Why do People Fail the Irish Driving Test?
According to RSA statistics, approximately half of everybody that takes their driving test in Ireland will end up failing, despite being confident about their ability to drive.
Statistically, this makes Ireland one of the most difficult places in the world to pass the driving test.
Frustratingly, many of these learner drivers will be competent behind the wheel but fail because they don’t pay enough attention to the small details that examiners look for.
In this article, Driving Class looks at each of these details in turn, shedding light on how you can avoid the pitfalls and maximize your chances of passing the Irish driving test.
The Irish driving test marking sheet
Before we begin, it’s useful to understand how the Irish driving test is marked.
Similar to how teachers mark papers in school or college, driving test examiners are looking to tick certain boxes when it comes to grading students during the driving test.
In the case of your driving test, the examiner will look to grade your ability across 18 separate categories. These categories are as follows:
- Rules of the road
- Position
- Observation
- Reaction
- Mirrors
- Clearance
- Signals
- Motorcycles
- Courtesy
- Alighting
- Progress
- Vehicle controls
- Adjust speed
- Comply with traffic controls
- Yield right of way
- Reverse
- Turnabout
- Parking
Your examiner will have a colour-coded sheet where (s)he will grade you on each of these 18 categories.
The RSA provides useful information on this here. The less errors they report, the better your chances of passing the test.
There are different grades of errors on the sheet: Grade one in green, grade two in blue, and grade three in pink.
Examiners use these grades to fail an applicant when they receive:
- One or more grade three faults for dangerous driving.
- Four or more of the same grade three faults for the same driving aspect.
- Six or more grade two faults in the same section of the sheet.
- Nine or more grade two faults across the entire sheet.
Now, let’s look at why most learner drivers are failing their driving test.
The 8 most common reasons for failing the Irish driving test
1. Failure to move off safely
Common errors here include:
- Failure to make rear observations when moving off from a static position
- Pulling into a lane, causing an oncoming vehicle to slow down or stop entirely
- Moving off from the side of the road without checking blind spots
- Moving off from behind a parked vehicle without checking approaching traffic
Driving Class tips:
- Constantly be observant and don’t be afraid to let your examiner see you observing
- Always check mirrors and blind spots before moving out
- The first time you move out, adjust the rear view mirror to a position that works for you
2. Failure to steer properly
Common errors here include:
- Steering too much, too little, or too late when making a left turn
- Mounting the pavement
- Steering late when passing parked vehicles
- Misjudging turns left or right
Driving Class tips:
- Maintain control of the steering wheel with both hands using the ’ten to two’ position
- Avoid crossing your arms when turning the steering wheel
- Keep an eye on the curb as much as the other cars, so that you know when to turn
3. Failure to make effective junction observations
Common errors here include:
- Failing to gauge the speed of other vehicles in your environment
- Not looking left when making left turns
- Entering a roundabout without observing vehicles coming from the right
- Making no observations when joining a main road from a secondary road
Driving Class tips:
- Lower your speed and heighten your awareness when entering a junction
- Better a minor fault for hesitation than a major fault for driving dangerously
- MSM: Mirror signal manoeuvre. Always practise it and you can’t go too wrong
4. Failure to anticipate and react appropriately to traffic lights
Common errors here include:
- Driving through a light that is red or about to turn red
- Not advancing when a green light is showing and the junction ahead is clear
- Stopping ahead of the white line and obstructing pedestrians or cyclists
- Failure to notice the filter indicating that a right turn is possible
Driving Class tips:
- Slow down in advance of the white line at junctions so that you don’t drive over it
- Anticipate when lights are going to change so that you can react appropriately
5. Incorrect positioning in lanes
Common errors here include:
- Entering a roundabout from the wrong lane
- Positioning the vehicle in the left lane when you need to make a right turn
- Obstructing traffic when making a right turn
Driving Class tips:
- Be aware of road signs on the roadside and on the ground when approaching a junction
- Where possible, when making a right turn, leave extra room on the left for vehicles not turning right
- Don’t forget to make the correct observations and indication when changing between lanes
6. Not responding correctly to traffic signs
Common errors here include:
- Ignoring signs such as ‘stop’ or ‘no entry’ signs
- Driving in a bus, taxi, or cycle lane
- Failure to react to change of speed signs
- Failure to react to an oncoming road bump
Driving Class tips:
- Be aware of road signs, particularly when you’re approaching junctions
- Interpret the signs correctly and on time
7. Inadequate reverse parking
Common errors here include:
- Too many attempts to reposition when parking
- Parking outside of the parking bay
- Wheels on the pavement at any point of a reverse parking manoeuvre
- Touching any of the other vehicles during a reverse parking manoeuvre
Driving Class tips:
- Parallel parking is one of the toughest parts of the test — practise, practise, practise!
- Slowly right down and park at a speed that works for you so that you can gauge everything correctly before entering the bay
8. Not having control of the vehicle when moving off
Common errors here include:
- Stalling (repeatedly) when trying to move off
- Rolling back on hill starts
- Trying to move off without selecting a gear and then rolling back
- Selecting the wrong gear and stalling when moving off
Driving Class tips:
- Practise so that you know how to ‘find the tension’
- Practise several hill starts, only stopping when you’ve mastered ten consecutive starts
- Stay calm: A stall isn’t a fault in itself, so breathe deeply and start again if it happens
Closing Remarks
Most people don’t fail the Irish driving test because they’re bad drivers per se. They fail because they didn’t pay enough attention to the details.
A common thread among people who fail the driving test is how easily the errors could have been ironed out with more practice.
Driving Class is ideal for people that want a pre-exam refresher class or a mock exam days before taking their driving test.
Book a lesson with one of the driving instructors on our platform today and avoid the most common mistakes that fail people in their driving test.
