Road test for new drivers - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Buzzard · 04-19-2010, 08:30 PM

I'm in the process of teaching someone to drive right now. We're doing the basics - parallel parking, signage, proper signaling, switching lanes, speeds, etc., but I'm kind of running out of things to think of. Seeing how it's been about 150 years since I took my road test, I have no idea what they look for. Matter of fact when I took mine as long as you knew where the key went and didn't crash or injure anyone you pretty much passed. Everyone in here town knew the route they took, and there were really no surprises. I'm assuming there's maybe a little more to it these days?

So anyone that's taken a road test for class 5 license in the last couple years what are they having you do? Any little tricks I should be teaching him, or is it still a basic 15 minute drive around town talking about the game last night?

ken0042 · 04-19-2010, 08:45 PM

My fiancee took it last fall. From the sounds of things it was pretty much a drive around the area.

MonsieurFish · 04-19-2010, 08:53 PM

Uncontrolled intersection are important. Playground zones, pedestrian crossings, merging, yielding, hill parking, parallel parking, regular parking (perpendicular?).... that's about all I can remember from mine. Other than that it was just driving around.

DrJ · 04-19-2010, 09:10 PM

Make sure you tell the person you are teaching to drive to FULLY STOP when leaving a parking lot etc. (especially at the testing centre). They will fail you on the spot if you don't come to a full stop.

Also, make sure they engage the parking break and also disengage before putting it back into drive.

Practice hill parking and know which way to turn the wheel depending if there is a curb or not, downhill or uphill.

And yah, yield right of way to the right in an uncontrolled intersection.

ken0042 · 04-19-2010, 09:37 PM

One thing to add- she took the road test at the Registry on 11 ave and 1 st SW. The tester she used came recommended- and when she failed the first time he came in and spend some time with me to tell me what she needed to be working on before her next test.

He was sincere about wanting to make sure she was becoming a good driver; as opposed to just pushing out licenses.

Also the road test location saved her from any freeway driving.

3 Justin 3 · 04-19-2010, 09:41 PM

My road test was easy. Drive out of the test parking lot, turn left, drive straight for a long time, lane change once or twice, right, left, right, hill park downwards, turn left, playground zone, parallel park (behind a car, not between two cars), then drive back.

Super easy. It's been 3 years since I did that, and I will go again to get rid of the stupid GDL crap, which from what I have heard is the same thing but twice as long.

From what understand, they won't make you drive downtown or highway, as you don't need to in every day driving so they don't have to test you on those things.

Berger_4_ · 04-19-2010, 10:22 PM

Actually the test to get off of GDL is super easy. No parallel parking or anything...just drive around for half an hour or so.

3 Justin 3 · 04-19-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

Actually the test to get off of GDL is super easy. No parallel parking or anything...just drive around for half an hour or so.

Yeah, my problem, pathetically, is backing up into a parking stall. I can do it, but never straight in the middle. I have 100's of hours driving around, if not 1000's already. Also pisses me off that it costs over $120.

Buzzard · 04-19-2010, 11:36 PM

Thanks guys.

Berger_4_ · 04-19-2010, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Yeah, my problem, pathetically, is backing up into a parking stall. I can do it, but never straight in the middle. I have 100's of hours driving around, if not 1000's already. Also pisses me off that it costs over $120.

Yeah, it's stupid that it costs so much. Also, I'm pretty sure you don't need to back into a parking stall...but maybe the tests vary from person to person.

wooohooo · 04-19-2010, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

From what understand, they won't make you drive downtown or highway, as you don't need to in every day driving so they don't have to test you on those things.

Which is why I think that is ######ed. They should take you in a traffic circle, drive you downtown, highway... places that you don't always frequent but might. Then we don't have idiots that have no idea, freak out and cause accidents.

wooohooo · 04-20-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Yeah, my problem, pathetically, is backing up into a parking stall. I can do it, but never straight in the middle. I have 100's of hours driving around, if not 1000's already. Also pisses me off that it costs over $120.

They make you reverse into a parking stall now? That's a load of BS. Even though that's my most preferred way to park, not everyone likes to do that. Although I might be contradicting what I was previously saying... but you still have the option of going in head first.

I took it 2-3 years ago and I just drove around the city. Boring as hell..

They also make you shout out hazards along the road. Stupid... but example is like 'on the curve, the tree is obstructing the view so I am not sure what is around it...' thing like that. Otherwise, it's pretty easy... hardest part for me and most people was parallel parking but they're pretty lenient on that. Just don't bump the curve because that's apparently a fail (Why?)

Coach · 04-20-2010, 12:31 AM

i took my GDL last year....and no they didnt make me back into a parking stall. I've never heard of anyone having to do that.

3 Justin 3 · 04-20-2010, 01:13 AM

I just read that on the internet where it said what is tested. I am 99.9% I'll pass, I'm just too lazy to go down and make an appointment, maybe I'll do it tomorrow.

MonsieurFish · 04-20-2010, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I just read that on the internet where it said what is tested. I am 99.9% I'll pass, I'm just too lazy to go down and make an appointment, maybe I'll do it tomorrow.

Make sure you actually take the test seriously... unlike I did

I just took mine a few months ago, and first time around figured I was a fine driver, so I'd just drive like I normally do, and not speed or anything... failed about 2 minutes in. Second time around I put a little more effort into preparing and passed.

Know uncontrolled intersection rules for your GDL.

3 Justin 3 · 04-20-2010, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsieurFish

Make sure you actually take the test seriously... unlike I did

I just took mine a few months ago, and first time around figured I was a fine driver, so I'd just drive like I normally do, and not speed or anything... failed about 2 minutes in. Second time around I put a little more effort into preparing and passed.

Know uncontrolled intersection rules for your GDL.

Why'd you fail, did they tell you?

I know I have to tighten up a few things: keeping both hands on the wheel, controlling my speed, but I am pretty solid everywhere else I think.

I'm good at turning, signaling, lane changing, intersections.

To clarify, what are the rules for uncontrolled intersections? Act as if everyone has a yield sign? Let the guy on the right go ahead if you see someone coming?

Buzzard · 04-20-2010, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrJ

Make sure you tell the person you are teaching to drive to FULLY STOP when leaving a parking lot etc. (especially at the testing centre). They will fail you on the spot if you don't come to a full stop.

Also, make sure they engage the parking break and also disengage before putting it back into drive.

Practice hill parking and know which way to turn the wheel depending if there is a curb or not, downhill or uphill.

And yah, yield right of way to the right in an uncontrolled intersection.

They look for this in an automatic?

Resolute 14 · 04-20-2010, 08:08 AM

Make sure your learner is properly shoulder checking during lane changes, turns, etc.

Wookie · 04-20-2010, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

My fiancee took it last fall. From the sounds of things it was pretty much a drive around the area.

Sweet, waiting another 18 months so she can drink at the wedding?

Northendzone · 04-20-2010, 08:19 AM

when i took my road test (27 yrs ago) they took me around a residential area, i guess there are a lot more dangers lurking around those areas than you would think.

as an aside, i took the test in my dad's big old plymouth. i figured i'd be clever and back into the stall so when I started the test, i would not have to back out of the stall - when we came back to the parking lot the tester asked me to back into a spot between two other cars.......