DMV driving test: I need advice
Dave
I'm taking the test at is in Chula Vista (the one near the Target
departmant store.) I'm taking the test on August 23 (which was the earliest
date available.) I'm looking for any kind of advice or tips for the driving
test.
Is there anything I should keep in mind when I take the test? Sorry for not
being more specific. I'm not concerned about one aspect of the driving test
in particular. I'm looking for advice on any part of the driving test. I
obey all the rules of the road, and I feel confident in my driving
abilities.
I feel that I'm ready for the driving test and that I can pass it on my
first attempt if everything goes well. Don't worry, I'm not being
overconfident. I'll probably be a little nervous on the test day. I just
don't want to make one lousy mistake that will disqualify me immediately.
That's what I'm most worried about.
Thanks for the help.
NE Whitlock
weeks late for your driving test.
Dave
that out, NE Whitlock.
NE Whitlock <newhi...@eat.my.shorts.yahoo.spammers.com> wrote in
news:Lfyg9.312554$aA.54526@sccrnsc02:
Joel Garry
>I'm about to take my DMV driving test. I'm in San Diego, and the DMV office
>I'm taking the test at is in Chula Vista (the one near the Target
>departmant store.) I'm taking the test on August 23 (which was the earliest
>date available.) I'm looking for any kind of advice or tips for the driving
>test.
>
>Is there anything I should keep in mind when I take the test? Sorry for not
>being more specific. I'm not concerned about one aspect of the driving test
>in particular. I'm looking for advice on any part of the driving test. I
>obey all the rules of the road, and I feel confident in my driving
>abilities.
Sounds like you got the trick, just relax and follow the directions.
Be sure and remember things like when to pull over to the curb to make
a right turn.
>
>I feel that I'm ready for the driving test and that I can pass it on my
>first attempt if everything goes well. Don't worry, I'm not being
>overconfident. I'll probably be a little nervous on the test day. I just
>don't want to make one lousy mistake that will disqualify me immediately.
>That's what I'm most worried about.
One mistake won't do that, unless it is something really stupid like pulling
out a gun and shooting the guy in the next car. (For non-locals, that's
what happened on Friday in Chula Vista. Police shut down the freeway for
hours including rush hour to search for bullet casings.).
jg
--
These opinions are my own.
http://www.garry.to Oracle and unix guy.
mailto:joel-...@nospam.cox.net Remove nospam to reply.
Dave
news:slrnao713t.h...@zr1.vista1.sdca.cox.net:
A couple of more questions:
I'm at a "T" intersection and I stop at the stop sign behind the legal stop
line. I can't see "thru" traffic because a bush or parked car is blocking
my view. I roll the car out very slowly to see traffic. Of course, I'll
stop again completely after I go up just enough to get a better view. And I
won't put the car so far out that it interferes with traffic. Will I be
marked down for that? I know this is the right thing to do if you can't see
"thru" traffic. I just want to make sure the examiner will feel the same
way.
Also, if pull to a curb to park, and the tires lightly hit the curb, will I
be marked down? It doesn't seem to be a threat to others' safety, so I'm
not sure. I usually don't hit the curb when I park, but you never know what
will happen during the test.
Thanks again for answering my questions.
> Sounds like you got the trick, just relax and follow the directions.
> Be sure and remember things like when to pull over to the curb to make
> a right turn.
Yeah, I always move as close to the right curb as possible and signal when
I make a right turn. I hate it when some drivers don't use their signals
when they make turns. It makes them look like they're going straight, and
they don't intend to make a turn.
Also, I've seen some drivers who don't move close to the right curb when
making a right turn. They don't use their signals either. They're either in
the middle of the lane or towards the left side of the lane. I think
they're going straight, but then they brake at the last second and make
their right turn. Fortunately, I keep enough space between my car and the
car in font of me so I can safely react.
> One mistake won't do that, unless it is something really stupid like
> pulling out a gun and shooting the guy in the next car. (For
> non-locals, that's what happened on Friday in Chula Vista. Police
> shut down the freeway for hours including rush hour to search for
> bullet casings.).
>
> jg
I heard about that also. The police believe the shooting was gang-related.
NE Whitlock
do just fine. I have one of those blind intersections near my house,
and I do exactly as you described. If you're not sure, ask the
examiner. If he's a reasonable induhvidual, he'll probably tell you
what is proper, especially if you ask before you come across the
situation. I haven't ever taken a driving test here, so I don't know
how the tests go.
Dave
news:Xns928988...@68.6.19.6:
I have yet another question. I always think I've asked all the questions
needed, but then another one pops into my head.
I pull into a driveway, and there's a car on the left side. There's only
enough room to barely squeeze in there. I have no choice but to drive over
the part where the raised and lowered parts of the curb meet (but very
slowly.) Will I be marked down for that?
The Real Bev
>
> I have yet another question. I always think I've asked all the questions
> needed, but then another one pops into my head.
>
> I pull into a driveway, and there's a car on the left side. There's only
> enough room to barely squeeze in there. I have no choice but to drive over
> the part where the raised and lowered parts of the curb meet (but very
> slowly.) Will I be marked down for that?
You have to do what you have to do -- they can't ask you to violate the laws
of physics! They don't try to trick you or make you do anything really
complex. I've lived in SoCal all my life, have been driving since 1958, and
have never heard of anyone who had to parallel park or travel on the
freeway. YMMV, of course.
What they want to see is that you know that you are a SAFE driver and know
the stuff in the Driver's Handbook. Don't make sudden moves. Check your
mirrors frequently. Always signal if you change lanes or turn -- do an arm
signal too, it can't hurt. Look over your shoulder too, ESPECIALLY when
pulling away from the curb. Don't exceed the speed limit. Don't brake only
at the last minute. Don't do other obviously clueless things.
Report back -- in detail, if possible. It may help the next guy who comes
along with the same questions you asked!
--
Cheers,
Bev
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Save the whales for dessert
Mark Mellin
<bas...@myrealbox.com> wrote:
> Look over your shoulder too, ESPECIALLY when
> pulling away from the curb.
Also when parallel parking or making a three point or U turn.
- Mark
--
Mark Mellin (rhymes with) Just down the Hill from Gene
da...@ns2.pebble.org
> I had to demonstrate that I could parallel park when I first got my
> license in '74.
I could have sworn that was the case here too, but in reality that was
the test they gave us in drivers ed, not the real one at the DMV.
Speaking of drivers ed, have they cut that from the high school
curriculum like everything else that has been cut over the years?
- Dan
Joel Garry
<da...@ns2.pebble.org> wrote:
>In article <uo9f38b...@corp.supernews.com>, OHV wrote:
>
>> I had to demonstrate that I could parallel park when I first got my
>> license in '74.
>
>I could have sworn that was the case here too, but in reality that was
>the test they gave us in drivers ed, not the real one at the DMV.
Me too, DMV Inglewood definitely did not give the parallel park when I took it
in '73.
>
>Speaking of drivers ed, have they cut that from the high school
>curriculum like everything else that has been cut over the years?
In LA they cut drivers training long ago, I think drivers ed went too but
I'm not sure. I'm fairly sure it's a district level decision, with pretty
much every district facing the same financial issues.
When I had drivers training, the cars were donated by the local Chrysler
dealer, full-size behemoths with a panic brake for the instructor. One
lady (trying a 3-point) backed into and knocked over a small tree before the
instructor could react.
Tim Phelps
> freeway
I think they actually did that at one time but because of the number of
accidents invoked, those two procedures were eliminated.
Dave
expected. The test lasted approximately 10-15 minutes. I don't know the
exact time, since I was nervous during the test. I only had one error,
which was a traffic chack in a residential area. I know I kept scanning
everywhere throughout the whole test. Maybe I didn't move my head noticably
when I got marked down.
I had to pull over to a curb and back up three car lenghts. I made sure
that I was parallel to the curb and that I backed up straight. The test was
basically just driving through intersections and making left & right turns.
I didn't even have to parallel park, do a three-point turn, or drive on the
freeway. I know how to do all that and everything else I wasn't tested on.
Make complete stops every time at red lights or stop signs. Don't do a
rolling stop. On right turns on a red light, stop completely behind the
limit line. If you can't see through traffic, roll out slowly until you can
see through traffic, then stop completely again. Go when it is safe.
If you're making a left turn on a green light and you're yielding to
oncoming traffic, stay behing the limit line. Don't roll out slowly as
you're waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. If oncoming traffic has to
slow down when you're making your left turn, I think that can fail you.
Don't make the left turn if oncoming traffic is too close. You might get
into an accident with oncoming traffic.
I followed the advice I just gave and the advice of everyone who responded
to this thread. Thanks to evreyone who responded to this thread. I bought a
couple of things from amazon.com that helped me with the driving test. I'm
not affiliated with amazon.com or anything. I just thought I'd show you the
items in case anyone else might be interested.
One is a video titled "Passing the Driver's Test." It shows you what you
should do during the driving test. It covers the basics, but your driving
test may be slightly different depending on where you live.
You can buy the video at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004UFW8/104-2303378-6176759
or
http://www.driversvideo.com
Another item I used was a book titled "California Drivers Test Made Easy."
This book is aimed at people who want to pass the written test, but it has
some information about the driving test and safe driving practices. I was
expecting more coverage on the driving test, but the information was
helpful. It's more helpful for people who are studying for the written
test, since that's what the book mostly covers.
You can buy the book at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0941704165/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1/104-
2303378-6176759
I hope the information I gave will be helpful to you. The driving test was
way easier than I expected. I was expecting more, to be honest. Now I know
why anybody can get a drivers license; even bad drivers. Of course, I'm not
a bad driver. You can feel safe when sharing the roads with me.
Tim Phelps
"Dave" <Dav...@hotmailNOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:Xns92938EF...@68.6.19.6...
>
> If you're making a left turn on a green light and you're yielding to
> oncoming traffic, stay behing the limit line. Don't roll out slowly as
> you're waiting for oncoming traffic to clear.
I'm not sure about this. Even my driving instructor said you can roll out
mid-way into the intersection when making a left turn on green (solid green
not green arrow, of course). Not only that, that is what I did during my
driving test. Now if the light changes to yellow, that is a different story.
:)
> If oncoming traffic has to
> slow down when you're making your left turn, I think that can fail you.
Yes, it can.
> Don't make the left turn if oncoming traffic is too close. You might get
> into an accident with oncoming traffic.
Yep. Even on yellow or red lights. Someone may say but the car trying to
make the turn has to go on the red so he won't block traffic. The easy
solution: Don't try to make the turn on red, period, or, in those times when
you're caught in the red, turn as soon as you can after oncoming traffic has
passed by.
Arthur L. Rubin
> If you're making a left turn on a green light and you're yielding to
> oncoming traffic, stay behing the limit line. Don't roll out slowly as
> you're waiting for oncoming traffic to clear.
This is wrong. You won't get graded down for doing it, but
you should.
> ... If oncoming traffic has to
> slow down when you're making your left turn, I think that can fail you.
That may be correct. But you're supposed to pull straight into the
intersection as long as you don't block oncoming traffic.
--
Arthur L. Rubin 216-...@mcimail.com
Kevin McMurtrie
The last one depends. You are allowed to block lanes as you cross a
multi-lane street. It must be done such that oncoming traffic has
plenty of time to stop. (It's dangerous in fast traffic. Most people
don't understand it.)
The Real Bev
>
> Dave wrote:
>
> > If you're making a left turn on a green light and you're yielding to
> > oncoming traffic, stay behing the limit line. Don't roll out slowly as
> > you're waiting for oncoming traffic to clear.
>
> This is wrong. You won't get graded down for doing it, but
> you should.
?? If you stay behind the limit line until the oncoming traffic is stopped
by the red light (the only thing that will make it stop) it will guarantee
that NOBODY will go through on the light and there will be a long line of
rightfully outraged honkers behind you on the next green, some of whom may
be armed.
> > ... If oncoming traffic has to
> > slow down when you're making your left turn, I think that can fail you.
>
> That may be correct. But you're supposed to pull straight into the
> intersection as long as you don't block oncoming traffic.
Pull straight out (don't turn your wheels -- if you get rear-ended it might
push you out into oncoming traffic) until you're in the middle of the
street, but not so far that you're blocking the oncoming guy similarly
making a left turn. This allows the guy behind you to cross the limit line,
ensuring that both of you will be able to turn on that light, even if you
have to do it after it turns red -- which is proper because you entered the
intersection before it turned red.
On a wide street, if they do it right, three cars can make a left turn each
way on each light.
--
Cheers,
Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I don't need instructions, I have a hammer."
-- T.W. Wier
Arthur L. Rubin
>
> "Arthur L. Rubin" wrote:
> >
> > Dave wrote:
> >
> > > If you're making a left turn on a green light and you're yielding to
> > > oncoming traffic, stay behing the limit line. Don't roll out slowly as
> > > you're waiting for oncoming traffic to clear.
> >
> > This is wrong. You won't get graded down for doing it, but
> > you should.
>
> ?? If you stay behind the limit line until the oncoming traffic is stopped
> by the red light (the only thing that will make it stop) it will guarantee
> that NOBODY will go through on the light and there will be a long line of
> rightfully outraged honkers behind you on the next green, some of whom may
> be armed.
I think you're agreeing with me. I'm afraid I didn't express
myself very well....
Arthur L. Rubin
I think you're wrong. In the absence of a turn arrow, oncoming
traffic has the right-of-way over you, so you must turn so as
not to require them to slow down. If they DO slow down because
of an objectively unreasonable belief that you're going to get
in their way, it's not YOUR fault.
Kevin McMurtrie
There's no law against causing other drivers to slow down or stop as you
cross an intersection. Once you enter an intersection safely,
approaching vechicles must yield to you. Some roads are nearly
impossible to cross all at once, escpecially for larger vehicles.
<http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21802.htm>
(gridlock in an exception elsewhere)
Arthur L. Rubin
21802 refers to stop signs, in which the right-of-way depends on
timing. It's inapplicable to the question of an unprotected left turn.