I got something which has been fairy playing in my mind since yesterday.
It was my third day of training and my instructor took me through test routes. It was all going well until we came up a little hill (somewhere round Grays area) which got traffic lights and LGV can only turn right because the other 2 exits are restricted to no more than 7.5t
As we pass the light, traffic was still flowing on my right to the opposite direction and I managed to not use the Parking brake whiles waiting for my turn but instead balanced the stop with the use of clutch and gas (as we were going uphill and was scared I might have a delay or even screw up on parking brake have I used it). My instructor said I would have picked up a minor for that.
Interestingly whilst we there, he said the examiner might take me through the weight restricted roads as they can do this on test.
Any1 has ever been through restricted roads on their tests? Had you argued or confronted the examiner about it being a restricted road? Did you refuse to go the couze it is a restricted road?
We are going back to the same hill today after some driving and reversing
The examiner should not take you through restricted roads, Follow the roads suitable for your vehicle. If he trys to, point it out to him, He cant fail you for showing you are observant and that you know the rules
Take your time, dont panic and show you are in control of the vehicle and all situations that arise.
Don’t know what the standard examiner spiel is at the start of the on road element of the test but I can specifically remember mine saying “I’d like you to drive ahead at all times unless I or road signs tell you otherwise and I would like you to obey any relevant weight limits for your vehicle”.
Shrewsbury test centre use weight restricted roads on their test routes. They tell you before starting the test that they have exemption to do so. It does no harm to let them know you are about to enter a restricted road so they know you are paying attention.
I will take everything on board tomorrow. I hope it’s gonna be a good day for me
Am training with other 3 guys who all got their training paid for by our tax money. Two of them are using the auto gearbox (and not complaining) and the other is using the manual like myself and he was moaning about the gears, about the size and all sorts (excuses)
He wanted to train in an auto but apparently they don’t have a choice but to go for what’s available.
My point is: why moan when you getting free training up to C+E ? Just be thankful and get on with it.
I got sent toward a round about with a weight restriction the examiner said follow the road ahead but ahead for me been over the weight restrictions was right at the roundabout but later in my test I got sent through weatherby town centre which has a 7.5t weight restriction but the examiner told me I was aloud that way as they had a permit but when I was doing my lessons my trainer didn’t have a permit but told me it was part of the test route and they had a permit so I had a bit of aheads up.
There was one scenario where a student was instructed along the lines of…
“At the roundabout ahead continue to take the correct option available to you.”
This was a complete u-turn back the way he had come because all other exits were either bus routes into controlled areas (or similar) or weight restrictions.
Back in the day when I was doing my class 2, my instructor took me through a weight limit to see if I’d notice it. It was just past a fire station, and I’d been too busy looking at the box junctions to notice it.
Come test day, I came at it from the other direction. There were no formal limits signed, just one that said HGV route to Newcastle. So I put on my left indicator and started turning in.
“Whooa whooa whooa, stop the truck” he yelled
“What are you doing?”
I explained that I’d been caught out on my lesson, and that the sign said that this was the HGV route to Newcastle, and as I knew the area already, the road ahead wasn’t going anywhere else.
He told me that he wasn’t trying to catch me out, and to carry on ahead.
I was convinced I’d failed. So I just drove like I didn’t care.
When we got to the end of that road, a pair of invalids had broken down opposite an island, and convince did failed, I sarcastically said we’d have been best off on my route. He said he was ok with me taking the island on the wrong side if I felt the need, I told him I could have got the rigid through it sideways.
Got back to the centre and you could have knocked me down with a feather. He only went and passed me. Had the same fella for my class 1 too, and he passed me first time on that as well.
I got something which has been fairy playing in my mind since yesterday.
It was my third day of training and my instructor took me through test routes. It was all going well until we came up a little hill (somewhere round Grays area) which got traffic lights and LGV can only turn right because the other 2 exits are restricted to no more than 7.5t
As we pass the light, traffic was still flowing on my right to the opposite direction and I managed to not use the Parking brake whiles waiting for my turn but instead balanced the stop with the use of clutch and gas (as we were going uphill and was scared I might have a delay or even screw up on parking brake have I used it). My instructor said I would have picked up a minor for that.
Interestingly whilst we there, he said the examiner might take me through the weight restricted roads as they can do this on test.
Any1 has ever been through restricted roads on their tests? Had you argued or confronted the examiner about it being a restricted road? Did you refuse to go the couze it is a restricted road?
We are going back to the same hill today after some driving and reversing
Did my CE test around Grays and Tilbury and almost the entire test going along roads that have weight limits - examiners line to me when he got in was “I’m going to ask you to go along roads with weight limits. Don’t worry about these as we are exempt for the purposes of the test.” They won’t take you down a road you can’t get out the other end of but keep in mind they could literally ask you to go anywhere.
With regards to hills around there, I’m only assuming that you were in Chadwell St Mary (pub on the corner?) at those lights. Take the instructors advice and use the handbrake on that or any other hill in the area. Stall it and you’ll roll back and the roll back will cost you your test.
Who are you training with again? Did you go with Scania at Purfleet in the end or somewhere else? I did both licences there and my instructors on both occasions were quick to tell me not to hold it on the clutch for too long.
