Now that I've passed, I've had time to think about all the stuff I could tell 'soon to be drivers' how to pass their tests easier.
1. On the day of the test, I took 3x Rescue Remedy tablets 2 hours before the test - either I was just confident or I wasn't nervous or scared naturally or the tablets helped - try it!
2. With regards to your parellel parking: find visual indicates - by that I mean, when you see the poll in your back right window (at a certain point) then turn, when you look over your shoulder and the far right poll vanishes, turn again - with all vehicles it's different (because of their sizes and windows etc but I found my visual indicators easy by doing the parrel parking over and over and over and over and over.
3. With regards to your parellel parking - the test size of the polls (apart) is about 7.5m, most instructors will do it at 7m apart - my instructor did it at 6m apart - this frustrated me BEYOND words, and I struggled but when the test came, I did my parellel parking probably the fastest my tester ever saw, because I had so much space to play with.
4. With regards to parellel parking, you have 2 (I think you might even have 3!) movements - driving schools fail the mention this - as a matter of fact, they say you only have 1!
THIS IS NOT TRUE! This means, you can reverse in and then you can move forward (REMEMBER, DO NOT ROLL FORWARD!) - if it's true that you do have 3 movements, then you can reverse back too.
When I did my test, I did it in 2 movements just to be funny! Basically, I was in, but I didn't like how I was in, so I moved forward - the tester smiled and shook his head, then I went out.
NO ROLLING EVER!
5. With alley docking, you normally have 2 polls before the bend into the space (your start poll, the next poll, and then the poll after this is turning in) - My instructor told me to reverse till my bonnet gets to the 2nd poll, then do a full lock, then all I have to do is guide my vehicle a little bit (little corrections on left and right) ALWAYS WATCH THE MIRRORS (left and right) so you don't hit them!
6. With alley docking, also, ask your instructor to make the polls smaller (I think it's 3m apart) my instructor did it at 2.5m - same reason as with parellel parking, yes, it's smaller, yes, it's damn hard, yes, it's frustrating, but when you get to the test - it's like this thing IS FSCKING HUGE!!!!!!!! you'll reverse in like a rally driver you'll feel so confident (I did)
7. I have no tips for the 3 point turn - it's dead easy - if you struggle, you're an idiot! lol!
8. You have 2 chances in the yard with parellel and alley docking (I'm not 100% sure if it's 2 chances for everything or for each part of the test)
9. SLOW IS KING! If you go fast, you can't do things properly or fast enough, so go slowly!
10. You do not have to have your seat belt on in the yard and you can cross your arms etc
11. You MUST have your seat belt on while driving - as a matter of fact, as soon as your tester tells you that you can head onto the road - put the seat belt on, make sure he puts his on - if he doesn't and you start on the road, he can fail you!
12. Your driving school must know the route that you're going to do in your test, ask him to take you a few times but don't expect that route in end - my tester did the route, but he changed it a bit but 60% of the route was the same.
12. DO NOT GO MORE THAN 60!!! Keep it about 55, if you go down a hill or something, you'll pick up speed so expect that - I did my test at 50 - remember, slow is king, do all your checks.
13. Do not say your checks out loud (eg: checking left mirror, checking blind spot) - reason for this is, yes, it shows you know your stuff, but if you miss something, he'll HEAR it and mark it down against you - rather just move your head, and your eyes and if you miss something, chances are he won't see it and you'll get away with murder.
14. When doing the exterior check, ask your instructor to tell you about how the wheels should be... eg: 2 bar, tread thickness etc (my tester asked me for this information - and I sucked info outta my head - I was right because I listen when friends talk!) Most testers probably won't but it's better to be safe than sorry.
15. The pre-trip inspection is important, make sure your car is 100% ok, if any damages, you might be failed! SERIOUSLY!
16. The tester will intimidate you by his attitude and how he speaks to you - just remember, they see what, 20/30 people a day, it's boring for them, just imagine how you would feel doing this EVERY DAY - so don't take it personally, do your thing (as you've been taught) and you will pass - when driving, listen to his directions - remember, I said that some testers will change the route you know - maybe they feel like having a bit of fun - do it, go with the flow - show him/her he know your stuff!
17. Here is the bad news; you will probably fail your first test, about 90% of the people I know - have, for many reasons but mainly nerves, etc.
18. Do everything methodically - during my 2nd (pass) test, I did everything, step by step, I took a bit longer (especially in the yard) but yeah! I passed and if you think u did something wrong, start from scratch!
*yard*
Hand back up!
Check mirrors
Gear select
Clutch control
Check mirrors
Hand break down
DO YA THANG
break, clutch in, stop, hand break up.
GO SLOWLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IN THE FSCKING YARD - GO SLOW!
You have more than enough time to do everything - hell, you could do everything 3x over and still have a few minutes to kill
SO GO SLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
19. When you head out onto the road, do everything as you know but when you return to the depot / traffic department, there is always this STOP sign before you enter the TD - please, for god sake, STOP AT IT! If there is a boom and it gets raised for you, STOP ANYWAYS BEFORE THE LINE AND NOT OVER...
If you go over or just drive on, it's a fail - don't come all this way and fail!
20. Pass out in the car you've been training in, you need to know it, you need to know where the clutch takes, you need to know when to change gears etc - according to your test sheet, you get tested for everything - over reving, how you turn (too sharp or not) etc - just drive nicely like you driving your old granny (driving miss daisy?!
)
21. Once you passed, you have to pay for your driving etc NOW - or it is forfeit - so take about R250 with, I paid R100 in Cape Town - I don't know how much it costs elsewhere - the more, the safer.
22. A guy arrived to do his test but without his documents and ID - don't do this please... put everything in a file and take it all with you to the test! If you don't have it, you will be failed - this includes:
Driving receipt
ID
ID photos (I took 4)
Learners certificate (original)
23. When on the road, yes, remember your checks etc, but also remember road markings! DO NOT CROSS over SOLID LINES! Yield when you need too etc.
Can't remember what else...
... If I think of any others, I'll add - but this is all I can think off for now!
I drive slow enough for them to pass (30 km/h) but they still stare into space.
