Hazard Perception Test
Woke up early...an hour two hours before I needed to leave home. Ended up arriving at the test centre 3 minutes before the whole 15mintues prior to test starting thingy.
Anybody else notice the lack of reality between the screen and what you see and how you perception is increased in real life? Anyway...first 7 clips go thru and I’m feeling positive about it until ‘’8 out of 19 clips’’ appears on screen...after this I should have given up on this one. The clips starts, and I’m think ok this is alright until stupid woman steps of curb, quickly I’m clicking and thinking I got a 3 at least on that one. Clips continues and a car pulls out in front which I would (in real life) alter my speed and readjust (and of signal that he has one or maybe two brain cells with my hand). All of a sudden I’m at 8 flags in the corner when this car pulls out from the opposite side of the road cutting into my path. “Dammit...do I click and run the risk of losing anything I got with the first hazard or leave it?’’ So I decided to leave it, surely it’s better to get 3 points than fail by a single point.
The rest of the test goes by quickly and I’m soon ushered out of the room and collecting the piece of paper I had been dreading...at the end of the day I took three attempts with the car theory due to the hazard perception...quickly I scan the first couple of lines, “CONGRATULATIONS...” WOOHOOOOOO!! I’m quite happy now...
I'm quickly on the phone when leaving the test centre phoning family to inform them how i did...and phoning my dear little brother (who is on here somewhere!) that i have actually beaten him so far!! This point just adds to my smile!!
The drive home brings fun...shockingly when someone randomly opens a door in front of you, replicating a click on the steering wheel like you would on a computer mouse, WILL NOT surprisingly slow down your vehicle.



Time to get prepared for the multiple choice part on the 7th August...If there is a God please please let me pass first time!!
7th August
Today see’s me attempt the multiple choice part of the theory...never nice! Growing up i always seemed to suck at the theory side of everything but excelled at the practical. However i had spent even waking moment since passing the hazard perception reading the highway code and practicsing on the CD, just generally putting in the hours.
I arrived in plently of time and have the same debate with the desk clerk as i had on the HPT, why are the letters being sent to a different address to that which is on my driving licence....GRRRR

Hmmmmm ... I’m wanting to say purple, well it is at our house when you try to spray goats or the old horse with gentian violet spray and ultimately missing!!

15th August
Today sees me go for an assessment drive for training with Grants of Cannock. I arrive early and get to meet the main man himself. He quickly notes down my driving licence, and enquires about what I have done so far. He then does his best to scare me off, telling me that we would be going out in a Scania (boohoo!!) hahaha!!


The instructor shows me around the truck and gives me a basic overview of what is to be expected with regards to the show-me-tell area and also the daily checks that I would be required to complete...well daily!! He then drives first telling me how to approach certain hazards and how to control the vehicle. This last the whole of a quarter of a mile!! Now it is my turn.......ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Now all week I had been trying (trying being the word) to drive to DSA standards...it is actually hard in a car! Got into the seat in the Scania and.... it all fits into place!! Mirrors constantly, think I lost the road a couple of times I was more content with checking mirrors!! Gear box...apart from one incident when I forgot the range change and tried to pull away in 7th from standing instead of 3rd, there was no over incidents...ROG — thank you so much for your training tip sticky!! It is absolutely legendry and a must read for anyone deciding to do either their C1 C or C+E!!
Anyway...I unfortunately did mount a kerb...Well Island! Just over steered and up she went! Realised straight away that I should have stayed left and made the most use of my lane, which is a lesson learned!! Couple of other incidents however nothing major and as soon as I did it I realised my mistake straight away which I think is a bonus...obviously the bonus would be not doing it in the first place but that is why they call it mistakes!!
Back to the yard and the major incident then occurs...single carriage way see’s me in 5th where I check mirrors signal and continue to brake...braking....braking...flip the button...down to 3rd ...brake...road ahead is fine ... check mirrors...blind spot...all clear....check junction...nothing... start to pull in....BRAKESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! Stupid fiesta driver had decided to overtake the queue behind me plus me as I was turning!! The only damage caused is to my blood pressure! Now I’m sure that that person at one time or another was a learner!! If you’re in that much of a rush then leave fricking earlier!! Anyway back on the way back up the hill to base I'm told, don’t worry that wasn’t your fault!! Still don’t calm my heart down thou! Have a chat with the instructor who tells me it should be achieved in 5 days and the course can start whenever I want!! I will be honest and spent all morning being so nervous that it was actually scary!! But I'm thankfully that Grant chilled me out and had such a laugh with the banter all the drive that I came back so laid back I was almost horizontal! I had car instructors that either didn’t speak but barked or generally just belittled us all day long! Not with class 2! I loved ever single minute of it!!
I must work on my speed...need to get upto speed but I'm sure that will come with experience and most importantly confidence! I'm happy with my positioning at the minute, although it isn’t the best I'm not a million miles away from where I should be!
I began this journey being fully away that there is no such thing as a guaranteed pass same as thing is never gonna be a guaranteed job at the end of it...but in the words of this forum it is an investment for the future! If a job comes up from it which pays great gives me job satisfaction...IF IF IF Then yeah bonus!!
I now have even higher found respect for those 'old hand's' that have been driving even a day longer than me let another years longer...well all expect my brother...its sibling thing!!


Oh and SPD0121 you are right....PHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTT is the best noise in the world!! Until next time people!