South Meath Driving School

When one looks at another’s misfortune, it can help to lessen one’s own. Consider the poor lady from South Korea who attempted the Driver Theory Test every day it was up and running for the past four years, eventually succeeding on the 950^th effort! She’s probably much better behind the wheel. One punter passed the driving test here in Ireland recently after fourteen attempts.

The pass rate in Navan is 58%, Nenagh 69% and Rathgar 42%. An applicant can apply for any test centre of choice, so wouldn’t you be slightly inclined to avoid Rathgar. When the SGS (Swiss Co.) were employed here to help clear the backlog of 420,000 applicants a few years ago, there was a feeling that their testers had a slightly softer attitude than the RSA testers. It was pointed out on RTE that in the same town the RSA pass rate was about 20% lower than that of the SGS from another office block up the street. Maybe only a coincidence!

A supervisor at the Navan centre has said that standards have dropped of late and this has been noted by the testers generally. It was considered that this might be down to the economic times that were thrust upon us over the past three years.The new Mayo machine in Leinster House will change all that, so relax. The feedback certainly was that people were not taking as many driving lessons as heretofore; therefore, they were not properly prepared for a test.

Preparation for the Test is a serious undertaking that requires dedicated preparation and time. There’s no quick fix involved and it’s merely throwing good money after bad to take the short route. One should remember that the benefits of passing are a high financial reward in a vastly reduced insurance premium and the comfort of driving without the restrictions of carrying an L plate.

The waiting time in Navan is at present is about one month, so those who have applied already will soon have an appointment date. Having got a date, it is important to get out on the road and not to lose the show in the ‘boardroom.’ For it is the little things that can be overlooked when the moment of truth is nigh. The Learner Permit must be current on the test date and six months must have elapsed between the acquisition of the Permit and the test application.

Ensure that Tax, Insurance and NCT discs are current and properly displayed, plus L plates on front and rear. Where L plates are fitted to the exterior, one or both may blow off, so preferably display them on the inside.

Any warning lights on the display panel will entail a cancellation. These amber lights might include airbag, low fuel guage, windscreen washer empty etc. A very common problem is an indicator or brakelight bulb blowing on the way to the centre. A cure is to have a few spares and a screwdriver – with a bit of luck and enough time it will be rectified. Electrically controlled side windows and wing mirrors are regular problem areas – some drivers just don’t repair them when they stall as it may incur a hefty bill..

I already addressed the graduated driver licensing system that will be in place, come April 4^th next. Briefly, it refers to drivers who apply for a Learner Permit after midnight on the 3^rd of April. There will be a minimum of twelve hours instruction for each learner with an Approved Driving Instructor. The programme will, overall, be in 2 x 2 year phases; driving will be supervised by a sponsor who may be a parent or guardian etc., zero alcohol consumption, two driving tests, only one passenger will be allowed, except for family.

There will be three Booklets in use:

1. Essential Driver Training for the instructor, with information to help the ADI understand the requirements and content of the programme and how to implement it.

2. EDT Information booklet – aimed at the learner driver.

3. EDT Logbbok. On commencing a driving course, the learner will receive this book from the ADI, at a wee cost! A record of lessons will be kept  with advice on preparation and suggestions on ensuring an effective learning process.

Already we are close to being in the top five nations in Europe for road safety with the death rate down to nearly 200 per year from a high of over 600 at the worst of times. Maybe it should have been introduced as a Leaving Cert subject and inculcate in the student the importance of road safety and respect for other road users. Until four years ago we had no official driving test standard, now it is on a par with the best in the world. Well done to all in the Dept of Transport and RSA.

Have you noticed the E-mark on your tyres? Hopefully you did!
The ‘E’ mark or ‘e’ is followed by a number and included in a circle or rectangle. The number denotes the particular country which granted the approval. The number outside the circle or rectangle is the number of the type approval certificate issued for the tyre size and type.

Apart from tyres, other replacement component parts, which must be e-marked, include exhaust silencers, catalytic converters and brake pads.
It is a requirement throughout the EU that motor vehicles have e-marked tyres and this applies to both new and retreaded tyres. An e-mark confirms that a tyre meets the minimum EU or International standard in relation to its dimensions, load and speed rating.

According to the Road Safety Authority, tyres that are not e-marked will not meet the required minimum EU standard. Their performance is likely to be substandard and given the uncertainty over the quality of manufacture, could be at risk of sudden or serious deterioration, endangering the vehicle occupants and other road users. A tyre with tread or ply separation could be at risk of a blow-out or sudden tyre deflation causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Since the 1st of April, 2010, the NCT has included a check to ensure that car tyres are e-marked. Such checks also apply to HGV tyres currently. While there is an obvious onus on the owner of vehicles to check for the e-mark when purchasing tyres, the garage owner or fitter will point out the mark and, if they cannot, such tyres may be substandard, and should not be purchased. Should a purchaser encounter a problem with a supplier, the National Consumer Agency will provide advice.
There are actually ten different type of markings on a tyre which may seem somewhat excessive, but, each serves a purpose; marks like ‘R,’ ‘V,’ ‘205,’ ‘E4,’ etc. all serve to provide a better standard.

Tyre thread is the only contact a motorist has with the road surface.
1 in 8 cars on our roads have a tread that is less than the required 1.6mm in depth.
Such risky vehicles take longer to stop, they cost more in fuel consumption and have greater CO2 emissions. If unsure of your tread depth, have it checked at a garage, or, purchase a depth guage at any motor accessory shop.

Check your tyres for cuts and bulges. With the horrendous condition of link roads at present, it is very difficult to avoid hitting a deep pothole. Actually, on some sections of road, if the potholes were levelled out a little, the road surface would be smooth. Well, it wouldn’t be a great surface, then, but it mightn’t burst a tyre as quickly. I’ve been waiting for a prospective politician to call to my door so I might point out the horror holes on the Newtown road, but, alas, no such Luminaries have got this far, yet.

The training programme for Learner Drivers is not the finished article – yet. After acquiring a full Driving Licence, the ‘graduate’ then commences a further learning process, maybe all alone and unaided. That is a grave shortfall in the present system. Driving on the Motorway is not permitted without a full licence, even for training purposes, accompanied by an instructor. Of course, neither is night driving, driving in inclement weather, changing a wheel etc, included.

Here I will outline some rules, in accordance with the RSA, that are legally required to be complied with on the motorway, as well as good driving practice which should be adhered to.

• Drive ahead only, no turning or reversing is permitted.
• You must progress at a speed and in a way that avoids interference with other motorway traffic.
• Do not drive on the Hard Shoulder or Hatched Areas, except in an emergency.
• You may NOT stop on the Hard Shoulder for a snooze!
• Do not stop or park on any part of the motorway unless directed by a Garda.
• You must not drive a type of vehicle that is restricted to a maximum vehicle speed of 80km/h or less in the traffic lane nearest the centre median of the motorway (i.e. the outside lane, whether a 2 lane, only, or more.)
• Do not pick up or set down anybody on a motorway.

Proper Use Of Lanes

It is important to understand the proper use of each lane on a motorway. To demonstrate this, each lane is given a number. The Hard Shoulder, to the left, is not a lane, remember. Lane 1 is to the left and may be referred to as the inside lane. On a two-lane motorway, the lane nearest the central median is lane 2, in that case, the outside lane. On a three-lane motorway, this (outside) lane is lane 3.

Lane 1

The normal ‘keep left’ rule applies. Stay in this lane unless you are overtaking.

Lane 2

On a two-lane motorway, use this lane for overtaking only and move back into lane 1 when finished overtaking. You may also use this lane to accommodate traffic merging from the left.

On a three-lane motorway, you may stay in this centre lane while there is slower moving traffic in Lane 1.

Lane 3

If travelling on a three-lane motorway, you must use this lane only if traffic in lanes 1 and 2 is moving in queues and you need to overtake or accommodate merging traffic. Once finished overtaking, move back to your left and allow faster traffic coming from behind to pass.

You must not use the lane nearest the central median (i.e. Lane 2 or 3, depending on the motorway width) if you are driving, as follows –

*  A  goods vehicle with a design gross vehicle weight of more than 3,500 kilograms (3 ½ tonnes).

* A passenger vehicle with seating for more than 8 passengers (aside from the driver,) or,

* A vehicle towing a trailer , horsebox or caravan.

You may use the lane nearest the median strip in exceptional circumstances when you cannot proceed in the inner lane because of a blockage ahead; also, if you are in an area of motorway with a speed limit of 80km/h or less. This is why it is illegal for lorry drivers to overtake vehicles on a motorway in circumstances outside the above limits. Ever noticed? Indeed, yes.

It is of utmost importance to keep back a safe distance from the vehicle in front: use the 2 second rule. Traffic is moving at a vastly faster pace than on lesser roads, so, it takes longer to stop in an emergency, perhaps leading to a pileup.

Use the signal to move from Lane 3 to Lane 2. If continuing to move to Lane 1, the signal should be cancelled in Lane 2, before commencing the move to Lane 1, when another signal should be given.

Check mirrors regularly, including wing mirrors. Be conscious of blind  spots and a quick glance over the shoulder before commencing a lane change may avert a collision. Apply the mirror, mirror, signal, manoeuvre rule. Measure the distance of vehicles to the rear in your internal rear view mirror, as the wing mirrors may give you a wrong impression of distance, they being of convex shape. Don’t allow your eyes to focus on the vehicle in front for long periods, scan up ahead and move the eyes about. It helps to keep more alert.

Avoid sharp braking and use hazard warning lights to warn traffic behind. Avoid causing another driver on the motorway to change lane or brake to accommodate you, apart from when you merge. Be conscious of all traffic around you and anticipate changes.

Overtake on the right only. Never, ever overtake on the hard shoulder. If traffic in the right lane is travelling slower than in your lane you may pass, or, call it overtake, on the left. Before moving from a slower lane to a faster one, adjust your speed: increase it. Check that the lane is clear behind and ahead and signal early. For someone driving on a motorway for the first few times, like the holder of a first full Driving Licence, the pace of traffic may be daunting and it is preferable that such driver should take a further driving lesson or, at least, be accompanied by an experienced driver.

Extra care is required at dusk, in darkness and in poor weather conditions. Larger lorries throw up spray on wet roads and wipers should be activated in good time so that visibility is not impeded. Should conditions be difficult to cope with, move to the left lane, at least until you adjust to the pace or, perhaps, until the heavier traffic eases.

Read the traffic signs on the gantries which are displayed  on motorways and dual carriageways. Get in the left lane in anticipation of moving off the motorway and be alert for the directional sign in advance.

There are many more rules that apply to motorway driving and I will look at them another time.