Life saver = failure for car drivers

A friend's son was recently failed on his car test for looking over
his shoulder on a slip road instead of relying on his mirrors [2].
The rationale for this was that the driver might 'mis-steer' whilst
looking away. Since the opposite is the case in the bike world/test,
what do the assembled cogniscenti think of this 'development'? [1]

Chris D
[1] assuming it is general policy and not just one twat of an examiner
[2] which might explain a number of smidsys?
--

 

I always look over my left shoulder when leaving a roundabout, car and
bike. It's saved a few nasties. I think in the case you cite much
depends on how his mirrors were set up though. On a slip road I can't
see why you'd need to do it.

Having been failed on three car tests, once for driving too close to
parked cars and another for being too close to the middle of the road, I
can appreciate his frustration!


Regards,

Simonm.

 

It depends how long he was looking over his shoulder. I doubt VERY much
that he would have been failed for a quick glance so my guess is that he was
doing it for too long and that the fail was justified. A quick glance
before joining traffic to make double-sure nobody is in the blind spot is
very good practice. However, driving along for any greater length of time
whilst looking backwards is NOT good practice!

 

depends on the situation and the mirror. Quite often the mirror doesn't
show you the place you want to see, especially the passenger-side one. It's
called a blind spot... On the minibus, despite mirrors much larger than yer
typical car, the same applies.

If we're talking a slip road joining a major road, then sometimes the angle
is too big for the mirror to show you back along the lane you intend to
join, and it's quite legit IMHO to look over your shoulder if that's the
case. For the mirror to show you the lane properly you need to be
travelling parallel to it or nearly so, which will soon result in your
running out of slip road.

I failed one for not stopping on a zebra crossing.