Reversing during driving test, or any other time

cyclonebri1

victor2 wrote: »

Slightly different question...
What's to stop you taking your test in a car with reversing sensors, or even better (for the driver anyay), a reversing camera like the Toyota Prius can have. That also has an intelligent Parking Assistant, which will turn the steering wheel for you if you have to parallel park. Nothing but a gimmick in my opinion, but the camera is great. How would examiners look upon that?

I have access to said Prius, and was wondering just that question, and yes the camera ststem is great, but the auto ststem is "suicidal"???

More replies welcomed,

DaveF327

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok, It's a long time since I took my test but whats the current expectancy in observation during driving test reversing?

The expectancy is that drivers should take good, effective, all round observation throughout the manoeuvre and show consideration to other road users.

What I'm getting at is it permissible for someone to drive as if they where in a van, ie, using mirrors for rear observation, provided they use front and side observation as well? :think::think:

Depends how frequently these are updated and what is actually behind you at the time. The danger is that while someone is staring too long in one mirror, they miss a pedestrian walking behind the car from the opposite side of the road. Such a pedestrian will only be seen after they have crossed behind the car, by which time it's too late. If the car does have a back window, it's there to be used, so you should look out of it properly at least a couple of times before and during the manoeuvre.

All the circumstances are assessed at the time, so if a road is totally deserted throughout the manoeuvre and the visibility is such that there is little chance of hazards changing within a short time, then actual rear window observation can be infrequent providing regular updates are made elsewhere. Of course, where a particular area outside the car is hard to see and there is much activity there, that area needs particular attention.

It goes without saying that you have to react to what you see. It's no good exaggerating all your mirror checks, rear checks, bobbing your head around all over the place, only to swing the bonnet out into the path of a passing car that you didn't notice.

Strider590 wrote: »

in most modern cars there is ZERO rear visibility!

That's somewhat of an exaggeration. Unless you're driving a converted car-derived can, there is always some vision; usually enough to spot a moving hazard or a large stationary one in time.

Thankfully it's never enforced and you only really need worry about it on the driving test!

Tell that to the pedestrian you reversed into at the supermarket while you were busy looking the other way at your mirror.

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

So how do you drive a van???

Forwards

Ok the real reason for the post;

Can a person with a disability that precludes them from having full rear vision, ie, they are not moblile enough to see over their shoulder, still pass a standard driving test.
Or can concession be made under those circumstances???

Thanks all.

A standard test, no. A concession can be made, yes.. subject to conditions. These are:

• The disability has been notified to booking section so that the examiner is aware in advance and extra time can be allotted for the test. The examiner will then discuss the candidate's special needs at the start of the test and will consider carefully any adaptations required.
• Vehicle adaptations are installed which are adequate to overcome the effects of the disability. In the case of a person unable to turn around, a suitable device (e.g. a panoramic mirror) must be fitted that covers the entire area that an able-bodied person would be able to see normally.
• That upon passing such a test, the disabled candidate has their pass certificate annotated with restriction codes which will restrict the licence to the driving of vehicles equipped with those adaptations at all times.

gpc273

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

So how do you drive a van???


Ok the real reason for the post;

Can a person with a disability that precludes them from having full rear vision, ie, they are not moblile enough to see over their shoulder, still pass a standard driving test.
Or can concession be made under those circumstances???

Thanks all.

I can answer your question, in my capacity as a driving examiner, yes you can take a driving test when you don't have the ability to fully look round and check blind spots.
You will need to discuss this with the examiner prior to the start of the test and tell him what measures are fitted to the vehicle to overcome this disability, which is usually extra mirrors to cover the variuos blind spots.
You or whoever is taking the test should also book it as a disablilty test, as it requires a few extra forms to be filled in for DVLA post test. If you don't declare it it could well have a negative effect on the next person coming up for test as it may well be bumped to enable the forms to be filled in.
Any measures fitted to overcome the disability will be recorded on your pass certificate and will have to be on any vehicle subsequently driven.

mikey72

I can reverse a lot faster looking behind, but I reverse with more precision using the mirrors.
I had an SD1 that would do about 40 in reverse (auto) but that was looking behind, with the left arm on the passenger seat.

Parking, use the door mirrors every time.

cyclonebri1

thanks dave and gpc for the info I was looking for :money:

paddedjohn

Inactive wrote: »

Vans have huge chunks of reflective glass fitted to each door.;)

most vans have solid rear doors and a lot of vans have a load seperating bulkhead fitted between the cab and the load area.

Lum

gpc273 wrote: »

I can answer your question, in my capacity as a driving examiner, yes you can take a driving test when you don't have the ability to fully look round and check blind spots.
You will need to discuss this with the examiner prior to the start of the test and tell him what measures are fitted to the vehicle to overcome this disability, which is usually extra mirrors to cover the variuos blind spots.
You or whoever is taking the test should also book it as a disablilty test, as it requires a few extra forms to be filled in for DVLA post test. If you don't declare it it could well have a negative effect on the next person coming up for test as it may well be bumped to enable the forms to be filled in.
Any measures fitted to overcome the disability will be recorded on your pass certificate and will have to be on any vehicle subsequently driven.

What would happen if someone turned up for a test in a car derived van (i.e. one of those little BT Corsa vans) with the back windows blacked out?

Would they be allowed to take it, and if so would you let them do the reverse just on the mirrors, thus avoiding needing to have the licence annotated?

paddedjohn

Lum wrote: »

What would happen if someone turned up for a test in a car derived van (i.e. one of those little BT Corsa vans) with the back windows blacked out?

Would they be allowed to take it, and if so would you let them do the reverse just on the mirrors, thus avoiding needing to have the licence annotated?

good question, im interested to know the answer too.

gpc273

A van wouldn't go on test., due to poor/no examiner rear/side vision.

Unless it was in class C1 ( between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes) and that would be an LGV test.

gpc273

There are a couple of cars that won't get taken out either due to the examiner having poor vision;

• BMW Mini convertible
• Ford KA convertible
• Toyota iQ
• VW Beetle convertible

This directgov website site contains some useful info on the subject, can't post a link as I hardly post on here so am classed as a new user.