Passed my theory test.

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:14 pm

I wish they were a little more strict on driving here. Then we might not have 350 high school kids driving on cell phones and cutting me off without signaling on my way to work EVERY FREAKIN DAY.

Post by **Denyer** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:42 am

Best First wrote:Hazard perception is a right ball ache - the instrictions are really unclear

Yeah, plus if you click too soon (ie, you spot the bloody hazard and follow the instructions) it can end up not counting. Or if you click for several cumulative hazards close together, it considers it cheating.

Congrats!

Personally I'm just hoping I don't **** up the practical now. Need to remember to do things like stop and apply the handbrake during three point turns...

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:32 am

I'm amazed at how difficult it is to get a license in Europe. Here it seems like any idiot can get it. They just barely changed the restrictions for sixteen-year olds in some states. Used to be if you were over sixteen you could go get your license the day after you got your permit. Now they have to wait six months.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:51 am

Pissin' Poonani wrote:Either way, this seems like an awful lot of hassle and money for soemthing I don't really want to do.

That's what I thought as well, until I got in the car. I hadn't realised that driving could be so much fun!

Yes you have to learn all the difficult stuff and the smooth gear-changing without the car making scary noises and I was terrified when I first used the gas pedal and found that 50 km/h is pretty fast, but it is so much fun to drive. It really is.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:48 am

Eline wrote:
Pissin' Poonani wrote:

your gonna swerve all over the road if you drive like that.

Good luck all who are still learning.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:54 am

Best First wrote:your gonna swerve all over the road if you drive like that.

Not when you have an instructor like mine! Last Saturday morning she said: "I'll hold the steering wheel, you must look out the window at that stunning rainbow"

Best First wrote:Good luck all who are still learning.

Yup, good luck! Thought I was the only one who didn't have the licence yet.

sprunkner wrote:I'm amazed at how difficult it is to get a license in Europe. Here it seems like any idiot can get it. They just barely changed the restrictions for sixteen-year olds in some states. Used to be if you were over sixteen you could go get your license the day after you got your permit. Now they have to wait six months.

Is it not very dangerous to give people permits/provisionals without them taking lessons with a qualified instructor? When I have lessons, my instructor has an extra set of pedals at her side, so she can brake etc if necessary. Sounds a lot safer to me. Plus you don't have to learn everything at once.

And sixteen!

Then you're not really responsible with alcohol and stuff, bit dangerous to let people drive already. But then again, maybe the American public transport is so bad that you need a car?

Post by **Best First** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:14 am

i think people should be restested every 5 years or something as well

angloconvoy · Post by **angloconvoy** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:54 am

Balls to that, well, to a degree anyway. It'd be fine if the test was a little more fair.

Can't say I find actual driving fun, but its nice to think before long I'll have a quick and easy option for getting from a to b, and a valid excuse not to drink on nights out now and again

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:07 am

Best First wrote:i think people should be restested every 5 years or something as well

Terrible idea!

I would definitely fail it.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:08 am

Best First wrote:i think people should be restested every 5 years or something as well

That would be a good plan!

I'm studying for my theory right now, and my boyfriend doesn't know a lot of the questions (he did the test 9 years ago).

It's also good because of the changing laws and traffic signs etc.

I also would like an extra course in ice/slippery driving for when I go to Sweden.

Though I don't think it would be possible/fair to take someone's licence just because they failed...

Post by **Best First** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:48 am

why not?

Car's are bloody dangerous.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:13 pm

Mate, trust me. When you pass your test you will NEVER want to do it again.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:33 pm

I have a game I play called "drive as if you're on your test" and see how long it would take me to fail. Seconds, usually.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:53 pm

from a common sense / greater good point of view, i think the re-testing is a good idea, the amount of bad drivers on the road is evidence that this is probably required.

however, from a driver's point of view, i don't like the idea because i'd probably fail if i were to retake my test again now (mind you, i've not actaully driven a car for about two years!)

but i do think that re-tests should come into force at a certain age, i've nothing against old people at all, however, as a matter of nature, people reflexes and judgements decline as they get older - and the amount of old people driving ridicously slowly i think is proof of that. retest the buggers, that's what i say.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:21 pm

Old people do get retested though don't they?

My licence expires in 2055.

The thing is I think I'm a good/safe driver. I'm a bit gash at some manouvres (parallel parking - I'm looking at you), but that just means I avoid doing them - in a test I'd have to and would thus probably fail!

Post by **Kaylee** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:25 pm

I'd definitely fail a retest. And not for being a bad driver, for being bad at taking driving tests due to my nerves and massive past history (like I said, taking the test 8 times really does a lot for your self confidence). I don't think retests should be mandatory for all drivers, only if you actually are caught driving badly or breaking road traffic laws etc.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:54 pm

I actually lost my license a little while ago-- not sure how. I need to get a new one, but it requires standing in line for at least two hours usually. So I've been driving without it. I'm terribly overconfident, since in seven years of driving I've been pulled over once and it didn't go on my record.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:32 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Mate, trust me. When you pass your test you will NEVER want to do it again.

what i want to do isn't a great way to drive (ho o) legislation though is it?

well, ok, if it was specific to me its a bloody brilliant way to drive legislation, but as a general rule, not so good.

I think when your licence expires... you aply for a new one. I don't think there is a retest. You'll have been crushed to death by the weight of your eyebrows long before then anyway though.

Karl may have hit on a good compromise, or maybe a less severe test that accounts for experience.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:24 pm

Best First wrote:
spiderfrommars wrote:Mate, trust me. When you pass your test you will NEVER want to do it again.
what i want to do isn't a great way to drive (ho o) legislation though is it?

Just suggesting you may feel different once you've got your wheels.

I was calling for speed cameras on every single road when I was a cyclist. Lets just say I've mellowed a bit on that one.

I agree making law breakers do retests seems more applicable, though of course it means taking action only after the event.

Making it mandatory for everyone to take 'em - sheer chaos surely? Much more trouble than its worth perhaps, when the real dangers (excessive speeding, drink driving) seem more worthy of time.

The elderly should definitely be retested. Slow driving can be just as dangerous!

My eyebrows are proof of my great virulence.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:33 pm

Speed cameras are great!

It means I get to test both my brakes AND my reaction time. Thus underlining in my mind just how fantastic a driver I really am.

"Eighty... eighty-five... ninety... speed camera sign! Okay, okay, okay... and SIXTY AS I HIT THE FIRST WHITE LINE I AM YOUR GOD!"

Ahem.

Spidey wrote:My eyebrows are proof of my great virulence.

Virulence? Or virilence? Because if it's the former, I may want to get some antigens before we next meet. Honk!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:41 pm

I'm poisonous to the touch boyo.

Post by **Kaylee** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:37 pm

That and the other trick with retests is passing your driving test (or retest) doesn't necessarily make you a good driver. It means you're good at passing driving tests. Like my instructor said, the homespun wisdom goes that when you get your driving licence and go out onto the road by yourself thats when you really learn how to drive; the rest of it's just preparation.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:08 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:when you get your driving licence and go out onto the road by yourself thats when you really learn how to drive; the rest of it's just preparation.

Exactly.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:07 am

yeah right - 9/10 people, as far as i can tell, drive like utter wankers.

Post by **Kaylee** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:21 am

Best First wrote:yeah right - 9/10 people, as far as i can tell, drive like utter wankers.

No arguments with that, I seem to be the only person in the whole South East who knows how to approach and indicate at a roundabout. It's not so much people not knowing how to do it imo it's that people choose not to do it the right way cos they're twats and think they know better. In which case a hefty fine should do the trick

That and 4x4's should just be illegal to have on the road unless you are towing a house or something or you have a one-day permit to take the vehicle on the road in order to get it to a particular location where you intend to go round dirt-tracks or whatever.

angloconvoy · Post by **angloconvoy** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:29 am

God yes! 4x4s for driving round the corner, which is a more than walkable distance, to pick up your kid should be grounds for bringing back the death penalty.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:32 am

mumsy in her 4x4 - furher evidence the human race is massively farked.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:13 pm

I of course should have my old car given back to me because i ******* rock at 160mph.

I hope all nervous drivers drink plenty of beer before even getting behind a car - and make sure your safe with some over sized bull bars too... 4x4 land cruiser wagon tank with a 5.0L engine helps the enviroment too.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:26 pm

I just passed my drivers license test, or whatever you call it.
I hope I'll never have to do it again.
[composite word including 'f*ck']

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:27 pm

who here has passed there?
A,B and Special license tests? - I have...