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General => The Shed => Topic started by: ACE on March 10, 2010, 19:23:57

Title: driving theory test
Post by: ACE on March 10, 2010, 19:23:57: Options on your theory test. Did you know if English is not your first language you can take it in a language of your choice ,here are the options :-

Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Dari, English, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kurdish, Mirpuri, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Pushto, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, Welsh.

Now think about it ,you can't read English ,you are bolling down the motorway the overhead warning says stay left , shall I go on .

I'm told in France you have to take the test in French .

Passed on from a mate of mine. I'm amazed.
__________________
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 19:30:55: I tend to agree Ace, however, bear in mind that there is also a practical test where you have to react appropriately to road signs?

I think our theory test is far too easy. You can learn it up from the CD. In many countries you also have to pass a first aid test and a car maintenance test. I would welcome that here. (Car maintenance just means things like topping up fluids, tyre pressures etc. now that you can do nothing without the computer aided diagnostics)

Ah I remember stripping down my carburettor many years ago .....

Autres temps autres moeurs!
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: ACE on March 10, 2010, 19:37:20: Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 19:30:55
I tend to agree Ace, however, bear in mind that there is also a practical test where you have to react appropriately to road signs?

They do not go on motorways until after the test.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 19:55:36: true and that's bloody stupid!! (imho)

2 things today :
going round "roundabout" with traffic lights. left lane turn left, middle lane straight ahead, right lane straight ahead or right. I was in the right lane to turn right but on my way round a large (and very ugly) 4by4 cut in in front of me from the middle lane then drove at 25 mph in 40mph area. grrrrrrrr

approaching junction with traffic lights. left lane left or straight ahead. right lane right but about 20 metres further on at second traffic lights. As I drove straight ahead from left lane a large BMW in the right lane cut in in front of me and then proceeded at 25 mph in 40 mph area. double grrrrrrrrr
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: tonybloke on March 10, 2010, 19:57:43: The motorway signs over here in england (are there any motorways on the rock?) have symbols, like arrows to indicate which lane you should be in. This country allows foreign drivers (even those from IOW) to drive on our roads, and I believe english folk are allowed to drive in foreign countries as well.
are you suggesting folk should only be allowed on roads where they can speak the lingo?
:)
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: tonybloke on March 10, 2010, 19:59:03: Quote
then drove at 25 mph in 40mph area. grrrrrrrr

by the way, they are speed limits, which means the maximum speed, not the minimum. when exactly did you take your test?
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: ACE on March 10, 2010, 20:03:01: Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 19:55:36
true and that's bloody stupid!! (imho)

2 things today :
going round "roundabout" with traffic lights. left lane turn left, middle lane straight ahead, right lane straight ahead or right. I was in the right lane to turn right but on my way round a large (and very ugly) 4by4 cut in in front of me from the middle lane then drove at 25 mph in 40mph area. grrrrrrrr

approaching junction with traffic lights. left lane left or straight ahead. right lane right but about 20 metres further on at second traffic lights. As I drove straight ahead from left lane a large BMW in the right lane cut in in front of me and then proceeded at 25 mph in 40 mph area. double grrrrrrrrr
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: ACE on March 10, 2010, 20:04:37: Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 19:55:36
true and that's bloody stupid!! (imho)

2 things today :
going round "roundabout" with traffic lights. left lane turn left, middle lane straight ahead, right lane straight ahead or right. I was in the right lane to turn right but on my way round a large (and very ugly) 4by4 cut in in front of me from the middle lane then drove at 25 mph in 40mph area. grrrrrrrr

approaching junction with traffic lights. left lane left or straight ahead. right lane right but about 20 metres further on at second traffic lights. As I drove straight ahead from left lane a large BMW in the right lane cut in in front of me and then proceeded at 25 mph in 40 mph area. double grrrrrrrrr

Do you drive a nissan micra? if you do perhaps they were just getting their own back ;D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 20:09:52: Quote from: tonybloke on March 10, 2010, 19:59:03
Quote
then drove at 25 mph in 40mph area. grrrrrrrr

by the way, they are speed limits, which means the maximum speed, not the minimum. when exactly did you take your test?

When did you take yours matie?

My nephew is currently learning and has been told: speed limits mean you don't exceed that speed but also mean you drive at or close to that speed.

Why do you always have to be so offensive?
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 20:13:20: Quote from: ACE on March 10, 2010, 20:04:37
Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 19:55:36
true and that's bloody stupid!! (imho)

2 things today :
going round "roundabout" with traffic lights. left lane turn left, middle lane straight ahead, right lane straight ahead or right. I was in the right lane to turn right but on my way round a large (and very ugly) 4by4 cut in in front of me from the middle lane then drove at 25 mph in 40mph area. grrrrrrrr

approaching junction with traffic lights. left lane left or straight ahead. right lane right but about 20 metres further on at second traffic lights. As I drove straight ahead from left lane a large BMW in the right lane cut in in front of me and then proceeded at 25 mph in 40 mph area. double grrrrrrrrr

Do you drive a nissan micra? if you do perhaps they were just getting their own back ;D

errm no!
toyota auris diesel 2 litre?
does it matter in town or i it not more about driving style?
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Bugloss2009 on March 10, 2010, 20:20:58: actually the test is still in English, but you can get headphones to listen to a translation of the questions, and a translation of the options for the answers. Even if your English is good, you'ld be daft not to use it
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Pesky Wabbit on March 10, 2010, 21:03:12: Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 20:09:52
Quote from: tonybloke on March 10, 2010, 19:59:03
Quote
then drove at 25 mph in 40mph area. grrrrrrrr

by the way, they are speed limits, which means the maximum speed, not the minimum. when exactly did you take your test?

When did you take yours matie?

My nephew is currently learning and has been told: speed limits mean you don't exceed that speed but also mean you drive at or close to that speed.

Why do you always have to be so offensive?

NO. you drive at a speed that is safe both for you and other drivers.

I might be carrying as boot full of manure and seat full of eggs. Why should I drive at what the sign says. I didnt see many people driving at the maximum legal speed when the snow was around !!

Were does it say this either in he Highway Code or the Road Traffic Act ?

I suggest your nephew changes instructor.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: tonybloke on March 10, 2010, 21:10:34: Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 20:09:52

When did you take yours matie?

July, 1975. In Cambridge. (town with more than it's fair share of cyclists). I think it was a tuesday, at about 11 o'clock. I passed on the first attempt, and have never had a my-fault accident. had 1 (one) speeding ticket in 34 yrs. ;)
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: mat on March 10, 2010, 21:21:57: When I learnt (and passed) back in 1988, I was taught I had to drive at the speed limit. I would have failed my test (due to not "keeping up with the traffic") if I had not driven at just under 40mph in a 40mph area... obviously there are circumstances where one has to drive slower.

Police do sometimes stop drivers for driving "too slowly"
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: mike77 on March 10, 2010, 21:56:19: I failed my first test for driving too slowly!! As soon as driving became my living slow driving had to become a thing of the past ;D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Chrispy on March 10, 2010, 22:04:46: Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 19:30:55
Car maintenance just means things like topping up fluids, tyre pressures etc. now that you can do nothing without the computer aided diagnostics
4 times our car has been connected to a garages computer aided diagnostics, and 4 times it has been incorrectly diagnosed.
And I've done plenty of jobs on our car that don't need the diagnostics.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: markp2511 on March 10, 2010, 22:12:13: You're expected to 'make due progress' - 20mph in a 40 limit when it's icy is fine; on a sunny morning in dry, claer conditions and it's just bloody annoying! I ran a red light on my test and passed - I was turning right at a junction and 3 cars coming the opposite way ran the amber and red. I just booted it to avoid the traffic from the left as the lights changed, and was complimented for not panicking by the examiner. :)

If you're driving very slowly for a good reason (which I will be on Friday with my plasma screen in the back of a van moving house) then hazard lights are an option.

I was behind someone down the country lanes the other day barely doing 20 in a 60 limit, with nowhere to safely overtake for about 3 mile. I'm not the road rage type, but I was steaming after 10 minutes of that.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Digeroo on March 10, 2010, 23:57:02: I passed my test in 1968 and I cannot remember anything about going too slowly.

I did not do an emergency stop on my test because there was a huge lorry right on my tail which the examiner did not notice. Never seen someone look so pale. I don't think he noticed anything after that.

The cotswolds are full of people driving too slowly and there is nowhere to overtake.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: lewic on March 11, 2010, 08:02:42: Quote
Police do sometimes stop drivers for driving "too slowly"

Happened to a friend of mine recently, he was doing 24mph in a 30 zone late at night, and got breathalysed.

The theory test questions are laughably easy. My favourite one was "You are first at the scene of an accident. Do you: (A) Drive on (B) Try to get everyone out of the car (C) Call 999 (D) Offer the casualty a cigarette"
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Borlotti on March 11, 2010, 08:39:29: When learning I used to stop at every zebra crossing and my driving instructor said 'are you waiting for the man in that house to pack his suitcase for his holidays and then lock up and then maybe want to use the crossing'. Always remember that. I was one of the slow drivers with a queue of irrate people behind me. Well I never enjoyed driving, and only learnt cause my ex-husband was always drunk. I gave up my car when I was 60 and have a bike and a bus pass and don't miss it. In that theory test, do you ring 999 (depends on the severity of the accident), get people out of the car, but maybe not move them if badly injured so I don't know the answer. I think I would have a cigarette myself for the shock of seeing an accident. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: skintnbitter on March 11, 2010, 08:47:50: The theory test questions are laughably easy. My favourite one was "You are first at the scene of an accident. Do you: (A) Drive on (B) Try to get everyone out of the car (C) Call 999 (D) Offer the casualty a cigarette"
[/quote]

I agree that some of the questions are laughable easy as I had to do the theory test 2.5 years ago. However you would be surprised that quite a few people would say 'D' Offer the casualty a cigarette' as there are some people out there who are genuinely that stupid.

I think there may be method in their madness that if you cannot pass something as simple as the thoery test, then you are a danger to other road users.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Hyacinth on March 11, 2010, 08:54:16: So many variables here....if it was my last cigarette I wouldn't offer it ;D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: skintnbitter on March 11, 2010, 08:58:04: Never though about that lol

We could share it!
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: djbrenton on March 11, 2010, 09:03:47: What if you haven't got any cigarettes? Should you go and fetch some or will the ambulance pick some up if you ask?
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Hyacinth on March 11, 2010, 09:07:09: Quote from: djbrenton on March 11, 2010, 09:03:47
What if you haven't got any cigarettes? Should you go and fetch some or will the ambulance pick some up if you ask?

So that's when you dial 999. That's a police job, silly ::)
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Bugloss2009 on March 11, 2010, 09:13:36: surely the first thing you do at the scene of an accident is say -why the **** didn't you ******* look wher you were ******** going, you stupid ********, and no, i'm not giving you a ******** cigarette
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: mat on March 11, 2010, 09:19:07: Amazing how this thread has moved from the language the test is taken in, to driving too slowly, to now offering cigarettes!!!
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Hyacinth on March 11, 2010, 09:20:55: reply to Bugloss.....and if the person says they don't smoke and smoking's anti-social etc.etc. cont p95..that's when you drive on. ;D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: lottiedolly on March 11, 2010, 09:26:23: sometimes i am totally bemused by these threads and the way they hop from one subject to another.......amusing tho
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: skintnbitter on March 11, 2010, 09:28:39: If you did not have an cigarettes than you would answer A 'Drive On (To The Nearest Shop and Get some)'

Simple
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Bugloss2009 on March 11, 2010, 09:35:56: Quote from: Hyacinth on March 11, 2010, 09:20:55
reply to Bugloss.....and if the person says they don't smoke and smoking's anti-social etc.etc. cont p95..that's when you drive on. ;D

maybe offering drivers involved in accidents cigarettes is a roundabout way of getting rid of them permanently

returning to the topic, didn't Shropshire Council put up loads of road signs in Polish, and then have to take them down because the Highway Agency said they were illegal?
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: asbean on March 11, 2010, 09:38:57: Quote from: markp2511 on March 10, 2010, 22:12:13
I was behind someone down the country lanes the other day barely doing 20 in a 60 limit, with nowhere to safely overtake for about 3 mile. I'm not the road rage type, but I was steaming after 10 minutes of that.

Perhaps they had a plasma screen in the back ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Bugloss2009 on March 11, 2010, 09:40:17: here's a Polish sign

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-440226/Signs-warn-Polish-anglers-stop-eating-carp.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-440226/Signs-warn-Polish-anglers-stop-eating-carp.html)

stupid article has a B*****y recipe at the end. and they can't spell recipe
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: mat on March 11, 2010, 09:42:56: Quote from: asbean on March 11, 2010, 09:38:57
Perhaps they had a plasma screen in the back ??? ??? ???

if so, then shouldn't it be properly packed so the driver can drive at a more sensible speed? I am sure the plasma screen wasn't transported from the factory to the shop at 20mph...
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: PurpleHeather on March 11, 2010, 10:09:13: How the hell do you know that you are the first one at the scene?

It could be muggers setting up an incident in a remote place.

Not every one has a mobile phone, even these days. Nor can every one get out of their car easily. And most of us would probably be of little use to the victim.

What a daft question.

I do not drive before you ask.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Hyacinth on March 11, 2010, 10:11:01: Quote from: PurpleHeather on March 11, 2010, 10:09:13
How the hell do you know that you are the first one at the scene?

It could be muggers setting up an incident in a remote place.

Not every one has a mobile phone, even these days. Nor can every one get out of their car easily. And most of us would probably be of little use to the victim.

What a daft question.

I do not drive before you ask.

But do you smoke?
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: ACE on March 11, 2010, 10:45:15: Lets get back to original post. I don't know why Norfolk and good got so uppity. I was trying to say that it seem a bit silly being able to pass an English driving test when you don't know the lingo.

I ride a motorcycle a lot so I should think I am a bit more safety concious than a lot of you cage drivers safely cocooned in your metal boxes. When somebody drives recklessly or unsure of the rules and it affects my riding, it is 9 times out of ten the driver has the look of foreign extraction. It is a peril I am aware of. The same sort of care is used around drivers of Volvos, who because their car is a safety cage think they are indestructable, but are a danger to other road users especially bikers. Now all the english people could be outnumbered 9 to 1 anyway so that could be the answer. But I think not, most do not have the right skills, understanding and training to drive on our roads. I get lots of honking horns when I am abroad because of my hesitation at some junctions.

Now on to slow drivers. I am often held up by slow, inconsiderate, bloody minded, doddery old fools who should never be out walking, let alone driving. If I was to tow my caravan at those speeds I would be slated. But to just keep plodding on down the road without a care and never using mirrors, should be against the law.
I keep a look out if I have to go slow and pull over and let people pass, If I have work to do time is money, I do not want to be sat out on the road, my clients get a bigger bill, I get annoyed, accidents could be caused through impatience. Get the speed limits put up (they are the same as fifty years ago)brakes are better,vehicles are better, but if you don't like it. Get off the road.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Bugloss2009 on March 11, 2010, 10:50:55: Quote from: PurpleHeather on March 11, 2010, 10:09:13
How the hell do you know that you are the first one at the scene?

It could be muggers setting up an incident in a remote place.

Not every one has a mobile phone, even these days. Nor can every one get out of their car easily. And most of us would probably be of little use to the victim.

What a daft question.

I do not drive before you ask.

when i was in a scruffy bit of London i saw a woman across the way in a terrible state. There were people nearby not doing anything so i went over to help, but when i got closer i realised they were filming a scene for Dr Who :D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Kea on March 11, 2010, 10:59:27: Quote from: tonybloke on March 10, 2010, 21:10:34
Quote from: grawrc on March 10, 2010, 20:09:52

When did you take yours matie?

July, 1975. In Cambridge. (town with more than it's fair share of cyclists). I think it was a tuesday, at about 11 o'clock. I passed on the first attempt, and have never had a my-fault accident. had 1 (one) speeding ticket in 34 yrs. ;)

I've driven in both (and lived) Edinburgh and Cambridge.....I prefer Edinburgh any day the motorists are more polite though the roads are fairly complicated and multilevel but in Cambridge drivers are more aggressive and the cyclists are stupid and a menace. We nearly took out two Cambridge cyclists yesterday in separate incidents both just suddenly rode across the road in from of traffic without warning!
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: tonybloke on March 11, 2010, 11:22:29: Quote
Get the speed limits put up (they are the same as fifty years ago)brakes are better,vehicles are better, but if you don't like it. Get off the road.

I think the speed limits have stayed the same because..................in an accident, it is the deceleration that causes the most damage, from 70mph down to 0 mph in an inch or less, (that's what happens) there is a good chance that the internal organs can survive, at 80 mph, they can't!! 'simples'

All those who wish to Kill, or be killed, please continue to break the speed limits, I'm all for Darwinian selection. ;)
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Chrispy on March 11, 2010, 11:37:53: Modern cars have crumple zones so you don't get such a high deceleration, I would rather crash as 80mph in a modern car rather than 70mph in a old car.

Having said that, just because cars are safer, no reason to make them less safe by putting limits up.
Also, at 80mph, I get around 39-40 mpg, at 70 I get 48-51mpg, so for the sake of the enviroment and my wallet, I vote for no increase.

And another thing, last Monday, I was driving on the A31 at 70mph.
Up ahead, a slow lorry was about to join, so I pulled into the right lane, to allow it to pull on.
A car behind the lorry decided to overtake the lorry on the slip lane, and then accross to the other lane right in front of me!!!
I had to break hard, the driveer saw his mistake and then pulled back to the other lane, but the lorry had to take avoiding action, driving a bit on the verge.

OK, a bit worrying at the time, but not a big deal, but if I had been doing 80mph, don't want to think what might have happened.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Pesky Wabbit on March 11, 2010, 14:54:37: Quote from: ACE on March 11, 2010, 10:45:15
... I was trying to say that it seem a bit silly being able to pass an English driving test when you don't know the lingo.

Whats the difference between passing the test in the UK and driving in mainland Europe, or vice verse and Johnny foreigner passing in this country?

Quote from: ACE on March 11, 2010, 10:45:15
... it is 9 times out of ten the driver has the look of foreign extraction.

In what way do Brits look different from IOWs ?
"9 times out of ten" - is that because your in a foreign country ?

Quote from: ACE on March 11, 2010, 10:45:15
The same sort of care is used around drivers of Volvos, who because their car is a safety cage think they are indestructable

Volvos, 4 x 4, Landrovers AND Freelanders. There all the same - especially on the way to the nursery.

Quote from: ACE on March 11, 2010, 10:45:15
I get lots of honking horns when I am abroad because of my hesitation at some junctions.

But isnt that due to the red chandelier in the back ?

Quote from: ACE on March 11, 2010, 10:45:15
I am often held up by slow, inconsiderate, bloody minded, doddery old fools who should never be out walking, let alone driving.

I was always told to beware of drivers wearing a hat. They're by far the worst.
If you dont believe me - just check it out next time.

Quote from: ACE on March 11, 2010, 10:45:15
Get the speed limits put up (they are the same as fifty years ago)brakes are better,vehicles are better, but if you don't like it. Get off the road.

But also the death rate has increased dramatically over the last 50 years. And its not just the people inside the car.

Now how did that road safety advert go ... if you hit someone at 30, they have an 80% chance of surviving. If you hit them at 40, they have an 80% of dying.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: djbrenton on March 11, 2010, 15:04:55: I've spent the last 35 years not hitting anyone at any speed. Their survivability rate was 100% ;D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Bugloss2009 on March 11, 2010, 16:10:45: people drive and do other things as well according to their perceived level of risk. As cars become safer people take more chances

who was it said if you want to encourage safe driving, you should ban safety belts, and have a big spike in the middle of the steering wheel?
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: Chrispy on March 11, 2010, 17:28:03: Quote from: Bugloss2009 on March 11, 2010, 16:10:45
who was it said if you want to encourage safe driving, you should ban safety belts, and have a big spike in the middle of the steering wheel?
I don't know if he said that, but Stirling Moss goes on about racing drivers in his day had fewer accidents compared to todays, but it always gets to me when I hear him say it when you consider how many of the drivers in those days ended up dead.
Would he be better off if he did not have doors on his lifts? Please don't go there!!! Get well soon Stirling.

'Persived safety' is the thing here.....
I often go round london on foot. A number of times I have nearly been run over, but it is always due to a car jumping the red light of a crossing, I see the green man and I perseive it to be safe, so end up being careless.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: cocopops on March 11, 2010, 17:42:57: I have just caught up with this thread and it reminded me of a situation that happened to me when I was learning to drive.

I have a male cousin with parents who think he is the next Einstein (like the Undertones 'My Perfect Cousin). I was 17 in September and him in November. I had my test scheduled for late December and his was a week later. I will never forget my chauvinist uncle saying that it wouldn't matter that I would have to take my test a few times. I passed first time and my cousin failed for making undue progress at a junction. Sweet justice.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: cornykev on March 11, 2010, 19:11:14: I don't drive that much maybe once a week
Don't smoke
Don't have a mobile
I passed my test first time
And certainly have no gipsy home.

;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: saddad on March 11, 2010, 20:57:19: Quote from: djbrenton on March 11, 2010, 15:04:55
I've spent the last 35 years not hitting anyone at any speed. Their survivability rate was 100% ;D

I would suggest statistically that a lot of them are now dead... even if you didn't hit them... :-X
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: saddad on March 11, 2010, 21:05:59: Quote
If you're driving very slowly for a good reason (which I will be on Friday with my plasma screen in the back of a van moving house) then hazard lights are an option.

I'm fairly certain that using hazard lights on a moving vehicle is an offence.... :-X
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: tonybloke on March 11, 2010, 21:57:38: nope, david, escort vehicles for wide loads use them all the time
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: SamLouise on March 11, 2010, 22:14:30: Quote from: tonybloke on March 11, 2010, 21:57:38
nope, david, escort vehicles for wide loads use them all the time

That's because they're notifying other road users that they're driving a possible unsafe vehicle. Hazard lights are only supposed to be used if you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: djbrenton on March 11, 2010, 22:16:26: Quote from: saddad on March 11, 2010, 20:57:19
Quote from: djbrenton on March 11, 2010, 15:04:55
I've spent the last 35 years not hitting anyone at any speed. Their survivability rate was 100% ;D

I would suggest statistically that a lot of them are now dead... even if you didn't hit them... :-X

So I might as well have hit a few of them then. All this safety camera nonsense.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: TrikiDiki on March 11, 2010, 23:33:13: Hi. I'm a driving instructor.

Yes the theory test is available in other languages, our signs are mostly symbolic, so language isn't a problem. You can also take an interpreter with you on the practical test, this I disagree with as they can prompt you as well as translating.

There are lots of first aid questions in the theory test.

Basic car maintenance is covered in Showme/Tell me questions on the practical test.

Motorways: Not till after the test. I believe a learner should be allowed to travel on a motorway only with a qualified instructor before their test. The DSA believe Pass Plus covers motorway driving, however, there is only a small percentage uptake of Pass Plus. Make it compulsory.

Re: Lane markings. Arrows are advisory.

Speed Limits: Learners are taught to drive at or near the speed limit when safe to do so. They will be penalised on their test if they do not do so. It is a test of their capability, not what they feel in the mood for.
Other drivers can drive at whatever speed the like (except on motorways or within a minimum speed limit zone). Like it or lump it. The police may stop drivers for driving slowly if they are "not showing due consideration for other road users" or if they suspect another offence such as drink/driving.

"The theory test questions are laughably easy." Not seen that question before. Made up? Yes some of them are simple to anyone with a brain. However you'd be surprised at how stupid some people are. I took on a pupil who had had 25 hours of driving and asked me if she had to stop at a red light. Another after 10 hours with another instructor wanted to know how to know which side of the road to drive on.

Speed Limits

Unfortunately there are too many unthinking idiots on our roads. I would like to see speed limits increased on motorways/dual carriageways for all the obvious reasons. However, the majority of British drivers cannot understand lane discipline. Go to Germany and see how their motorways work. Everyone (apart from the Brits abroad) will return to the right lane when finished overtaking. They also expect traffic at higher speed in the overtaking lanes.
If people respect overtaking lanes, drive to the traffic conditions and weather then higher speeds are fine.
Equally I am in favour of 20mph zones in residential areas.

Hazard Lights

Not to be used while in motion except on a motorway or unrestricted dual-carriageway to warn other drivers you are braking for an incident ahead.
Escort vehicles should have rotating amber lights.

Don't start me on restrictions for new drivers.

Sorry for the long post but thought I might address the points raised so far with my 'professional experience'.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: 1066 on March 12, 2010, 06:02:20: Welcome to A4A TrikiDiki ;D You've picked a cracker of a topic to post on ;)
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: PurpleHeather on March 12, 2010, 07:48:17: Hyacinth.

Yes I do smoke and if some one is going to stage a road accident to get a free f*g off me they will die waiting

As for foreigners not knowing English, a fair number of them speak it better than many of the native born do and since they can drive for 12 months on a foreign license, they have to then take a British Test by which time they should have learnt a bit. I think it is fair to have an interpreter sat there, the 'examiner' can stop the test if they feel that the interpreter is coaching.

Reading road signs reminds me of my mate who was told by her instructor she was not paying enough attention to road signs.

He decided to demonstrate it by asking her what the road sign she had just passed said.

"Fitted kitchens now half price". She replied.
Title: Re: driving theory test
Post by: telboy on March 13, 2010, 22:38:55: Quote from: cornykev on March 11, 2010, 19:11:14
I don't drive that much maybe once a week
Don't smoke
Don't have a mobile
I passed my test first time
And certainly have no gipsy home.

;D ;D ;D
Like it Kev. I'm in your gang! 8)
While I'm here, why do wimmin driving 4*4's wear sun glasses, even when it's foggy?
When wimmin go round an island, without signaling their intentions of course, why do they lean over? Is the vehicle gonna fall over?
I have a woman neighbour who drives in our village with her child on her lap every Wednesday afternoon @ 15.30 hrs.
Nuff for now.
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o >:( >:( >:( >:(