Driving Test Failed

Nilrem

SLITHER99 wrote: »

I got my glasses changed a few weeks before my test too and generally keep my eyesight tested. Though, I have to say, I have no idea how far 20 feet actually is. I can read number plates from down the road so I'm happy enough and have no reason to believe my eyesight is an issue.

A little tip for anyone who isn't aware of it, the average car length seems to be about 14-16 foot these days (from my observation and checking when my sister wanted a replacement car).
So 20 foot would be about a third longer.

20 meters would be about 4 car lengths.

One thing I have noticed recently is that some opticians have signs outside their doors with things like "can you read this sign from the entrance to (insert shop name), if not your eyes may not be good enough to drive"* or phrasing similar.
Which strikes me as a good way to both drum up business, and remind people that they need a minimum level of eyesight to drive legally.


*One I pass on a semi regular basis always has the sign in the same place and uses the numberplate font for the "can you read this".

Aretnap

AFAIK there's no appeal as such; he just applies for a new licence. If the decision to revoke his licence had been an entirely unreasonable one then in theory it might be open to challenge through judicial review but (a) it wasn't unreasonable, it was the correct decision in the circumstances, and (b) it would be enormously more expensive and time consuming than applying for a new one.

alleycat`

Nilrem wrote: »

One thing I have noticed recently is that some opticians have signs outside their doors with things like "can you read this sign from the entrance to (insert shop name), if not your eyes may not be good enough to drive"* or phrasing similar.
Which strikes me as a good way to both drum up business, and remind people that they need a minimum level of eyesight to drive legally.


*One I pass on a semi regular basis always has the sign in the same place and uses the numberplate font for the "can you read this".

There is one near me that has the same thing.

This one is actually a bit misleading, as when i spoke to the optician you had to be stood about 7 to 10 feet outside the shop for the distance to be correct.

It was aimed at people sitting on a bench in the middle of the arcade which faced directly into the opticians.

I'm also interested to know how the rules are applied to people that suffer intermittent dry eye, hay fever or other "temporary" issues that might bring your reading distance under the defined distance for short periods of time.

On any given day i expect there are lots of drivers that would fail the test but within another day, or possibly a few hours even, pass without a problem.

Also how does this apply to far sighted people that can read miles into the distance but can't read a sign right in front of their face.

Nilrem

martinsurrey wrote: »

Also, don’t forget that a routine can help to relieve stress.

Getting a learner to do the same mundane thing at the start of a lesson can help to relax them, and to get them to focus.

also at the start of the test when asked, it will be second nature, and will get them into driving lesson mode (and help them relax at the start of a stressful test!).

a good idea on the part of the instructor I think

That's actually a good point, my instructor always spent a minute or so at the start of the lesson explaining roughly what we were going to do on the day, and drummed various little mantra's into me to help remember the correct sequence to do things.
Making things like checking your mirrors and seat position are good (which takes far longer than doing a quick "can you read that plate" check), were also part of the getting into the car checklist with my instructor - and something as a driver you're meant to do anyway as you're expected to use your mirrors and by the time you drive off it's a little late to realise the last person was 6 inches shorter than you, and you can't use the wing mirror.

Routine is good, it helps make certain actions automatic (thus you learn good habits, hopefully), it also means that you are less likely to be nervous/thrown off balance on the day of the test when the examiner requires you to do them at his request, or expects you to do them of your own volition (it's a little like the "make sure the examiner can see you're checking the mirrors" hint - you may be able to do it without moving your head much, but the examiner needs to see you do it).

vaio

how did DVLA hear about his eyesight problem?

colino

The examiner will have noted the failure at test and informed DVLA. If he reapplies (with corrected vision) he will get an amended provisional and he can apply for another test. In the interim though he will be invited to a DSA facility for an eye test, if he fails that he wont get to do another driving test until he passes this.

bluenoseam

vaio wrote: »

how did DVLA hear about his eyesight problem?

They said to him "read the number plate on X car" and he failed to do so - that's pretty much all they need. With that being said there's procedure to be followed, after failing to read the first number plate if your Son thought the plate was too far away the examiner is supposed to measure out 17.5m from the plate & attempt again. If this is unsuccessful then the test will be an instant fail & given the nature of the reasoning his license will be revoked.

He may not have had any problems seeing the road, but clearly his eyesight wasn't good enough, otherwise he'd have read the number plate. I'm lucky in so much as I had an eye test literally 3 weeks after starting to learn to drive, so there was no doubt that my prescription was correct. Does your son wear glasses regularly, if so he should have ensured his eyesight was of sufficient standard prior to taking the test. (That is pretty much the only guaranteed element of a driving test is the sight test!) Even if he didn't wear glasses prior to this, surely he must have "attempted" it many times anyway (or is this further evidence of me not being normal?).

I dunno why you're pondering about legal aid - unless procedure wasn't followed there's no grounds I can see for any appeal. Even if procedure wasn't followed, there's an element of responsibility on your Son to voice his concerns that it's over the specified distance & thus force the examiner into measuring it. Just re-apply for the license, provide documentary evidence that the sight issue has been corrected & go again.

gpc273

bluenoseam wrote: »

They said to him "read the number plate on X car" and he failed to do so - that's pretty much all they need. With that being said there's procedure to be followed, after failing to read the first number plate if your Son thought the plate was too far away the examiner is supposed to measure out 17.5m from the plate & attempt again.

Aah an internet expert! Please don't listen as its wrong! And for everyone else the procedure when you attend for a driving test with regard to the eyesight check is as follows;

The first attempt you are asked to read is well over the distance, normally around the 25 - 30m mark. Its got nothing to do with adding stress..
If you cannot read that plate then a second attempt will be made on a different car but slightly closer, if you still can't read it then a 3rd attempt will be made on this vehicle, again slightly closer. At this point you are probably around the 23m mark.
If you cannot read it at the 3rd attempt then the examiner will take you back inside, sit you down and explain that a measured attempt will now be necessary. The examiner will ask your instructor to calm you down as they realise it is stressful, people wearing glasses are advised to clean them.
The examiner will then measure from a 4th vehicle, the distance depends on the number plate fitted, old style plates at 20.5m's and new style at 20m's.
The candidate will be asked to stand astride the tape at the correct point and to read aloud and write down the plate. A fail at this point means a fail AND a termination of the test.
The examiner will fill in a Form 255, this is faxed to DVLA and is how they are informed of someone not meeting the standard.
The candidate will be advised that the DVLA will contact them. This will be to arrange an DVLA eyesight check, this is conducted at a driving test centre and is pretty much along the lines of the 4th attempt, just different paperwork really.

vaio

gpc273 wrote: »

.......The first attempt you are asked to read is well over the distance, normally around the 25 - 30m mark. Its got nothing to do with adding stress..
If you cannot read that plate then a second attempt will be made on a different car but slightly closer, if you still can't read it then a 3rd attempt will be made on this vehicle, again slightly closer. At this point you are probably around the 23m mark.
If you cannot read it at the 3rd attempt then the examiner will take you back inside, sit you down and explain that a measured attempt will now be necessary. The examiner will ask your instructor to calm you down as they realise it is stressful, people wearing glasses are advised to clean them.
The examiner will then measure from a 4th vehicle, the distance depends on the number plate fitted, old style plates at 20.5m's and new style at 20m's.
The candidate will be asked to stand astride the tape at the correct point and to read aloud and write down the plate. A fail at this point means a fail AND a termination of the test.
The examiner will fill in a Form 255, this is faxed to DVLA and is how they are informed of someone not meeting the standard.
The candidate will be advised that the DVLA will contact them. This will be to arrange an DVLA eyesight check, this is conducted at a driving test centre and is pretty much along the lines of the 4th attempt, just different paperwork really.

That makes sense but I'd have thought that the cancellation of licence would only take place after the DVLA test had been failed

DaveF327

In the original revocation letter, didn't it go on to say what must be done to regain the licence? I find it odd that the letter just cancels the licence and that's that...

As gpc273 correctly said, there is usually another procedure to follow involving further eyesight checks by the DSA to regain the licence. The previous decision cannot be appealed at it was correct at the time, but when circumstances change, there is always new hope.