Provisional Licence D-Day

[pete]

From 1st July all provisional licence holders need to be accompanied by full licence holder.

The RSA seem to have significantly increased the number of tests so now done on weekends too to get the backlog down. Its amazing they could not do this years ago.

I know a couple of people who passed recently at second attempt & unless they improved dramatically I have a suspicion pass % has been increasing. Either that or the fear of July 1st deadline made them take the test seriously.

Any one else noticed this?

[passinginterest]

Waiting list has gone way down. I just applied yesterday for the 4th time. Twice I accept I failed, the third time was a joke (I didn't take the first seriously, the second nerves got the better of me and I made a silly mistake, the third baffles me, reasons for failing were never highlighted in numerous lessons and pre-tests and I know I drove the same way in the test itself as I had no nerves at all).
Unfortunately our testing system is horribly flawed, but that's a whole other argument.

It's ridiculous that it's taken this long to get the waiting lists down, it'll be interesting to see if they keep them down once the publicity dies away. I still think our attitudes to teaching people to drive and driver education need to be tackled before road safety improves. Many full license holder seem to think that getting a pink license allows you to forget the basic principles of safe driving.

[jebus]

It's like the 80s all over again. Two female drivers I know recently (last two weeks) passed on the first attempt. This despite one of them admitting to breaking down on m50, pulling over and crying the day before her test. She did so badly in her last test run she wasn't even going to bother going, and was only persuaded to go by her boyfriend asking her to drive to the test centre, see how she did and decide from there. Judging by that I have a feeling they are just throwing licences out before the deadline

[passinginterest]

Pass rates are still below 50% in most of the Dublin and East coast test centers. As you go further West the pass rate is 60% or more oddly.

[jebus]

Pass rates are still below 50% in most of the Dublin and East coast test centers. As you go further West the pass rate is 60% or more oddly.

Its probably because we're better human beings than East Coasters

[passinginterest]

Better drivers than me anyway... apparently!

[anto1208]

Better drivers than me anyway... apparently!

Took me 4 goes too so dont feel too bad First was nerves 2nd i thought i did well in but failed , 3rd i failed because i went through an orange light , it changed when i was 5 feet from the line so i kept going as i couldnt stop in time and he said i broke a red light !!!! and the last one which i feel was the worst of the lot i passed !!!

So go figure

[Billsthoughts]

People driving too fast on country roads seems to be the main cause of accidents and death in this country. Very rarely hear of any fatal crashes in Dublin. Got my test last week with only one fault. First time I had ever sat it. Wouldnt say they are any easier than before but the out sourced testers seem to be a lot less anal than the civil servant ones. As well as that the testing sheet and marking scheme is out there so easy enough to focus on the competencies.

[KevB76]

Wouldnt say they are any easier than before but the out sourced testers seem to be a lot less anal than the civil servant ones.

I'd be inclined to agree with that

[KevB76]

The RSA seem to have significantly increased the number of tests so now done on weekends too to get the backlog down. Its amazing they could not do this years ago.

Good point, my brother did his test a few weeks ago, I was astounded that he only had to wait about 6 weeks ! Its not so long ago another family member had to wait an eternity (well more than 6 months anyway) for the test date.

6 weeks is reasonable and acceptable and in line with the UK for example, should have been done years ago but at least they've got it right eventually.

In fairness, all credit to the powers that be for finally getting this sorted. The situation in this country with L drivers driving home (and everywhere else)after failing the test has always been slightly bothersome to me.

[Student Mullet]

I'd be inclined to agree with that

That's my opinion as well.

[GavinZac]

Failed my first attempt last month due to a bizarre mix up about the test centre on the day. Waiting on my date for the second go.

The crackdown appears to have started in Cork already pete, you sure its not til July?

[GavinZac]

It's ridiculous that it's taken this long to get the waiting lists down, it'll be interesting to see if they keep them down once the publicity dies away. I still think our attitudes to teaching people to drive and driver education need to be tackled before road safety improves. Many full license holder seem to think that getting a pink license allows you to forget the basic principles of safe driving.

Driving should be a school subject. Its certainly more worthwhile than say, Irish, or imaginary numbers. It should be taught on a lessons-style basis and on an "hours"/miles type basis like flying a plane. I've driven 15,000 miles up and down the country in cities and in rural areas and on high speed areas; yet at the moment I'm just as much illegal as my girlfriend who hasn't actually driven at all. The test seems to be just a performance, putting on a show for the tester, all the exaggerated head movement, checking mirrors in cul de sacs, constant gear changing.

[pete]

The crackdown appears to have started in Cork already pete, you sure its not til July?

I think that is a separate campaign this weekend although L platers current rules will be enforced. i.e. some L players can drive unaccompanied.

Maybe the system has always been a lottery (I know when I passed years ago on 2nd attempt I was a little surprised) however the two guys at work failed very badly last year. One guy was unable to acknowledge why he failed but maybe he did take it more seriously this time. Still surprised some of ye have same suspicions.

Where can you get the current pass rates?

[redtildead]

Pass rates and waiting times here, in the column on the left

http://www.drivingtest.ie/frameset.html

I got my test in 5 weeks last December passed it first time