Need some advice for driving test

dublinman1013

Hello,

1. I have done all my required lessons and for a myriad of reasons I haven't been able to do my test but it is coming up in April
2. My teacher is great. I can't flaw the man. (I have had a few different instructors over the years and he is the best.)
3. I don't have access to a car to practice and he is letting me use his for the test.

I am doing practice lessons with him and have lots of nerve issues related to the 'reverse around the corner' manoeuvre. His method is very different than my previous teacher's so I am getting confused but I have had this discussion with him and we are practicing more and he is being really supportive.

I suffer from stress related issues so I think for some weird reason this manoeuvre is triggering me. I have done it right loads of times but can't seem to get it right recently.

Anyone have any tips/advice other than practice, practice, practice?

Appreciate any help.

Rubberchikken

Practice definitely.

Easy for me to say try not to focus so had on one.particular manoeuvre but I realise you're stressing a little about it. So practice when you can. Don't forget all the other things that make up driving and really, see how things ago.

Best of luck

Shadow Dancer

If your old method was working better for you, can you not stick to that?

You are obviously capable of getting it right. I did my trailer test recently and on my last lesson, I made a mess of the reverse around the corner. It didn't help that I was a bit tired. So, I understand how it can affect one's confidence. But try not to let it get you down. Definitely get in your practice but get away from it all too. Whether it's a night at the cinema or whatever.

Be confident. You can do it. When doing the test, live in the moment. Best of luck!

hoodie6029

Best of luck with the Test.

No judgment intended with this comment. It sounds like you have the skills to pass. Have you considered trying some breathing exercises for calming/nerves before you do a lesson? YouTube have loads of them and there are free ones on the Beaumont Hospital website too.

They might just settle you a bit. From my own experience, learning many years ago, there were days when I’d do a lesson and couldn’t drive to save myself. Whereas the week before I could’ve passed the test with my driving. It was just down to what was on my mind, my mood.

Being aware of that and being able to deal with it is just as important as the physical and mental skills needed to drive a car well.

Throw up any more questions you have here 🙂

http://www.beaumont.ie/marc

GTTDI GOD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058343000/need-some-advice-for-driving-test

I have plenty of students that are like you OP. Always nervous about one of the manoeuvres, but once it’s talked through and a couple of them done, they are fine with it. You are overthinking it a bit, which doesn’t help matters. You just have to remember that all you are doing is driving up to a certain place, turning around and going back.

What are you like with parking? Reversing into bays? Sometimes that can help with the reverse around the corner as well, so don’t underestimate that manoeuvre either when out practicing.

When you are out practicing, don’t do it more than 3 times, especially if it’s not going your way, you’ll only get more frustrated. Leave it, go do something else and come back to it later.

I had a girl last year doing a test and on the reverse around the corner on the lesson right before it, it was described as one of the worst she ever done. She was all over the road and up on the kerb, so I took her away from it. She passed the test with flying colours. So try not to get too bogged into it, it’s all on the day and as long as you look around plenty you’ll be fine.

Best of luck with it.

J_R

Hi,

What the examiner is looking for is very simple, can the applicant reverse safely into a road, keeping reasonably close to the kerb. So, just keep to your own side of the road. If you go wide it will only be a grade 2. If you go very wide or hit the kerb will be a 3 and a fail.

Safely is mainly observation, and very important. Check all around before moving off, look where you are going, at the turning point, stop check all around and again look where you are going. Depending on your speed give the odd quick check forward.

In the test if you realise you are making a mess, stop, ask the examiner can you start again. Unless you have already earned a grade 3 he will more than likely allow you to go ahead, try again.

Then drive forward, park (About 60 cms out). Take a few moments to compose yourself, then just reverse into the road and keep going until he tells you to stop.

People concentrate get too much on this "around the corner". Simply reverse into the road, keep to your own side.

Best of luck

Furze99

"and as long as you look around plenty you’ll be fine."

"Safety is mainly observation, and very important. Check all around before moving off, look where you are going, at the turning point, stop check all around and again look where you are going. Depending on your speed give the odd quick check forward."

Some things never change - I did my first test many years ago and tester says I didn't look enough. Next time I made sure I twisted my head this way & that, deliberately moved my head to look in mirrors and not just glancing with eyes. In other words, make it very obvious you are checking and looking about.

And the odd time I've had a near thing in intervening years it's been mostly for momentary lack of checking, complacency.

GTTDI GOD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121936301#Comment_121936301

You don’t need to stop at the turning point, and I advise against it. It should be one fluid motion and the only reason to stop is if there is other traffic. Also, you don’t need to ask the tester to start over, just pull forward to fix yourself up if you need to, you are allowed to do this once, so if you are too close to the kerb, make the most of it and be sure you won’t be too close the second time.

J_R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121936566#Comment_121936566

Hi,

Sorry, I disagree. I ALWAYS advised my pupils to stop to check their blind spot before they turned their wheel. Reason being, the front of the car swings out possibly into an oncoming car.

And also to be polite, ask. One pupil asked to do it again, but he said no I've seen enough.

So she drove back very dejected only to be told she had passed back at the centre.

Another asked and was told, certainly as many times as you like. They only needed the one.

As I said, no harm in being polite.

buzzing147

Hi maybe the wrong discussion, just wondering, what kind of questions does tester ask, prior to the D1 bus test

Is it multiple choice like the theory test was?

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123283031#Comment_123283031

My instructor never said that to me. I can reverse around the corner and do a turn around no problem but my big problem is roundabouts specificaly big ones. I know to give way to the right and to any drivers on the roundabout but yet I keep messing them up in the test and they are the reason or part of the reason that I have failed it three times :( . My first test was just a unmidicated disaster. I was a nervous wreck and very anxious. My second one went much better but I just made too many grade two mistakes but no grade 3s which was a big improvement from the first time and the third time except for two grade 3 mistakes which I know I should not have made I would have and almost did pass the test. I guess I thought I had failed already which was stupid. The driving tester who was a lovely man by the way said my theory knowledge and handsigns was textbook perfect but that I was just not used to the car. Yes it's hard to be used to a a car you are not driving all the time. The worst part is that for test two and three with my instructor beside me I done the 40+ minute drive over there no bother.

So annoyed with myself for failing yesterday. So much so I have had a very lazy day today not even bothered to get dressed lol.

buzzing147

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123288153#Comment_123288153

Yea roundabouts can be confusing especially when not knowing the area, some you go left for exit 1 and 2, and some go on right lane for exit 2, can be a mix up especially when under ptessure

Do you remember which road signs were asked, and what questions. Are there many, prior to going out on test itself

Raichų

I was struggling with reverse around corner also. Instructor said best thing is to just take your time because there’s no marks either way for being “fast”.

Important part is just to not be a mile from curb but also don’t go on foot path at all. You also have a fair bit of lee way in terms of distance depending on your examiner. Some don’t mind if you’re a bit farther out.

Best thing is try not to overthink it and just take your time. Also make quarter turns of steering wheel and allow time for the turn to start a lot of the time I was going wrong I was steering too fast.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123288792#Comment_123288792

Awe Yes in the beginning they are but you learn to plan ahead and read the road my problem was the last roundabout I came up to I think I just froze and instead of just stopping for some reason I was going to keep going. The worst part is it was the last roundabout before the centre so If I had of got that right I would have passed 😞.

The road signs were simple enough. A couple of motorway ones and a few junctions and a roundabout sign. They are sound at that anyway and will help uou out if you get stuck because that know if you got there you obviously passed the theory test it's more like a refresher. He also asked a question about the yellow line oh and when can you pass someone on the left. Also on tyre depth. They always ask that and what else can you look at on the tyres I said the line forget about the little pimples. Also make sure you know the difference between a duel carriageway and a motorway as they could ask that question too and there is at least 5 differences.

buzzing147

Do road signs on the route itself come up in questions, maybe mostly them

Raichų

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123290493#Comment_123290493

no, they just point a handful on a print out they have and ask you to identify them. Can be any random ones so best to make sure you are familiar.

Gooser14

Tilt the passenger side mirror downwards before starting the reversing manoeuvre so that you can see the kerb. Don't forget to reset the mirror before moving off on completing the manoeuvre.

buzzing147

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123290687#Comment_123290687

Cheers

Its a bus test I have did few lessons mirrors are big no issues with kerb etc reversing

Sam Russell

The secret for the test is - practice - practice - practice.

If you have trouble with any particular element, then try it over and over. If it is not working for you, give it a rest, then come back to it.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123283031#Comment_123283031

I'd say skip the D1 and go straight for the full D opens up more employment opportunities

Neilw

If a person passes the D test they get the D1 automatically, but from what I see most busses in category D have automatic transmissions, so am I right in presuming the license will have the code 78 restriction?

If that’s the case, again presuming a person wouldn’t be able to drive a manual D1 category minibus?

GTTDI GOD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123291414#Comment_123291414

No, you won’t be restricted to automatic in C or D if you use automatic vehicles for either test.

Neilw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123291425#Comment_123291425

That’s good to know, thanks.

I’m guessing if you have CE and pass D you’ll get DE and D1E too?

GTTDI GOD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123291433#Comment_123291433

Yes

Johnwayne98

Go straight for the D licence and when you pass you'll have the D1 automatically.

buzzing147

Are waiting times the same or shorter for retests? Failed a bus test got 10 grade 2 faults, it said on report 9 or more is a fail. Got 4 faults for mirrors yet used them all the time, 2 for progress yet was going at the speed limit on all the roads🤔

GTTDI GOD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297159#Comment_123297159

The waiting time is a lot shorter for the car test, not sure about the bus. Did the tester not explain where you picked up the marks?

buzzing147

Yea a roundabout, and moving off, they the only 2 parts highlighted, reapplied anyway so will go again, hopefully not a 10 week wait😊