Driving test tomorrow..

pug_in_a_bed

any hints or tips?:o
my second go, failed spectacularly first time round by slamming on and causing everyone else behind me to do the same whoops:(

Anyway, I feel more condfident this time round, car on the drive waiting to be driven!

I am a bit of a round about phobic and the show me tell questions worry me, although I was fine with them last time round, about 7 weeks ago.

I'm also a bit pants about reverse round a corner (does anyone do this in real life?), but ok on turn in the road, parrallel park. Bay parking not so good so any tips there would be good.

If I dont come back tomorrow you'll know it was bad news:rotfl:

McKneff

Relax, shoulders down and go for it.

samhuzz

I don't really have any advice, it took me three times to pass, the time I did pass I think I'd resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't, so I think I was less stressed as a result! Very best of luck for tomorrow!

Coveredinbees!!!!

No one ever reverses round corners once they pass their tests. I seem to remember you line the curb up to the middle of the rear screen or something. roundabouts are all about confidence and timing. Good luck.

skiddlydiddly

Make a real show of checking your mirrors and do it often.Most people just look with their eyes, exaggerate it by turning your head slightly, enough for the instructor to see you are paying attention and do it often.If he thinks you are paying attention its a good start.

Don't take your hands off the wheel unless you are changing gear(even when stopped in traffic), keep your clutch foot away from the pedal unless you are using it.

Handbrake on every time you are forced to stop for more than a few seconds.

Noone can really help you now but things like this show you are not just driving on autopilot.Good luck .

dizzyblonde82

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

Make a real show of checking your mirrors and do it often.Most people just look with their eyes, exaggerate it by turning your head slightly, enough for the instructor to see you are paying attention and do it often.If he thinks you are paying attention its a good start.

That is really good advice and exactly what I told my husband last week when he failed his test with just 6 minors - shame for him that 3 of them were for the same thing 'not looking in the mirrors enough'.

He has his second test a week tomorrow It is really frustrating for him as he already has a car to drive once he passes his test!

gazfocus

I'm sure you'll be fine. As said above, the roundabouts are all about confidence.

I have my 2nd attempt on Friday and the thing that's worrying me is my test is somewhere I've never driven before so I'll be having a lesson in that area tomorrow. Also, as my previous test was in a temporary test centre, there was no chance that I'd have been asked to do bay parking, so we didn't really cover it in the lessons, however, my test on Friday is in a proper test centre so I'm worried that I may have to do it

Good luck and think positively.

b33r

I passed first time. Very nervous for the first 5 mins and made a mistake which I thought meant I had failed so then wasn't worried at all for the rest of the test and drove probably the best I ever had. So that's my advice, just think to yourself that if you get nervous you'll likely fail anyway so you might as well just relax and enjoy it. Let us know how you do

theatretony

This may seem daft, but eat a banana before the test, releases energy slow and I am sure it help me during my test...don't know how, I was advised to eat one by my instructor/

DaveF327

pug_in_a_bed wrote: »

any hints or tips?:o

Tempted to start with "wear low cut top" and "short skirt up to your armpits", but I'll be more professional than that

failed spectacularly first time round by slamming on and causing everyone else behind me to do the same whoops:(

Ok, tip #2: DON'T SLAM ON! unless it's an emergency. An emergency is anything that cannot reasonably be predicted like a toddler running out from a hidden place. Everything else can be predicted to an extent, so the more appropriate reaction is: mirror, off gas. It's rare you have to brake firmly if you've planned well ahead. Raise your vision, look up and further ahead and be realistic about the hazards you see. An old lady with a zimmer frame on the pavement a mile ahead isn't likely to sprint over your bonnet, so don't overreact.

Regarding use of mirrors, it's important to react to what you see and often. That takes time, so check early. Try to second guess a hazard and check anyway, even if you think the check may be wasted. How will you affect the car in your mirror? If he's right up your exhaust pipe, do you think you should show him some brake lights well before actually needing to brake?

If there's a car at the side of you (you should be checking door mirrors as well as the centre mirror), consider whether a well timed indicator signal would help to move him back a bit for you to move out easier. Help them to help you.

I am a bit of a round about phobic and the show me tell questions worry me, although I was fine with them last time round, about 7 weeks ago.

Take some comfort from the fact you were ok with them last time, so your fear is likely to be all in your head, so read them again here: http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Documents/practical_test/dt1/safety%20questions%20post%201st%20July%202008/Safety%20Questions%2007-08%20Cat%20B%20combinations%20Q%20and%20A.pdf

As for roundabouts, this diagram should help.

I'm also a bit pants about reverse round a corner (does anyone do this in real life?), but ok on turn in the road, parrallel park. Bay parking not so good so any tips there would be good.

Reversing around a corner is something I've done a lot when I've gone the wrong way and need to turn around on a busy road. It's too busy to swing it into a bell-mouth junction or do a U-turn, so I've just done the old L-test manoeuvre with effective observation without annoying everyone.

As for bay parking, just think what you would do in Asda. (No debates about "I'd drive in forwards to get my shopping in't boot!" please - the OP needs proper advice here). If you screw it up, simply drive well forwards - a couple of inches won't do - and check in both door mirrors where your lines are. Using both mirrors as opposed to one will help with centring your position and means you're less likely to miss peripheral hazards moving across your rear. Do not rely solely on your mirrors; you must check blind spots at the start and point of turn, as well as look directly behind through the rear window, or you may miss pedestrians walking across your peripheral vision. Act realistically on what you see too. If you stop and sit there for the pedestrian over the road on the other pavement or the car coming from Blackpool, you'll be penalised for hesitation. Only stop for clear and present danger like pedestrians within a metre of your car or a car driving right at you. Don't worry about a car driving well wide of you in a massive space.

dizzyblonde82 wrote: »

That is really good advice and exactly what I told my husband last week when he failed his test with just 6 minors - shame for him that 3 of them were for the same thing 'not looking in the mirrors enough'.

That means he wasn't checking at all. Examiners do look directly at the eyes, even when wearing wide side-bar glasses, so don't insult their intelligence. If you exaggerate your head movement too much, they'll question whether your mirrors are set correctly. You have to link your mirror checks to specific events, like before signalling, changing direction and changing speed. Updating regularly helps too (even between hazards) so that if you're distracted by a hazard and neglect to check at that moment, the previous (recent) update should count and will make the fault not worthy of marking. Those who fail tend to have "tunnel vision" and stare ahead for ages, then slap a signal on / steer / slam on without checking.

cajef

dizzyblonde82 wrote: »

That is really good advice and exactly what I told my husband last week when he failed his test with just 6 minors - shame for him that 3 of them were for the same thing 'not looking in the mirrors enough'.

He could not have failed his test with just six minors, you can have up to fifteen minors, there must have been a serious or dangerous if there were only six minors.