Irish Driving Test A Racket?

CruelCoin

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Where was that - mine was twice as long and I got up to 100 kph on it.

I was in the car for 40mins, dual carriageway and all.

CruelCoin

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

Mirrors leave blind spots. Bikes can easily sit in those blindspots, and the whole looking over your shoulder thing is to ensure you don't mow someone out of it.....
We should all be doing it. (I don't by the way, but i know i should).

Mr. Nice

Dublinwon wrote: »

Another example of how corrupt the whole thing is

If the tester had asked for a bribe, it would be corrupt. This just sounds like another sour grapes story.
"Shure I know I can drive grand, the reason I failed is because the test is a racket..." :rolleyes:

KillerShamrock

humbert wrote: »

Coming to a stop in forth would almost certainly mean coasting.

I don't get this part of your post how is stopping in 4th coasting?. Keeping the clutch in while moving with no intention to change gear or putting it in neutral while going down hill would be coasting not stopping in gear!

humbert

Richie6904 wrote: »

I don't get this part of your post how is stopping in 4th coasting?. Keeping the clutch in while moving with no intention to change gear or putting it in neutral while going down hill would be coasting not stopping in gear!

Fair point, it's probably not as black and white as I made out. But if you stop in 2nd or 3rd you can let your foot off the clutch and the engine will bring you to your desired stopping point, whereas in 4th at low speed it will stall so if you stop a bit short you'll basically be letting the car roll forward. You have far less control over the manoeuvre which I think is legitimately fault-worthy. It's a different situation if you're stopping abruptly at a light change.

doriansmith

humbert wrote: »

Fair point, it's probably not as black and white as I made out. But if you stop in 2nd or 3rd you can let your foot off the clutch and the engine will bring you to your desired stopping point, whereas in 4th at low speed it will stall so if you stop a bit short you'll basically be letting the car roll forward. You have far less control over the manoeuvre which I think is legitimately fault-worthy. It's a different situation if you're stopping abruptly at a light change.

I learned to drive last year & was taught to stop in whatever gear you were driving in, so regularly stop in 4th. Passed my driving test on the first go a few months ago & got no faults for stopping in 4th gear.

humbert

doriansmith wrote: »

I learned to drive last year & was taught to stop in whatever gear you were driving in, so regularly stop in 4th. Passed my driving test on the first go a few months ago & got no faults for stopping in 4th gear.

If the other poster is to be believed that would make you fortunate. I was told not to and the reasoning behind it made sense to me.

doriansmith

humbert wrote: »

If the other poster is to be believed that would make you fortunate. I was told not to and the reasoning behind it made sense to me.

How long ago were you told not to? Maybe in the past it was taught that way but these days it's taught that it's fine to stop in 4th. I would've failed my test otherwise as I would've been constantly stopping in 4th during it. Another friend of mine learnt to drive last year too and was taught the same way & passed first time too.

humbert

doriansmith wrote: »

How long ago were you told not to? Maybe in the past it was taught that way but these days it's taught that it's fine to stop in 4th. I would've failed my test otherwise as I would've been constantly stopping in 4th during it. Another friend of mine learnt to drive last year too and was taught the same way & passed first time too.

Within the last year. I can't say that I've heard of anyone getting faulted for it other than the poster in this thread but, having said that, I can't see it as good practice so I'd change down regardless (where there is time to do it comfortably).

TwoShedsJackson

humbert wrote: »

Within the last year. I can't say that I've heard of anyone getting faulted for it other than the poster in this thread but, having said that, I can't see it as good practice so I'd change down regardless (where there is time to do it comfortably).

Totally unnecesary. People were told to change down the gears in Ye Olden Dayes when the brakes on the car were nowhere near as good as they are now, so changing down provided extra braking force from the engine being in a lower gear.

doriansmith

humbert wrote: »

Within the last year. I can't say that I've heard of anyone getting faulted for it other than the poster in this thread but, having said that, I can't see it as good practice so I'd change down regardless (where there is time to do it comfortably).

Fair enough, seems different testers seem to mark people for different things. I don't think it's a racket or believe there's quotas but I definitely think there's an element of luck involved in passing. I'm just glad I only had to go through it once

Ando's Saggy Bottom

humbert wrote: »

Lots of people on this thread not willing to take responsibility for their bad driving. Wish there was a test for that.

Yup. Lots of excuses being made. "The system is corrupt" just screams petulance and blame shifting to me.

There's people whining about failing because they didn't check their blind spot FFS !

GreenEagle

Yes only 3-4 perfectly competent drivers out of every 10 will be passed as otherwise it becomes utterly obvious that it is indeed a money making racket. The test is straight forward but most will be failed on their initial test even if they are near flawless, this is in order to acquire more money to pay the wages of these crooks and also enabling their colleagues in the driving schools to cash in further. I'm sure there are many honest testers but it is clear that the barrel also contains many bad apples who take advantage of a subjective marking scheme which is open to this type of corruption. The problem is very bad and really needs to be highlighted in the media so it can be brought to light and dealt with. An independent method of oversight ought to be put in place and testers found to be abusing their position fired. As stated by a previous poster Raheny test centre in Dublin with its 39% initial test pass rate seems to be a prime culprit.

Sam Kade

challengemaster wrote: »

Yes, don't give them your €85, go somewhere else and do your test, like Germany. That only costs €3000.

Honestly if you can't pass the Irish driving test, which is pretty simple, you don't deserve to be on the roads.



If only you knew how stupid what you just said was.

I've seen plenty drivers who passed their driving test and they still don't deserve to be on the roads.

40now

Sam Kade wrote: »

I've seen plenty drivers who passed their driving test and they still don't deserve to be on the roads.

We all know people like that unfortunately.

Sam Kade

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.

Bullsh1t, the instructor won't tell you whether you passed or failed until you are back in the test centers office.

Sam Kade

PogMoThoin wrote: »

The test here is a pure farce, we are a nation of chronic bad drivers, I'm not sure how loyts of those out there ever passed a test.
You don't drive at faster than 50kph in the test, but once passed you are allowed you drive unsupervised on a 120kph motorway, madness.
The test should include parking in an enclosed area, like a shopping centre car park. A 360' turn in a quiet area proves nothing.
I'd also be of the opinion that anyone over 40 should resit their test every 10 years and anyone over retirement age resit every 3.

I was wondering how long it would take for the everyone over 40 should take a test brigade to come on.

Daveysil15

It took me four attempts before I passed. It seems there's a bit of confusion about certain rules. One examiner faulted me for keeping the car in 4th gear while on the main road into town. Another guy faulted me for putting it into 5th on the same road. I was told by my driving instructor to keep it in 4th on that particular road.

Yamanoto

The RSA are currently seeking submissions from the public on possible changes to the Driving Test.

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Consultations/Driving%20Test%20Reform%20-%20Public%20Consultation%20Document%20June%202014.pdf

Recommendation 1: Increase the amount of on-road
driving time

Recommendation 2: Introduce independent driving into
the practical driving tests (where the test candidate drives without direction from the tester)

Recommendation 3: Include the assessment of eco-driving techniques

Recommendation 4: Hazard management should be
assessed in the practical test

Recommendation 5: Change the emphasis of the oral
part of the practical test to be an assessment of
understanding (This recommendation looks to replace assessing test candidate’s knowledge of the rules of the road with checking that they have
greater understanding of the rules and greater risk awareness).

Recommendation 6: Remove the oral part of the
practical test to allow for more emphasis to be put on
the on road driving assessment.

Recommendation 7: Driver Tester feedback after the
driving test - To enhance the current feedback given, the following
recommendations are under consideration:

 Introduction of the candidate completing self-assessment to the
Driver Tester after the result has been issued to them (i.e. how
they think they drove during the test, what elements of driving do
they feel needs improvement, how they coped with a certain
situation that arose during the test

foggy_lad

GreenEagle wrote: »

Yes only 3-4 perfectly competent drivers out of every 10 will be passed as otherwise it becomes utterly obvious that it is indeed a money making racket. The test is straight forward but most will be failed on their initial test even if they are near flawless, this is in order to acquire more money to pay the wages of these crooks and also enabling their colleagues in the driving schools to cash in further. I'm sure there are many honest testers but it is clear that the barrel also contains many bad apples who take advantage of a subjective marking scheme which is open to this type of corruption. The problem is very bad and really needs to be highlighted in the media so it can be brought to light and dealt with. An independent method of oversight ought to be put in place and testers found to be abusing their position fired. As stated by a previous poster Raheny test centre in Dublin with its 39% initial test pass rate seems to be a prime culprit.

You passed then?

questionmark?

GreenEagle wrote: »

Yes only 3-4 perfectly competent drivers out of every 10 will be passed as otherwise it becomes utterly obvious that it is indeed a money making racket. The test is straight forward but most will be failed on their initial test even if they are near flawless, this is in order to acquire more money to pay the wages of these crooks and also enabling their colleagues in the driving schools to cash in further. I'm sure there are many honest testers but it is clear that the barrel also contains many bad apples who take advantage of a subjective marking scheme which is open to this type of corruption. The problem is very bad and really needs to be highlighted in the media so it can be brought to light and dealt with. An independent method of oversight ought to be put in place and testers found to be abusing their position fired. As stated by a previous poster Raheny test centre in Dublin with its 39% initial test pass rate seems to be a prime culprit.

What a great first post. Founded on complete bull****e fact. You'll do well here :rolleyes:

GreenEagle

foggy_lad wrote: »

You passed then?

, I most assuredly did or more correctly was allowed to on my second attempt however only after i had paid twice for the privilege.
Both tests in my eyes were totally identical, they had to be as i drove correctly and safely on each occasion.
The bare faced robbery of the first test still annoys me however, especially when i was told the pedantic and subjective fabricated grade 2 reasons given.
The system is is open to total corruption and anyone who doesn't believe this is happening, doesn't live in the real world.
In Ireland if people can get away with using a system to put more money in the their pockets unfortunately many will, its naivety to expect anything else. This however doesn't mean people should just accept it.

maguic24

Ahhhh...the driving test!!

Passed it, first time when I was 18. The locks on my little Micra were dodgy at the time. I remember when we got back to the test centre, the tester went to open the door and of course the car locked and kept locking when I tried to unlock it. I was like 'fúck, fúck, fúck, fúck' and tried to it pull off as a mistake on my part.:o

failinis

I done my test in the UK, I am not sure how different it is to the Republic.

Here you learn parallel parking, bay parking, reverse corner and 3 point turn, surprised the parallel is not taught down there?

I passed on my 4th go.
1st attempt was simply my nerves, shaking like a leaf so failed on being very hesitant and looking like I never even wanted to be there.
2nd attempt I was ill, done the test feeling like death warmed up - I failed because I went into the wrong lane at a mini round about.
3rd attempt I apparently was too hesitant and never looked left enough times.
4th attempt, they forgot I was coming, had no one to take me out on my test - so they got a man who passes people on driving lorries, and there were protestant marches on which left a lot of areas hectic to go to. Because my test started late, and they had someone booked after me, I had about 15 minutes on my test, fastest one out of the 4 and I think he passed me because I was left waiting so long.

Honestly, I am still not a very assured driver, not very confident. I was taught in the city which is good - I can cope with traffic and such, but the back roads where I live are a night mare.
Plus, I think motorways certainly need to be taught, would feel so much safer going out and about.

On the whole "depends on the examiner", that is true. Does the Republic offer for your driving instructor to sit in the back seat? I never asked for him to do so, but it is on offer - would stop very bias marking?
I always got told conflicting info on why I failed, going into 4th or 2nd or whatever, one said I should have, other said not to etc.

Mr. Incognito

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

I would have agreed with you until one day on the motorway I nearly drove into a car in my blind spot and had my sister not written off her car after failing to check her blind spot.

To be honest some of the blasé and patently stupid suggestions here suggest how ignorant people are of basic driving skills.

And emergency handbrake being a basic skill. Buy a bicycle mate.

Yeah the blind spot thing is seriously important, so is checking your mirrors before a turn etc.

maguic24

I'm a serious over shoulder looker, especially on motorways!! It is the only thing that saved me from getting absolutely creamed on the M1 once.

Daveysil15

Where exactly is this blind spot? I have never seen it.

maguic24

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Where exactly is this blind spot? I have never seen it.

Of course you haven't seen it, it's a blind spot. :pac:

Daveysil15

maguic24 wrote: »

Of course you haven't seen it, it's a blind spot. :pac:

Yes that was kind of my point like.

maguic24

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Yes that was kind of my point like.

It's on the right or left of your vehicle. You look into your mirrors but there's nothing there so you think there is nothing there but the car to the left or right of you is actually out of view of the mirror. That's why you check over your shoulders.

Does that make sense, I'm not very good at explaining things?

kunst nugget

maguic24 wrote: »

It's on the right or left of your vehicle. You look into your mirrors but there's nothing there so you think there is nothing there but the car to the left or right of you is actually out of view of the mirror. That's why you check over your shoulders.

Does that make sense, I'm not very good at explaining things?

I do believe it was a joke, Watson...

maguic24

kunst nugget wrote: »

I do believe it was a joke, Watson...

Woops, having a slow day today. :pac:

Daveysil15

maguic24 wrote: »

It's on the right or left of your vehicle. You look into your mirrors but there's nothing there so you think there is nothing there but the car to the left or right of you is actually out of view of the mirror. That's why you check over your shoulders.

Does that make sense, I'm not very good at explaining things?

Ahh that's too much hassle. I'll just get some lamborghini mirrors.

PizzamanIRL

Has anyone ever reversed around a bend since their driving test?

biko

Several times.

guppy

I effed up my reverse around a corner early in my test so assumed I'd failed. I mentally relaxed after that, and passed!

Cranky git though, he kept me waiting til I was signing something and asked how I'd failed to tell me I'd passed.

smellmepower

€45 for the theory test and then they want another few quid if you want a text reminder of your test date,you'd think for that price it would be included.Not a big deal but just sort of annoyed me when I booked my test the other week!

I reserved a hoover in Argos earlier and they sent me a (free!) text reminder!

BeerWolf

My first driving test, had 100% in my theory and flawless driving til the end where some dick was giving the wrong signals and I reacted accordingly... and the ****ing instructor gave me an instant RED and wouldn't tell me the reason, saying such bull**** that he was not at liberty to say... :mad:

Arthur Beesley

smellmepower wrote: »

€45 for the theory test and then they want another few quid if you want a text reminder of your test date,you'd think for that price it would be included.Not a big deal but just sort of annoyed me when I booked my test the other week!

I reserved a hoover in Argos earlier and they sent me a (free!) text reminder!

Was it a Dyson?

sligojoek

Originally Posted by maintown34
Yet the test lacks basic skills such as an emergency handbrake stop.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Again, why would you ever do that?!

Its not a rally school test!
Speaking of which I've always wanted to take rally driving course...

Fierce handy if you have a tailgater

EyeSight

passed my test years ago and yes it is a racket. The prices are high(not sure why), the waiting list for the full was too long(is it still now?) and the full test seemed to be geared to making people fail.
Sure safety should come first, but not explaining why someone failed and finding tiny bad luck reasons to fail someone is just retarded

So glad i got my licence before this "have x number of lessons first". The government should have made the lessons more affordable before bringing that rule in.
To bring down waiting times and make drivers more knowledgeable they should allow private companies to perform tests. I got my licence in the USA also and they do this. You can just walk in and do your test any day, most instructors are off duty cops and they have great robust driving school programs for anyone aged 16-20

Daveysil15

PizzamanIRL wrote: »

Has anyone ever reversed around a bend since their driving test?

No but I've often done a parallel park which strangely enough is not in the test. Normally when you reverse around a corner they get you to go back a few yards and then stop. But on one of my driving tests the guy had me reversing the whole way back to the end of the estate. I was almost at the end of road when I eventually clipped the curb. Then he said, "ok you can go on now." The fcuker waited for me to hit it. Then he told me to drive into a little narrow lane and do the 3 point turn. I looked at him in disbelief. I mean you couldn't swing a cat in it, nevermind a Corolla. It really depends on the examiner.

FullblownRose

I know someone who was failed. I dont know how many things they were failed on but one of them was for waiting for the green 'left' arrow at traffic lights. Their tester felt they should have just gone ahead and made the left turn because the way was clear. It was not that the arrow was not working and they were sitting there for half an hour waiting anyway, or anything!

The tester was sighing loudly during the test too. I think that is unprofessional and bound to make the driver nervous.

It is too expensive to apply for tests imo.

If the way is clear you do go ahead and make the turn otherwise you're holding people up

FullblownRose

bluewolf wrote: »

If the way is clear you do go ahead and make the turn otherwise you're holding people up

They said there was nobdy behind them either! And they didnt have to wait for long?

I don't understand why that would contribute to a fail tbh

FullblownRose

FullblownRose wrote: »

They said there was nobdy behind them either! And they didnt have to wait for long?

I don't understand why that would contribute to a fail tbh

If someone sits at a junction at a green light for no reason, with no traffic or otherwise, do you think they're competent or have their full attention on the road?
Anyway even if there was nobody behind tem that time, if they didn't know they should go in general they might keep stopping even when there is traffic

spongebob89

Absolute racket ! My first test fare enough i desereved to fail, my second i drove perfect i know i did an failed me, said i wasent looking where i was going if that was threw i wud have crashed (scaming *****)

THIRD time was when the northbound nct center opened up and i was expecting to fail i made lots of mistakes and he passed me i was only so lucky because that center had a rep for handing out licences but its gone now so yas are all screwed, if u drive perfect and one of them ***** had a row with their hubbys automatic fail

Skill Magill

FullblownRose wrote: »

The tester was sighing loudly during the test too. I think that is unprofessional and bound to make the driver nervous.

It is too expensive to apply for tests imo.

Finglas by any chance?

anncoates

A lot of Irish people are inordinately fond of branding any simple civic process that requires a modicum of personal responsibility as a racket or nanny statism.