Mobile phone driving test

[daviemck2006]

It's getting worse:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32623065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Replacing reversing round a corner with reversing out of a parking space? They would be better teaching new drivers to reverse IN to a parking space. It's far easier and far safer. My driving instructor taught me that 29 years ago. I was taught to drive, not to pass a test.

[myglaren]

It's getting worse:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32623065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Replacing reversing round a corner with reversing out of a parking space? They would be better teaching new drivers to reverse IN to a parking space. It's far easier and far safer. My driving instructor taught me that 29 years ago. I was taught to drive, not to pass a test.

+1 on that!

Other changes being tested include:

replacing reversing round a corner with reversing out of a parking space

pulling up on the right before rejoining the flow of traffic

requiring candidates to show how they would operate the rear-heated screen or other vehicle safety features while driving

Surely this is illegal!

[daviemck2006]

I was also taught always park the same way as the flow of traffic, so the only time to park on the right is on a one way street. IMHO that is now teaching that bad driving is acceptable. I don't really have a problem with the sat nav thing as long as it's not programming it whilst driving.

[myglaren]

Agreed on the satnav as they are almost universal now anyway.

The instructor mentioned that he taught the students to listen to it rather than look at it - which I have to do anyway as I can't see that damned thing without my specs on, and if I put them on then I can't see where I'm going

[Peter.N.]

A bit different to my driving test in 1956, there were no buttons you just waved your arm out of the window. No heater either in my first car.

Peter

[Stickyfinger]

just waved your arm out of the window. No heater either in my first car.

Luxury !

when I t'ws a lad, we had whittle our own axle and spoke our own wheels before the test, eye sight ?, yep you had to be able to see a horse at 30 yards

[myglaren]

Pretty much the same here - I had to ask if I could close the window as it was snowing sideways and coming into the car, the steering wheel was soaked and slippery within a few seconds.
Was a Renault 8 and did have indicators but hand signals were required.

[Stickyfinger]

Took mine in a hand painted (silver-blue hammerite of all things) Morris Minor Traveler that still had working Semaphores in the A-pillars.
Dad had fitted more modern blinkers from an old trailer, the switch was on the dash.

You should of seen the examiners face when he spotted a tyre he did not like after he had started the test, he had to wait for me to change it for the spare.
Still, I passed the shorter test

[isisalar]

I was in my teens and my father and I became very friendly with a neighbour, Dick, he was one of the golden generation who were too young to serve in the first war, too old for the second war and never had to take a driving test.
We often used to go fishing together in his Ford Anglia, which he had bought new in about 1963.
He was a very cautious driver, in no way could he be called dangerous but he had never quite got the hang of turning right. He used to take the most unbelievably circuitous routes to get to some places, it was truly astonishing, it was only some years later, when I started driving myself, that I realised what he had been doing.

[Peter.N.]

I took my test at a unique time, it was during the Suez crises. Due to the rationing of fuel driving tests were suspended but if you already held a provisional license you were allowed to drive unaccompanied, a situation I took full advantage of - they couldn't really fail you after that could they.

Peter