And Ive passed!!!! thank you everyone for the supporting messages and a big big thank you to scoobychris for his valuable time last sunday morning building my confidence back up ready for the test!!!

I had 2 minor marks, both for speed, one on a roundabout going into a 50 limit from a 30. i kept with the flow but my examiner said if i hadnt i would no doubt had a car up my backside. The second again for speed when i had to go above 70 to get past some cars, again he was happy as i explained what i was doing.

My commentry was the best he has heard in a long time and was more than what he would expect a police driver to do and then got me to do it again later on to check it wasnt a fluck.

when we hit the 55 minute marked i made a mistake with my gear i said i had messed up and he said not to worry as it was the 50-60 mins he expects mistakes with all candidates and told me to take a deep breath and carry on.

My road signs was excellent, the drive was excellent and he is even considering getting a skoda now as its two he has been in this week on tests and is quite suprised with how good they are, another converted me thinks.

I had one question which i got the answer wrong and will see how many of you know it, how can you tell following a long vehicle that its a long vehicle?

again thank you scooby chris!!!

Congratulations Mate

Well done, Paul! Knew you'd have no problems and sounds like you enjoyed the drive

Chris

Well done

Well done! I was with WW in his car this am when you SMS texted him and he was very happy for you.

The way he explained it to me - it's not easy at all!

Good stuff

Bas

Well done - now go out there and practise some more!

Congratulations on passing.

I had one question which i got the answer wrong and will see how many of you know it, how can you tell following a long vehicle that its a long vehicle?

I'd say either:

1. Using the distance to the mirrors of the long vehicle, as they'll presumably be at the front of the vehicle so you can hold back and judge the distance of them to determine the length of the vehicle, or

2. Read the "long vehicle" sign on the yellow and orange chevrons stuck on the back of it.

Congratulations anyway, sounds like you did really well!

Rob.

I'd say either:

1. Using the distance to the mirrors of the long vehicle, as they'll presumably be at the front of the vehicle so you can hold back and judge the distance of them to determine the length of the vehicle, or

2. Read the "long vehicle" sign on the yellow and orange chevrons stuck on the back of it.

Congratulations anyway, sounds like you did really well!

Rob.

nope i said long vehicle sign straight away. it is the red triangles usually by the rear lights:eek: then we saw a lorry and he pointed them out to me, its one he always uses as very little people know it, certainly one i will use at work on monday.

Well done - now go out there and practise some more!

did this afternoon over too swindon, certainly felt more confident in the overtaking and spotting my chances much more, but am certainly combining it abit more with the SAFED i did. I mentioned SAFED to the examiner and he was interested and agreed and disagreed with bits as we talked about it.

Well done! I was with WW in his car this am when you SMS texted him and he was very happy for you.

The way he explained it to me - it's not easy at all!

Good stuff

Bas

most people in my phone book got a message

So when are you going for your RoSPA Gold then :P:D

Chris

nope i said long vehicle sign straight away. it is the red triangles usually by the rear lights:eek:

I must've seen the triangles thousands of times on the back of lorries and never knew that's what they indicated!

Rob.

So when are you going for your RoSPA Gold then :P:D

Chris

need to find a local group first :P and the cash to stomp up!!

I must've seen the triangles thousands of times on the back of lorries and never knew that's what they indicated!

Rob.

my examiner loves using that, i work with lorries all the time and cant even remember seeing them on the backs of our trailers:eek:

Congratulations :)

cheers, anyone else thinking of doing the advance driving test, go for it, you will learn a lot and will thoroughly enjoy it. I use to drive one handed, using gears to slow down into the corners, rarely used my mirrors and basically drive like your average boy racer. So to get to the stage of holding wheel with both hands, not crossing arms or overlapping gear changes with brakes. planning ahead and able to give a full flow commentry to the standard of police drivers (examiner said i did better) shows how easy it is.

Anyone local wanting to go out and try some advance driving or looking for pointers feel free to get in contact. If you not local im sure there is many advance drivers on here who are more local to you.

Nicely done.

Good one about the triangles, because you'll get them on stuff that doesn't carry UK or Euro style orange and/or yellow patches, like caravans and horse trailers.

Nicely done.

Good one about the triangles, because you'll get them on stuff that doesn't carry UK or Euro style orange and/or yellow patches, like caravans and horse trailers.

Funnily enough I've been looking out for these triangles as I wasn't aware that they signified an LGV. So far, about 80% of the vehicles with them have been cars towing horse boxes, trailers or caravans and the remaining 20% are actual LGVs. Anyone know if there is a legal requirement to display them?

The main thing I see on LGVs which seems to be unique is the yellow and red stripey reflective plates on the trailers but I'm not sure whether anyone can display these or if it is unique to LGVs.

Chris

and another question for you all. There are two road signs that use different shapes to the rest, what are they are why?

Congratulations,

Well done indeed

"Stop" is octagonal, partly because it is unique, and partly as an international convention.

Does "triangle, point downwards" count as different?

Or ISTR an "X" shaped level crossing sign.

and another question for you all. There are two road signs that use different shapes to the rest, what are they are why?

Would that be giveway and stop? Designed to be recognisable shapes (or at least distinguishable from the others) in heavy snowfall ... or so the story goes. I still reckon they let the work experience kid loose on them and it got through approval while everyone was on their lunch break

Chris

Would that be giveway and stop? Designed to be recognisable shapes (or at least distinguishable from the others) in heavy snowfall ... or so the story goes. I still reckon they let the work experience kid loose on them and it got through approval while everyone was on their lunch break

Chris

We have a WINNER, WINNER, WINNER!!!!!!!!

Yes youre correct, i didnt think about the snow bit but got both the signs correct. When i was told of the snow bit i just replied what snow in this country

Are you sure we have only one? Check here, and download "Warning Signs"

the answer chris gave was the same as the answer i was given by the driving assesor at work who is IAM qualified and has done his police hgv which only a few have done.

Are you suggesting that there is another sign besides "level crossing" that is an "X", or that there aren't 2 (arguably 3, Give Way, GW ahead and Stop ahead) potential meanings for an inverted triangle? We're all agreed on "Stop".