Irish Driving Test A Racket?

Shenshen · 07-11-2012 11:05AM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

The Irish driving test is pathetic, 20 mins of not driving faster than 50 kph. If you can't pass that first time then the odds are you can't drive for ****

In fairness, I know a lot of people who simply don't prepare. And even if you try to prepare it can be shall we say interesting?
I've got a new driving instructor now, as I stopped learning a while back and we moved since. The instructions I'm getting now partially contradict directly the instructions I had been given before.
When trying to find actual official information as to which way would be correct, I draw blanks. If there is any material at all online, it's worded in such a way as to not say anything at all, or everything, depending on how you want to read it.
There are so many grey areas that I'm honestly not surprised at people complaining about the arbitrariness of the tester's decisions.

But I do agree that the test (and the preparation!) should definitely include motorway driving, country road driving, parallel parking and other things your will encounter in real life.

keithclancy · 07-11-2012 11:12AM

Akrasia wrote: »

My girlfriend failed her test because she didn't look over her shoulder every time she was taking off from a start (including stopping at traffic lights and in stop start traffic.

I don't know anyone who physically looks over their shoulder every time the car takes off. I check my mirrors, but expecting you to look over your shoulder is a but ridiculous

If you drove a motorcycle you'd understand why.

How many times I've heard .. "I didn't see you, you came out of nowhere"

I doubt she failed because she wasn't looking over her shoulder when starting to move, she more than likely failed for 'observation' e.g. pulling out without checking her blind spot.

Don't know how she would know that because the testers generally don't tell you why you failed, although she probably already knew herself why.

Freddy Smelly · 07-11-2012 11:37AM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yea - great stories and urban myths that have been doing the rounds for years about the 'hard men' who throw the tester out of their vehicle. Perhaps you could explain how that was accomplished since the examiner does not reveal the results of the test until you are back in the Test Centre office?

You can see the test sheet in his hand and the disapproving expression on his face... its not that hard sneak a peek at the marking sheet while stopped at lights :rolleyes:

And yes i did boot him out of the car.

Muckie · 07-11-2012 11:52AM

I often wondering about "Pre Test you can do"

Some places put up "90% Pass Rate...."

Personally i think they make up the numbers.

As for the Test its self, alot depends on the humour the Tester is in when your doing the Test too.

gurramok · 07-11-2012 11:54AM

UCDVet wrote: »

True - it's not strictly an Irish thing; but I think it's ridiculous everywhere. Especially when it involves opposite-side-of-the-road driving.

Whats wrong with it? All one needs a bit of cop on to drive on the opposite side of the road. An experienced driver will adapt accordingly.

ejmaztec · 07-11-2012 11:59AM

maintown34 wrote: »

Yet the test lacks basic skills such as an emergency handbrake stop. I am not advocating passing dangerous drivers, but failing people for nitpicking isn't a different story. You should fail only if you make the same mistakes again, or do something potentially dangerous.

Seriously considering just biting the bullet and doing it up North. Nothing is certain, but the test appears to be less open to abuse. Don't believe me? Download the practical marking sheet. Don't feel like handing over more money, if they won't even tell me where I went wrong. What kind of crap is that, not telling where you went wrong?

If you used that special shampoo you'd have probably passed the test.

Chocoholic84 · 07-11-2012 12:00PM

MaxSteele wrote: »

Passed everything with flying colors, except he forgot to put on his seatbelt.

You can't really forget to put on your seatbelt - it should be the first thing you do when you get in.

Instructor was right to fail him :rolleyes:

He drove the instructor out into the middle off nowhere and told him to get out to f*ck.

Wow your friend sounds like a really nice guy - not throwing his toys out of the pram at all!

EDIT: Just saw Wishbone Ash's post about instructor not telling result until you get back to test centre, forgot that

Heroditas · 07-11-2012 12:01PM

cournioni wrote: »

After having some stupid twat pull out right in front of me at a cross road while texting on Sunday night while in a line of traffic travelling at 45kmph, I think the driving tests should be even more strict in this country.

How you you suggest weeding out people like that via the driving test?

Chocoholic84 · 07-11-2012 12:05PM

Akrasia wrote: »

My girlfriend failed her test because she didn't look over her shoulder every time she was taking off from a start (including stopping at traffic lights and in stop start traffic.

I don't know anyone who physically looks over their shoulder every time the car takes off. I check my mirrors, but expecting you to look over your shoulder is a but ridiculous

Yeah it's pretty ridiculous - did she take lessons beforehand? I wouldn't have known only for the instructor (although he didn't mention looking back after stopping at lights, or stop start traffic)

L.Jenkins · 07-11-2012 12:19PM

To be honest, there's alot of drivers on the road with a full license, who are ill equiped to drive. Most can't drive in difficult conditions such as ice, while the rest can't handle an emergency situation.

For example: I was driving on the M50 towards Santry and it was lashing rain at the time. Driving along at speeds topping 80kph with enough distance between others and myself, I was suprised with how other drivers were discernably weaving in and out of lanes, from what I can gather was to get around slow moving traffic quickly.

Out of the blue the vehicle infront of me broke hard almost coming to a stand still. The only option I had was break and rear end the driver or speed up and change lane quickly to avoid traffic coming behind me. I decided to change lane as I knew it was clear, but in any other circumstance such behaviour on a 4 lane motorway could have caused an accident. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed with their driving skills and could have killed them if I got my hands on them.

ibarelycare · 07-11-2012 01:23PM

MaxSteele wrote: »

I know this chap who did his driving test up in Donegal years ago.

Passed everything with flying colors, except he forgot to put on his seatbelt.

The miserable instructor failed him and so he was fuming. What did he do then ?

He drove the instructor out into the middle off nowhere and told him to get out to f*ck.

No he didn't.

Wossack · 07-11-2012 01:24PM

biggest pita I experience with motorway driving, and poor conditions, is that Im allowing adequate distance between me and the car in front, and it invariably get filled by some overtaking gombeen. Meaning I have to slow to allow distance between me and gombeen number one, and then low and behold, gombeen number two turns up and takes that space.. and so on

makes for no progress, and (I reckon), an increase in people now 'protecting' the space ahead of them- by driving too close to the car in front

ProudDUB · 07-11-2012 04:22PM

UCDVet wrote: »

I think it's hilarious that they make Irish folk spend all this time and money on a driving test; but they let tourists from other countries who don't even know what side of the road to drive on - drive all they want. Legally.

It's insane.

No its not. What is the alternative? People can only drive in the country that they live in and learned to drive in? Tell all tourists and foreigners that they can not drive on our roads when they get here? Make them all sit a test before they are allowed drive here? Then on the flip side, tell all Irish people that they can not drive in other countries? Make them take a test in foreign countries too? That's a bit extreme and completely unworkable imo?

I drive in the US and here all the time, on both sides of the road. If you are a careful and safe drivers with a bit of cop on, it is not as hard as you think. In fact, I'd say that most tourists are better drivers than a lot of Irish drivers who have this aggressive "I can do no wrong" attitude, or who never got proper instruction in the first place & have no idea how bad their driving is. At least the tourists know that they are out of their comfort zone, and that they need to pay a lot of attention to the roads and their driving in ways that a lot of the fully qualified "locals" rarely do.

UCDVet · 07-11-2012 04:32PM

ProudDUB wrote: »

No its not. What is the alternative? People can only drive in the country that they live in and learned to drive in? Tell all tourists and foreigners that they can not drive on our roads when they get here? Make them all sit a test before they are allowed drive here? Then on the flip side, tell all Irish people that they can not drive in other countries? That's a bit extreme don't you think?

I drive in the US and here all the time, on both sides of the road. If you are a careful and safe drivers with a bit of cop on, it is not as hard as you think. In fact, I'd say that most tourists are better drivers than the average Irish person who has this aggressive "I can do no wrong" attitude. At least the tourists know that they are out of their comfort zone and that they need to pay a lot of attention to the roads and their driving in ways that a lot of the "locals" rarely do.

The alternative would be to require all people to have passed a test verifying the know the driving laws and can do so in a safe fashion.

Yes, absolutely make them sit a test before they can legally drive. We're not talking about what's 'nice', we're talking about what is safe. The driving laws/tests are different in different countries. I mean, fair enough, if two countries are similar enough in driving laws, acknowledge a valid license from one to count here. But I can tell you with 10000% certainty I could NOT pass a driving test in Ireland. I can't safely drive here. But I was able to legally rent a car and drive on the roads; putting myself and others at risk. You mention driving in the US - but the laws are very different and the traffic patterns are very different.

There are plenty of public transportation/shuttle buses/taxis/etc/etc options for people who want to visit Ireland but who can't safely drive here.

You claim that tourists will be safe drivers - but you're wrong. Empirically, based on actual data, that's not the case. Tourists are dangerous drivers:
http://www.eurorap.org/library/pdfs/library_0604.pdf

Not only do they have more accidents, they also have more serious accidents.

mongoman · 07-11-2012 04:39PM

MaxSteele wrote: »

I know this chap who did his driving test up in Donegal years ago.

Passed everything with flying colors, except he forgot to put on his seatbelt.

The miserable instructor failed him and so he was fuming. What did he do then ?

He drove the instructor out into the middle off nowhere and told him to get out to f*ck.

Certainly one of the most enduring of all urban myths.

MaxSteele · 07-11-2012 04:44PM

Chocoholic84 wrote: »

You can't really forget to put on your seatbelt - it should be the first thing you do when you get in.

Instructor was right to fail him :rolleyes:

He was nervous as anyone would be and made a mistake. The instructor told him he passed everything else perfectly but decided to be a complete c*ntbag and disregard his blatantly obvious ability to drive.

Instructor sounds like one of those miserable robot types who sees everything in either black or white.

MaxSteele · 07-11-2012 04:47PM

ibarelycare wrote: »

No he didn't.

Or how about this ? Yes he f*cking did.

Markcheese · 07-11-2012 04:56PM

If your car isn't road worthy even a blown bulb fail ... You wouldn't even get to drive.. Wouldn't think you'd get out of the car park without being failed of you didn't have your seat belt on and the examiner would be rightly in the canteen having a cup of tea..

ibarelycare · 07-11-2012 05:09PM

MaxSteele wrote: »

Or how about this ? Yes he f*cking did.

The instructor doesn't give you your results when you're still sitting in the car.

If this far-fetched story is true, your friend is a wanker.

MaxSteele · 07-11-2012 05:14PM

Markcheese wrote: »

If your car isn't road worthy even a blown bulb fail ... You wouldn't even get to drive.. Wouldn't think you'd get out of the car park without being failed of you didn't have your seat belt on and the examiner would be rightly in the canteen having a cup of tea..

Well the instructor didn't tell him to stop, so my guess is as good as yours ........

MaxSteele · 07-11-2012 05:19PM

ibarelycare wrote: »

The instructor doesn't give you your results when you're still sitting in the car.

If this far-fetched story is true, your friend is a wanker.

Well this one did apparently, otherwise my "wanker" friend :rolleyes: wouldn't have had the opportunity to do what he did. Serves the instructor right for letting him waste his own time when he already knew he would fail him from the get go.

We're talking a good 10 to 15 years ago too.

He's actually a hero.

--Kaiser-- · 07-11-2012 05:44PM

MaxSteele wrote: »

Well this one did apparently, otherwise my "wanker" friend :rolleyes: wouldn't have had the opportunity to do what he did. Serves the instructor right for letting him waste his own time when he already knew he would fail him from the get go.

We're talking a good 10 to 15 years ago too.

He's actually a hero.

If this actually happened (which I doubt), he's a tool and a moron

reprazant · 07-11-2012 05:46PM

MaxSteele wrote: »

Well this one did apparently, otherwise my "wanker" friend :rolleyes: wouldn't have had the opportunity to do what he did. Serves the instructor right for letting him waste his own time when he already knew he would fail him from the get go.

We're talking a good 10 to 15 years ago too.

He's actually a hero.

Indeed he is a hero. He is definitely not monumentally dim for forgetting to put on his seatbelt when doing a driving test. Oh no, not dim at all.

That is if it is true which I severely doubt since you are always brought into the office to be told your results. Did somebody in his school also commit suicide in the leaving by putting pencils up their nose and slamming them down on the table? :rolleyes:

MaxSteele · 07-11-2012 06:21PM

reprazant wrote: »

Indeed he is a hero. He is definitely not monumentally dim for forgetting to put on his seatbelt when doing a driving test. Oh no, not dim at all.
That is if it is true which I severely doubt since you are always brought into the office to be told your results.

Oh I've no doubt he wasn't foolish. This was in Donegal, so they might have used to just cut to the chase back then, I don't know.

reprazant wrote: »

Did somebody in his school also commit suicide in the leaving by putting pencils up their nose and slamming them down on the table? :rolleyes:

Yeah hand on heart I can confidently say that most definitely happened. :rolleyes:

MaxSteele · 07-11-2012 06:25PM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

If this actually happened (which I doubt), he's a tool and a moron

Doubt away, I've no reason to tell porkies.

I find it satisfyingly hilarious.

Mint Sauce · 07-11-2012 06:42PM

Dont recall why you said you failed OP?

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

The Irish driving test is pathetic, 20 mins of not driving faster than 50 kph. If you can't pass that first time then the odds are you can't drive for ****

Depends on where in the country you live. My test centre was on a 80kph road, with a 100kph dual carriage way running paraelel to it, was expected to drive to the conditions on both and with the traffic, meaning merging at near 100kph with morning traffic heading to school and work on the DC, and near the 80kph on the test centre road.

It took me two attempts for my test, one of the things I failed on was hesentancy, I imagine it was when joining said DC with an examiner sitting beside me. Although am thankful for where I learnt and took the test as have driven on motorways and DCs around the Island since with no issue. Might not have had the same confidence if took test in a more rural location.

corktina · 07-11-2012 06:46PM

SuperInfinity wrote: »

T.

It

I

The same with turning right. There's no car within half a mile to the right of you, the safest and best thing to do is to make an angle and slightly cut the line. And again it's not written anywhere what exactly you're supposed to do. Oh sure, someone else will tell you, that's hardly very professional to have things going word of mouth like that. I thought we were meant to be a literate society.

.

the safest thing to do is to keep your wheels straight ahead in case you got punted up the rear...to stop you being pushed into on-coming traffic

Rigol · 07-11-2012 07:17PM

Yo OP maybe it was cause you is black.

SuperInfinity · 07-11-2012 07:44PM

corktina wrote: »

the safest thing to do is to keep your wheels straight ahead in case you got punted up the rear...to stop you being pushed into on-coming traffic

I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about how instead of turning gradually they make you have to keep as close to the left as possible, doing practically a 90 degree turn which takes far longer. Now I'm not talking about stupidly going rashly across the lane when someone could be coming, I'm talking about how someone would do it naturally and how everyone does it when the test is over.

I think it's bizarre and disingenuous for people like Keiser to say things like they passed it first time and it was easy when he obviously knew all of these things they would nitpick for. Obviously fully aware and having practised all of these things and yet he tries to call out people for failing as if it were based on skill.

BattleCorp · 07-11-2012 07:57PM

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

It's a lucky bag to be honest. Your best way to improve your chance of passing is to keep doing it until you pass. Took me three times to pass and I could quite confidently say that I drove much better the first time than the third. It's probably the same in the north.

They don't tell you how you did until you return to the test centre so you don't get the chance to fcuk somebody out in the middle of nowhere anymore.

Irish Driving Test A Racket?

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