Cascade Crew

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:18 am Post subject: Any drivers test tips?

ok as some of you may know i will be taking my drivers test in a couple weeks and hopefully passing. than i will finally be able to go to some of theses gathering of yours, as long as you guys dont mind a 16 year old crashin the party of course. but i was just wonding if any one had any tips on things not to do (besides the obvious Wink

) and i was also wondering if you guys think that my big camaro decal in my windshield and my front plate being in the windshield will be a problem cause i know that they wont let you take the test in a car with a cracked windshield so im not to sure about that one. if the plate will be a problem ill just throw it back on the front real quick but i really dont want to scrape off my camaro decal. i know im probley makeing this a much biger deal than it is but iv been waiting for this day since i was 8 and saw the fast and the furious Embarassed

yes i was into ricers but then my sister got the camaro Laughing

blue89 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:04 am Post subject:

Make sure your car is 100% legit. Mount the front plate and do EVERYTHING by the book. It would probably be better to drive something smaller too. I took mine in my dads 78 Dodge Aspen Station Wagon. What a pain that was to parallel park! Try to stay calm and GOOD LUCK!

Dewey316 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:11 am Post subject:

What blue said. A small car would be the way to go.

Also, check your mirrors ,check your blind spots, and make sure they notice you do that, so they know you are aware of where other cars are around you. Stay calm, follow all the rules, signal for everything early.

Do they still do the parallel parking test?

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:44 am Post subject:

ya they still do the parallel parking test also i have to back around a corner but im good at that and the rest is just driving. sadly the camaro is the smallest car i have other than my brothers honda but i cant drive that car cause he has a racing clutch and i cant drive it nearly good enough to take my test in plus it has a broken windshield and my other choice is a big cargo van that also has a broken windshield so i have to take the test in the camaro but thats the car im most comfortable with i just need to make it all legal like before the test

Al Hasse · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:50 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:01 am Post subject:

Remember to stop halfway through backing around the corner, and look opposite the corner (So to your left).

I didn't and lost a whole 4 points!

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:05 am Post subject:

DBL_TKE · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject:

Use smooth inputs on everything you do. Check over your left shoulder before getting into the left hand turn lane. Make sure both you and your passenger have your seat belts on before you start the car. Keep both hands on the steering wheel. Just be calm and don't over think things.

That's funny that you say that about our blind sports Al, I've always felt that 3rd gens had very good visibility compared to many other cars.

(I took my test in a Jeep Grand Cherokee)

Al Hasse · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

izcain · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:44 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't recommend using the camaro.... I took mine in..... you guessed it an aerostar van haha I dont feel so bad since I guess I wasnt the only one taking the test in a van. But really make sure you take it in a car that is inconspicuous !!!!

Richster · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject:

My oldest son did his test about 3 years ago, and NO Parallel parking! The test officer told me they no longer do that, in Oregon, I was amazed, he and I worked on that before the test.
I don't know if that is true for the whole state, i would think so, but that's how it is in Multnomah county!
It is something you should be able to do for sure!
The other part that is watched closely, in Oregon, is the bike lane. Make sure to acknowledge the lane when you turn.
Other than that, just drive!
You'll be fine.
Rich

flea · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject:

thats pretty much what I was gonna say. A Camaro is not a good car for a teen to take to the road test. Your choice in cars does make an impression on the examiner, that examiner has so many goofy statistics about how teenage drivers are involved in accidents X times more frequently and that those accidents are X times as often fatal. And that most teenage deaths occur while driving or riding with another teen. Sooo here you come for your road test in a Camaro Shocked

Yep they will be looking at you hard.

Speed
Lane usage. I don't know about anyone else but I find myself trying to hug the right side in my car. I really don't know why, but an examiner could knock points off for that where as if I showed up in a Ford Festiva they may not..

popballz · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject:

my tip is to use your emergency break when he has you park on a hill and turn your wheels. i got marked down for that

i also had a cracked windshield and the guy said it was not a problem, but it is on the very bottom or top i think....

haha, i guess i got lucky, but my test guy was looking at his cell phone, fixing his seatbelt, adjusting the seat and a bunch of stuff, not really even paying attention to me.

and i took mine is a ford contour!

mc6811 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject:

Took mine in a 67 pontiac executive and had to paralell park it. wasn't bad, been driving it for 6 months.
Check the width of your window sticker. I was just on the washington law pages checking out tinting restrictions and read that the windshield sticker across the top can only be a max of six inches wide (tall, if you know what I mean)

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:55 pm Post subject:

thanks for the tips everyone. and i totally get what u are saying with the drive instructor having a bad opinion of me because i drive a camaro and thats what im worrying about wich is why i ask for tips cause i figure as long as i remember to do every thing even the little things right even if they dont like that i drive a camaro and think im just a punk teen they cant fail me (as long as i dont get a complete asshole instructor that is) cause like i said i dont have a other car to drive on the test and i cant use a friends car cause my onley friend that has a working car right now drives a camaro Rolling Eyes

so really i have no choice but to drive the camaro. and as far has a camaro just being a bad car to drive on the test just cause the size and blind spots and ect.. im not to worried about that cause i have gotin to drive it around alot so i can handle the size and every thing fine. but ya so i payed off my drivers school today and will be taking the knowledge test tomorrow. and im not sure if can take the road test befor my b-day or not but as long as they arent over booked i should have my license by or on the 25th Very Happy

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

I took my test in a 3/4 ton Ford pickup, twice.

If oncoming traffic in an intersection has to nail their brakes to keep from hitting you, your test is over for the most part. Laughing

Second time went smooth. I was relieved because I had already been driving to school everyday for 3 or 4 months.

Getting my CDL was interesting as well.

QwkTrip · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:22 am Post subject:

You already know the rules and I am certain you can pass first try. Just make sure the evaluator sees you do everything. When I took my test I did a visual check when the evaluator wasn't looking at me. She marked me down for missing the check. I still passed anyway, but I was kind of irritated I didn't get a perfect evaluation. Laughing

bAd DaWg 85 Z28 · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:40 am Post subject:

flea · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:33 am Post subject:

don't forget Cameron that even if your local office is overbooked, there is nothing that says you can't go to another area to take the road test. Just throw mom in the trunk and say 'lets go' It may be that I live in the sticks but our local office has one guy working in it and he does road tests on a walk in basis. No app. necessary and that road test lasts about 15 min.

Vehicle check, lights, signals, and overall appearance.
Hand signals.
Parallel park
then around the block a few times.
No freeway. Cause the nearest freeway is 50 miles away lol.

Anyway I guess what I'm saying is that it might be helpful to find a smaller office to take the test at. The state of Washington doesn't care where you do it, why should you? Of course mom might get a little cramped in the trunk if you have to drive too far

cameron7710 · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: