Failed Driving Test

[luke.coleman51]

Hi, I failed my driving test last week (2nd time.) I am just looking for advice.

- I picked up three grade 2's for observation turning right. Has anyone any advice on how to do this correctly?
- Can someone explain when I should look over my right shoulder when driving?
- When turning onto a major road does it matter which way I look first( left or right) or does it depend on which way I am trying to turn?
- On the test I was approaching a junction to turn left but there was a woman standing on the road talking to someone and I was unsure whether to wait for her or go around her. I went around her and got a mark for position turning left. So should I have waited for her to move off in her own time?
- I also have a problem with reaction to hazards (6 grade 2's over 2 tests). What are they and how should I react?
- When reversing around the corner sometimes I end up a couple of foot out where the road bends but end up tight back into the kerb again. Would this be a grade 2 or 3 or as long as I stay my side of the road does it matter?

Thank You!!

[john]

Hi,

- Can someone explain when I should look over my right shoulder when driving?

Before you move to the right. Either before moving off from the side of the road or when changing lanes,

Moving off from the side of the road you must give a good look backwards. When changing lanes, normally a quick shoulder check is sufficient. When joining dual-carriageways a more backward look may be required. Before you move you must have a complete picture of the traffic in that lane.

When turning onto a major road does it matter which way I look first( left or right) or does it depend on which way I am trying to turn?

Yes. Normally the nearest traffic to you on the main road will be coming from your right, so it is, Right, left, right again. Irrespective which way you are turning, after those checks, imperative when moving off you are looking in the direction you are going.

On the test I was approaching a junction to turn left but there was a woman standing on the road talking to someone and I was unsure whether to wait for her or go around her. I went around her and got a mark for position turning left. So should I have waited for her to move off in her own time?

Stupid cow. That is a very difficult one to call. When you saw her, best thing would have been to slow right down, follow your correct line into the junction. Approach her very slowly, only then if she did not move would I have moved around her. But as you are now going very slowly you can keep quite close. I would say in the test you may have been going a bit fast, therefore had to give her a fairly wide clearance, subsequently took the corner too wide.

I also have a problem with reaction to hazards (6 grade 2's over 2 tests). What are they and how should I react?

A hazard is ANYTHING that MAY force you to either alter speed or direction.

See Driving Fault Marking Guidelines - Hazards

Examples of 'React' faults include:
Where an applicant is driving towards parked vehicles on the left, and does not move out in good time to pass them.
Where an applicant meets an oncoming vehicle which is in the process of overtaking, and the applicant does not slow or stop as necessary, to allow the oncoming vehicle to pass by.
Where an applicant's vision is diverted down to the controls for an extended period.
Where an applicant brakes hard on an amber light when the vehicle should properly have carried on.
Where an applicant drives into, or causes, or contributes unnecessarily to a 'bottleneck'.
Where an applicant intends to turn from a major road into a minor or narrow road, and obliges a vehicle which intends to emerge from that road to reverse out of the way.
Where an applicant is in a line of overtaking vehicles, and follows through blindly.
Where an applicant is approaching children who may be playing, or pedestrians, and does not show anticipation.
Where an applicant is approaching animals and does not show anticipation.
Where an applicant approaches traffic lights which have been green for some time, and does not show anticipation.
Where an applicant makes exaggerated use of the mirror(s) which distracts from forward observation.
Where an applicant makes exaggerated/unnecessary observations to the side or rear, which distracts from forward observation.
Where an applicant is on a slip-road, and intends to join a dual-carriageway, and stops unnecessarily.
Where an applicant splashes pedestrians with surface water.
Where an applicant is turning right and misreads the intention of another oncoming road user who is also turning right, and causes unnecessary obstruction.
Where an applicant's forward visibility is restricted by condensation.
Where an applicant stops unnecessarily when e.g. turning left onto a slip lane by misreading the main lights.
Where an applicant has commenced to turn at traffic lights and stops unnecessarily when part way through, on seeing the red light for the other road.
Where an applicant does not react correctly to speed ramps.

- When reversing around the corner sometimes I end up a couple of foot out where the road bends but end up tight back into the kerb again. Would this be a grade 2 or 3 or as long as I stay my side of the road does it matter?

The front of the car will swing out, but that is no problem. The ideal line is to keep the back wheel two feet from the kerb.

[luke.coleman51]

Thanks for the feedback,
I would appreciate if you would answer a few more questions


- When driving through estates should I indicate and/or give a shoulder check when passing parked vehicles?

- On one of the roads on the test route there is a cycle lane to the left and sometimes there are cars turning off to the right making the road narrow meaning I have to go into the cycle lane. Would this be correct to do on a test and also should I indicate left and look over my left shoulder?

- Should I indicate to overtake a cyclist even if I don't cross the white line in the middle of the road?

- Could you advise me on the correct procedure to avoid getting marks for observation turning right?

-At a cross roads there are roadworks which have closed off one of the lanes at the junction for going straight ahead meaning that if you plan going straight ahead you have to go into the lane for turning right and cut back in at the junction to continue going straight. Should I indicate right around the traffic cones or would this be deemed as misleading any following cars into thinking I am going to turn right at the junction?

-Regarding the woman on the road, she was stood at the junction, a foot off the footpath (where I should have stopped to turn left). I positioned myself where I would be if I was turning right and completed the left turn. I received a mark for road position turning left so I'm guessing I should have just stopped and waited for her to move off in her own time.

[john]

Hi,

- When driving through estates should I indicate and/or give a shoulder check when passing parked vehicles?

You give a shoulder check and indicate that you ARE GOING TO move out to pass the obstruction ahead (parked cars). When you have moved out to the road position that will enable you to clear the obstruction safely you CANCEL the indicator. You should not be indicating as you are actually driving past the parked cars. That could be misleading.


- On one of the roads on the test route there is a cycle lane to the left and sometimes there are cars turning off to the right making the road narrow meaning I have to go into the cycle lane. Would this be correct to do on a test and also should I indicate left and look over my left shoulder?

Again this is a grey area. First if you are going to change your position on the road, whither to the right or left, you give a quick shoulder check, indicate and if safe move over. Cycle lanes, best advice I received from an examiner - use your common sense. You can not of course go in unless you are 100% sure its safe. By not going in you could be causing an obstruction, its not a perfect world so use examiners advice, but remember every situation is slightly different so be careful. Other advice that the examiners sometimes offer in the test - Do what you normally would do. But remember, if you follow the law you normally can not be marked.

- Should I indicate to overtake a cyclist even if I don't cross the white line in the middle of the road?

The white line as nothing whatsoever to do with whither you indicate or not. You totally ignore it. (Or your position on the road, you give the obstruction a safe margin - ignoring the line)

If you are moving out on the road, quick shoulder check, indicate, when moved out, cancel.

- Could you advise me on the correct procedure to avoid getting marks for observation turning right?

Basically, look where you are going, checking other directions. On approach, interior mirror, outside mirrors, quick right shoulder check, indicate, move to just left of white line, slow down change gears, you should now be half a car length or so from the junction, look into new road, quick check to the left right mirror, ahead to make sure its safe to turn, then look into new road and turn. You only give the one shoulder check - before the junction before moving to the white line. Some people get marked for looking around too much, not looking where they are going.


-At a cross roads there are roadworks which have closed off one of the lanes at the junction for going straight ahead meaning that if you plan going straight ahead you have to go into the lane for turning right and cut back in at the junction to continue going straight. Should I indicate right around the traffic cones or would this be deemed as misleading any following cars into thinking I am going to turn right at the junction? .

Think have answered that. Changing your position on the road, you indicate your intention to do so, otherwise following traffic might attempt to overtake or undertake. When you are driving past an obstruction you should not be indicating, that could be misleading.

-Regarding the woman on the road, she was stood at the junction, a foot off the footpath (where I should have stopped to turn left). I positioned myself where I would be if I was turning right and completed the left turn. I received a mark for road position turning left so I'm guessing I should have just stopped and waited for her to move off in her own time.

You were lucky (?) you did not get a grade 3. By staying out so wide you opened up the road for say a motorbike to undertake you and run the woman down. (Good enough for her, you might say ). What I said in my last post, keep in, slow down, give her an opportunity to get out of the way. If it looks like she will not move then you very carefully drive around her. If to do so would put you or other road users at risk then sit and wait, but note, she does not have the right to obstruct traffic, so it might be in order to give her a wee blast on the horn. Depends, if she is pretending not to see you and it would be dangerous to drive around.

Edit: Re. the woman. For some strange reason got the idea from your first post that she had no intention to cross the road. Thought she was standing there, having a chat with someone else ????. My above replies assumed that scenario. If she was waiting to cross then follow your line into the corner, slow right down, stop, allow her to cross, do not wave her on (grade 3 - you might be waving her into danger)