New Driving Test Centre in Dun Laoghaire

iconnect

Just thought i would let everyone know there is a new test centre opening off Pottery Rd behind Lidl. Tests are starting in February so the waiting lists should be dropping further.:D

Red Alert

I just got a date on that one too

Healio

Is that in addition to Deansgrange, or did they move from deansgrange?

Red Alert

The girl in SGS said that it was in addition to deansgrange. Apparently deansgrange is operating at capacity already.

John

I've been sent there instead of Churchtown and I'm a bit concerned about driving around there as I don't know the area at all. Does anyone know exactly where this test centre is? I went up around that Lidl on Pottery Rd. to see where it was, followed the map they sent out and didn't find any trace of a test centre there.

And does anyone know of any driving schools that work in that area (aside from ISM)? I should get a lesson or two up there just to familiarise myself with the probable test routes.

Red Alert

I just looked at the map yesterday. Planning to head out there in the next day or two so if I see the test centre i'll put it on here.

From where it is it's probably safe enough to imagine they'll be using the deansgrange test routes?

Punchesnpeaches

I'm scheduled to be one of the 1st to do the test from the Pottery Rd centre. I've been having driving lessons around Deansgrange. My driving instructor is dubious as to whether it'll open in time; the office isn't built yet. As against that, however, all they really need to run a test centre is a portacabin.

My driving instructor doubts that they'll copy the Deansgrange routes as there are 4 people being tested every hour, so that would mean that the routes would be busier. There is likely to be some overlap however.

Yuck, i wish that I could just do it from Deansgrange.

betterdrive.net

Punchesnpeaches wrote: »

I'm scheduled to be one of the 1st to do the test from the Pottery Rd centre. I've been having driving lessons around Deansgrange. My driving instructor is dubious as to whether it'll open in time; the office isn't built yet. As against that, however, all they really need to run a test centre is a portacabin.

My driving instructor doubts that they'll copy the Deansgrange routes as there are 4 people being tested every hour, so that would mean that the routes would be busier. There is likely to be some overlap however.

Yuck, i wish that I could just do it from Deansgrange.

I would not panic about it they wont be going far off the existing routes for Deansgrange.

prodigal_son

My sister just got a letter to do it there instead of churchtown, Can anyone name some good pre-test people in the deansgrange area, or just some good lessons around the area with a lean towards this new center?

thanks in advance..

iconnect

you might find an instructor if you google deansgrange pre test:D

bikini widow

Hi All,

I have my test in SGS Driving Centre, pottery road fast approaching.
- Can anybody recommend a good pre-test instructor for new route?
- Does anybody know what the new route might be yet?

I'm getting nervous.
Kind regards,
BW

prodigal_son

iconnect wrote: »

you might find an instructor if you google deansgrange pre test:D

I might also find out what this growth on my back is, if i google it, doesn't beat first hand experience/knowledge a doctor would have does it?

but i vill do that, thanks.

cance

prodigal_son wrote: »

I might also find out what this growth on my back is, if i google it, doesn't beat first hand experience/knowledge a doctor would have does it?

but i vill do that, thanks.

www.appleschoolofmotoring.com was my instructor, he's excellent and based just around the corner.

Red Alert

I'm going to go and locate this centre possibly tomorrow so I'll put up a photo of it if I see it. Is it open for testing yet?

Go right at Bakers corner and you will come to a "V" in the road. Head right on the road and keep going until you see an Aldi/Lidl (cant remember). You will see a sign going into the centre on your right. Ive passed it a couple of times.

Punchesnpeaches

Yup, it's open. I did my test there on Tuesday (I passed, yay). I really can't remember the route that I was taken on though. I cam out of the centre and turned right and then I turned left at the lights at the end of the road. I don't remember where I went after that but I ended up in Sallynoggin. There was a bit of overlap with the Deansgrange routes; but not a whole lot.

happychick

i was in the same boat as ye, put in to do my test in rathgar (failed there last time but know the route & live close by area) and ended up getting dun laoighaire - a test centre thats only been open a week or two!!

they say the sgs testers are nice tho & im hoping if i get a few lessons on the deansgrange route that ill get lucky & some of my test will be on that..was out for my first lesson last night with my new instructor, steven from betterdrive.net and he was really good - id say i needed the hour and a half lesson he gives. the route is way different from rathgar tho, the roads in those housing estates must be centuries old!! its always weird driving a new route but he seemed to know his stuff & he was saying that a bunch of the instructors get together practiaclly every day to discuss the dun laoighaire route 7 any test sightings they've spotted or any of their pupils that were on its feedback

Noskoda

John wrote: »

And does anyone know of any driving schools that work in that area (aside from ISM)? I should get a lesson or two up there just to familiarise myself with the probable test routes.

Some decent instructors who do pre-tests in that test centre [and Deansgrange] include

A.J's Driving School
Accelerate Driving School
Park Driving School
Better Drive

Routes are NOT the same as Deansgrange

Michelley

Ive my 1st driving test in the new test centre in Dun Laoghaire start of march, quite nervous, and by quite i mean really really really nervous! I'm from Rathfarnham so dont know the area at all.
Any suggests or advice???

Healio

Michelley wrote: »

Ive my 1st driving test in the new test centre in Dun Laoghaire start of march, quite nervous, and by quite i mean really really really nervous! I'm from Rathfarnham so dont know the area at all.
Any suggests or advice???

I understand why you are really, really nervous. The fact you live a good bit away should make no difference. We all can be great drivers on roads we know, its the ones you don't know that will tell a tester you're road-worthy or not. To be honest the nervousness will go the minute you walk into the test centre and start answering the rules of the road questions. To put it frank, it is exactly like the leaving cert, you worry yourself for two years non-stop then 10 mins in, you turn around and think "what's the problem here?"

robck1

For the new test centre,

Turn right at bakers corner if you are coming up from kill lane in deansgrange, the odd "V" shape will be in front of you, go straight which is a right turn, follow the road until the sharp right turn onto a road parallel to lidl, continue past lidl about 50 metres is the new test centre on your right. They have a huge sign up now so once your past lidl you should see it

Fizzy86

Does anyone know what routes they are using for the tests? Is it similar to the Deansgrange one? Have my test there in March and my instructer doesn't know of anyone who's had it there yet...:(

robck1

My driving instructor said the test routes are the exact same as the ones used by the deansgrange centre, been driving around the surrounding area just in case thou

Red Alert

One I had: Turn left out of the centre, straight through the lights, turn right at bakers corner, first left at the roundabout at the end of the road, all the way through monkstown village, turn right, then left, right again. I'm not sure about the rest though because I can't remember.

Danbo!

passed my test here today. really sound tester called mark, friendly and not too robot like. heres the route i did - hope its clear enough. i did a pretest before hand and we followed someone else doing it, doing the same route.

Healio

Does anyone know anyone who's failed here yet??

Danbo!

while i was there 5 people came into the waiting room after doing their tests, 3 had failed, 2 passed

chump

noblestee wrote: »

while i was there 5 people came into the waiting room after doing their tests, 3 had failed, 2 passed

look at the stickied topic on top though - many have passed there lately, incl. myself.

I must say I thought they marked me fairly easy, as I drove fairly shocking on day - with nerves.
It's a tough area if you're not used to it. It's all 50kph driving through narrow estates, cars parked both sides, ridiculously weird roundabouts, hills, fancy junctions etc. - I reckon they pass anyone who gets around without any serious calamity. By the by I was very unfamiliar with the area, having done the pretest just before the real test!

Best of luck.

Ps. the route attached above was not the one I did

romarr

I got a cancellation for dun laoghaire... I can count the amount of times ive been out there on one thumb

Has anyone any experiences of test in Dun Laoghaire ?

what was your route?

thanks

ss

Thread merged with existing one.

prodigal_son

supersnail wrote: »

I got a cancellation for dun laoghaire... I can count the amount of times ive been out there on one thumb

Has anyone any experiences of test in Dun Laoghaire ?

what was your route?

thanks

ss

Thread merged with existing one.

I passed at Dun Laoghaire, I got only one fault (grade 2) which was due to practicing in a different car than i did the test in.

The route was very similar to Noblestee above, I went on 2 roundabouts, the first one i went on twice, I went on one quite good road and struggled to keep it at 50.. Felt like i was crawling along lol and spent the rest of the time in around the estates kinda. I got quite a narrow road to do the turnabout on, at the same time i seen another person sitting the test do one on a very wide main road.

Handy enough and i flew through it.

LadyE

I have my test in Dun Laoghaire today!!! Holy crap Im nervous!!!!!!!

happychick

LadyE wrote: »

I have my test in Dun Laoghaire today!!! Holy crap Im nervous!!!!!!!

Im tmoro afternoon - terrified :eek:

quick question - if its raining tmoro, like it was last night, do you still have to do the under the bonnet questions??

anyone any last minute tips?!

LadyE

happychick wrote: »

Im tmoro afternoon - terrified :eek:

quick question - if its raining tmoro, like it was last night, do you still have to do the under the bonnet questions??

anyone any last minute tips?!

Just back - I passed (whoo hoo)

I didnt do the bonnet thing, he said it was too windy...

I fooked up so many times with the questions, couldnt get the answers out properly (bad at explaining them!) but he was very understanding..I even changed the answers and he was fine..

I had a lovely guy called Tom (or Thomas) they put you right at ease tho with joking and stuff.

Last minute tip would be: Observation, observation, observation!! I got marks for both of these on right and left hand turns..

My route was:

Right out of the test centre
Down pottery road
Left at N11
Off N11 at loughlinstown
Third right at roundabout, did the turnaround in one of the estates
Down to Tesco in Ballybrack (the housing estate there)
Did reverse around corner in housing estate
Back to test centre via Johnstown Road

Quite a tough route I think..

BTW the speed limit at the left of the dual carraige was is 60...I was doing 70 until I saw the speed limit!!!

Very nerve racking...but very understanding tester..

I was sooo nervous but he was sooo understanding even when I indicated and prepared to turn right when he said left :eek::D

Best of luck tomorrow!

happychick

LadyE wrote: »

Just back - I passed (whoo hoo)

I didnt do the bonnet thing, he said it was too windy...

I fooked up so many times with the questions, couldnt get the answers out properly (bad at explaining them!) but he was very understanding..I even changed the answers and he was fine..

I had a lovely guy called Tom (or Thomas) they put you right at ease tho with joking and stuff.

Last minute tip would be: Observation, observation, observation!! I got marks for both of these on right and left hand turns..

My route was:

Right out of the test centre
Down pottery road
Left at N11
Off N11 at loughlinstown
Third right at roundabout, did the turnaround in one of the estates
Down to Tesco in Ballybrack (the housing estate there)
Did reverse around corner in housing estate
Back to test centre via Johnstown Road

Quite a tough route I think..

BTW the speed limit at the left of the dual carraige was is 60...I was doing 70 until I saw the speed limit!!!

Very nerve racking...but very understanding tester..

I was sooo nervous but he was sooo understanding even when I indicated and prepared to turn right when he said left :eek::D

Best of luck tomorrow!

Congrats LadyE - well done, you must be delighted!

i havent been in the test centre - usually start ,my lessons from lidl car park - is there room enough to park in there? should i get in there in plenty of time to reverse park into my space?

dont know the route really - had just 2 lessons & dont know the area but thanks for posting it up. how many faults did u get in total? do u remember what questions/road signs he asked?

sorry for all the questions - fierce nervous

Danbo!

happychick wrote: »

should i get in there in plenty of time to reverse park into my space?

The car park for the test centre is very big and easy to move around. there are no spaces marked out so no pressure to sit exactly between 2 white lines. remember to reverse into your space before the test so you can drive straight out, and when you get back after the test, drive straight in, tis a lot easier.

i did my test there a few weeks ago. the route i did is different to LadyE, i posted mine earlier in this thread if you want to practice that too.

happychick

noblestee wrote: »

The car park for the test centre is very big and easy to move around. there are no spaces marked out so no pressure to sit exactly between 2 white lines. remember to reverse into your space before the test so you can drive straight out, and when you get back after the test, drive straight in, tis a lot easier.

i did my test there a few weeks ago. the route i did is different to LadyE, i posted mine earlier in this thread if you want to practice that too.

Thanks for the reply noblestee - im really nervous so it helps to have as much info as possible! from reading the posts the instructors sound really nice & as long as I keep my wits about me I should be ok (fingers crossed!) have a pre-test lesson tmoro morning & test in the afternoon so have plenty of time in between to go through the rules of the road/possible questions

thanks again

thecoolfreak

Have my test in Dun Laoighaire tomorrow aswell. That route LadyE took is different from the routes I was shown by my instructor. Looks like they have quite a few routes they can take you on. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter as long as I concentrate and don't be nervous

far2gud

I did mine here a couple of weeks ago, the <SNIP> put a supervisor in the car with the tester. She was more nervous than me, can't help but feel there were 2 people being tested.

Anyway, I failed with 14 grade 2 faults, all in different categories. Not a word said other than instruction for the entire journey :mad:

It was horrific!!

LadyE

I had two marks left - I dont care because I passed!!!

The questions they asked were:
what does a single yellow line mean (no parking during office hours),
what does a double yellow line mean (no parking any time) ,
double continous white lines (no overtaking or crossing line unless for access),
two instances to dip your headlights at ngiht (cant remember what I said, but I got it right, think when an oncoming car is coming and when you are causing an inconvenience for other drivers)
Signs were:

The one for unguarded quay or canal
Speed limits
End of dual carraige way
Major road bears to left/right
(cant remeber the rest) they asked about 10 or so signs

They asked every single hgand single - front and back

They asked me functions of my car (demister etc.)

I hadnt practised the route either - so kinda threw me going onto the dualler, because the speed limit is unclear!!

My route was route 2 btw

Previous poster is right about the parking - no lines or anything so easy to do!!

There are two hill starts before you get to the road - one coming out of the test centre and the one turning onto pottery road...so maybe drive into the test centre (or if the gates are locked to the gates) and practise that!!!

Also make sure you leave enough room behind you when you park (reverse into space) so the tester can check your brake lights!

LadyE

far2gud wrote: »

I did mine here a couple of weeks ago, the <SNIP> put a supervisor in the car with the tester. She was more nervous than me, can't help but feel there were 2 people being tested.

Anyway, I failed with 14 grade 2 faults, all in different categories. Not a word said other than instruction for the entire journey :mad:

It was horrific!!

Sorry to hear that!

thecoolfreak

LadyE, did they make you do an actual hill start coming out of the test centre or could you just continue going provided the way was clear ie you didn't have to stop

LadyE

thecoolfreak wrote: »

LadyE, did they make you do an actual hill start coming out of the test centre or could you just continue going provided the way was clear ie you didn't have to stop

Well, I had to stop anyway (because of traffic) so was technicallya hillstart..think tester took it as that anyway because I wasnt asked to do one in the test (because of those two!)

LadyE

Plus, the turn onto pottery road, there is a stop sign and its a tricky road to get onto (staright after a bend and an obstruction to the left, a bush) so there is a hillstart that you cant avoid

thecoolfreak

LadyE wrote: »

Plus, the turn onto pottery road, there is a stop sign and its a tricky road to get onto (staright after a bend and an obstruction to the left, a bush) so there is a hillstart that you cant avoid

I don't like that junction. Horrible way to start a test. You have to stop and then start to creep out to make sure there is nothing coming

Danbo!

thecoolfreak wrote: »

I don't like that junction. Horrible way to start a test. You have to stop and then start to creep out to make sure there is nothing coming

yep, thats a tough one. not putting anyone off or trying to make anyone nervous, but you should practice on it. you have to stop behind the line first and then edge your way out to see if its clear. i picked up 3 faults on this as it was just the start of the test so nerves got to me. when i released the handbrake i just started rolling back, not sure what happened, but picked up a grade 2 for handbrake, clutch and accelerator all at once

clemo1

ugh the exit from the centre is awful. Practiced there tonight and kinda screwed up comin onto Pottery Road. I just hoped the testers are sound. This is number 3 for me - 1st in Rathgar (nightmare with supervisor in tow - nowhere near ready), 2nd in Churchtown (should've passed but screwed up a few things that I wouldn't normally) Now I get a brand spanking new test centre so hopefully it'll be ok. It's on April 1st of course. Nothing is ever straight forward eh?

Thanks for the routes everyone - extremely helpful

wowy

clemo1 wrote: »

ugh the exit from the centre is awful. Practiced there tonight and kinda screwed up comin onto Pottery Road. I just hoped the testers are sound. This is number 3 for me - 1st in Rathgar (nightmare with supervisor in tow - nowhere near ready), 2nd in Churchtown (should've passed but screwed up a few things that I wouldn't normally) Now I get a brand spanking new test centre so hopefully it'll be ok. It's on April 1st of course. Nothing is ever straight forward eh?

Thanks for the routes everyone - extremely helpful

Huh, I'm also April 1st in the Dun Laoighre centre. Yeah, I've been practising a fair bit around that area. Took me a while before I was comfortable with that junction onto Pottery road, but after at least 15 goes at it, I think I have it now. Knowing my luck though, I'll probably nail the test, not get a single mark, show all the hill starts who's boss, but then get a grade 3 when parking at the end.

Fizzy86

I have my test tomorrow in dun laoghaire too. Seems like everyone does! I saw saw someone on their test the other day and they turned left out onto pottery road then went straight on up to that big roundabout and as far as newtown park. I'm guessing they turned on to the N11 at the top then. Didnt think they'd go that direction at all!
How long do they usually take you out for on the test?

Danbo!

my test lasted about 45 minutes. 5-10 mins for questions and car checks, probably about 25mins-30mins driving and then waited for 5 mins (which felt like 3 weeks) to get result. I was a bit hung up on how long it would last too, but to be honest apart from waiting at the start to waiting for results, it flies through. Any other queries before you pass tomorrow?

Fizzy86

Thanks, that doesnt sound too long! My driving isnt too bad but i had a pre-test at the weekend that wasnt great...I was so nervous and made some stupid mistakes because of that, so i suppose i'm just kind of worried that i'll mess it up because of nerves!

Danbo!

well bear in mind that SGS testers are a lot nicer than RSA ones. They'll make you feel more at ease. I was told this but still got nervous beforehand and messed up the hillstart as i explained earlier. I know in the last few posts the hill hasnt been getting a good reputation, but just treat it like any other..

They all use a PDA to mark your 'sheet' which helps, because if they were marking an actual sheet id be trying to see it any chance i could. He seemed to be tapping away on it constantly but i only had 4 faults, so dont be too worried if they are tapping away at it for the whole test!

Best of luck tomorow, now go get some sleep!