Just wondering, when I had some lessons in a flat bed many years ago I found it very easy to do the reversing exercise when I was looking out of back window.
Am I right in thinking that with a box body and only using the mirrors it is much harder to judge?
I also remember the guy having some marker on the vehicle so you can “cheat” in knowing when you have reached the bay. Do all trainers do that and do the examiners tolerate or allow it?
Hopefully I’m getting closer to starting my training. Probably skip an assessment and do a four hour lesson which will give me a good idea if I like the trainer and how much training I’m going to need. Maybe even find out if it really is for me.
The “slow” setting on an auto will cure this. It really is very slow. To the point that, personally, I don’t use it. But it’s there to give folks a greater degree of control and should be used if it’s an issue.
When I did my reverse exercise, it was a case of, lock it over as soon as you’re moving, don’t let it cross the lines, then opposite lock until you see the winding handle for the legs in you’re mirror, then go back until you see that crack in the Tarmac that “almost” looks like it was put there on purpose, then straight back until you’re in the bay, straighten her up until the “V” in the mudguard is level with the first yellow line, and you’re done.
About as much use in the real world as a chocolate exhaust
Don’t know why the DVSA can’t do deals with local or national companies and have the reverse take place on their premises. They’ve taken the emergency stop away from test centre, why not the reverse.
JS8576:
Don’t know why the DVSA can’t do deals with local or national companies and have the reverse take place on their premises. They’ve taken the emergency stop away from test centre, why not the reverse.
really so you want to do the reverse exercise in a yard with all of the experienced drivers are & hurting you up think about that
That’s what you would have to do the following day (if you can get a job that soon) so it doesn’t make a lot of difference.
Despite any ■■■■ taking (not sure if that’s what you meant by “hurting you up”) unless you meant a professional driver being so incensed by a trainee or newly qualified driver reversing in their yard that they would jump out of their vehicle and kick the f*** out of them, I would be happy to do it. I’d like to think the professionals would appreciate the improvement it would bring for those just starting out.
I suppose for legal reasons it will never happen on test but it would be the best preparation short of LGV instructors offering some pass plus scheme to newbies which I imagine (like car drivers), few will take up the offer.
Most of the drivers would want you to hurry up so they can get on the bay for there delivery / load you could hold them up too much for there time as you are not regulated by this on training
If you hit something in the yard i.e. another vehicle who would be responsible
Would really want someone watching you as well as the instructor it is bad enough when you 1st pass & having other people watching you
I get your point but once you pass test that’s the position you are going to be in. Holding them up and knowing everyone is watching. I know it’s an added expense but I would pass test then have a few more hours with some really nasty reverses just to be confident enough when it has to be done on the job.
I suppose trainers could do this before test but I imagine they just want to get you prepared for exercise itself so post test would make more sense.
There is also too many different situations & reverse areas that it wouldn’t be practical some easy some not so same as your car really
They teach you to pass no more don’t matter weather it is car / lorry / bus / bike this is why some of the things have been introduced over the years as when I took my bike test the examiner stood in 1 place I rode round the corner round the block he could not see me most of time passed now different
I think post test training would be best option for those who want it but equally plenty of drivers probably happy to get out there on their own and get to grips with it.
I think requirements to pass LGV is not much different than car. Apart from the added problem of size of vehicle the actual pass mark is no different.
As people have said before what gets you on test is either nerves or you were not ready.
Best way to get rid of the nerves is to be driving at a level beyond what the test requires. Not an advanced test. You can screw things up and still pass. On my car test forgot to indicate coming out of test centre and another car was waiting for me to pull out (nerves), I rolled back on a hill as I forgot handbrake (nerves), driving back into the test centre I drove into a hedge (nerves or stupidity). He passed me.
It’s possible you could do that on LGV or PCV test and still pass. I think the bar is set low enough to pass an average driver. Not sure what any instructors think of that. In an ideal world how they would design the driver training system.
You never going to get it right as what you think should be in someone else would disagree with you but hey
It is also easy to fail you test with a silly mistake just depends on the examiner on the day as on my CE est I mounted the pavement ( had not other choose tbh ) & he passed me
All examiners in the UK should be same really no matter where you take test. Would be interesting to know what would definitely fail you and what you can get away with. Luckily for me probably no hedges at the lgv test centre. Don’t think any examiners on here. Probably not allowed to discuss their work. They can’t be filmed. Although I do remember a documentary some years ago about training car examiners when some woman reached behind to adjust the head rest and she pulled it right off and the trainee examiner was trying not to ■■■■ himself.
JS8576:
I also remember the guy having some marker on the vehicle so you can “cheat” in knowing when you have reached the bay. Do all trainers do that and do the examiners tolerate or allow it?
When I did my PCV earlier this year, the bus had a reversing camera fitted on the back of the bus, pointing straight down. Made the “stopping in the yellow area” an absolute doddle. I think that all training organisations will either have a camera, or some kind of cheat - when I did my C and C+E, they had attached reflective warning triangles to the rear mudflaps such that the bottom corner stuck out just enough to be visible in the mirror - again, just line that up with the edge of the box, and it’s in a perfect position.
Realistically, it’s pretty fair - in real life, you would either be reversing up to a bay with rubber bumpers (so you just go up to it until it stops itself), or you get out and look as many times as you like (which would be a failure under test conditions), or you have a banksman.
JS8576:
Don’t know why the DVSA can’t do deals with local or national companies and have the reverse take place on their premises. They’ve taken the emergency stop away from test centre, why not the reverse.
The place where I did my PCV was an accredited test centre, but not owned/operated by DVSA, so it’s certainly possible. I guess it’s just not worth it for the operators, unless you’re actually a driving school. In the case of the one I used, it meant that they didn’t have to go on a long journey to get to a “real” DVSA test centre for each test; the examiners came to them instead.
Don’t think any examiners on here. Probably not allowed to discuss their work. They can’t be filmed. Although I do remember a documentary some years ago about training car examiners when some woman reached behind to adjust the head rest and she pulled it right off and the trainee examiner was trying not to ■■■■ himself.