a full stop behind a parked car, on a fairly busy/major road with parked cars and examples of should nots: in estates, where there is enough room left of the lane to overtake without breaking the white line.

An example of my frustration is (in this video!), why did 'yer man' not indicate at minutes 12.00, 14.52 and especially at minute 15.05. :eek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdVoy3SUJ5Y

Any advice, tips, hints, or general banter - welcome!

Hi,

Indicators are used to indicate your intentions. That is to change position on the road, either moving to the left or right, also to inform which way you are intend to turn at the next junction.

If you have to move out to overtake a line of parked cars, you indicate before moving out, (after checking mirrors and quick shoulder check) you cancel the indicator the moment you reach your passing line. You must not be indicating as you drive pass the cars. This is misleading.

And a white line. or absence of a white line has no bearing whatsoever on whither you should indicate or not. There is no special signal to say you are crossing a white line. A flashing indicator only says that you intend or are moving to the left or right, or turning to the right or left. Relating to indicators, forget white lines. only confuse

When you are forced to stop because of a line of parked cars and an oncoming car, you must indicate. Reason, this is to warn any following car of your intentions. Otherwise they might assume you are parked and overtake, your car could be blocking their view of the oncoming car.

In estates , when you turn into a new road, you may see a parked car, or a line of parked cars a short distance from the junction, you do not move in then move back out to overtake, you simply stay out, hence no need to indicate.

Something Weird

Hi. Would like to barge in on this topic as well, if I could.
I have already failed 4 times and the main culprit seems to be overtaking parked cars in Finglas estates. It is not the signaling, however, that confuses me. But when I should and when I shouldn't go back to my side of the narrow road when there is a few cars parked on the left. If I do come back to the left and then move out again for the next car, then I am "zigzaging". If I move out to the right nd do not go back to the left until after I pass all parked cars, then I am appearently driving on the wrong side of the road. I can't seem to win on this one...
Any celestial wisdom anybody might have on the issue would be hugely appreciated!!!