Scratch test being scratched

[Mekk]

I work for the AA and we recently got a drop from NZTA that the iconic scratch tests are now being computerised so that sometime next year all tests will be done at a terminal.

I'll get dates when I'm in next. IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE?!

Progress, right?

[CookMySock]

[...] sometime next year all tests will be done at a terminal. [....] Progress, right?Well, instead of a $1 sheet of paper they will have a multi-million dollar computing infrastructure and the fee will double to pay for it, so now you pay $4000 instead of $2000 to get all your licenses - better bang for the buck than training.

Instead of a non-technical person to operate the examination, they will need four computer technicians top keep the network up.

Currently they are processing 20 candidates per day, and this will triple to 20 candidates per day, thus paying for the extra equipment and training required.

Yes, progress!

Steve

[YellowDog]

Well, instead of a $1 sheet of paper they will have a multi-million dollar computing infrastructure and the fee will double to pay for it, so now you pay $4000 instead of $2000 to get all your licenses - better bang for the buck than training.

Instead of a non-technical person to operate the examination, they will need four computer technicians top keep the network up.

Currently they are processing 20 candidates per day, and this will triple to 20 candidates per day, thus paying for the extra equipment and training required.

Yes, progress!

Steve
Well yes, I can see what you mean. But there will be some adminsitrative benefits of such a system.

Like you day, it wont be cheap to set up.

[CookMySock]

there will be some adminsitrative benefits of such a system.Yep, they will be able to handle many more applicants per hour. The scratchie cubicles are always fully occupied here (no sarcasm smiley?) and they will otherwise have to expand into the loo's - you can see that not lasting can't you? It won't be long before they are sitting on knees in the loo's doing scratchies. :banana:

The administrators need all the help they can get too - god knows they are overstretched at the moment.

KB admins, for FUCKS SAKE WHERE IS THE FUCKING SARCASM SMILEY?? :Oi:

Steve

[Mekk]

Yep, they will be able to handle many more applicants per hour. The scratchie cubicles are always fully occupied here (no sarcasm smiley?) and they will otherwise have to expand into the loo's - you can see that not lasting can't you? It won't be long before they are sitting on knees in the loo's doing scratchies. :banana:

The administrators need all the help they can get too - god knows they are overstretched at the moment.

KB admins, for FUCKS SAKE WHERE IS THE FUCKING SARCASM SMILEY?? :Oi:

Steve

To be fair a lot of the AA Centres up here are really busy but I would be interested in knowing the percentage of those people who were doing the scratch tests.

SFA, methinks.

[Aaron_newrider]

Well, instead of a $1 sheet of paper they will have a multi-million dollar computing infrastructure and the fee will double to pay for it, so now you pay $4000 instead of $2000 to get all your licenses - better bang for the buck than training.

Instead of a non-technical person to operate the examination, they will need four computer technicians top keep the network up.

Currently they are processing 20 candidates per day, and this will triple to 20 candidates per day, thus paying for the extra equipment and training required.

Yes, progress!

Steve

It won't be multi-million dollar - there is now RCS which would make the project very very cheap. Especially if you look at total cost of ownership.

All they need to do is have a thinclient/monitor/mouse/keyboard and internet connection, no servers or anything that's all done from headoffice and managed as an image from there.

Think i'll be making afew calls on monday :banana:

[Ixion]

This is actually an excellent improvement, because of a side benefit not mentioned. The computerised tests will be available in multi languages and the questions will be totally randomised (instead of the present half dozen or so combinations).

This means that (a) "interpreters" will no longer be allowed to accompany candidate swhen they take the test and (b) rote memorising the answers (a, c, b ,b a. d etc ) will no longer work.

On noes! Candidates may actually have to UNDERSTAND the road code and rules

[Mekk]

This is actually an excellent improvement, because of a side benefit not mentioned. The computerised tests will be available in multi languages and the questions will be totally randomised (instead of the present half dozen or so combinations).

This means that (a) "interpreters" will no longer be allowed to accompany candidate swhen they take the test and (b) rote memorising the answers (a, c, b ,b a. d etc ) will no longer work.

On noes! Candidates may actually have to UNDERSTAND the road code and rules

Outrageous!

I was quite shocked to discover the scratch tests weren't available in other languages to be honest. Most of the people I mentioned it to came back with zenophobic "they should speak English if they're in an English-speaking nation" responses.

I would personally prefer someone who didn't speak English and knew the road rules than vice versa.

[Kevnz]

I would hope they could read English like Give Way, Stop, No Entry...

[Aaron_newrider]

or "stay in your own fucking lane"

[magicmonkey]

Outrageous!

I was quite shocked to discover the scratch tests weren't available in other languages to be honest. Most of the people I mentioned it to came back with zenophobic "they should speak English if they're in an English-speaking nation" responses.

I would personally prefer someone who didn't speak English and knew the road rules than vice versa.

Well, considering that one of the requirements for residency is an acceptable level of english speaking it shouldn't really be that much of a problem...

[quickbuck]

I would hope they could read English like Give Way, Stop, No Entry...

Well, yes, those are basic words... and they all carry international symbols.

BUT: Fresh import driver would be totally better off if he could actually pick up a Road Code in his/her native tongue and understand it in his mind.

Sentence structure of English is quite a bit different to many other languages... and very easy to get "lost in translation".

As for the test going computer based... Well DB has obviously been around when a new system has been installed in his work place......
However, I reckon it is quite a good idea.
As Ixion said, the applicant might actually have to study!

[Headbanger]

Makes no difference, The testing procedure is a joke.

if you hired someone, gave them a 20 grand piece of machinery to operate that was likely to kill and maim when used in the wrong manner, would you give them a scratch test and leave them to it?

ah cool, You got a,d,c,a,d,c,c,, pretty damn good you gibberish speaking twat, Your qualified, heres the keys.

[motorbyclist]

It's still no replacement for basic driver training.....


And non-english speakers with an understanding of the road code is all good - until they're making your 111 call....

[Mekk]

Well, considering that one of the requirements for residency is an acceptable level of english speaking it shouldn't really be that much of a problem...

Key word: "shouldn't".

Immigration NZ is a whole new can of worms...

[Mekk]

It's still no replacement for basic driver training.....


And non-english speakers with an understanding of the road code is all good - until they're making your 111 call....

I think the idea of them understanding the roadcode is to avoid getting to that 111 call in the first place.

[MikeL]

I have always thought that allowing non-English speakers to have an interpreter for the road code test is dodgy to say the least. Unless certified professional interpreters are used (which would pose practical problems in smaller towns, as well as adding considerably to the cost) there is always the possibility of dishonesty.
Many years ago I lived in France and at the time it was unthinkable that a foreigner might expect official forms and procedures to be available in his own language. If you couldn't speak and read French, tough. Not sure whether the same policy applies there today, but knowing the bloody-mindedness of the French I wouldn't be surprised. Why do we adopt a policy of bending over backwards to accommodate immigrants? It is they who need to make the effort to adjust to our culture and language. If someone can't understand English well enough to sit the road code test I don't think they deserve a licence.

[magicmonkey]

Key word: "shouldn't".

Immigration NZ is a whole new can of worms...

Fair play, hopefully they're dumb enough to let me in then!!

on the computerised tests, we changed over in the UK some years ago, not heard any complaints about that from people doing the test though. I don't know anyone who works at the testing office so couldn't say how they feel about it.

The implementation shouldn't be too hard, just a bunch of winterms running a basic image and a fullscreen app running. You 'should' (that keyword again!) be able to set it up so a monkey could do any administration...

[Mekk]

I have always thought that allowing non-English speakers to have an interpreter for the road code test is dodgy to say the least. Unless certified professional interpreters are used (which would pose practical problems in smaller towns, as well as adding considerably to the cost) there is always the possibility of dishonesty.
Many years ago I lived in France and at the time it was unthinkable that a foreigner might expect official forms and procedures to be available in his own language. If you couldn't speak and read French, tough. Not sure whether the same policy applies there today, but knowing the bloody-mindedness of the French I wouldn't be surprised. Why do we adopt a policy of bending over backwards to accommodate immigrants? It is they who need to make the effort to adjust to our culture and language. If someone can't understand English well enough to sit the road code test I don't think they deserve a licence.

They need to be LTSA approved translators, whatever the fuck that means.

It's a tricky subject because of the sheer number of different cultures in our melting pot. It also depends on their level of skill and from which country they've come from.

People who have come from certain countries don't have to sit any tests to transfer their licence over to ours which is fair enough I think. For example someone who has been driving for thirty years in France shouldn't have to undergo further tests because their driving system I imagine is quite similar to ours.

It's only an issue for those that are transferring from countries where the driving system is a bit different (ie India) that require them.

[PrincessBandit]

It won't be long before they are sitting on knees in the loo's doing scratchies. :banana:

Steve

Haha, the minds boggles. p.s. excellent idea about a sarcasm smiley, although thinking laterally there are some which do provide lame alternatives. (Can't think what they are off the top of my head).


I would hope they could read English like Give Way, Stop, No Entry...

Symbols and signs! At least they should be understandable.
I always thought it was hilarious that the powers that be changed "Give Way" to "Turn left at any time with care" Crikey, imagine some of the translations you could get from that. Even the American "Yield" would have been better if they really felt "Give Way" was too obtuse.

[motorbyclist]

I think the idea of them understanding the roadcode is to avoid getting to that 111 call in the first place.

oh yep, cause the current system is so effective at that:laugh:

(and to be fair it isn't necessarily going to be their fault)

[varminter]

My understanding is that the applicant sits the test with a phone in one hand, a pie in the other and has to make a creditable attempt at rearranging their hairstyle.

On a lighter note, I asked my son if his partner, a delightful and attractive lady from the Philippines, has a driving licence, "yes", he said "she bought one in Manila" well, it made me laugh.

[Swoop]

They need to be LTSA approved translators, whatever the fuck that means.
If it is anything like the Westgate licence test, that was on TV a while back... The main "approval" process will be the ability to take a backhander and pass someone who shouldn't really be behind a wheel.

[atothek]

I sat my learners on one of these computer 'scratch' tests last week. Not much different from when i did my car 'proper' scratch tests many years ago. The pictures are easier to see and when you pick your answer it asks if you are sure so there is little chance of a mistake. The only thing i found a bit tricky was the multi-choice answers were laid out in a four by four grid but they weren't laid out intuitively i.e.

AB
CD

they were randomised (I think) I rember going to hit B then realising that i was actually pressing D. Was a bit strange. Didn't stop me getting 35/35 mind you.

[motorbyclist]

I know someone who sat the test three times in a row before passing - cost them a fortune but the fact they were given a pass despite clearly failing the first two times and barely scraping through the second, all in the space of an hour, is a bit of a concern

[thepom]

The Asian twat that opened his 4x4 door on me could,nt dial 111 cos he could,nt speak english!!! no english no licence I say....

[EJK]

The Asian twat that opened his 4x4 door on me could,nt dial 111 cos he could,nt speak english!!! no english no licence I say....

Old age = No licence
Woman = No licence
Teenagers = No licence
SUV drivers = No licence
Cell phone users = No licence
Drinkers = No licence
Twat = No licence

Oh hey it's KB, what else can we do apart from discussing how many bad drivers are out there? :msn-wink:

[Chrislost]

Outrageous!
Most of the people I mentioned it to came back with zenophobic "they should speak English if they're in an English-speaking nation" responses.


And why shouldnt they? This is after all, an english country...

Might help them understand the road rules a tad better too, mind you, I speak england well and i dont know the road rules, i just have bullbars

[motorbyclist]

well I say BURN THEM!

[Squid69]

blah blah blah
i think new riders should be banned!

[motorbyclist]

well i think OLD riders should be banned too!

[varminter]

well i think OLD riders should be banned too!

I, er, whats the word now, don't like, no, er, sounds like resemble...oh yes, I resent that.

[Mekk]

And why shouldnt they? This is after all, an english country...

Might help them understand the road rules a tad better too, mind you, I speak england well and i dont know the road rules, i just have bullbars

In a perfect world everyone would speak everyone else's language. In the real world, forcing someone to learn something other than their native tongue so they can drive as a tourist is costly, impractical and difficult to control. I mean that shit takes years to master which isn't very helpful for tourism, y'know, that multi-billion dollar industry.

Makes more sense to have multiple languages.