The Driving test-reform needed.

[riker1969]

Just got my test 4th time. Im not one of these people who feel they should have passed the other times-each previous times was a fair failure in that I did a grade 3 and if you dont know what that means then you dont know the modern driving test. So here is my points of criticism.

A) Testers do vary too much but perhaps they need to be instructed to be more balanced in their appraisals-ie can this person drive relatively safely rather than obsessed with their box ticking-where do they pluck the figure of 9 grade two faults out of to fail?? I know the arrival of SGS has alleviated the situation but lets face facts-a good proportion of so called fully licensed drivers have terrible habits so why fail those who might make a few minor mistakes?

B) 3 point turns-how many people do a three point turn in a month? Any sensible driver will use a vacant drive way or go to a spot in the road where they can just turn around. You dont take up a public road doing a 3/5 point turn.Its ridiculous.
c) its a Junction test-how many junctions do you go through in a day-turning left or right. Very few but the test has you going through them one after another after another-left-right left left. Most driving is on a bloody open road not through housing estate after estate. How many crashes occur in housing estates?
D) Who regulates Driving instructors because as far as I can see each one has a very different approach even allowing for human variance.

Thus ends my rant!



<Mod>Moved to the Transport forum.</Mod>

[FutureTaoiseach]

I agree 100%. A tester from weeks ago was on Newstalk or Liveline saying that the public testers are biased against 20-something men while the private-sector testers will pass you if you're safe Privatise all the tests.

[Aindriu]

Riker. Just about anyone can keep a car in a straight line. The maneuver in the road (3 point turn) is designed to show that you can safely control the car at slow speed whilst carrying out a tight turn. Similarly with the reverse around the corner. The whole idea behind all the junction work is to show traffic awareness and safety under the pressure of turning in traffic.

I agree that there should be more emphasis on open road driving. What I think we should have is as follows:
1/ Maneuvers as now.
2/ Junction work as now.
3/ Emergency stop as now.
4/ A minimum of a 45 minute drive through all traffic and open roads - up to the legal limit but to include dual carriage-ways with a limit of 100KPH.
5/ A restriction on top speed for all newly qualified drivers as in the north, together with an R plate as in the north.
6/ A compulsory motorway lesson system and test only after passing the basic test.
7/ A follow up test one year after qualifying as above to ensure standards are at least being maintained but better still improved with the right to revoke the full license if necessary.
8/ Skid pan testing as part of teaching and the test.
9/ Only qualified driving instructors to be allowed to act as the accompanying driver (like Germany).

[Victor Meldrew]

God, I agree with FT. The private test centres seem to cedar more pragmatic.

[riker1969]

Riker. Just about anyone can keep a car in a straight line. The maneuver in the road (3 point turn) is designed to show that you can safely control the car at slow speed whilst carrying out a tight turn. Similarly with the reverse around the corner. The whole idea behind all the junction work is to show traffic awareness and safety under the pressure of turning in traffic.

I agree that there should be more emphasis on open road driving. What I think we should have is as follows:
1/ Maneuvers as now.
2/ Junction work as now.
3/ Emergency stop as now.
4/ A minimum of a 45 minute drive through all traffic and open roads - up to the legal limit but to include dual carriage-ways with a limit of 100KPH.
5/ A restriction on top speed for all newly qualified drivers as in the north, together with an R plate as in the north.
6/ A compulsory motorway lesson system and test only after passing the basic test.
7/ A follow up test one year after qualifying as above to ensure standards are at least being maintained but better still improved with the right to revoke the full license if necessary.
8/ Skid pan testing as part of teaching and the test.
9/ Only qualified driving instructors to be allowed to act as the accompanying driver (like Germany).

Dont accept three point turn needed as reverse round the corner more than proves you can control a car Either 3 point or reverse but hardly the two.Heard that there are testers out on sick leave from cars being hit because who the hell ever sees a car reversing around a corner? The one year follow up is something I would totally disagree with-the test is so hit and miss with variance among testers especially in RSA VS SGS that to put peo through that lottery again would be sadistic! The way I see it is that people hit a zone in driving ability and then it depends on a decent tester. The qualified instructor bit I would agree with it-they all seem different and believe me I have had about 5!

[akanji]

i am having my sixth test in a cople of days time driving on irish road for at least over five years i presume, but the fact of the matter is that, the members of the public should stop interfering in the testing system i dont mind if they're RSA or SGS insofar they're honest and recognises the competency no problem but to start failling people on the ground of malice aforethought will not be allowed in our testing system am afraid.

[fionnmccool]

I had a pretest test with one of the best driving schools and scored 100%. I can reverse around a corner perfectly 19 times out of 20 however 10 minutes later in the test itself when I executed a three point turn perfectly, looking in the mirrors and outside the street in the direction I was going I still spotted the guy make a mark on his sheet. It's hardly like its the most difficult manoeuver yet the crusty old bollix marked me down when I did it perfectly and thats only one of a few complaints I would have. Then he had an issue with progress despite the fact that the driver of a car heading onto the roundabout was driving erratically and could very well have changed his mind about whether to allow me enough space or not therefore I slowed down to let him pass. I'd well believe that they are prejudiced against any driver in his twenties.

[akanji]

I had a pretest test with one of the best driving schools and scored 100%. I can reverse around a corner perfectly 19 times out of 20 however 10 minutes later in the test itself when I executed a three point turn perfectly, looking in the mirrors and outside the street in the direction I was going I still spotted the guy make a mark on his sheet. It's hardly like its the most difficult manoeuver yet the crusty old bollix marked me down when I did it perfectly and thats only one of a few complaints I would have. Then he had an issue with progress despite the fact that the driver of a car heading onto the roundabout was driving erratically and could very well have changed his mind about whether to allow me enough space or not therefore I slowed down to let him pass. I'd well believe that they are prejudiced against any driver in his twenties.

The last one i had in wexford town is a bit strange, even when we are waiting for the road to clear at the back of a parking truck this tester does nothing than marking on an on it's indeed diabolical and completely surprising to be honest and i could see from his face that he looks like a person going to war.

[riker1969]

In the UK your driving instructor is allowed accompany you on your test. Thus you get much more accurate feedback from the whole thinng rather than the 2-3 minute review you get here if you fail. In the UK there is a very strict licensing of those who set up as instructors.Anybody can and does set up here. Also instructors are entitled to go into local RSA office and ask testers for clarification of any point of test-how many bother their backsides?

[sparkey321]

Riker. Just about anyone can keep a car in a straight line. The maneuver in the road (3 point turn) is designed to show that you can safely control the car at slow speed whilst carrying out a tight turn. Similarly with the reverse around the corner. The whole idea behind all the junction work is to show traffic awareness and safety under the pressure of turning in traffic.

I agree that there should be more emphasis on open road driving. What I think we should have is as follows:
1/ Maneuvers as now.
2/ Junction work as now.
3/ Emergency stop as now.
4/ A minimum of a 45 minute drive through all traffic and open roads - up to the legal limit but to include dual carriage-ways with a limit of 100KPH.
5/ A restriction on top speed for all newly qualified drivers as in the north, together with an R plate as in the north.
6/ A compulsory motorway lesson system and test only after passing the basic test.
7/ A follow up test one year after qualifying as above to ensure standards are at least being maintained but better still improved with the right to revoke the full license if necessary.
8/ Skid pan testing as part of teaching and the test.
9/ Only qualified driving instructors to be allowed to act as the accompanying driver (like Germany).

To that add parallel parking.
driving through and parking in Multistory or underground carparks. (both reversing into and driving into parking spaces)
Driving by night.
Driving in poor visibility.

The 3 point turn is a skill that you will use and use regularly.
The reversing around a corner is just a simple way of proving you ability to reverse and judge distance.

They are their to demonstrate your ability to control a car at low speeds and to judge distances and should be considered the absolute minimum level of competence.

The Irish driving test as it currently stands is a joke. I will not comment on the standard of testers or the consistency of their marking but the test its self needs to be totally revamped and made more realistic and much harder.

It should also be compulsory to retake the test every 10 years along with a full medical.