Lady Luck is Lurking around each Corner!

Is Luck part and parcel of passing the Irish Driving Test? I don’t think so. Of course there are many circumstances that come together on the day of your Test which can be both positive and negative. However, as in Life, so it is on the Driving Test, we can create our own Luck and give ourselves a better than average chance of passing.

How do we create our own Luck? Well I guess it’s all about positioning your self; and I am not talking about the Nearside lane, or the Apex, or the Pedestrian Walkway, or the Chevrons, or the Fourth exit. What I am talking about is making sufficient preparations in all the important areas so that there is nothing left to chance and that all the aspects that you CAN have control over are dealt with .That leaves your brain more focused on dealing with the outside world that is racing all around you and which requires your complete attention.

We are going to discuss over several days the pre test preparations of your Car, your Attitude, your Driving Skills, and Specific Manoeuvres.

Let’s start with the Car:-

(1) It should be spotless inside and out…get rid of all danglies, furry dice and every scrap of rubbish so that there is nothing to fly around and distract you. I worked with a girl once 29 years ago who was much too fast a Driver. She bent over to pick up something that fell of the dashboard, had a head –on collision and died in Hospital the next day. She was 26 years old.

(2) Tyres should be checked for legal tread depth and if in doubt replace them. A couple of years ago I had a pupil drive all the way from Dublin to do a Test in Shannon in a car that was only 18 months old. Examiner refused to conduct the Test due to a worn Tyre.There were other faults as well.

(3) Ensure all Brake lights are functioning. Carry spare Bulbs with you and learn how to replace them when they fail. I have had two bulbs go immediately before a Driving Test. A test will not be conducted with failed brake lights.

(4) Electric windows need to be fully functioning. Electrics are a very complex sub system in a car and do give trouble .They are sometimes difficult to isolate and repair. Eight years ago with just 70 miles on the Clock in a brand new car all the electrics went and three Auto Electric Engineers were unable to pinpoint the fault. The General Manager, finally found the problem, so experience as much as University Degrees play a big part in keeping your Motor running.

(5) Pre-set the heater controls if bad weather is expected and even if it isn’t. If like us you live in Limerick you will know that it is possible to experience sometimes Three Seasons in one Day. We have had Frost in June before now. In order to prevent your windscreen and windows from misting up set the heat switch to 75% and the Direction switch to full- frontal. Heavy rain after a fine spell will often mist up windscreens and windows in double quick time and on a Driving Test you should not be fiddling with switches and taking your eyes off the road.

(6) It goes without saying that all paperwork relating to your car should be in place, current and visible. That’s Road Tax .. Insurance ..and N.C.T Cert.. Garages are notoriously bad at ensuring all paperwork and logbooks are intact after you purchase a second-hand car, so don’t be shy and get tough with them if there are excuses. I have had to make available the Driving School car at very short notice for a Driving Test because a recent purchase by the pupil came with no accompanying documents. The car could not be taxed and therefore was unacceptable to be used for a Driving Test. As it so happened this Driver was very well prepared and well capable of handling a strange car with just four hours of practise. A driver who has not had enough lessons or practise would not be allowed to use our School Car for A Driving Test for obvious reasons.

(7) Final point for today and that is make sure your windscreens inside are cleaned well since glare from sunshine makes it quite difficult to see clearly.


Follow this series during the week for some good tips on Driving Test Preparation and bring Lady Luck onto your side.


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