Well done Elizabeth, who passed first time with just 4 driver faults today.
Compared to last year, I haven’t had that many tests this year so far – but today’s pass brings it to 8 passes out of 12 tests, so not bad going when you consider that three of them were the same person (passed third time). Five were first time passes.
Elizabeth was nervous as hell. But then again, most of them are, so nothing to worry about there. And she even had one moron do the old “I’ve got priority turning right” trick at a junction.
Another email alert from the DSA concerning the trial where driving tests were conducted out of buildings other than official test centres. There isn’t a web link, so here’s the full text:
More driving test candidates to benefit from better local services
Driving test candidates across the country are set to benefit from a more convenient service as the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) extends a trial exploring a new approach to test delivery.
As well as using conventional driving test centres, the DSA has been looking at whether practical driving tests can be delivered from other venues such as local authority buildings, hotels or leisure centres.
This new approach is currently being trialled at eight locations, and following positive feedback from candidates and instructors, the DSA now plans to extend the scheme to five more areas across the country.
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:
“We have to be more flexible and innovative in delivering driving tests to make sure that we are offering people the best service possible wherever they live and I am delighted that these first trials have proved successful.
“We are now extending the trial so that more candidates will be able to benefit from a service that is convenient as well as being cost effective.”
The DSA plans to further develop this model and extend the scheme across areas in and surrounding: Watford, Manchester, Kettering, Glasgow and Worcester. In each area, DSA will look to identify a number of locations where there is sufficient demand for local test provision. Tests could be provided from local authority buildings, or from local businesses such as hotels or retail outlets.
As part of the longer term planning for driving test delivery, the DSA is looking for opportunities to work in partnership with the private sector across the country. Tests will still be conducted by DSA examiners, but the agency is inviting businesses who may be interested in providing premises for delivering driving tests to register their interest. A Prior Information Notice is being published in the Official Journal of the European Union and the agency hopes to attract interest from a wide section of the business community.
I think the idea of running tests from hotels and leisure centres in areas where it can be justified is fine. My only concern stems from the fact that Mike Penning championed it, and that it is therefore in danger of being the first steps on the road to privatisation.
Well done to Annalie, who passed first time yesterday with 9 driver faults. Now you’ll be able to take the girls to ballet practice or whatever it is they want to do without having to rely on other people.
Since I took you on, you’ve always been a good driver, so this is a fitting reward for all that hard work.
All we’ve got to do now is get that lummox of a boyfriend passed – which he’s never going to do if he doesn’t start thinking about taking some lessons on a regular basis.
A belated well done to Kevin, who passed his test on Monday with just one driver fault.
As I said at the time: you BERK. I nearly had another clean sheet!
Seriously, though, an excellent result from a good driver (but with terrible navigational skills – must get a satnav before you go anywhere). I know he’s already been out, which is a good thing if you can do it.
He was incredibly negative about his chances, but at least one of us was proved right.
I wrote this morning about the DSA’s new online statistics, and suggested that the amateur statisticians might have some fun with them.
It didn’t take long. KentOnline trumpets that the driving test pass rate is improving, and creates a whole article around that.
The simple fact is that the pass rate has gone up from 44% two years ago, to 46% last year, to 47% for the current year so far. A 3% rise over three years is hardly significant.
It also doesn’t take into account the fact that the national pass rate was 46% in 1999, and has hovered between 45-47% ever since then. In other words, the pass rate isn’t increasing – it just appears to have done so over the last three years to people who haven’t got a clue about statistics and statistical significance.
And now, the RAC is on the case with pointless prose. So far, all these have done is just repeat what is in the DSA data, but using different words.
This Canadian story claims that computerised tests are unfair to older drivers. In many ways, it echoes the mantra certain ADIs in this country like to chant ad nauseam.
It seems that Canada also has a permanent war on the go with the politically correct crowd:
The government needs to do a better job of explaining a computerized driving test for seniors suspected of cognitive impairment, Solicitor-General Shirley Bond said in an open letter Tuesday.
Am I the only one for whom the question “if they’ve got cognitive impairment, why the bloody hell are they on the roads in control of a 1 tonne+ killing machine” occurs?
The Canadian exam is simply a touch-screen affair – as far as I can tell, a lot of questions and hazard scenarios are thrown up (if someone from Canada can clarify that it’d be useful), and the candidate simply touches a “button” on the screen. It isn’t a million miles away from the UK Theory Test. But – just like the UK – there are “activists”, ready to oppose anything.
It seems that there was a recent protest by people who reckon that it is an unfair way to “assess a generation less familiar with technology”.
I’m sick of this childish argument. If some new technology comes along right now, and I’m not familiar with it, then I go out and make myself familiar. I don’t start a protest group or front a Mickey Mouse organisation to oppose the technology.
It reminds me of something from years ago, and which I have mentioned before. I’ve always been “into” technology, and had a home computer – long before PCs – in the late 70s/early 80s. At that time, you saved and loaded programs and data from a cassette tape drive, and many magazines included a free cassette of stuff on the front cover. When disk drives started to become popular – and you can imagine the clumsiness of cassettes compared to floppy disks – magazines started to change over. There was uproar from the Luddites who wanted to remain with cassettes.
All you have to do is look at what we take for granted now, and what those idiots were campaigning for, to see how totally wrong they were. The same applies to this case of using technology to replace pen and paper or other non-technology based methods of communication.
Reading the article in The Vancouver Sun suggests a very similar undercurrent, as the government is looking at “an outreach plan” to explain why you need to be medically fit to drive AND how to use the computerised system. There’s obviously more to it than just not being able to use a computer.
One 86-year old (who is “competent with computers”) says he was “completely frazzled” when he took the test. Look, I’m sorry, but if he was competent with computers, the only reasons for being frazzled were due a) to taking a test that he desperately wanted NOT to fail, and/or b) being 86 years old! Nothing short of an automatic drivers’ licence would have prevented him from being frazzled. He even reveals his desperation not to lose his independence, in a country where you have to be medically assessed fit to continue to drive beyond age 80. You can see that a whole raft of issues are being condensed down, and blamed on the computer-based test.
A local driving instructor adds fuel to the flames when he says he has received “numerous complaints from seniors”. What on earth does that prove? Nothing.
However, he does say that he thinks the concerns can be resolved. I think that’s being a little naÏve, when it is the loss of independence and being tested at 80 which is the real issue.
This is the first freedom of information (FOI) story of the year, but ChronicleLive (a Newcastle news site) says that a 27-year old woman from the area passed her Theory Test on the 49th attempt.
Just for the record, that means she shelled out £1,519 just on the Theory Test!
The article also says a 29-year old Sunderland man took 16 tries, and two teenagers from Morpeth took 13 attempts.
When it came to the Practical Test, a 40-year old Sunderland woman took 20 attempts (the tests alone would have cost her £1,240), narrowly beating a 32-year old Hexham woman (17 goes) and a 32-year old Elswick woman (16 goes).
Well done to Javid, who passed today with just three driver faults. He was shaking at the end, but he did it!
The new licence will go nicely with the new job.
On a slightly different note, I only took the car to the Tigerwash last night (I always do before a test), but after a brief shower this morning it looks like it’s been dragged through a hedge backwards.
We need some heavy rain to wash all the salt they put down away.
Recently, I’ve been appalled by the knowledge of the Highway Code exhibited by my pupils – after having passed the Theory Test, and being only weeks away from their practical tests in some cases.
It was highlighted during the snow we had. I’d used the opportunity to cover skidding and the importance of planning ahead, but not one pupil was able to tell me what kind of clearance they should leave between themselves and the car in front in normal conditions, let alone in the wet or on ice.
Answers included two metres, two car lengths, and even two feet! And the one who said “two feet” has failed his test five times already (not with me, I should point out), and he gave that answer when I asked what he’d do at 70mph on the motorway!
Since the snow cleared, I’ve been mentioning this to most of my pupils, and it is frighteningly clear that the problem is not isolated.
To be fair to them, they wouldn’t actually drive two feet (or two metres) behind the car in front. All of them can maintain a safe distance, but it’s when questioned the guessing starts.
You see, if someone is able to maintain a safe distance in practice, does it really matter if – when questioned – they don’t recall the Two Second Rule verbatim, or can’t declare that the gap should be at least two seconds?
At the moment, I (the jury) is out on that one! Just.
However, if they can’t recall the Two Second Rule, how many other things can’t they remember? Road signs, for example, or how and where to park next to junctions, etc? So part of me is still of the mind that they should bloody well know this stuff (or at least some of it).
From now on, I’m going to keep a supply of Highway Code (HC) books and give them out as I see fit. The RRP of the HC is £2.50, which isn’t a lot – but give away 40 of the things in a year and you’ve lost £100. Surprisingly, even the bulk suppliers are asking £2 a copy.
But I got an email through from Amazon today, and it reminded me of the fact that the Official HC only costs £1.49 on there (and delivery is free). You can only order a maximum of five, and it appears you can only have open orders to that maximum number at any one time. I’ll be a bit annoyed if it turns out I can’t buy any more once my order arrives, but we’ll see.
Well done to Sean, who passed first time today with just 5 driver faults. It’s all about keeping it in the family, because his brother also passed with me first time last year, too.
Mind you, there is a big difference between them.
And remember what I said. You don’t want an Audi A3 – they’re pratmobiles, and the only reason for having one is to behave like prat. That’s what everyone else who has an Audi does. That tosser driving one who cut us up, then undertook the lorry and sped off, and who we then passed at lights is proof of that.
Well done Elizabeth, who passed first time with just 4 driver faults today.
Well done to Annalie, who passed first time yesterday with 9 driver faults. Now you’ll be able to take the girls to ballet practice or whatever it is they want to do without having to rely on other people.
A belated well done to Kevin, who passed his test on Monday with just one driver fault.
The Canadian exam is simply a touch-screen affair – as far as I can tell, a lot of questions and hazard scenarios are thrown up (if someone from Canada can clarify that it’d be useful), and the candidate simply touches a “button” on the screen. It isn’t a million miles away from the UK Theory Test. But – just like the UK – there are “activists”, ready to oppose anything.
Newcastle news site) says that a 27-year old woman from the area passed her Theory Test on the 49th attempt.
Well done to Javid, who passed today with just three driver faults. He was shaking at the end, but he did it!
practical tests in some cases.
Well done to Sean, who passed first time today with just 5 driver faults. It’s all about keeping it in the family, because his brother also passed with me first time last year, too.