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The Irish Sun
30 minutes ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's what happens when you hit the kerb during your test
AN Irish driving instructor has revealed what happens if your car hits the kerb during the test. This common mistake happens more often than you may think. 3 @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on TikTok Credit: Social Media Collect 3 And he shared what happens if you hit the kerb during your test Credit: Social Media Collect @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on And he shared with his followers what happens if you hit the kerb on the day of your test. The He said: "If you hit the kerb when you are doing the reverse around the corner or the turnabout during your Irish driving test this is a fail. READ MORE IN MOTORS "That's something I hear a lot and it is definitely a myth so let's break it down why it's not true." And he revealed that if your car lightly touches the kerb you will be given a minor fault or a grade two mark. This is because it indicates a lapse in vehicle control or observation, but not one that poses an immediate danger. A light kerb contact shows that the driver has misjudged their positioning, but since it doesn't normally endanger pedestrians or other vehicles it's not serious enough to warrant a grade 3. MOST READ IN MOTORS He said: "If you simply tap the kerb when you are doing your reverse around the corner or your turnabout that should not be a fail. "You will most likely get a minor fault or a grade two, depending on how hard you hit it or if you scuffed it or just clipped it simply. Gardai and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads "But if it's a light tap or a light bump off the kerb it should not be marked as a fail." However, if hitting the kerb were forceful enough to cause the vehicle to mount it or result in a loss of control, it could be considered more serious. And the He added: "Now don't get me wrong you can fail the driving test during the reverse around the corner or the turnabout due to hitting the kerb super super hard. "Or if you mount it or possibly hit it when there's a pedestrian near it." Driving test tip This comes after another TikToker has shared the @Next_level_driving_school on TikTok shares useful tips and tricks on their page. Faded L plates could give your driving instructor a reason to cancel your test, and you may lose out on the money. He said: "Probably better off not turning up to your test with the L plate being faded like this because your test might not go ahead and it will be a waste of €85. "So make sure your L plates are in good condition. They're not faded so that the tester doesn't have the chance to not go out on the test with you." 3 Hitting the kerb usually doesn't land drivers a fail Credit: Social Media Collect
The Irish Sun
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish driving instructor and here is what happens if your car cuts out during the test
AN Irish driving instructor has revealed what happens if your car cuts out during the test. This unfortunate event happens more often than you may think. Advertisement 3 @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on TikTok Credit: Journalist Collect 3 And he shared what happens if your car cuts out during the test Credit: Journalist Collect @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on And he shared with his followers what happens if their car cuts out during their test. The He said: "If you're doing your driving test in manual and you cut out the car it is an automatic fail. Advertisement READ MORE IN MOTORS "That's something I hear a lot from learner drivers - and it is not true at all." And he revealed that if it happens you will be given a grade two mark on clutch. Stalling typically indicates a lapse in clutch control and the examiner will mark it as such. If it happens just once in a low-risk setting, and is recovered quickly and Advertisement MOST READ IN MOTORS However, as marked as a grade two rather than a grade one it is better to avoid the situation altogether where possible. He said: "If you cut out your car during the Irish driving test you will get a grade two mark on clutch. "It's not dangerous driving and it is not a serious fault so they can't give you a grade three for simply cutting out the car. "People get nervous, legs shake and they can slip off the clutch - testers are aware of that, hence why they won't give you a fail mark for it." Advertisement However, the driving instructor revealed that if it happens four or more times during the driving test, it can lead to a fail. This is because getting four grade twos in the He added: "So if in the driving test your car cuts out just make sure to calmly compose yourself, don't panic. "Say sorry about that, turn the car back on and off you go." Advertisement Driving test tip This comes after another TikToker has shared the @Next_level_driving_school on TikTok shares useful tips and tricks on their page. Faded L plates could give your driving instructor a reason to cancel your test, and you may lose out on the money. He said: "Probably better off not turning up to your test with the L plate being faded like this because you're test might not go ahead and it will be a waste of €85. Advertisement "So make sure your L plates are in good condition. They're not faded so that the tester doesn't have the chance to not go out on the test with you." 3 Drivers will not automatically fail their test if it happens Credit: Journalist Collect
The Irish Sun
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish driving instructor – here's five hardest questions you can be asked on day of test
AN Irish driving instructor has revealed the five hardest questions you can be asked on the day of your test. Advertisement 3 @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on TikTok Credit: Social Media Collect 3 And he shared the five hardest questions you may be asked on the day Credit: Social Media Collect @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on And he shared with his followers the hardest questions you can be asked on the day of the test. Up first, the driving instructor said they may ask you what is the rule of the yellow box junction. Drivers must not enter a yellow box junction unless their exit is clear, meaning they should only proceed if they can fully cross the junction without stopping. Advertisement READ MORE IN MOTORS The only exception is when you're turning right and are prevented from doing so by oncoming The driving instructor said: "You should not enter the yellow box unless you can clear it safely. "The exception is if you are taking a right turn, you're allowed to enter it and wait for a safe gap." Up next, your tester may ask you where should you not overtake. Advertisement MOST READ IN MOTORS Preview Drivers shouldn't overtake when approaching bends, junctions, pedestrian crossings, humpback bridges, the brow of a hill or any place where visibility is restricted. Overtaking is also prohibited where Gardai and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads He said: "You shouldn't overtake at a bend, a junction, a brow of a hill, a humpback bridge, where your view is restricted or where there's a continuous white line." Another hard question that may be asked of you in the driving test is what the correct distance is to overtake a cyclist. Advertisement And drivers must leave a minimum distance of 1 metre in speed zones up to 50 km/h and at least 1.5 metres in zones over 50 km/h. This rule is in place to ensure the safety of cyclists and it applies whether you're overtaking on urban or rural roads. The tester may also ask you what does an island in the centre of a pedestrian crossing mean. This must be treated as two separate crossings - one for each direction of traffic. Advertisement Pedestrians should stop on the island and wait for a safe gap in traffic before crossing the second half of the road. And lastly, And the driving instructor revealed it means no parking at certain hours. He said: "Number five is what does a continuous yellow line mean, and it means no parking during specific hours. Advertisement "Now you might think that's a really simple question, but people get it confused for what does a double yellow line mean and what does a single yellow line mean." 3 The last question may be confused for something else Credit: Social Media Collect
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's three situations when you should be using your handbrake during the test
AN Irish driving instructor has revealed three situations when you should use your handbrake during the test. Contrary to popular belief, learner Advertisement 2 @Vistadrivingschool is a popular driving instructor on TikTok Credit: Social Media Collect 2 And he revealed when you should use your handbrake during the test Credit: Social Media Collect @Vistadrivingschool is a popular driving instructor on And he shared instances where drivers should use their handbrake. To start, the driving instructor said one situation where you should use it is when you are far back at a If you're waiting behind other cars and there is a long gap between you and the vehicle in front, it's a good idea to use the handbrake. Advertisement READ MORE IN MOTORS This shows the examiner that the driver is aware of their surroundings, understands what's happening around them and is confident behind the wheel. The driving instructor said: "So if you are like fourth or more in traffic there is no reason to keep your car engaged in a gear. "What you should do is put the car into neutral and pull the handbrake up. "This shows the tester that you're confident within your car controls - you know you're going to be waiting for a bit of time and you're aware of the traffic situation." Advertisement MOST READ IN MOTORS Up next, the driving instructor said learner drivers should use their handbrake when they are stopped at a hill. When a car is on a slope, there is a higher risk of it rolling backwards or forwards if the driver's foot slips off the Gardaí and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads This helps to keep the car steady and secure without worrying that it will move. And it proves the driver knows how to control the car properly and is focused on Advertisement The driving instructor said: "This could be a hill start, or this could just be that you are stopped at a brow of a hill - whether it's at a stop sign or in a housing estate. "Although a lot of people do a hill start with just clutch control alone, I highly recommend to show them that you are using the handbrake because you know it's a safety feature and stops the car from rolling." Lastly, the driving instructor revealed you should use your handbrake when the tester asks you to pull over and stop. Even if the stop is only for a short time, using the handbrake shows that the driver is not relying only on the footbrake and understands how to keep the vehicle secure. Advertisement It also shows that the driver is staying calm, following instructions carefully and thinking about The driving instructor added: "When you do pull over and stop, what they want to see is you're putting the car into neutral and you're using the handbrake. "And when they ask you to pull off again this is where you use your GOSHO technique - which is gear, observation, signal, handbrake and observation. "This is the correct way to pull off from a stationary position." Advertisement LICENCE STEPS Meanwhile, another instructor has revealed what you must do in Lara, known on TikTok as And she shared the procedures in place to obtain a driving licence. To start, the driving instructor said the first step you must take is completing the theory test. Advertisement This test is designed to ensure learner It is a computer-based exam consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions - and to pass drivers need to answer at least 35 correctly. The theory test must be booked in advance, and you can do so online through the official Lara said: "The theory test comprises of 40 questions of which you have to get at least 35 correct. Advertisement "In order to prepare for that test, I would advise you to download the official RSA DTT app where you can take quizzes and familiarise yourself with all of the questions. "This is the best way I think of preparing for your theory test." After passing the test, the next step is to apply for a learner permit. This is a provisional licence that allows you to begin learning to drive on Advertisement To get your learner permit, you must apply through the National Driver Licence Service and it can be done online if you have a verified MyGovID. Once approved you can start practising driving, but you must always display L plates, not drive on motorways and be accompanied by someone who has held a full driving licence for at least two years. Learner drivers can then apply to take their driving lessons. This is a mandatory training course for learner drivers in Ireland and is designed to teach you the core driving skills you need to become a Advertisement It consists of 12 one-hour lessons, which must be given by an RSA Approved Driving Instructor. Each lesson focuses on a specific skill such as car controls, road positioning, anticipation and reaction or driving in There is also a six-month waiting period from the issue date of your first learner permit before you can apply for the practical driving test.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's why you shouldn't check your mirrors too much during test
AN Irish driving instructor has revealed why you shouldn't check your mirrors too much during your test. Although mirror checks are a vital part of 2 @Vistadrivingschool is a popular driving instructor on TikTok Credit: Social Media Collect 2 And he shared why you shouldn't check your mirrors too much during your test Credit: Social Media Collect @Vistadrivingschool is a popular driving instructor on with over 10,000 followers on the platform. And the instructor revealed that checking your mirrors too often can lead to you getting marked down for being over-cautious. Examiners look for natural, confident driving behavior and if you're constantly checking the mirrors it might suggest a lack of confidence. Being over-cautious can even lead to marks against you during the test, especially if it affects READ MORE IN MOTORS For example, if you hesitate too long at a junction where it's clearly safe to go, that can be seen as poor judgment. This same applies to mirrors - checking them too often when it's not needed can fall into the category of The driving instructor said: "Make sure you're not checking your mirrors too much during your driving test or you will be marked for being over cautious. "As much as we like to whack it in to students that you need to have good observation during your driving test, over observation will lead to getting marked down. Most read in Motors "This is because you're taking your eyes off the road too much and you're not focusing on what's in front of you." While good observation is key to passing the test, it has to be balanced with constant attention to what's happening in front of you. I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's how you can get your test date quicker The The driving instructor added: "When it comes to doing your maneuvers you should be checking your blind spots, you should be checking as much as you can around you. "But when it's general driving you can check your side mirrors every five to ten seconds just to make sure nobody's flying up - but your eyes should be predominately on the road in front of you. "Make sure to maintain good observation during your test, just don't over do it." Driving test tip This comes after another TikToker shared the @Next_level_driving_school on TikTok shares useful tips and tricks on their page. Faded L-plates could give your driving instructor reason to cancel your test, resulting in the loss of your test fee. He said: "It's probably best not to turn up to your test with faded L-plates, as your test might not go ahead, and it will be a waste of €85. "So make sure your L-plates are in good condition and not faded, so the tester doesn't have a reason not to go out on the test with you.' In a follow-up video, the instructor shared an even more faded L plate, urging learner drivers to avoid making the same mistake. He said: 'The last example I gave of an L plate people were giving out that it wasn't faded. 'Now this one is properly faded, so again, don't lose your €85 for not replacing it."
