Defensive driving?

[The Pastor]

The whole bike/car licensing thing is totally borked.

If you want a car and bike learners you have to do the same learner test twice. You can't just use your car one and add on the bike questions and basic handling test. Vice versa for bike to car.

If you do a defensive driving course to reduce your 6R time you have to do an in-car practical. What if you don't have a 1L or 1R or 1F?

Both F tests are almost entirely about road awareness and hazard identification. If you've done one surely you should be able to do a reduced test for the other.

As far as I can tell the system is setup to make sure you sit as many tests as possible thus creating a driver testing and training industry - not to mention the LTSA revenue gathered.

they have a practical element to the defensive driving cource? Maybe it has changed since i did it in 03.

But your completely right on the creating jobs thing. thats the only reason you have to do the same cource again and again for each licence.

[WasPhantom]

No they don't. The bike test is the car test with an additional 5 questions on a separate scratchy. You could be able to convert a car licence to a bike learners by just doing those 5 questions and the basic handling skills test. If you have a 6L you should be able to get a 1L for a nominal processing fee as you've already done the 1L test.

Granted.

Was that with AA?

No, it was with one of the local firms here in Wellington, one that I got the 'bike shop to recommend because of the inclusion of a 'bike practical, as I do not have a car here.

As I said I don't see a problem with having another test I just think it should be a reduced full test that targets the difference between the vehicles. If you've already passed the restricted test you have already proven you have enough skill to handle the vehicle safely and indicate etc.

Indeed, but they're not testing your ability to handle the vehicle safely. They're evaluating your ability to identify and react to hazards at the same time as maintaining a safe ride.

This needs to be tested in a number of driving conditions ( i.e. in traffic, varying speeds etc ), therefor it still needs to be the full test. It does come down to the testing instructor as to how comfortable they are with your skills. Personally my 6F test was approximately a 20 minute ride, as they felt satisfied. Whereas when I did my 1F ( about 15 years ago now ), it was a much longer test.

[The Pastor]

my 1R test was about 6mins long. My 1F test was 20min.

My 6R test was 30 mins, my 6F test was also 20-30min with no high speed stuff (because it was raining )

[discotex]

No, it was with one of the local firms here in Wellington, one that I got the 'bike shop to recommend because of the inclusion of a 'bike practical, as I do not have a car here.

Righto.. At least there's some options out there eh. I looked around online and couldn't find anything bike specific before giving up and booking with AA. The in-car isn't an issue for me but I wanted to support somewhere that was bike friendly.

Indeed, but they're not testing your ability to handle the vehicle safely. They're evaluating your ability to identify and react to hazards at the same time as maintaining a safe ride.

This needs to be tested in a number of driving conditions ( i.e. in traffic, varying speeds etc ), therefor it still needs to be the full test. It does come down to the testing instructor as to how comfortable they are with your skills. Personally my 6F test was approximately a 20 minute ride, as they felt satisfied. Whereas when I did my 1F ( about 15 years ago now ), it was a much longer test.

Fair call. As long as the instructor can take into account your level of skill and the fact experience (part of which is holding another class) it's not so bad. It'd be nice to pay less for a shorter test in that case tho.

[Ragingrob]

The fact is that it's not the tests as such which are annoying, it's the length of time between each! Having your 1F should allow people doing their bike licencing to have the same time between tests as over 25s or something. Ie 3 months instead of 12!!! The only test which bothers me is paying to do exactly the same defensive driving course for a 2nd time in 3 years! It's bullshit.

[duckonin]

You will not change the system, because those that put it together have no idea how they did it..

Your brain will hold all of the information that went into it from the first defensive driving course for many years to come, no you should not have to do it again, "BUT" the system needs to be shuffeling more paper and counting more money, and at the end of the day there is not one personas long as it is not affecting them at the time