So I'm fighting the.. err 'Drivers license people'.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:44 am

I'm in the process of getting my drivers license - and it's a real ******* pain in the ass.

One of the things you have to do to get your drivers license is take a test.
The test contains a total of 65 questions - and you have to answer 52 of them correctly (I think it's 52).
Anyways... I get a paper telling me that "On this date you're gonna take your test!"
So I prepare myself for the test. Study etc.
Two days before the test, my.. err driver licens school calls me and say "Hello. You are gonna take the test in two days right? Well, I have just cancelled the whole thing".
What the [composite word including 'f*ck']?!
"You have to come here and prove to us that you have studied" (you dont take the test the same place as you do your driving).

Come on. I'm 21 years old. I'm old enough to take responsibility.
AND it costs ******* money to take the test - do they actually think that I pay good money for the test, and then dont care about studying, which would lead to me failing the test, which would lead to me having to pay for yet another ******* test?
Bloody hell.

So I go to my drivers school and sit down in front of a computer and begin to do one of their "Lets see if he has studied"-tests.
Being the pissed of rebell that I am I ignore the questions that doesnt have anything to do with actually driving a car (I cant translate it properly, but one of the stupid questions was "How many percent of the total carbon monoxide pollution in Sweden, does the traffic stand for?").
Why the [composite word including 'f*ck'] do I need to know the answer to that question? Will it make me a safer driver? [composite word including 'f*ck'] no. It's just a way for the driving school to earn more money: the students are there to learn how to drive, so naturally they ignore the stupid facts that doesnt have anything to do with actually driving a car. This leads to the students failing the test, which leads to the driving school earning more money. Yay!
Anyways, I fail the test at my driving school since I ignored all the stupid questions.
The people at the school tells me "You need 10 more points on our test before you are prepared to do the real test".

Well, last friday, out of the blue I got a paper in the mail telling me that I am supposed to do the real test today.
Yesterday the driving school called me - probably to tell me that I cant do the test yet, and that they will cancel the whole ting again.
I didnt answer the call though

So now I dont know anything.
I'm gonna go to the place where I'm supposed to take the test - and it's gonna be really exciting to see if my school cancelled the test or if they'll let me do the test.

I'm gonna beat the system!

And yes, I know that I might be acting a bit imatture - but the driving school keeps ******* with me, and it costs alot of ******* money.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:49 am

Stupid system.

I'm not sure we have non-relevant questions on our test, I hope not. Am going to get my licence too, will start in a few weeks, probably. I'm really looking forward to the lessons!

Good luck with the test, Obfleur!

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:54 am

That's taking the piss a bit.

If you need to take a preliminary test to show that you're ready for the real one... why do they let you book the real one before you've taken the fake one?

That makes no sense.

And what the [composite word including 'f*ck'] gives them the right to cancel the theory test on your behalf anyway?

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:39 am

The school wants to keep its pass-rate high, so they weed out people like Obfleur before they even start.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:53 am

Metal Vendetta wrote:The school wants to keep its pass-rate high, so they weed out people like Obfleur before they even start.

Hmpf!

I assure you that I'll pass the test. You non-believer!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 1:09 pm

In the UK we get 35 questions, and need to get 30 right to pass.

And the questions are stupid. I failed first time with 29 out of sheer shock I think.

As for the practical, I passed third time. I'm crap!

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:05 pm

Didn't have to do the theory - before my time.

Passed fifth time. I was extra crap, and suffering from nerves - though in my defence I really should have passed third time. I was failed for overtaking a stationary bus, which apparently was dangerous.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:11 pm

Christ. A bus that's stopped is pretty much a guaranteed failure...

I took the theory twice. Got 32 the first time, but moved before I took my practical and ended up losing the certificate and letting it expire. Second time round I got 35. Go me.

Plus I did damn good on the hazard perception bit.

Practical I passed third time. Should have passed second time, but I had an attack of blind stupidity at a junction on the one way system. "Oh, that red light applies to this lane too, does it?"

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:50 pm

I passed. Yay me. I defeated the system.
Ob > The driving school.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:41 pm

i got 35 on my theory test.

then didn't bother learning to drive...

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:00 pm

like impy, the theory test was before my time... however unlike impy, i passed the practical second time. i failed the first time because i didn't stop at a zebra crossing that had an island in the middle... stupid things, the person had only just stepped onto the otherside too, they were in no danger what so ever... bah.... that was 10 years ago now...

my god, ten years!!!

Post by **Computron** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:08 pm

It's that difficult to get a license in Europe?

Here in the states we hand em out like candy.

Q: How many wheels does a car have?

A: 4?

You win a driver's license!

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:34 pm

Legion wrote:.... that was 10 years ago now...

my god, ten years!!!

TEN YEARS!!!!

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:30 pm

Computron wrote:It's that difficult to get a license in Europe?

Here in the states we hand em out like candy.

It's not that easy in the Netherlands.

You have a theory test, where you have to answer about 95% correct or else you fail and have to do it again. When you pass, you have to get your practical exam within 1 year, or this theory thingy expires...

You have a driving test.

Most people need at least 30-35 lessons before their first exam (one lesson, 50-60 minutes, is about 40 euros.

About half or more fail their first exam.

In total, it will cost you about 2000 euros.

I still have to do it, but need to save lots of money first.

Tired Tracks · Post by **Tired Tracks** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:42 pm

When I was 15 my mom paid(Or rather she took the money from my bank account

) a 360 dollar fee for driving school. I passed with an 84% (the questions about how the vehicle works stumped me, I just operate the thing) and got my permit. Over the next year and a half I got 35 hours of driving under my belt, with an adult passenger.
I signed up for the driving test after that and as far as I recall, it had no written test, we just drove around town. I got a point or so off for parking on the street because I wasn't aligned right, and my second attempt a car parked in the spot I was useing, so I was let off for that one!

I had one other small mistake (an inconvience rather than a critical thing) and got my liscense first try. Then I jumped in the passenger seat and was driven home

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:48 pm

Holy hell, I wish it was like that here!

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:04 am

Metal Vendetta wrote:
Legion wrote:.... that was 10 years ago now...

my god, ten years!!!
TEN YEARS!!!!

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:28 am

Tired Tracks wrote:When I was 15...

You let 15-year-old kids drive a car?! We have to wait until we are 18...

I thought you could only get your licence when you were 16 in the USA?

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:42 am

In Sweden you are allowed to drive a car when you are 16 (if there's an adult with you, who has had his/hers license for at least 5 years).

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:23 am

Here you can only drive with a certified instructor, until you have your licence.

Not just with anyone who has some experience.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:57 am

Here you have to be 17 and the accompanying driver has to have had their licence for 3 years. And you need L-plates and insurance too, of course.

Tired Tracks · Post by **Tired Tracks** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:01 pm

Here you can be 15 to get a permit and drive with an adult, but you have to be 16 to get a license. I was 16 and a half when I finally took my test.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:26 pm

Here you need to be 16 to get your permit [which, in our state, is precluded by you doing six hours of on the road instruction with a certified driving school] and then at 17 you can get your restricted license-- may only drive between 5a and 12a, and with only one unrelated person in the car. Then at 18 you're cut loose.

Tired Tracks · Post by **Tired Tracks** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 3:17 pm

I'm beginning to think the State government of NJ has little faith in its people. They get their permits a year later than Maine residents, and full driving privleges 2 years later. Can't even pump your own gas in NJ

Of course living in a place that people have access to buses/taxis and local stores/malls, I guess driving isn't as much a nessesity at younger ages.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:08 pm

I don't know how old you have to be here...

Buuut, I do know I'm eligible for the road test anytime. Even though I haven't driven since just before my dad and I hit that deer... not that that has anything to do with it. the roads here are **** during the winter.

Once the roads stop looking like **** I'm going back to practicing.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:23 pm

Tired Tracks wrote:I'm beginning to think the State government of NJ has little faith in its people. They get their permits a year later than Maine residents, and full driving privleges 2 years later. Can't even pump your own gas in NJ

Of course living in a place that people have access to buses/taxis and local stores/malls, I guess driving isn't as much a nessesity at younger ages.

Honestly, having passed all the thresholds, I can say I'm happy they're where they are. Hell, I wouldn't matter if they were higher, since it wouldn't be affecting me

There's too many drivers on the roads here as it is, and most of the suck at driving.

As for the gas thing, that's not an issue of driver incompetence [although it does exist, unfortunatley..] but one of union lobbying and such.

Tired Tracks · Post by **Tired Tracks** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 5:15 pm

Leatherneck wrote: There's too many drivers on the roads here as it is, and most of the suck at driving.

I know, I was in NJ for a good part of a week during Thanksgiving break.

Driving was wretched from 10 miles north of NY all the way to my destination (Turned an 8 hour trip into an 11 hour trip )