advice on p plates.

Ford_Boy · 08-02-2007, 06:03 PM

hey everyone, i am feeling so excited. i booked the test in for my p's. lucky me it's only 2 days away. i was going to have a lesson before my test and use the instructors car but i don't want to spend an extra 150 buks.
i've been to an instructor so i pretty much know how it works.but could anyone please add a little extra advise. i'm so nervous and excited about this. if i get my p's in the morning i can go out that night because its saturday.
i can finaly buy my laser if i get them

mUTHA · 08-02-2007, 06:22 PM

jut be relaxed but not cocky.. listen to the assesor and make sure you have to hands on the wheel while not changing gears, dont cross your arms over unless absolutly necesary.. and remember your not in a rush so ease the clutch. oh and keep looking as you drive through intersections and drive to conditions.

just remember what your instructor taught you and you should be fine. alotta assesors will fail you first time anyway. well in WA they do

fordbarbie · 08-02-2007, 06:27 PM

hey mate
i did mine a couple of years ago and got in the high 90s. yes, i know it doesn't prove i know how to drive but it felt good.
i'm from vic so i dunno if you have the same tests, like the 3 point turn, point to point, etc. but make sure you know these back to front. you'll feel more confident.
make sure that you do the recommended speed around such corners, and drive cautiosly. the only place i lost points was pulling out onto a 3 lane road when there was only my lane free instead of 2.
hope that made sense.
good luck - hope you ace it!

uranium_death · 08-02-2007, 06:44 PM

I also found that looking through the rear view vision mirror was also a help. The instructor will see this and although it may not actually contribute directly to your score, it will show that you are constantly aware of the traffic behind you.

Make sure head checks are visible too. Take corners lightly too.

The only time I lost points was "road positioning." On a couple of turns I wasn't tight enough, or too tight. Stupid Pulsar steering wheel.

I will say that drive like you always do (presuming you are safe!) and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

And don't choke your chicken!

Bill_R · 10-02-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

I also found that looking through the rear view vision mirror was also a help. The instructor will see this and although it may not actually contribute directly to your score, it will show that you are constantly aware of the traffic behind you.

Make sure head checks are visible too. Take corners lightly too.

The only time I lost points was "road positioning." On a couple of turns I wasn't tight enough, or too tight. Stupid Pulsar steering wheel.

I will say that drive like you always do (presuming you are safe!) and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

And don't choke your chicken!

Good advice!
Even if *you* that you have clear vision make sure the examiner knows that you know it's clear by turning your head to look.

Keep 3 seconds behind all vehicles when traveling (less than 1 second is an automatic fail) and ensure when you stop behind a vehicle at lights or Stop signs etc that you can see the rear wheels of the car in front touchign the road. If the examiner is shorter than you allow for that.

Make sure you count to 5 (one thousand and one, one thousand and two ...) before you move out from the kerb after indicating. This can be a PITA for most.

Set yourself to travel below the speed limit. If you are use to traveling at or near the limit practise driving slower first so you get the feel of it.

Drive like you are a beginner!

If you fail then dont' worry. They often *do* like to fail on the first go.

Good luck!

pertuan · 08-02-2007, 07:41 PM

Mate of mine failed his years ago. Heres what the assessor told him.

Couldn't see you looking at the side and rear mirrors - So move your head slightly when you look in the mirrors and don't wear sunnies.
Not enough positive control of the vehicle - Don't leave your hand on the shifter.
Can't confirm that the car was setup properly - Shift your seat, move the mirrors, move the steering column.

Thats the basics that my mate got done for. And don't panic if someone honks you.

Miller · 08-02-2007, 08:23 PM

Roundabouts are your enemy.

Ford_Boy · 08-02-2007, 08:41 PM

thanks guys. alot of good advise. im pretty sure i know everything but i have never heard of point to point, what is it exactly?

Miller · 08-02-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

thanks guys. alot of good advise. im pretty sure i know everything but i have never heard of point to point, what is it exactly?

Reverse park, reverse parallel park, 3 point turn, kerb side stop, hill start. That's all I can remember at the moment. Just watch your speed ay, especially if you have your test booked during school zone times.

fordbarbie · 08-02-2007, 10:32 PM

its where you have to reverse your car something like 20m or 50m (sorry can't remember!). you start on the road (duh), but you need to reverse your car into a parking position on the curb only using your main left side mirror. its not too difficult if you know your car dimensions. its probably the hardest of the lot. but if you haven't heard of it i doubt you'll be doing it. the rest are easy as anyway

[Tonko] · 08-02-2007, 10:39 PM

we had either 3 point turn, reverse park or hill start, i got the 3 pointer, you can hit the kerb but not mount it, i just made in on a tiny street in my old mans EL Ghia,
I failed mine the first crack, school zones, my watch said something different to the instructors, oh well, live and learn,
Plus a roundabout is based on exit points NOT line of sight.

Ford_Boy · 09-02-2007, 03:57 PM

im so nervous. i really don't want to fail. i want to be able to buy my car and drive to school and work and i hate how sometimes theres no room for everyone so we can't invite everyone to come. i just want to get my p's so it can all be over and done with. i didnt get my L's until a month before my 17th. i should have been the first in the group to be driving because im the oldest. i really can't wait, tomorrow is the big day. wish me luck guys lol

09-02-2007, 04:03 PM

Make sure you move your head to look at mirrors. Mirror check every 15 seconds and when changing lanes, as well as blindspot check...

uranium_death · 09-02-2007, 04:08 PM

A point-to-point reverse is where you must be 1 metre out from the kerb and you need to reverse a certain distance (up to the instructor) next to a tree or driveway (they'll tell you).

The key here is not to turn too sharply. Turn the wheel only 30 degrees, which is almost nothing. Then turn the other way 30 degrees. YOu need to be 12 inches from the kerb (maximum). Also, when you approach the kerb, slow down.

You must complete it in no more than 3 moves = initial reverse, with the optional forward and reverse to correct should you need it.

3 point turn is the easiest IMO.

BA 5.4ltr · 09-02-2007, 04:08 PM

how i got through it was i thought that it was my mum sitting there and i had her voice yelling in my head DON'T DO THAT,DO THIS,TAKE YA HAND OFF THE GEAR KNOB TWO HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL,SLOW DOWN so i took it easy got to the end and the chick said i wish you young kids drive like that after here hehehe

[Tonko] · 09-02-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA 5.4ltr

how i got through it was i thought that it was my mum sitting there and i had her voice yelling in my head DON'T DO THAT,DO THIS,TAKE YA HAND OFF THE GEAR KNOB TWO HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL,SLOW DOWN so i took it easy got to the end and the chick said i wish you young kids drive like that after here hehehe

haha sounds like my old man, 10 and 2 all the time... and no fast acceleration... plus the "its my car so its my rules" so when hes in my car, driving is a little more spirited, one arm on the window and loud music.... haha payback is a ******

:

majin_andrew · 09-02-2007, 11:32 PM

If you fail (or failed, depending on when you read this), do NOT think that you are incapable - a lot of testers like to fail people just because it is their first try.

If you fail, view it as another lesson, as you would have recieved invaluable experience from it.

When I did my test I had friendly conversations with the tester (little things like "my friend lives there"), and it relaxed me and made me feel more confident because then the tester was nice to me.
I'm not sure what the rules are in Sydney are though, they may forbid conversation (I doubt it though).

Oh, and what others have said, do a lot of looking in the mirrors and up streets and at intersections etc.

lukey · 09-02-2007, 11:35 PM

I was really nervous, but I tried to relax and passed. Even when a woman walked out in front of the car when I was about to turn a corner! But luckily the guy said it wasn't my fault and he would dismiss it but just to keep an eye out next time, lol

Ford_Boy · 10-02-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukey

I was really nervous, but I tried to relax and passed. Even when a woman walked out in front of the car when I was about to turn a corner! But luckily the guy said it wasn't my fault and he would dismiss it but just to keep an eye out next time, lol

i wish my guy was like that. i drove today and i really thought i did good. reverse park was perfect so was curb side park. hill start and 3 point turn good. i always indicated and i was checking all the mirrors every 15 seconds. i felt so responsible and technically i was great.

i didnt want to seem too confident but when i finished i thought i had it bagged. turns out i missed the stop sign in the rta! i was shocked. i didnt even know there was one. what i don't understand is why test me if i already failed?. its not like i ran the stop sign. i gave way to the cars and continued. if i knew there was a stop sign i would have stopped properly like the other 3 stop signs i saw. this one was mounted on top of a fence and can only be seen from a car more then 10 metres away.

i feel like ****. how can someone get 90+ and fail? i know its no excuse and people may say that i should have been more observant but as soon as i approached the exit there was already people pulling out and i was watching the traffic. i gave way to the passing cars and i proceeded. the guy knew i was responsible i wish he didnt toy with me for 45 minutes.

oh and thank you everyone i took everything you guys said and i would have passed if it wasn't for that first stop sign. atleast i know next time i should get it

Miller · 10-02-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

i wish my guy was like that. i drove today and i really thought i did good. reverse park was perfect so was curb side park. hill start and 3 point turn good. i always indicated and i was checking all the mirrors every 15 seconds. i felt so responsible and technically i was great.

i didnt want to seem too confident but when i finished i thought i had it bagged. turns out i missed the stop sign in the rta! i was shocked. i didnt even know there was one. what i don't understand is why test me if i already failed?. its not like i ran the stop sign. i gave way to the cars and continued. if i knew there was a stop sign i would have stopped properly like the other 3 stop signs i saw. this one was mounted on top of a fence and can only be seen from a car more then 10 metres away.

i feel like ****. how can someone get 90+ and fail? i know its no excuse and people may say that i should have been more observant but as soon as i approached the exit there was already people pulling out and i was watching the traffic. i gave way to the passing cars and i proceeded. the guy knew i was responsible i wish he didnt toy with me for 45 minutes.

oh and thank you everyone i took everything you guys said and i would have passed if it wasn't for that first stop sign. atleast i know next time i should get it

Mate, I was in the same boat as you. Nailed EVERYTHING, damn car came out of the counsel chambers car park out at Castle Hill, and I couldn't see him coming due to a brick wall being there. The problem is, as soon as I went infront of him, I instantly knew I failed, but the fella made me keep going lol. Better luck next time!

Airmon · 10-02-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

turns out i missed the stop sign in the rta! i was shocked. i didnt even know there was one.

Don't spose that was Campbelltown RTA by any chance?

Ford_Boy · 10-02-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airmon

Don't spose that was Campbelltown RTA by any chance?

beverly hills. when i think back i cant even remember a white line after the sign. if i stop at the sign then my view of the road and on coming traffic is obstructed. its just a cheap gimmick the rta has to fail people. i gave way to the cars on the road then i proceeded. i really believe im out from a technicality. im bummed about paying more but also i had my whole day planned out. i was upset about it but i guess i should just get over it and try again. if i drive like i did today and make sure i see that first stop sign then they cant fault me. thanks eveyone for the advise and it really worked. i just wish i took notice of the sign on the fence before i came in.

Keepleft · 11-02-2007, 06:09 AM

Not stopping at a STOP sign is an automatic fail item and the signs are deliberately placed at registries, indeed any action requiring intervention by the tester is also an automatic fail.

Another way to be caught is when you enter signposted 10km/h SHARED TRAFFIC ZONES. Here, doing 30km/h will see you fail, as exceeding the speed limit is an automatic fail item too!

I note your comments as to passengers as a P1 holder and offer this link;
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents...ml?hhid=pplate

Question: In your progress to date, did you even once read the NSW "Road Users' Handbook"?

It's downloadable in Pdf (2.92kb), but I always suggest the printed $10 version which fits neatly into a glovebox!
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/...uh_english.pdf

An obvious observation here is that you are being told 'how to get a license', not necessarily 'how to drive', although the RUH above - does have a greater amount of defensive driver and practical advice than past efforts.

New national rules due 2007, these will be added to all state and territory manuals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_driving

majin_andrew · 11-02-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

when i think back i cant even remember a white line after the sign.

I was in this situation when I did my test. There was a stop sign, but no visible white line. I stopped at the stop sign, but couldn't see anything from there, so I moved closer to the road and then stopped again, as there was a car coming.
It turned out that there technically was a white line there, but it was worn out and black with rubber / dirt etc, and not really visible.

Before you do your test again have a close look at the intersection to try and find a white line. Chances are there is one there but it is very hard to see.

lukey · 10-02-2007, 02:05 PM

Yeh if you did that good but just missed one thing, I'm sure you'll be fine next time. Don't worry and just give it another go, you'll be right!

XR8 Uterous · 10-02-2007, 02:34 PM

Had a mate do the same thing a few days ago, apparently rolled passed the stop sign on the exit driveway of the RTA, everyone in our town knows about it, yet he still did it... mistakes happen, head up and just be ready for next time.

fordbarbie · 10-02-2007, 02:54 PM

bad luck mate

yeah it is weird that you continued your test after the stop sign incident. i was told that if a mistake like that was made (and the example i was given was a stop sign!) that the assessor would tell you to pull over and explain that you had failed. strange...

ps: sorry i didn't explain the point to point too well. i got my Ps more than 2 years ago, so it wasn't exactly fresh in my mind :(

Ford_Boy · 10-02-2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordbarbie

bad luck mate

yeah it is weird that you continued your test after the stop sign incident. i was told that if a mistake like that was made (and the example i was given was a stop sign!) that the assessor would tell you to pull over and explain that you had failed. strange...

ps: sorry i didn't explain the point to point too well. i got my Ps more than 2 years ago, so it wasn't exactly fresh in my mind :(

its okay mate, i didnt end up doing it anyway. thanks for your advise

JamesR · 10-02-2007, 02:55 PM

man.. sounds like every RTA/Vic Roads is the same.. hidden stop signs on exits..
i did my test with an instructors car. best thing was that the instructor and assessor were chatting flat out.
i think i only lost 1 point and that was for 'dry steering' while doing a 3 point turn, which ended up being a 5 point turn. i think they found the narrowest street possible.

good luck next time though.

bessxg · 10-02-2007, 03:22 PM

That sucks buddy I feel for you. To fail on such a little complication like that must annoy you something cruel. Imagine if all license holders had to go through that test again, just to keep it. It's great that you're still confident, you know you are going to pass next time, for sure.