Driving test

Baykiz

Hi,
My wife has her driving test soon and was wondering if anyone could give us an idea of what to expect with regards to what questions are asked before the road test and with regards to the actual driving test, what to look out for?
ANY advise would be really appreciated.
Thanks

SweetCaliber

Good bit of info regarding the questions and signs here (not affiliated in any way):

http://erneschoolofmotoring.com/driving-test-cavan.html
http://erneschoolofmotoring.com/irish-road-signs.html
http://erneschoolofmotoring.com/oraltest.pdf

With regards to the actual test, just tell her to take a deep breath, know the hand signals, the checks under the bonnet and in the car (demister, windscreen wiper controls, dash lights etc...)

Also be careful if in housing estates the speed limit is 30kmph.

Observations are another critical point but don't overdo them either.

Practice reverse around the corner, turnabout, driving in slow moving traffic, etc...

Reaction to hazards and lack of progress are other areas many fail on also.

Has your wife taken lessons before her test?

If she hasn't (perhaps is exempt from them) it would be wise to book a pretest, would help calm the nerves and pick up on habits that could be fixed for the test itself.

dennyk

A pretest lesson would definitely be a good idea; an instructor can take her though a mock driving test and advise her of any issues she may need to work on.

The links SweetCaliber provided are good for the oral parts of the test. Just remember that the oral questions are free-form, not multiple choice, so she'll need to provide the answers from her own head. The questions are fairly basic and they aren't excessively picky about the exact wording or anything, as long as she gets the general concept correct. If she's borrowing a car for the test (from a friend, instructor, etc.), she should make sure she's familiar with where everything under the bonnet is and how to operate all of the secondary controls. And don't get too nervous about the oral questions. She can only get a single Grade 2 fault for the entire oral exam combined (including the under-the-bonnet and equipment checks); obviously it's best to start with a clean slate, but it's not a disaster even if she misses enough to get marked.

Make sure the car is in a suitable state of repair (adequate tyre tread, all lights functioning, no warning lights on the dash, windshields clean and clear, all discs up to date and L plates properly posted, etc.); the tester will refuse the test if they feel the car is unsafe or illegal to operate.

On the driving test itself, she should just try to keep calm and drive normally. Make sure to make all the required observations when needed. Drive cautiously, but not unusually slowly or hesitantly or she'll get marked for progress. Observe all posted or statutory speed limits carefully (including the aforementioned 30km/h zones if she's taking the test in Dublin), and of course signal all maneuvers properly. Come to a full and complete stop at all stop signs.

Watch out for tricky sections of road; most test routes will include one or two tricky bits that it's helpful to know about beforehand (another reason why doing some pre-test lessons with a good instructor can be a huge help). Mine in Limerick had a turn onto a rather poorly marked two-way road which became a one-way-road at the next junction; a buddy of mine failed because he thought it was one-way the whole distance and turned onto the wrong side of the road. There was also a traffic signal where the oncoming lane still had a red light when you got your green, even though there was no protected right turn arrow to indicate that; if you mistakenly waited for the oncoming traffic there when your light went green while you were waiting to make a right turn, you'd get marked for progress.

The tester should give her directions in good time, but she can always ask them to clarify a direction, or request that the tester give them a bit earlier if necessary. Also, accidentally deviating from the driving route is not a fault (provided she doesn't commit any actual driving faults in the process, e.g. giving an incorrect signal), so if she does misunderstand a direction or make a mistake, she should carry on as needed and take a safe route to return to the normal route as instructed rather than making an unsafe maneuver to correct her error.

The most important thing is to keep calm and keep her mind on the task at hand. Don't obsess or worry about mistakes she's made (or thinks she's made) during the test; they may not be as bad as she thinks, and in any case there's nothing that can be done about it after the fact. Just keep at it and don't get discouraged no matter what happens.

Baykiz

Hi, thanks very much for your reply's. They are really helpful. My wife has completed her 12 lessons but is still really nervous.
Would either of you be aware of any company in Cork (Douglas ) area that would be good for a pre-test? Another thing making her really nervous is that if she makes a mistake and fails, she has to wait at least another 7 months for a retest.
Again, thank you both for your advice and help. Thanks.