Can you pass a driving test in a traffic jam?

[Smokin Joe]

There are four manouvres now, the park in a bay one was added about ten years back although you only have to do three of them and emergency stops are only conducted every third test.

I have known of a test terminated because of traffic conditions, a broken down van had blocked the road a few hundred yards from the test centre and the examiner called a halt after giving it five minutes to see if it would clear.

 

[thomas]

Four manouevres? I thought there were three! And here I am with a full driving licence and have had it for years! Makes you wonder, eh?!

Turn in the road/Three point turn
Parallel Parking
Bay Parking
Reverse around a corner

Where I did my test I couldn't be given bay parking as they didn't have any parking bays to do it in...I got 3pt and reverse around a corner.

 

[darkstar]

There are four manouvres now, the park in a bay one was added about ten years back although you only have to do three of them and emergency stops are only conducted every third test.

I have known of a test terminated because of traffic conditions, a broken down van had blocked the road a few hundred yards from the test centre and the examiner called a halt after giving it five minutes to see if it would clear.

The bay park is only applicable in certain areas though, i did my test in Rugby and didn't have to do the bay park because there was no where acceptable to do it!

I passed first time, my examiner was just visiting the area, so i was pointing out things to him along the way, i was asked no questions, didn't have to do the emergency stop. Was pretty easy!

 

[4F]

How is the bike under control when you have locked the rear wheel? People miss the point about the emergency stop and that is you stop under control. No good locking the wheels, losing traction and skidding into poor Johny picking up his ball up in the middle of the road..

Lee, I appreciate you like a good argument however I am sure you read my original post where I stated I slightly locked the rear wheel due to the amount of surface water in the monsoon conditions. The moment the wheel locked I released the brake before engaging it again stopping a full 3 metres before the examiner. Don't start on this bollox of poor Johny picking up his ball in the middle of the road. Poor Johny would have been inside playing mario cart on his nintendo wii as it was obviously too wet to play outside.

 

[vernon]

My mate's big sister allegedly failed her test when she was told to go 'straight over' as she approached a roundabout. She went straight over and was requested to pull over after her unorthodox treatment of the roundabout....

 

[thomas]

Lee, I appreciate you like a good argument however I am sure you read my original post where I stated I slightly locked the rear wheel due to the amount of surface water in the monsoon conditions. The moment the wheel locked I released the brake before engaging it again stopping a full 3 metres before the examiner. Don't start on this bollox of poor Johny picking up his ball in the middle of the road. Poor Johny would have been inside playing mario cart on his nintendo wii as it was obviously too wet to play outside.

When I did my test I had an examiner nick named the "smiling assassin". This was because she was always really smiley and friendly during your exam...and then failed you! She was said to be really, really difficult to pass to. I passed first time . Every flaw she picked up I couldn't fuss about as they were all fair. I tend to think after that that a lot of people blame the examiner for their bad driving. Obviously, in bad weather it's harder and a shame you failed.

My mate's big sister allegedly failed her test when she was told to go 'straight over' as she approached a roundabout. She went straight over and was requested to pull over after her unorthodox treatment of the roundabout....

I nearly drove on this roundabout in my test....

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...7hrsqsdH2Rcm7ZPo_GQSrw&cbp=12,265.28,,0,23.02


I initially thought the paved bit was just a nice, inside lane texture, before deciding last second it probabaly was actually part of the roundbout.

 

[XmisterIS]

Turn in the road/Three point turn
Parallel Parking
Bay Parking
Reverse around a corner

Has bay parking always been part of the test?!

When I did my test, I was only told about the other three.

Then again, I did my test many moons ago, when it was just 30 minutes long (I think) and there was no theory test.

 

[thomas]

Has bay parking always been part of the test?!

When I did my test, I was only told about the other three.

Then again, I did my test many moons ago, when it was just 30 minutes long (I think) and there was no theory test.

I've no idea. It couldn't of been part of my test as there wasn't room at the test centre to have students do them there....Maybe there wasn't the availability, maybe there just wasn't the option. TBH though, if you can reverse around the corner, or do any of the other moves, you should be fine bay parking

 

[XmisterIS]

I've no idea. It couldn't of been part of my test as there wasn't room at the test centre to have students do them there....Maybe there wasn't the availability, maybe there just wasn't the option. TBH though, if you can reverse around the corner, or do any of the other moves, you should be fine bay parking

You're quite correct, and infact I'm equally happy to reverse into a car parking space at Tescos as I am with going in forwards and then reversing out.

Nevertheless, it is quite alarming the number of people (mostly women, it must be said! Sorry ladies but it's true!) who absolutely *can* *not* reverse park. I was stuck behind one last summer in Tescos. After five minutes of backing and filling and being completely unable to reverse a Citroen Saxo into a space big enough for a Challenger tank, there was a considerable queue of traffic behind me and her, I leaned out of the window and shouted, "look out love, your wheels are going round!", at which point she panicked, stalled, restarted the engine, stalled again, started again, gave up and drove off. Cruel of me, I know, but funny! I then reversed my car into the space she'd been trying to get into (my car was twice the size of hers!)

 

[philipbh]

No one has mentioned the Hill Start yet I think

I am pretty sure that this had to be completed without stalling

It was 23 years ago, though

 

[XmisterIS]

No one has mentioned the Hill Start yet I think

I am pretty sure that this had to be completed without stalling

It was 23 years ago, though

Do you know I can't remember if I was asked to do one of those? Come to think of it, I can't remember a great deal of either of my tests! All I remember is (a) the reverse round the corner where I failed, ( being told I'd failed, (c) the end of the second test where I was told I'd passed and felt unbelievably happy!

 

[Dan B]

You're quite correct, and infact I'm equally happy to reverse into a car parking space at Tescos as I am with going in forwards and then reversing out.

On the assumption that you've taken the car to Tescos to do lots of shopping, either you have a rear engine or you're going to have trouble getting access to the boot when you want to load all your purchases into it ...

 

[XmisterIS]

On the assumption that you've taken the car to Tescos to do lots of shopping, either you have a rear engine or you're going to have trouble getting access to the boot when you want to load all your purchases into it ...

whut??!!

No comprende, I am from Barthelona ...

 

[philipbh]

Do you know I can't remember if I was asked to do one of those? Come to think of it, I can't remember a great deal of either of my tests! All I remember is (a) the reverse round the corner where I failed, ( being told I'd failed, (c) the end of the second test where I was told I'd passed and felt unbelievably happy!

I can remember three things about the examiner:

1. He was the Chief Examiner (my instructor put me at my ease by pointing this out just before the start of Test 1)

2. He smelt of alcohol - both times (cos I got him for Test 2)

3. He got a bit shirty at the end with my hand signals - "wind the bloody window down then and show me" (big clue as to what he was after)

 

[marooncat]

Do they still teach you how to reverse park? I am sure a mate of mine who only passed a few years ago said he was never taught how to do it.

I must admit I do find it worrying that they need to teach how to reverse into a parking bay, if you can not do that how on earth can you be competent to drive at all...