Any way to get an emergency retest?

Zascar

My wife just had her test today in Tallaght and if you look outside the weather is horrific, probably the worst day of the entire year to do your test. She was in the almost monsoon rain and didnt see a car coming on a roundabout so failed. Thing is we really really need her to have her licence in the next 2 weeks. She had several pretests the days before from 3 instructors and they all said she'll be fine, they had drivers nowhere near as competent pass earlier in the week.

Considering the circumstances does anyone know of a way to try to try to get another test in the next 2 weeks?

Graniteville

Get onto a cancelation list.

Possibly turn up in a morning and let them know that you are available.

Real unlucky with the weather today, I'm driving 32 years and decided to postpone a meeting as it was just appalling weather and I just didn't want to drive

You can't reapply for the driving test until three weeks after your failed test.

Sheepdish1

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You can't reapply for the driving test until three weeks after your failed test.

Really ? Why would you have to wait three weeks ? I wasn’t told this

Sheepdish1

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

Really ? Why would you have to wait three weeks ? I wasn’t told this

It's on the RSA website - you'd have to ask them why, doesn't make any sense to me either!

Sheepdish1

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It's on the RSA website - you'd have to ask them why, doesn't make any sense to me either!

Really?! Thanks a mil

Graniteville

Apply immediately, go on a cancelation list and hope. The more flexible you are, the better.

From rsa..

We know that a person may need to take a test urgently. We can usually facilitate this and it helps if you are available for a test appointment at short notice

We often have slots that have been cancelled that are available for a person who can take a test with notice from a few hours to a few days.

If this is suitable for you, please note on your application that you are available for short notice cancellation.

J_R

Deleted User wrote: »

You can't reapply for the driving test until three weeks after your failed test.

Hi

This was introduced to stop people who were nowhere near test standard clogging up the system. That is, they would keep re-applying immediately, re-doing the test in the hopes that they would hit it lucky on the day. The delay was introduced in the hopes that they would take more lessons, and/or gain more experience before sitting the test again.

As far as I am aware in is not illegal for the RSA to give a date sooner than the three weeks. At least it wasn't a few years back.

Telephone them, explain the situation, be nice, grovel, what ever it takes. Also that she will take the test in any adjacent test centre.

Or have your driving instructor contact them on your behalf.

Grab All Association

Post it on their Facebook page too, you never know.

J_R

Hi,

One other point you must accept. Your wife deserved to fail, she was not driving taking the prevailing weather conditions into consideration.

Recommend another few lessons.

L'prof

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

One other point you must accept. Your wife deserved to fail, she was not driving taking the prevailing weather conditions into consideration.

Recommend another few lessons.

Ah here, if all drivers had to sit their test in those conditions then thenpass rate would plummet

Graniteville

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

One other point you must accept. Your wife deserved to fail, she was not driving taking the prevailing weather conditions into consideration.

Recommend another few lessons.

That's harsh. I was in clondalkin on Friday afternoon and it was just appalling weather and delayed heading off for a meeting because it was so bad - I've over 30 years experience with zero claims.

Imo the test center should have postponed tests.

penno

Graniteville wrote: »

That's harsh. I was in clondalkin on Friday afternoon and it was just appalling weather and delayed heading off for a meeting because it was so bad - I've over 30 years experience with zero claims.

Imo the test center should have postponed tests.

Why should they have postponed the test? It's the luck of the draw what kind of day you get, people have to be capable of driving in every weather condition.

GrumpyMe

penno wrote: »

Why should they have postponed the test? It's the luck of the draw what kind of day you get, people have to be capable of driving in every weather condition.

Not quite.

Two examples above of experienced drivers who opted NOT to drive in the wet conditions. Best to know your limit - and be aware of the limits of others!



Driving tests are often cancelled due to inclement weather. Hurricanes Ophelia/Emma and snow in the last year+/-, all meant cancelled tests.


There will be a level where a test is not cancelled but where if offered the option, some drivers would not venture out, let alone do a driving test.

You should be able to drive safely in heavy rain.

You may of course decide not to drive, but if you are caught out on the road in heavy rain you should be able to adapt your pace/distances etc. in order to proceed safely, which the OP’s wife was not able to do. Not ‘seeing’ a car on a roundabout to the extent the tester considered it warranted a test fail fault is simply unacceptable.

The test fail was deserved and the OP probably knows that himself. I imagine she has learned the lesson.

That said, ask the RSA and hopefully they can help get her out again for a test in the next fortnight. I’d like to think they’ve the common sense and flexibility to help in genuine cases such as this.

Zascar

Test fail probably was deserved - no one is disputing that. It's just unfortunate that if her test had probably had been at any other time, she would not have had to deal with that and probably would have passed. Monsoon rain is not a standard part of the test - half the country can't drive properly in bad weather conditions.

We've been told to call every day early in the morning and keep trying for a cancellation. Fingers crossed.

Zascar

Good news, she got a test. Literally one day before the deadline. Presuming she passes, can she go that day or the next day to actually get her license? What is the process for getting it? We fly out after that and really want to get it all sorted..

Loveinapril

Zascar wrote: »

Good news, she got a test. Literally one day before the deadline. Presuming she passes, can she go that day or the next day to actually get her license? What is the process for getting it? We fly out after that and really want to get it all sorted..

She can go to an NDLS centre but she won't get her physical licence for up to 10 days. The licence isn't active until she recieves it so she will still be on a learner permit til it arrives.

Max Power 2010

I passed a few months ago, you could head straight to a NDLS centre on the day but if you are not there before say 8.45am you will have a very long wait, maybe check ahead if you can prebook an appointment for the day of her test, you can always cancel if she fails.

The licence itself will take up to 10 business days, but i got mine in 5.

Zascar

Ok thanks, that's fine - as long as she can apply and get it in the post within a few weeks that's grand. Do you have to make an appointment with the NDLS or can you just drop in?

palance

Zascar wrote: »

Ok thanks, that's fine - as long as she can apply and get it in the post within a few weeks that's grand. Do you have to make an appointment with the NDLS or can you just drop in?

You can just drop in. I was in the Santry NDLS (upstairs in the Omni shopping centre) at 9am on a Friday morning and was all done in 15 mins.

Posy

Fingers crossed for her, Zascar!

MascotDec85

Deleted User wrote: »

You can't reapply for the driving test until three weeks after your failed test.

Not entirely true. You can apply in the car park outside the test centre, immediately after failing if you like, however they generally try to leave you 3 weeks before you resit. I’ve had pupils do it quicker.