Driving tests "diabolical"?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Driving tests "diabolical"?

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#1034654 1-May-2014 11:03

few years ago, I almost failed my practical test, got told off twice by supervisor lady that I was accelerating too slowly (when I was not).

but my vehicle was not able to get into 50kmph within 5 secs going uphill :(

she was literally counting 1-2-3-4-5 and checked speedometer. wierd.

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Kyanar

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#1034669 1-May-2014 11:21

TimA:

Over 25 or 21 and you do a defensive driving course and pass its reduced to 12 months??

Nope. It's reduced to 3 months. From 6 months. Assuming you mean time between restricted and full.

kobiak: few years ago, I almost failed my practical test, got told off twice by supervisor lady that I was accelerating too slowly (when I was not).

but my vehicle was not able to get into 50kmph within 5 secs going uphill :(

she was literally counting 1-2-3-4-5 and checked speedometer. wierd.

Similarly, I got stung for going 5km/h over the limit. Instructor said "what speed are you going?" and when I rechecked the speedo and said "50" he responded "you're going 55. I don't even need to look at the speedo, I can feel it". Speedo, as noted, read 50. Drove past one of those "Your Speed" signs on the side of the road and it confirmed that the speedo was accurate as it said I was going 48/49 when the speedo read 50. Passed that time, but I would have raised hell if he tried to fail me on that.

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#1034687 1-May-2014 11:41

Wow, I'm speechless

insane

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#1034696 1-May-2014 11:49

bakewells5856:

..A friend told me that he failed the test for not looking in his rear view mirror often enough, then failed the second time for looking his his rear view mirror too often... this sort of thing is just ridiculous.

I don't see a problem here, firstly they weren't paying attention to what was around them, then they weren't paying enough attention to what's in front of them. Then it's only their side of the story too.

How is that "ridiculous"?

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#1034716 1-May-2014 12:05

kobiak: few years ago, I almost failed my practical test, got told off twice by supervisor lady that I was accelerating too slowly (when I was not).

but my vehicle was not able to get into 50kmph within 5 secs going uphill :(

she was literally counting 1-2-3-4-5 and checked speedometer. wierd.

We have just got our 17 year old a professional lesson in preparation for going for his restricted. One of the debrief points after the lesson was this one about accelerating away from an intersection (too slow). Is this 5 seconds to 50km part of the road code or NZ driving laws? If not then it shouldn't be a failure point, but rather something that is pointed out that makes you a good and considerate user of the road.

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#1034726 1-May-2014 12:11

insane:I don't see a problem here, firstly they weren't paying attention to what was around them, then they weren't paying enough attention to what's in front of them. Then it's only their side of the story too. How is that "ridiculous"?

There are quite a few opinions as to how often you should be checking the mirrors. All I'll say is that you can't see what's behind without checking but that doesn't mean that you lose sight of what's in front.

Years ago my instructor didn't do anything as pointless as count glances per minute, rather used to ask what colour is the car (insert position here) and expect you to know already.

bakewells5856

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#1034738 1-May-2014 12:22

insane:
bakewells5856: ..A friend told me that he failed the test for not looking in his rear view mirror often enough, then failed the second time for looking his his rear view mirror too often... this sort of thing is just ridiculous.

I don't see a problem here, firstly they weren't paying attention to what was around them, then they weren't paying enough attention to what's in front of them. Then it's only their side of the story too. How is that "ridiculous"?

He said he was looking a reasonable amount but they were unhappy because it wasn't precisely every 8 seconds or whatever its supposed to be. then again he could be lying too...

Similarly, I got stung for going 5km/h over the limit. Instructor said "what speed are you going?" and when I rechecked the speedo and said "50" he responded "you're going 55. I don't even need to look at the speedo, I can feel it". Speedo, as noted, read 50. Drove past one of those "Your Speed" signs on the side of the road and it confirmed that the speedo was accurate as it said I was going 48/49 when the speedo read 50. Passed that time, but I would have raised hell if he tried to fail me on that.

I had something like that in my test, person said I was going over the limit when I was going exactly 50. tried explaining that perhaps it just looks that way because she was looking it at on an angle but nope... still passed though so meh

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#1034743 1-May-2014 12:27

Dingbatt:Is this 5 seconds to 50km part of the road code or NZ driving laws? If not then it shouldn't be a failure point, but rather something that is pointed out that makes you a good and considerate user of the road.

In the test guide (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/photo/new-tests.html) I couldn't find slow acceleration but there was mention of waiting longer than 5 seconds to move after the way is clear to do so and travelling either 5k above or below the posted limit.

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#1034760 1-May-2014 12:39

I expect there is some loose reference to confidence, and this accelerating promptly (but not too promptly) is probably used as a measure of this. Likewise the ability to merge into sufficient gaps when presented and just generally not impeding the flow of surrounding traffic etc. Also temperament as to how you handle other road users who are clearly not following the appropriate road rules.

I do feel for anyone stuck in the present system of driver licenses. It was significantly easier in my day (and I'm only 35) but on the flip side I can understand the desire to improve the testing regime also. It just seems open to abuse or too limited for options if you're not happy with the level of assessment. I wonder if videoing the assessment via a gopro etc could be of interest?

There's that similar concept of imparted power with the WOF testing station, with these guys holding significant sway over whether you can legally use your car based on their at times pedantic personal interpretation of the rules.

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#1034762 1-May-2014 12:44

Didn't realise it had gone up, or maybe I took mine so long ago that I forgot it was 16. Sure it was 15 when I took it. TimA is correct, it was 6 months to restricted and 12 months after that with a defensive driving course, not 9 months as I thought.
Maybe they should have a mandatory car handling course as part of it. That would be cool, go out on a skid pan and learn the limits of your car, feel what it is like to lose control of it

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

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#1034816 1-May-2014 13:51

idk.. all this thread says to me, is TimA drives badly :P

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PhantomNVD

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#1035413 2-May-2014 13:17

hio77: idk.. all this thread says to me, is TimA drives badly :P

except for:

johnr:
TimA: I have been left very furious after 2 failed driving tests due to completely irrational and over the top bull crap.

I have been the passenger with @TimA on a number of drives and nothing wrong with his driving, I actually forgot I was in the car so he could learn to drive and meet his learners licence conditions

so either he's NOT a bad driver (but the test system is flawed (common opinion in this thread so far) or JohnR is just a bad instructer and led TimA to thinking he was ok?

Lol, here's hoping you aren't a Vodafone customer or TimA could have great fun running his 2TB download attempt though your usage meter ;)

Athlonite

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#1035421 2-May-2014 13:25

joker97: no one believes me when i tell them my first three drivers' licence were made of waxy paper and never expired until i grow too old to drive

Mine was a little book that you bought 1/2/5yr period stickers to put into it

Oh and the 1984 driving test was around the block 1 set of lights 1 stop sign and 1 give-way no hill start no parallel park and no reversing passed with flying colours and was also given my motorbike license at the same time :)

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#1035422 2-May-2014 13:25

PhantomNVD:
hio77: idk.. all this thread says to me, is TimA drives badly :P

except for:
johnr:
TimA: I have been left very furious after 2 failed driving tests due to completely irrational and over the top bull crap.

I have been the passenger with @TimA on a number of drives and nothing wrong with his driving, I actually forgot I was in the car so he could learn to drive and meet his learners licence conditions

so either he's NOT a bad driver (but the test system is flawed (common opinion in this thread so far) or JohnR is just a bad instructer and led TimA to thinking he was ok?

Lol, here's hoping you aren't a Vodafone customer or TimA could have great fun running his 2TB download attempt though your usage meter ;)

missed the sarcasm, maybe it was a bit of an inside joke..

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#1035441 2-May-2014 13:56

hio77:
PhantomNVD:
hio77: idk.. all this thread says to me, is TimA drives badly :P

except for:
johnr:
TimA: I have been left very furious after 2 failed driving tests due to completely irrational and over the top bull crap.

I have been the passenger with @TimA on a number of drives and nothing wrong with his driving, I actually forgot I was in the car so he could learn to drive and meet his learners licence conditions

so either he's NOT a bad driver (but the test system is flawed (common opinion in this thread so far) or JohnR is just a bad instructer and led TimA to thinking he was ok?

Lol, here's hoping you aren't a Vodafone customer or TimA could have great fun running his 2TB download attempt though your usage meter ;)

missed the sarcasm, maybe it was a bit of an inside joke..

Sorry... just saw a gap for a little poke at one/both there myself :)

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