Help me pass my driving test 1st time, please!!

30-6shooter

My driving test is coming up, in about 2months i estimate, so i thought i`d start a single thread to ask a few queries i have, rather than have new threads left,rightand centre.

Im fairly alright i thinks! Ill be getting a few more lessons nearer the time and maybe a pretest. Does a pretest just cost the same as a normal 1hr lesson?

Also, can someone tell me the best way to approach filter lights. Do you generally treat them as a yield right of way. If the traffic light is red, but theres an orange filter light flashing, whats the story here? Proceed if clear???

If your on a slight incline, do you have to pull up the handbrake? I bought a little driving book called "Get it" in Easons. It says use of the handbrake is at your own dicretion. I drive a little diesel 306, so unless its a very slopey hill, i can take off just with cluch and accel with no rollbk at all, so is that ok in the test?? Or shud i pull up the handbrake on every slopey bit when im stopped in traffic?

If im the 1st person sitting at a traffic lights on flat surface, do i pull up the handbrake? Or do i have car in gear and ready be ready to take off with no handbrake on at all?

Ill post any more queries i have in this thread, and keep ye updated with my progress, for any learners and soon to be testees.

Con9903

Not too sure about the lights, I wouldn't want to give you wrong info.

As for the handbrake, I was taught by my instructor to always pull up the handbrake when you're stopped, be it on a slope or not. Then when sitting at traffic lights I either stayed in first on the clutch, or put it in neutral and rest your foot.

preilly79

hey there, i passed my test only yesterday (first time) so hopefully things are still fresh in my mind and i can help you!

30-6shooter wrote:

Does a pretest just cost the same as a normal 1hr lesson?

it depends on the school. some bast**ds charge more, even though theyre just sitting back and watching. my advice: book a load of lessons with somebody you know is a good teaher and are comfortable with and then when taking a lesson say 'can we treat this as a test today?'

30-6shooter wrote:

Also, can someone tell me the best way to approach filter lights. Do you generally treat them as a yield right of way.

treat the filter as being 'your turn' to move if safe to do so. so yeah, move is safe and yield if necessary

30-6shooter wrote:

If the traffic light is red, but theres an orange filter light flashing, whats the story here? Proceed if clear???

exactomundo. proceed if clear and SAFE to do so

30-6shooter wrote:

If your on a slight incline, do you have to pull up the handbrake? I bought a little driving book called "Get it" in Easons. It says use of the handbrake is at your own dicretion. I drive a little diesel 306, so unless its a very slopey hill, i can take off just with cluch and accel with no rollbk at all, so is that ok in the test?? Or shud i pull up the handbrake on every slopey bit when im stopped in traffic?

it depends on the situation. if it's a slight incline and you'll be stopped for more than three seconds, pull up the handbrake. you'll be asked to perform a hillstart during your test, so it doesnt make much sense to perform your hillstart one way when requested and then do it a completely different way another time. they dont want to see you holding it on the clutch.

if you're in stop-go traffic going up an incline it can be very frustrating and jumpy if you have to keep using the handbrake, so if you know you'll only be stopped for a second and you can successfully juggle the brake and accelerator to avoid rolling back then do so.

30-6shooter wrote:

If im the 1st person sitting at a traffic lights on flat surface, do i pull up the handbrake? Or do i have car in gear and ready be ready to take off with no handbrake on at all?

again, if you're going to be stopped for more than a few seconds, and you're either the first or second person in the queue, pull up the handbrake and leave it in gear. you dont want to be seen to be holding up everybody behind you while you put your car in gear.

i hope i've helped and if there anything else we can do let us know! keep us updated on your lessons, i have found driving instructors to be very hit and miss.

what test centre will you be doing your test in?

30-6shooter

Hi Preilly, appreciate you clearing up all my niggles in 1 go.
Im sure ill come across a few more over the month.

I have 2 class driving testers, reason being, i get a couple lessons around my locality with 1 lad, and then i use another lad based in dundalk where ill be doing my test. Im based round the drogheda area, and it was a pain having to drive all the way to dundalk for a lesson.

Ps: Congrats on your passing.
How many lessons did you have in total, roughly?

preilly79

glad to have helped!

i took seven hours of lessons when i first started driving almost a year ago, and took about 7 more coming up to my test. i guess this is more than most people will have, however over the past year i had picked up some bad habits and it took a while to shake them!

DubTony

30-6shooter wrote:

Also, can someone tell me the best way to approach filter lights. Do you generally treat them as a yield right of way. If the traffic light is red, but theres an orange filter light flashing, whats the story here? Proceed if clear???

Treat flashing yellows as Yield signs. Proceed when safe to do so.

If your on a slight incline, do you have to pull up the handbrake? I bought a little driving book called "Get it" in Easons. It says use of the handbrake is at your own dicretion. I drive a little diesel 306, so unless its a very slopey hill, i can take off just with cluch and accel with no rollbk at all, so is that ok in the test?? Or shud i pull up the handbrake on every slopey bit when im stopped in traffic?

Always use your handbrake when stopped on hill. You won't always be driving a diesel 306 (or a Lamborghini )

If im the 1st person sitting at a traffic lights on flat surface, do i pull up the handbrake? Or do i have car in gear and ready be ready to take off with no handbrake on at all?

Good idea to use the handbrake whenever you're stopped for more than a few seconds. Will prevent you being shoved out into a junction or into the car in front if a car hits you from behind. When first, second or third in line, sit with the car in gear and the handbrake on. If you're not in gear, it's a good idea to watch the opposite lights so you'll have an idea of when to get ready. The trick is to be ready to release the handbrake and move as soon as it's your turn.

And don't forget about observation. Check your rear view mirror every 15 to 20 seconds. Set it off centre so you have to move your head slightly to use it. Exxagerate your head movements slightly when "observing" junctions.

Find a good instructor to get your "few more" lessons from. And practice hill starts if you're not great at them. Know the biting point on your clutch and theirs no reason why you should ever roll back. Best of luck. Let us know how you get on.

sandyg

If you need any more advice or have any more questions i found
www.drivingschoolireland.com forums great. I did my test in Dundalk last November. Easy enough i have to say!!

boardsee

.

seamus

What everyone else here has said is pretty much spot on.

30-6shooter wrote:

Im fairly alright i thinks! Ill be getting a few more lessons nearer the time and maybe a pretest. Does a pretest just cost the same as a normal 1hr lesson?

They shouldn't. But if you know the instructor and trust him/her then it's worth a couple of extra quid.

Also, can someone tell me the best way to approach filter lights. Do you generally treat them as a yield right of way. If the traffic light is red, but theres an orange filter light flashing, whats the story here? Proceed if clear???

Flashing amber arrows are generally used where there's a pedestrian crossing at the "slip road". So treat this the same as any other flashing amber pedestrian crossing. Slow down (be prepared for the light to go red), keep an eye out for any pedestrians, and always yield to pedestrians on the crossing. After the flashing light, there should be a line which indicates that you must yield to traffic on the other road.

If your on a slight incline, do you have to pull up the handbrake? I bought a little driving book called "Get it" in Easons. It says use of the handbrake is at your own dicretion. I drive a little diesel 306, so unless its a very slopey hill, i can take off just with cluch and accel with no rollbk at all, so is that ok in the test?? Or shud i pull up the handbrake on every slopey bit when im stopped in traffic?

Always, always pull up the handbrake if you stop on an incline, no exceptions. The best way to avoid the annoying situation where you pull the handbrake for 0.5 sec before going again, is to try time your approach to the traffic on the hill. Slow down sufficiently so that you are still moving when the traffic in front of you starts moving, avoiding having to stop at all.

If im the 1st person sitting at a traffic lights on flat surface, do i pull up the handbrake? Or do i have car in gear and ready be ready to take off with no handbrake on at all?

As others have said. Pull up the handbrake so a rear shunt doesn't send you into the junction, but be in gear and ready to go.

Best of luck. Remember that there are no tricks to the driving test. There are hundreds fo myths and horror stories, but very few have any real truth. The tester only wants to see three things :- Confidence, Competence, and above all else, Safety. Doesn't matter if you grind the gears once. If you hit the kerb on the reverse round the corner, don't worry. If someone beeps at you because you're a little too far left when waiting to turn right, ignore it. More often than not, the tester will overlook minor errors if he/she is happy that you're safe and able. If he/she isn't happy, every minor error will be noted.

Two mythbusters to note:

1. If someone waves you out of a junction, and they have right of way, you *don't* have to insist that they go. However, it is of vital importance that you look everywhere, twice, before proceeding. Let the tester know that you're going because you know you safely can, not because the other guy waved you out.
2. Never, ever, ever wave someone else out or flash them to let them know they can go. You may *only* give indications/signals recognised by the rules of the road. Flashing your lights is an indicator to other motorists that you are there, nothing else. Waving your hand isn't a valid signal. If you see someone that you wish to allow out, and the approaching traffic is clear, slow down (if it's safe) well in advance, and stay in the normal road position*. You will get brownie points for considerate driving, but it's a tough one to get right if the other driver hesitates to go (as they often do).

It would be impossible to give an exhaustive list of the right things to do where and when, which is why pretests are so good. Get two of them, seeing as it's your first time.

*Moving over to the left hand side of the road to give the car more room to come out may encourage following traffic to overtake you, possibly causing an accident, but at the very least it will screw up your plan. Moving over to the right-hand side of the road to prevent people overtaking will make it look like you're turning right, causing the other driver to hesitate and following traffic to undertake you.

Citizen Jake

Just passed my driving test a fortnight ago. Third attempt. What I appreciated this time round is that they want to see good safe driving plus observation, observation, observation. In terms of the handbrake. If you anticipate that you'll be waiting a little while at the traffic lights by all means use it- they want to see that. Again, anticipation and good judgement will help you to decide.

Bottom line - safe responsible driving, common sense, knowledge of the rules of the roads and OBSERVATION - i.e. any time you are taking off, pulling out, look over your shoulder. After every manouvre (you've turned a corner, taking off in traffic), look in your rear mirror and before every manouvre - mirror, signal, mirror, manouvre.

Plus, get in at least four or five lessons and tell the instructor to focus on observation technique and eradicating any bad habits you may have picked up. Keep your hands on the wheel at the quarter to three position. Learn the environment and be very aware of what's going on around you. I learned that passing the test is not rocket science but common sense. Think of it as a demonstration to assure the instructor that you are a competent driver. Good luck.

Citizen

30-6shooter

Thanks for the tips folks.
Its on a friday morning at 11am, that good or bad. It`ll be horror busy. Slow moving though so might be good. I might book a lesson on a friday morning.

lazygit

i failed mine on monday.. 1 fault too many...

i did all my lessons in Dublin and the test at home ( Kilkenny ).. but before i did the test in Kilkenny i got 3 lessons there . i also asked my KK instructer was there a difference on how they test compared to dublin and he said yes.

He said that i would be expected to do my Turnabout in 3 points not 5 or 7 while in dublin its ok to do it in as many turns as you like.

Also he said that i would be expected to slow the car using the gears and the brakes.. i.e when approching a stop sign in dublin i could stop in 3rd but in kilkenny i was expected to gear down form 4th - 3rd - 2nd then stop in first.

prospect

lazygit wrote:

i was expected to gear down form 4th - 3rd - 2nd then stop in first.

:eek: AFAIK The ONLY time you should be in first gear is to start the car moving. And you should stop in 2nd or 3rd gear depending on the circumstances.

Bogger77

lazygit wrote:

i failed mine on monday.. 1 fault too many...

i did all my lessons in Dublin and the test at home ( Kilkenny ).. but before i did the test in Kilkenny i got 3 lessons there . i also asked my KK instructer was there a difference on how they test compared to dublin and he said yes.

He said that i would be expected to do my Turnabout in 3 points not 5 or 7 while in dublin its ok to do it in as many turns as you like.

Also he said that i would be expected to slow the car using the gears and the brakes.. i.e when approching a stop sign in dublin i could stop in 3rd but in kilkenny i was expected to gear down form 4th - 3rd - 2nd then stop in first.

you're just trying to look for excuses.

But yea, never stop in first, should be stop in second, then neutral. then first for taking off again.

Officially, turn about is in as many turns as it takes without hitting kerbs, maintaining good visuals of your surroundings. I've been told that by a current driving tester.

Sounds like your KK instructor was talking cr@p.

dogg_r_69

lazygit wrote:

He said that i would be expected to do my Turnabout in 3 points not 5 or 7 while in dublin its ok to do it in as many turns as you like.

As far as i know they shouldn't penalize for taking more than 3 points Unless your holding up traffic or something like that

30-6shooter

My test is in 2weeks :eek: ,, nah its shudnt be too bad

The worst habit im trying to crack, is not having 2 hands on the steering when i stop. I usually have a hand on the gearstick when i stop, i especially if i stop in 3rd gear.

Ive lessons booked for later in the week, ill prob only get 2 and a pretest. Hopefully that should do me.

jd

Citizen Jake wrote:

Keep your hands on the wheel at the quarter to three position.

ten to two...

30-6shooter

Just to update any of ye who are interested. Thanks for the tips folk.
I failed because i sat at a green light, just forgot i didnt need an arrow under the pressure or whatever. Cant believe my retardness.

It was all going well, had the reverse and 3pt turn all done, managed the 3pt turn in 3 turns and all. Had gone thru about 10 sets of lights and then I sat at a full green circle just out of retardness, it was near the end of the test and all.

Ended up with 2 grade1`s, 4 grade2`s and 2 grade3`s.
I`d not a single fault under obversation/mirrors.
1 of the grade 3`s was for sitting at the light .
The other was for position when taking a right turn,,, apparently i didnt move out to the right side of the road quick enough. Seems a bit harsh that one????

ANyway, whats the quickest way to reapply, do i have to wait another year, or should i put my name on a "cancelation list" i think they call it?