Driving test & app

[akirk]

Was looking at the driving test app today out of interest...
what is wrong with the attached image / question?

[66mpg]

I would imagine that the throw-in arrow is used ahead of a solid white line, which makes all the answers incorrect.

[akirk]

exactly!
the 'correct answer' is Keep left of the hatched markings, but that is incorrect, hatched lines can be crossed id the lines are dashed, and a return arrow is an advisory warning, not an instruction

I went through 100 questions and several were poorly phrased, this one was just blatantly inaccurate... I do wonder if those writing these / setting the training have an agenda which goes beyond the legislative statutes, certainly not impressed so far

Edited by akirk on Saturday 8th September 21:37

[Vaux]

akirk said:

exactly!
the 'correct answer' is Keep left of the hatched markings, but that is incorrect, hatched lines can be crossed id the lines are dashed, and a return arrow is an advisory warning, not an instruction

I went through 100 questions and several were poorly phrased, this one was just blatantly inaccurate... I do wonder if those writing these / setting the training have an agenda which goes beyond the legislative statutes, certainly not impressed so far

Edited by akirk on Saturday 8th S8eptember 21:37

What app is it? Is it the DVSA one or a free one? I doubt it's an official question.
Of the four choices, the answer given is the only one close to sounding right - test technique.

[akirk]

Official DVSA app (paid for)

really no excuse for getting it wrong though, and raises the question as to accuracy of the actual theory test!

[Vaux]

akirk said:

Official DVSA app (paid for)

really no excuse for getting it wrong though, and raises the question as to accuracy of the actual theory test!

I've had a look at Know Your Traffic Signs and it says:

'Arrow indicating the direction in which to pass hatched markings and double white lines, or the route that high vehicles should take under a low arch bridge (may be reversed)"

So, it fits? The Theory Test is not just HC based.

[akirk]

Vaux said:

I've had a look at Know Your Traffic Signs and it says:

'Arrow indicating the direction in which to pass hatched markings and double white lines, or the route that high vehicles should take under a low arch bridge (may be reversed)"

So, it fits? The Theory Test is not just HC based.

except that you do not have to pass them on the left, the dotted lines allow you to cross the hatching, and the arrow is only advisory (if you check the original legislation)

so to say that you should pass them on the left is wrong, you can pass them either side...

[Vaux]

akirk said:

except that you do not have to pass them on the left, the dotted lines allow you to cross the hatching, and the arrow is only advisory (if you check the original legislation)

so to say that you should pass them on the left is wrong, you can pass them either side...

Maybe you're overthinking this? The Theory Test pulls answers from HC, KYTS and Driving the essential skills.
Again, the answer given is the only one that fits.

[Pica-Pica]

The arrow is meaningless unless the road is narrowing from a double (or one and a half width lane) to a narrower one, or the hatched area is coming up to double white lines, and in the latter case, the arrow should be as is but on the opposite carriageway (i.e. ‘get back to your lane! the hatches end soon) example

[akirk]

Vaux said:

Maybe you're overthinking this? The Theory Test pulls answers from HC, KYTS and Driving the essential skills.
Again, the answer given is the only one that fits.

It is the only answer that fits, but there is no right answer... is it too much to expect cohesion between what is taught for the test and the actual law of the country?! It is hardly surprising that we see daily misunderstandings about how to drive when people go through a test with badly worded test questions, it helps understand why people get cross if someone crosses a hatched area, because they assume that you can’t even though it is totally legal... hardly surprising that driving standards are what they are when you see the questions being asked!

Edited by akirk on Sunday 9th September 13:40

[watchnut]

As an ADI, I would always suggest to a learner that that arrow suggests you "get back in NOW"......

One can overtake on broken line hatchings.....if it is safe to do so.....the arrow maybe suggesting that very soon it will not be.

We all see badly positioned signs, the one above is really too far over.

Many of my customers show me similar questions from the "official" apps, that are poorly worded. It is what it is, the dsa are very poor at admitting mistakes, I would suggest that many have already pointed this out to them.

Most ADI's are not fans of the dsa, they are almost impossible to reason with at times, the associations do try to make it known to them that they could look at things from their customers perspective .....but they don't

They are also a " government" service that makes money!.....I don't believe any other does!.....it's a shame they have no competition, maybe they would provide a better product and service to it's customers.

At least the "Theory" test is better than the 1 or 2 questions I got asked when I took at the end of my driving test

[johnao]

akirk said:

I went through 100 questions and several were poorly phrased, this one was just blatantly inaccurate... I do wonder if those writing these / setting the training have an agenda which goes beyond the legislative statutes, certainly not impressed so far

... No, there’s no agenda. The truth is they don’t have driving licences.

Once upon a time I made a similar tongue-in-cheek comment to someone who worked in the highways dept of one of the county councils near to where I live. He looked at me, smiled and said... “there’s some truth in that!”, but wouldn’t elaborate.