Learning to drive

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iluvmercs

Original Poster:

7,541 posts

234 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
Ok, so I've now booked in my theory test....2 week waiting list for this, so in on the 7th March.

The Hazard Perception element well and truely sucks! I bought a discs with a practise HPT on it. Its a load of crap to put it mildly.
You're told to click a mouse button only when you see a "developing hazard, which may cause you to alter the speed of your vehicle, or road position".

So there I am clicking for cars parked on the side of the road, coming up to relatively "closed-view" junctions, pedestrians on the side of the road, as well as for "meeting situations" (where you may have to give way due to obstructions on your side of the road), traffic lights, etc...
The pass mark is 44 out of 75.

I fail! with 42/75!!! yikes
So I see my score sheet. Some of the video clips I get "no mark" or zero for over-clicking!!! For spotting too many potential hazards!
When you do a running commentary (as I did on that course with the ex-traffic cop 18 months ago), you should spot and mention ANYTHING which could cause a hazard (eg. "now coming up to a T junction on my left hand side; there is no traffic, so it does not present a problem). On this HPT it appears you just ignore these!!!!
A friend who's been driving 4 and a half years did the test and got 36/75 - he is extremely aware, has no convictions to his name, and no accidents and he still fails! He see his score sheet and comes to the same conclusions I did. It doesn't make it partiularly clear what they want you to click to the mouse button for. Like me, he was clicking when he saw a parked car on the side of the road, or coming up to a junction.

Next the biggest kick in the teeth. As of last week the earliest available slot for the driving test at Norwich is the 10th of APRIL{....banghead .....yes APRIL!!! And this after being informed by the National number, there was only a week waiting list mad

After which the BSM lady nicely informed me it would be "only if my instructor thought I was ready", to which I replied "I'm not like most of you learners....I've been driving over FOUR YEARS. I pass in two thousand and two" She said that hadn't been noted on my file, despite telling 2 of her BSM colleages mad

So assuming I pas my theory the first time, I'll be calling up for cancellations all through March in the hope I can be driving BEFORE the March meet.

I'll take a chill pill and get off my soap box now

Darren


Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 23 February 01:38

sayerbloke

305 posts

223 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
I've heard other people say the same thing about the hazard awareness test. Bit of a joke really, isn't it?

Maybe they'd be better off asking learners to do a running commentary for say 5 minutes on their test. The examiner would soon know if the driver was looking for the right sort of things, etc.

Good luck getting a cancellation.

Ian V

1,817 posts

275 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
I know what you mean about the hazzard awareness Darren. When my son took his test a year and a half ago he was having problems with the theory test, so we bought the disc and I had a go myself. It totally ignores things like cars parked on blind corners, these are obviously not a hazzard. banghead

Hope all goes well with the test Darren, be good to get you back in the fold again.

Naughty Magpie

1,484 posts

245 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
Hi Darren, good luck with getting a cancellation - I'm sure one will come up in March - fingers crossed. I did a hazard awareness test last April for my bike test and it's the biggest pile of poo - you are right, overclicking gives you no points - what a joke! Can't give you any tips on it I'm afraid - I suppose just click on the most obvious ones & ignore the parked cars on blind bends (eek).

When I did it, I pretty much clicked on everything that I reckoned to be a hazard for a biker - cars, pedestrain crossings, other bikes, trees, leaves, shops....and still got a pretty high mark - no idea how.

Hannah.

crankedup

25,764 posts

250 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
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Yeah and shortly there is going to be an huge hazzard to avoid in Norwich - poxey CHARGE ZONES. mad

simpo two

87,097 posts

272 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
sayerbloke said:
Maybe they'd be better off asking learners to do a running commentary for say 5 minutes on their test. The examiner would soon know if the driver was looking for the right sort of things, etc.

I think a running commentary is a bit beyond many learners - it's more of an IAM/police thing.

I can see why they penalise over-clicking, otherwise anybody could pass just by sitting and clicking away like a madman.

I took my test in Blackpool in summertime - if you finished without hitting any pedestrians, you passed!





Racingdude009

5,303 posts

254 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
crankedup said:
Yeah and shortly there is going to be an huge hazzard to avoid in Norwich - poxey CHARGE ZONES. mad


Unfortantly the Camera's for the Congestion charging have already gone up the blue one's by that pub on the Dereham Road stick out a mile.

simpo two

87,097 posts

272 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
Racingdude009 said:
Unfortantly the Camera's for the Congestion charging have already gone up the blue one's by that pub on the Dereham Road stick out a mile.


You sure they're not the blue Trafficmaster ones?

busta

4,504 posts

240 months

Saturday 24th February 2007
quotequote all
Darren, have you tried booking a test at either Kings Lynn or Lowestoft? You may find they aren't so heavily overbooked.

Personally, I think the whole 'waiting 2 months for a test' debacle is there for the instructors benefit. It means they probably get another 8 lessons out of most learners which works out to be quite alot at £36 a lesson!

I was one of the first people to have to do the the hazard perception test and I agree, it's a joke. As is the whole driving test and learning process in my opinion!

Bernie

sayerbloke

305 posts

223 months

Saturday 24th February 2007
quotequote all
simpo two said:
Racingdude009 said:
Unfortantly the Camera's for the Congestion charging have already gone up the blue one's by that pub on the Dereham Road stick out a mile.


You sure they're not the blue Trafficmaster ones?


And the *really* tall green(?) ones are for checking tax. Apparently.

iluvmercs

Original Poster:

7,541 posts

234 months

Saturday 24th February 2007
quotequote all
busta said:
Darren, have you tried booking a test at either Kings Lynn or Lowestoft? You may find they aren't so heavily overbooked.

Personally, I think the whole 'waiting 2 months for a test' debacle is there for the instructors benefit. It means they probably get another 8 lessons out of most learners which works out to be quite alot at £36 a lesson!

I was one of the first people to have to do the the hazard perception test and I agree, it's a joke. As is the whole driving test and learning process in my opinion!

Bernie


I asked for my tests to be in Norwich, for ease of getting there, so I've been allocated an instructor from there. (I'm with BSM). If I try to change my test location, I'll be given a new instructor and have to take my theory there, too. I don't see why I can't just learn and do my my theory in one place and my practical in another.

You mention the whole driving test being pathetic - did you see "Real Story" the other night? It was the driving test, basically saying how crap it was rolleyes

Darren

gtr-gaz

5,166 posts

253 months

Saturday 24th February 2007
quotequote all
What makes it even more frustrating, is there's bugger all you can do about it mad

iluvmercs

Original Poster:

7,541 posts

234 months

Wednesday 7th March 2007
quotequote all
A bit an update for you guys.

I took my theory today, and passed bounce party

Now just waiting for confirmation of my practical test booking, and asked for them to call up for cancellations....I thought I'd have to do that, but it seems BSM will do it for me!

So I may not make it to this March meet, but will be along for the April meet/Mosler Factory tour (fingers crossed!) thumbup

Darren

Ian V

1,817 posts

275 months

Wednesday 7th March 2007
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Nice one Darren. Now remember no more speeding. nono

simpo two

87,097 posts

272 months

Wednesday 7th March 2007
quotequote all
Good luck - just keep to 29.5mph and you'll pass for sure!

iluvmercs

Original Poster:

7,541 posts

234 months

Wednesday 7th March 2007
quotequote all
Ian V said:
Nice one Darren. Now remember no more speeding. nono


angel

Guess who'll be at the back on any PHEA convoy, then.....or should I be up front to set a steady, legal pace hehe

Darren

simpo two

87,097 posts

272 months

Wednesday 7th March 2007
quotequote all
iluvmercs said:
Guess who'll be at the back on any PHEA convoy, then.....or should I be up front to set a steady, legal pace heheDarren


Well put it this way - you've got 12 shiny new points to go shopping with... you can be the hare...hehe

iluvmercs

Original Poster:

7,541 posts

234 months

Wednesday 7th March 2007
quotequote all
simpo two said:
iluvmercs said:
Guess who'll be at the back on any PHEA convoy, then.....or should I be up front to set a steady, legal pace heheDarren


Well put it this way - you've got 12 shiny new points to go shopping with... you can be the hare...hehe


I've got none to play with for my first 15 months of driving, then I'll only have 6!

Because I was banned for the offence, my 6 points, for driving without due care, stay on there (from when I crashed the old Merc back in 2005)
And as I'm a new driver, the 2 year rule applies, so I cannot get more than 6 months for my first two years of driving.

The 6 points are void after the next 15 months have passed.

So no "hare" status for me (as if I could even outrun a Tiv! paperbag) hehe

Darren

ETA: If anyone was wondering I got 34/35 for the multiple choice section (I got 30/35 the first time round) and I passed that Hazard Awareness with 64/75!

Edited by iluvmercs on Thursday 8th March 00:44

Jonny_uk

305 posts

212 months

Thursday 8th March 2007
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When i did my test i went to kings lynn as the list was much much shorter! Failed first time but didnt spend ages waiting for another slot!

The new "cameras" around the city are ANR to check on tax/insurance etc with the PNC. They have a direct real time link!

susser

270 posts

217 months

Thursday 8th March 2007
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Get on with your work