<G>
6th May 2007, 15:20
I passed the restricted test on Thursday...I had one of the worst cases of nerves and riding to Meadowlands I even considered flagging it...so after a stern talking to myself saying that I wouldn't feel better in a couple of weeks and just do it so you know what to expect...actually - having to tell my mates that I failed was worrying me more than anything - stupid hey?!?!
The testor was a grumpy old man which didn't help. I had difficulty attaching the earpiece - I have small ears so not much to thread through - having wing nuts would have been a great help :). Then I thought that I wouldn't be able to hear him as he kept quiet until I passed him and then I heard ..."left".
Once I had set off and could hear him, the nerves settled and the test was very easy, after all it's nothing we haven't done whilst riding on an urban road. But I wouldn't be me if a blond moment didn't kick in...approaching a roundabout from Chapel Road he said -"head toward Meadowlands...go straight through the roundabout" but nearly through the roundabout I start thinking - "fark I don't know where Meadowlands is from here, where am I, I'll just take this exit and hope it's the right one". It was, but then I thought - that's it...I've blown it...definitely failed :(
Testor stayed grumpy whilst he pointed out my mistakes - the roundabout being a case in point...until he saw my birthdate and he said that I was "another nervy Sagittarian and that we get very nervous when doing tests" - his birthday is one day after my mine (but about 25 years before). A little empathy beforehand would have been very nice.
My error on the roundabout was that I signalled too soon (which I shouldn't have done because I was going straight after all), didn't signal on exit and was in the wrong lane - not too sure about this one - will go back and have a look.
And when going around an island in a cul-de-sac to signal all the way around - he took me up two cul-de-sacs that had islands in them.
Other than that he said my road position and speed was good and that I kept to my lane when turning right at a traffic light.
As I said...the test isn't anything you haven't done before (nerves are the biggest problem) so best of luck to all of you who will be doing your restricted test - it's a great feeling once you've passed :woohoo:
I put in my exemption to the night driving restrictions - pffft - I want to stay out late and play with the big bikes, not wanting to have to go to bed before ten!
The testor was a grumpy old man which didn't help. I had difficulty attaching the earpiece - I have small ears so not much to thread through - having wing nuts would have been a great help :). Then I thought that I wouldn't be able to hear him as he kept quiet until I passed him and then I heard ..."left".
Once I had set off and could hear him, the nerves settled and the test was very easy, after all it's nothing we haven't done whilst riding on an urban road. But I wouldn't be me if a blond moment didn't kick in...approaching a roundabout from Chapel Road he said -"head toward Meadowlands...go straight through the roundabout" but nearly through the roundabout I start thinking - "fark I don't know where Meadowlands is from here, where am I, I'll just take this exit and hope it's the right one". It was, but then I thought - that's it...I've blown it...definitely failed :(
Testor stayed grumpy whilst he pointed out my mistakes - the roundabout being a case in point...until he saw my birthdate and he said that I was "another nervy Sagittarian and that we get very nervous when doing tests" - his birthday is one day after my mine (but about 25 years before). A little empathy beforehand would have been very nice.
My error on the roundabout was that I signalled too soon (which I shouldn't have done because I was going straight after all), didn't signal on exit and was in the wrong lane - not too sure about this one - will go back and have a look.
And when going around an island in a cul-de-sac to signal all the way around - he took me up two cul-de-sacs that had islands in them.
Other than that he said my road position and speed was good and that I kept to my lane when turning right at a traffic light.
As I said...the test isn't anything you haven't done before (nerves are the biggest problem) so best of luck to all of you who will be doing your restricted test - it's a great feeling once you've passed :woohoo:
I put in my exemption to the night driving restrictions - pffft - I want to stay out late and play with the big bikes, not wanting to have to go to bed before ten!