Do you think you could pass a driver's licence test without any preparation?

Do you think you could pass a driver's licence test without any preparation?

  • Yes

    Votes: 50 47.2%

  • No

    Votes: 53 50.0%

  • I don't drive

    Votes: 3 2.8%
  • Total voters
    106
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
hell no, and passing my test in 2004 taught me one thing the test and real life are 2 completely different things that have no correlation to each other, K53 and reality are completely divorced from each other as K53 is so broken and worthless and stupid that its a miracle we keep it around at all.
I mean for instance the "roll" mechanic is just pointless stupidity, ANY ROLL NO MATTER HOW TINY is an automatic fail.
the way it was explained to me if you in neutral and roll in any direction that's a fail, in 1st and roll backwards, Fail, in reverse and roll forward is a fail
so they drill into your head if you stop you pull up the handbrake, to prevent rolls
then you get out into the real world and it takes you years to get rid of this bad habit
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Considering how some of the CT drivers you have there drive, let them use the handbrake as long as possible, pleeeez! :p:cool::giggle:
 
Best way to pass your licence: Get in your new car in Springs, drive it all the way to the West Rand at 16:00 during the week. Trial by fire.
 
No way as I have no idea what the K53 method is. I got my licence when you had to know the rules in the booklet and recite them out of your memory. The examiner would ask you a question and you would have to recite the whole section to him. Only one mistake was allowed. I had to go 3 times for my learners. With the road test you still had to use hand signals.
 
Progenix Oj101 said:
Absolutely not.

Can I drive? Yes, for sure.
Can I drive 100% in accordance with the K53? Not a chance.

Things I'd likely fail off the top of my head:
  • Making mirror and intersection checks obvious by yanking my neck around
  • Not doing a 180 in my seat to check blind spots
  • I check my rear view periodically and every time I brake, but not by moving my head
  • Not having both hands on the steering wheel/having one on the gear lever for too long
  • Straightening the steering wheel after parking (sometimes)
  • Leaving TOO large of a following distance. I'm not talking being so close it's unsafe, but if you follow at the distance they want, you're inviting someone to cut in front of you
  • Not looking over my shoulder when getting out - the mirror covers it all if you adjust your head slightly
  • Having the steering wheel turned while waiting for the lights to turn green so I can turn
  • Not using the handbrake unless I'm parking and getting out
  • Being on the brakes when entering an intersection with green lights - I've seen enough close calls to do this instinctively

And to be honest, I'm not even 100% sure all of the above would be negatives. I'm also 100% sure it would take a lot of effort to change these habits for the duration of a test.
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I remember having points deducted for idling in neutral on a downhill once I had reached the speed limit.
 
Mike Angelo said:
No way as I have no idea what the K53 method is. I got my licence when you had to know the rules in the booklet and recite them out of your memory. The examiner would ask you a question and you would have to recite the whole section to him. Only one mistake was allowed. I had to go 3 times for my learners. With the road test you still had to use hand signals.
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I had to do both test methods, as I allowed my old 1982 licence (ID book) to lapse. I don't have much good to say about the K53 method, and immediately went back to 'normal' driving, after getting my 2nd licence in 2007. I remember waiting 9 months to get a test booking, after failing the first test. No wonder people resorted to cheating, etc.
 
netstrider said:
I remember having points deducted for idling in neutral on a downhill once I had reached the speed limit.
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I think the point here is that if you suddenly need power to avoid a crash, it wastes time.

Also a car uses more fuel in neutral than 'idling' in gear downhill.
 
Depends how many points you loose for not following every single K53 bs. If you've been driving normally for 10+ years those habits are so deeply engrained it's like muscle memory, switching to the K53 style without any practice would be a challenge.
 
Progenix Oj101 said:
I'm really quite surprised by the confidence with yes and no being essentially tied. I can only assume those voting yes got their license very recently? I've spoken to a few people around my age about this recently with both the boys being around the age to get their licenses, and not one thinks they will pass their learners or drivers if they had to do it again unprepared today.
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I recently (in the past 3 months) redid both my learners and drivers license, after originally doing it in 2004 - and happilly and safely driving for the last 22 years not following the K53 way.

In 2004, I passed my learners first time with no prep. After passing the learners, I did read the K53 book once or twice to learn what all the checks were etc - and that was my only prep for the drivers license test. I passed the licence test first time around.

Now, in 2026, I redid both tests with zero preparation, and had to tow a trailer through the practical test (that was why I was redoing the test). Again, I passed the first time.

K53 is absolutely stupid, but it's easy enough to do the required minimum to pass the test.

I have always considered driving schools to be a scam.
netstrider said:
I remember having points deducted for idling in neutral on a downhill once I had reached the speed limit.
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Why would you do that though? Do you mean like put the car into neutral and all? That's pretty dangerous and serves no purpose.
 
Zellephant said:
I have always considered driving schools to be a scam.
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Lol charge R500 p/h to teach a 18 year old something their parents should be able to teach in a weekend after reading a K53 manual. My dad taught me all the K53 stuff, then I showed my bud the weekend after, both passed first time. My gf at the time had a driving instructor and she said the lady stank of booze everytime, job for lowlifes imo unless you're teaching HMV drivers or something.
 
netstrider said:
I remember having points deducted for idling in neutral on a downhill once I had reached the speed limit.
Click to expand...
My wife does this. She's also clutch the floor as soon as she touches the brakes, because "otherwise the car will stall." I've shown her by letting it coast in gear with my foot on the brakes that I can bounce the needle off 0RPM without stalling, but she still doesn't get it and thinks she'll stall at 3krpm :ROFL:

vastrap1 said:
Also a car uses more fuel in neutral than 'idling' in gear downhill.
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Depends on the car, but I'm sure it's minimal anyway.
 
Absolutely, but half of it would be luck. There's a whole lot of K53 stuff which I never learned.
 
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