grumpybum:
Try not to beat yourself up - treat it as practice for next time. Also, don’t worry about the examiner tapping on his pad - there are lots of things to be input that aren’t necessarily to do with something you’ve just done. And they wait for a ‘safe’ place before taking their eyes off the road to enter stuff. So for instance, he could just be entering that he has completed a “normal stop”. He has several legal requirements to enter - it’s not all marking! So pay no attention to that bit.
If he tells you to pull up in a specific place, do it. He won’t be trying to trick you, he may need a specific requirement. If, however, he says to pull up “in a safe place” then it’s down to you to choose somewhere suitable - but there will be one in the immediate area.
Never assume you’ve failed, just drive as well as you can. I’m an ex car examiner and candidates often gave up if they thought they’d failed, when in fact, at that point, they hadn’t. You know what to expect now so hopefully you’ll nail it next time.
Sound advice, good to see some knows what they are talking about.
As I said Coop 15 hours ain’t a lot but as said treat it as practice for next one. Also most find their nerves
ain’t as bad second time round. Driving tests involve luck. Sometimes traffic goes against you and sometimes with you. Hopefully the latter next time.
Sorry to hear it didn’t go your way today. Have you got a retest booked?
The examiner has taken you left under the arched bridge from the Eurolink Roundabout for a reason: because that very busy 100 yard section of road has multiple hazards and is very frequently used by tall artics. He wants to see how well you anticipate where you may have to stop, how you react to the traffic around you and the effect the presence of your vehicle has on other traffic - all achieved in the space of 100yards. Maybe you need to have a conversation with your instructor about defensive driving, ie preventing other drivers doing something silly. The left turn towards Faversham can be done from lane 1 but blocking 1/2 of lane 2 so no-one is on your offside is an advantage - ask him. You can talk to the examiner and say what and why you intend doing something. He is expecting a safe drive not one which proves that you can squeeze through the smallest gap.
Edit add for benefit of readers: Image shows location and does not reveal that this section of road is normally rammed as is the R/A . Approaching this low bridge with a tall trailer it is not easily visible that the distance between the far side of the bridge and the ‘Keep Clear’ is so short. The right turn at the traffic lights from the opposite direction to enter this road is equally challenging as regards where to stop… try street view.
google.com/maps/@51.3423228 … a=!3m1!1e3
cav551:
The examiner has taken you left under the arched bridge from the Eurolink Roundabout for a reason: because that very busy 100 yard section of road has multiple hazards and is very frequently used by tall artics. He wants to see how well you anticipate where you may have to stop, how you react to the traffic around you and the effect the presence of your vehicle has on other traffic - all achieved in the space of 100yards. Maybe you need to have a conversation with your instructor about defensive driving, ie preventing other drivers doing something silly. The left turn towards Faversham can be done from lane 1 but blocking 1/2 of lane 2 so no-one is on your offside is an advantage - ask him. You can talk to the examiner and say what and why you intend doing something. He is expecting a safe drive not one which proves that you can squeeze through the smallest gap.
It was more the fact that i was told we wouldnt go that way so i was doing the whole lot “blind” and didnt help with the nerves. and then hitting the inside kerb i knew i was in trouble if not failed. I know in the real world i will go down roads i have never been before however i will of had some experience by then and in the real world wouldnt of attempted it if there was another alternative.
cooper1203:
cav551:
The examiner has taken you left under the arched bridge from the Eurolink Roundabout for a reason: because that very busy 100 yard section of road has multiple hazards and is very frequently used by tall artics. He wants to see how well you anticipate where you may have to stop, how you react to the traffic around you and the effect the presence of your vehicle has on other traffic - all achieved in the space of 100yards. Maybe you need to have a conversation with your instructor about defensive driving, ie preventing other drivers doing something silly. The left turn towards Faversham can be done from lane 1 but blocking 1/2 of lane 2 so no-one is on your offside is an advantage - ask him. You can talk to the examiner and say what and why you intend doing something. He is expecting a safe drive not one which proves that you can squeeze through the smallest gap.
It was more the fact that i was told we wouldnt go that way so i was doing the whole lot “blind” and didnt help with the nerves. and then hitting the inside kerb i knew i was in trouble if not failed. I know in the real world i will go down roads i have never been before however i will of had some experience by then and in the real world wouldnt of attempted it if there was another alternative.
Your instructor should not have said you would not go a certain way. It depends on circumstances.
The examiner can basically take you anywhere that’s suitable.
Never a good idea to just use test routes during training but of course it all boils to the time available.
Sounds like you need more practice to gain practice and experience. Have you anymore training before your next test?
Terry Cooksey:
stu675:
I don’t understand why you were taught to lower and raise suspension. I didn’t have to do any of that! One less thing to worry about, but bloody well done for passing [emoji106]
Proper technique should be to raise the legs before engaging the kingpin, mainlynto make sure you don’t actually go over the top of it and miss it. It also stops any damage to them during a particularly aggressive tug test, and takes the trailer weight off them making them easier to wind up, especially if there is a decent amount of weight on the trailer.
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We achieved all of that by leaving legs a handle turn off the ground before uncoupling. In a training situation you will never mix units and trailers so no risk of height variances.
jakethesnake:
cooper1203:
cav551:
The examiner has taken you left under the arched bridge from the Eurolink Roundabout for a reason: because that very busy 100 yard section of road has multiple hazards and is very frequently used by tall artics. He wants to see how well you anticipate where you may have to stop, how you react to the traffic around you and the effect the presence of your vehicle has on other traffic - all achieved in the space of 100yards. Maybe you need to have a conversation with your instructor about defensive driving, ie preventing other drivers doing something silly. The left turn towards Faversham can be done from lane 1 but blocking 1/2 of lane 2 so no-one is on your offside is an advantage - ask him. You can talk to the examiner and say what and why you intend doing something. He is expecting a safe drive not one which proves that you can squeeze through the smallest gap.
It was more the fact that i was told we wouldnt go that way so i was doing the whole lot “blind” and didnt help with the nerves. and then hitting the inside kerb i knew i was in trouble if not failed. I know in the real world i will go down roads i have never been before however i will of had some experience by then and in the real world wouldnt of attempted it if there was another alternative.
Your instructor should not have said you would not go a certain way. It depends on circumstances.
The examiner can basically take you anywhere that’s suitable.
Never a good idea to just use test routes during training but of course it all boils to the time available.
Sounds like you need more practice to gain practice and experience. Have you anymore training before your next test?
I have to pay for more training (which is fine) as i have had all my hours included in the bootcamp. the issue is can it be fitted in in time and as its in blocks of 3 hours how many do i need and do i have a block right before my test.
I would go for one block before your test: 1h 15 mins driving + 15 min break + 1h 15 mins driving + 15 min break + test
cooper1203:
Sad to say i failed quite badly this morning. Just a whole string of things happened that culminated in me failing my test.
My issues started as soon as i got to the center i was nervouse. Had a quick spin around the yard as it was a different unit and trailer (3 axel unit instead of 2) 9:15 and im infront of the examiner doing the paper work and licence check etc. Went out to the vehicle while the examiner had a quick brew and used the toilet.
Examiner came out and got in and asked me a couple of quick questions then off we went. Welcome to Sittingbourne demolition darby 2022!! Straight out of the gate we turned right to be faced with cars dumped both sides of the road and people milling around in the road. Managed to deal with that turned left on the rounderbout and went along the road. Out of the corner of my eye i could already see him tapping at his tablet but tried to ignore it and just concentrate on what i was doing. We did my first and second please pull over manouver then onto the next rounderbout “please turn left” bugger my instructor told us if your on your free drive dont go down there its tight under the bridge as its arched and you have to take the middle of the road all the way out. Nevermind deep breath get on with it.
This is the start of the mayhem at the end of the road i had to turn left. I put myself on the outside lane of my line but left space for cars etc to come up the outside of me. so imediatly started telling myself off managed to pull it together and come up with a plan of attack before the lights changed. Lights go green and i deliberatly do 2 compleate mirror checks giving the cars to my right time to exit the junction. Out we go as far foward as i dare trying to nick a little of the right hand lane and round we go nearly scraping the front bumber on the middle island and watching the headboard round(ill cremate the gnat on the headboard later) only to watch the n/s trailer wheels joyously running over the curb.
at the next rounderbout i was asked to take the first exit slightly down hill so rolling the vehicle into the rounderbout and mr patiant in a 4x4 with a trailer decides he has to be infront of me overtook me and cut infront causing me to break sharply to miss the trailer as he cut infront. deep breath turn left at the rounderbout and up the hill towards faversham. Then suicidal jack decides its a brilliant idea to ride across the road oh his pushbike in front of me and behind an oncoming van. Then not happy with that manouver swerve out from behind the van and ride between us. I was so shaken and shocked i couldnt even swear properly (im a real potty mouth most days)
Carried on up to the lights and was asked to turn right desperatly trying to calm down and stop shaking. Lights went green and i turned right but still shaken from the two near misses in the last 2 minuettes i forgot my mirror checks i realised whenit was too late. The road i had turned into has parked cars and is extreemly residential. The examiner asked me to pull over on the left after the driveways. All i could see along the length of the road (as far as i could see) was driveways so i said “im sorry i dont understand where you mean” The examiners responce was by the grass between the driveways the only place i could see that i might just beable to squeeze into had parked cars oppersite and in my head i thought if i stop there i will be blocking the road. So queried the instruction again and was told dont worry we will try somewhere else. so now i have it in my head that everything is going to pot in less than 1.5 - 2 miles. came round the corner to be faced with parked cars both sides with a van at the end of the line on the n/s. As i am squeezing through i see someone step off the pavement and walk between the parked cars as if they are going to walk between the lorry and cars to get into thier car so i am watching them like a hawk. failed to realise how far i had traveled and nearly ran into the back of the van. Just saw out the corner of my eye the examiner curling up into a ball.
Needless to say i had definetaly failed at that point with whatever had gone on before hand. so will just add that from there in i think i only managed to miss 3 kerbs on the rounderbouts and the whole thing just went to pot.
Mate don’t beat yourself up about it, it looks like you have a challenging area to learn to drive a lorry in to be honest.
All you can do is take it nice and steady & anticipate, good driving is just about anticipating what the other morons are going to do.
Your trainer should have taken you down that road under the bridge as it’s a perfect road for a learner to practise, honestly the more you drive those types of roads the better. If i was learning in that area I’d be wanting to go down that road several times a day.
As for road positioning when turning i know it’s not easy to judge but you need to make a choice either you can make the turn from the one lane or you split the lanes bang in the middle. Do not just try to pinch a small part of another lane that is where you are asking for trouble… Do not under any circumstances give a second thought to holding up or delaying other road users, it’s tuff ■■■■ they have to wait for you. You are doing them a favour not giving them room to squeeze past you & risk getting wiped out.
Good luck with the re-test 
Do not under any circumstances give a second thought to holding up or delaying other road users, it’s tuff [zb] they have to wait for you
Sorry but this is wrong and not helping. You can do that after passing your test if you are not sure about road position but holding up other traffic unnecessarilly on a regular basis during a test will end in tears.
jakethesnake:
Do not under any circumstances give a second thought to holding up or delaying other road users, it’s tuff [zb] they have to wait for you
Sorry but this is wrong and not helping. You can do that after passing your test if you are not sure about road position but holding up other traffic unnecessarilly on a regular basis during a test will end in tears.
You might be correct in what you say but you wouldn’t routinely block every junction would you just the ones your not sure about.
Maybe you forget what it’s like to be a learner but a lot of new drivers really worry about it & what I’m trying to say is it’s better to block the road properly or not at all if that makes sense.
drover:
jakethesnake:
Do not under any circumstances give a second thought to holding up or delaying other road users, it’s tuff [zb] they have to wait for you
Sorry but this is wrong and not helping. You can do that after passing your test if you are not sure about road position but holding up other traffic unnecessarilly on a regular basis during a test will end in tears.
You might be correct in what you say but you wouldn’t routinely block every junction would you just the ones your not sure about.
Maybe you forget what it’s like to be a learner but a lot of new drivers really worry about it & what I’m trying to say is it’s better to block the road properly or not at all if that makes sense.
Understand exactly what are saying. but in reality it’s down to Coops instructor to hopefully give enough tuition and practice so he has the ability to work out position on approach to a junction or a roundabout. It certainly ain’t easy to learn that in such a short period but hopefully he can crack it next time.