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This absolutely. You’ve got blind spots on both sides… always. I suspect most accidents are caused because of exactly this… “I checked my rear view and nothing was there… so I started switching lanes.”… particularly on motorways where the risks are that much higher. I also think this sort of laziness and lack of diligence is why undertaking is so dangerous. Drivers like OP won’t be checking to see if you’re coming up behind them fast on the left… I curse at every person who undertakes me… and no I’m not a middle lane sitter.
Sorry, OP, but you absolutely deserve to fail and it sounds like she gave you an out and you didn’t listen.
Exactly this. I had an ambulance car join the motorway (not on a call). At the time i was in the third lane overtaking traffic in the other two. He joined from the slip road and just kept moving over to his right without looking as all he could see where the two cars in lane 1 & 2. He was right at the side of me when i realised he hadnt seen me because he was talking to his colleague beside him and so had to brake. A fraction of a second later and he'd have pushed me into the central reservation. Fortunately disaster was averted and for my own safety in the future I will take extra care about being in someones blind spot even though technically not at fault. Better to be alive afterall.
Oh she definitely gave me an out. I knew that right away when she told me what the major was, as I understood then why she’d done the manoeuvre with me a couple times - she was giving me a chance to show it was a one-off, not a habit.
I disagree though, on the point that I “didn’t listen”. She never mentioned it, or hinted at it, so as this whole thread has established I was blissfully unaware that I was c*cking up until I got the result.
Not her job to hint to me that I was making the same error, obviously. I wouldn’t suggest that it should be, either - the c*ck-up was mine. Would’ve been helpful for sure, mind, but I was lucky enough that she did give me other opportunities to correct - I just didn’t realise that was what was happening at the time, as I was blissfully unaware that I was missing something out of my process that was making her give me the chance for a do-over. Twigged right away, after the result. Never occurred to me beforehand, rightly or wrongly (clearly the latter…).
So, absolutely right that I was in the wrong and deserved to fail for not followed standard procedure. I absolutely did not choose to ignore the help she was giving me, though 😭
Well, you did choose to ignore the help she offered… because you didn’t follow it.
And you need to acknowledge mistakes you make when driving whether you’re in a test situation or not.
You don’t stop learning once you’ve passed your test. If you want to be a good driver then you literally self criticise every journey you make. You don’t take anything for granted on the road.
If you really had no clue even with the hints then you aren't ready for your test yet. You should've been practising this a lot, if anything it's one of the most important things. They shouldn't have given you any hints at all, you're very lucky they did that. Most won't. All vehicles have blind spots, maybe have a look on the internet as I think there's probably some diagrams showing roughly where the blind spots will be. Checking your blind spot can and does avoid accidents. Your life could depend on it. So it's important that you know where they are and when to check them (hint: check regularly at all times)
If you're wondering where exactly this blind spot is, look over your shoulder out of the rear passenger windows. That's it. You can't see that area from your mirrors or peripheral vision.
Oof, yeah it’s quite funny in a way seeing someone who is still a learner (and just failed their test for this) defiantly stating that blind spots don’t exist.
This. Basically first thing you learn when driving. Also I remember the instructor telling me thirty odd years ago to make it obvious you are checking as it’s one of the main things they check for. Even if you believe you don’t have a blind spot in your car you are showing them you can do the correct thing in any car and if you want to be an instructor you will teach the correct procedures.
Yeah, you're spot on.
I'd say OPs attitude to this shows that they weren't ready to pass.
Your blind spot isn't between the rear mirror and side mirror. Look out of your right window and then look in your right mirror, there will be a fair amount you can't see if you only look forward and in your mirrors.
To check that blind spot you either want to look over your shoulder out of the back right window, or lean forward in your seat and look out of your right window. Pick the one that gives you the best view depending on where the B pillar is.
Yeah you always move your head physically when checking your blind spots. Your driving instructor should have told you that, I would now get into the habit of checking your blind spots properly.
Yeah, I get what you mean and I’m always doing that to my left but I genuinely feel I can see everything on my right. Obviously I’m wrong though - so frustrating tbh
You asked your wife to walk between the rearview mirror and right side mirror. That's not where the blindspot is that the examiner is talking about.
Ask your wife to keep moving right until you can no longer see her in the right mirror, then look over your shoulder. If you can see her, then she's in the blindspot.
Thanks, that’s useful advice. Will do that with her next time I’m in the car.
Yeah I do get what you mean, it was drilled into me so badly when I started though! If I didn't check my right and left blind spots my instructor always mentioned it and would make me start again! I still do it now, even when changing lanes, it's a great thing to be in a habit of tbh. But I would say you should feel pretty good all in all, most people don't pass the first time and you were so close. Now you know about the blind spot checking, you'll pass next time. Good luck.
you cannot see everything on the right! someone nearly drove into me yesterday because he assumed just this! if you need help understanding where your blind spot is it might be an idea to get you instructor to walk around the right side of the car while you’ve checking mirrors - there will be certain points where you can’t see your instructor and that way you’ll know where your blind sports are :)
Are you a hammerhead shark or something?
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11d
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The blind spot is not between your rear mirror and wing mirror - it’s between your wing mirror and your peripheral vision. This is why you need to turn your head to check.
As others have said, the blind spot is not between rear view and wing mirror but on the outside of your wing mirror. There can, and will, be something on the outside of your wing mirror and if you don’t check over the shoulder then you’ll have an accident at some point.
This is particularly important when you do motorway driving. Let’s say you are in the left lane on a motorway and need to move into the middle lane to pass a lorry. At the same time a vehicle in the right lane decides to move into the middle lane as it is clear. If the vehicle in the right lane is in your blindspot and not paying attention, and you don’t check that blindspot you could collide in the middle lane at high speed. Not an accident you want to happen.
I think you’ve actually had a good examiner here, giving you multiple opportunities to pass by showing you understand your blind spot. This is really on your instructor, so strange they never explained this to you.
Good luck next time.
Can confirm exactly this, did my first motorway drive a week ago and kidna of thought the whole blind spot thing was slightly ballocks. It’s quite scary how a whole car be going 65mph next to you and somehow completely hidden!
Yeah, she definitely wasn’t a bad examiner. Got on well with her, and we were able to have a little laugh, throughout). Frustrating that I missed the extra opportunities she gave me, but guess that goes to show that I genuinely had no idea I was missing something out. Whether that’s on my instructor not hammering it home to me, or on me for somehow not soaking it up, is up for debate - likelihood there is a bit of both going on there.
But, I can genuinely say that the only thing I’ve been pulled up on when pulling back out after stopping on the left, has been two occasions when I have done it with my indicator still flashing left. Have made such a conscious effort to not do that, that it’s a blow I’ve messed up the manoeuvre for something unrelated but clearly I was still doing on those occasions, too. Would’ve rectified it, otherwise.
It is what it is. I’m not blaming anyone - ultimate blame rests with me, as I was the one at the wheel. Just so frustrating to have failed on something that I could’ve easily avoided, and I’m kicking myself over it. I think my frustration (when I made this post) came from the fact that I couldn’t understand what the instructor was saying I’d missed in my checks (and I couldn’t ask, as she was out of the car instantly for her next appointment) - that’s been made clear to me by people here though, which I’m grateful for.
I’m sure I’ll continue to get rinsed by people who just read the first post and don’t see anything I’ve posted in here since, mind 😅
That’s reddit man, it’s messy. You look set to pass next time though knowing this. Anything random happening withstanding of course.
Your instructor should have had it *absolutely hammer-drilled into you* to check that. Next time exaggerate every movement and by the looks of it you'll pass with no faults at all.
What instructor did you have that didn't drill into you from lesson 1 and every subsequent lesson to always check your blind spot every single time?
I've had three instructors and they all drilled me on this and everyone else I know has had the same experience.
My guess is they don't have one. This is one of the basics of driving. I can't imagine any instructor not picking up on this.
Unfortunately, you’d guess wrong. Been using my instructor for 1.5 years, grabbing a lesson a week (with a few breaks in-between for various bank holidays or other commitments). Clocked the hours.
I’m not going to play the blame game - he’s been good with me. I do wish he’d picked up that I was missing this from my pulling out from the left, though, as it’s clearly a behaviour I’ve been doing a long time - it’s not something I’ve just randomly introduced to my driving.
Just such a kicker. I have asked time and time again about clarifying when I can or cannot switch lane when using my mirrors. So many opportunities to get it right and seemed to have evaded us both.
It is what it is. Ultimately, it’s on me - I was the one at the wheel.
That's really surprising.
Given that was your only fault and now you know what to do I would suggest trying to grab a cancellation and doing the test again ASAP. You're clearly good enough to pass.
Yeah, booked one again right after, just jumping on those cancellations now.
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12d
To be fair that's just 6 months of lessons followed by the average waiting time for a test these days lol
You’re a pleasant person, aren’t you? One for whole reading does not come easily, unfortunately, so possibly not wise that you sit in your glass house throwing stones 😉
And yes, 1.5 years. At an average of less than 1x one hour lessons per week over that time. Which I pointed out in the comment you’ve replied to, but hey ho, got to get in there with the jabs eh?
By the way, when you have two young kids who take up your time and resources (£), a mortgage, a happy wife and relationship to give time to, and full-time employment, it’s not very budget-friendly to commit to anything more than one £35 lesson at most per week. Called being responsible, mate.
So yeah, 1.5 years. And was walking before I turned one, if you’re still keeping notes.
Much love.
annoying, but it least you look VERY likely to pass next time if that was your only fault!
Yeah but you watch, next time I’ll be all over my blind spot checks and then get everything else wrong haha
haha, I know how you feel! I failed on completely different things every time before I took a VERY long break! (only just recently restarted). LIKe a perfect drive with no faults other than speed. Next drive a perfect drive other than observations. Next drive a perfect drive other than meeting traffic etc lol
Just gotta keep going and booking tests. At some point you have a perfect drive and pass (or more likely just a test at a good time of day with a nice/leniant examiner, no manic traffic, no people wobbling around on bicycles etc)
Already booked again. Just letting that booking app do its thing to try and get it sooner, though, as the current wait (October) is a real kick in the delicates haha
It sounds like you've misunderstood the blind spot check.
Mirrors only cover what's coming up behind you, not what might be to the side of you.
Could pedestrians cross from the other side of the road? Could cars emerge from driveways? Danger could come from the side as easily as from behind.
As an easy test, find your back wheel and imagine a straight line 90° out from that wheel. That line is what you need to cover. If necessary, get someone to walk that line and see how fast they disappear from view.
Yeah, you’re right. To be honest, even discussing with my instructor and wife afterwards when trying to get clarity on it, couldn’t seem to be offered anything beyond the former saying I just need to be theatrical with movements. Hence where my frustration came from after the fail, and when I commented here on Reddit.
Thankfully, I’ve got the pointers I needed from people in here, and I know for a fact I won’t repeat it. Hurts to see some folk think I am being “entitled” or whatever, but it does really just come down to what you wrote: I’ve completely misunderstood what the blind spot area was covering.
Glad to help! Good luck next time.
Don't take some of the comments too personally. We try and keep it civil here, but it's still Reddit!
The amount of times I've thought to myself "thank god I checked my blindspot" on the motorway before changing lanes, as there's something right beside me that I haven't seen in mirrors. As others have said, it's amazing how well hidden a car or bike can be when they're in that exact spot.
It's also a good lesson for when you're the person in someone's blindspot, be very careful, don't stay in it longer than necessary and be on the lookout for the person to your left swerving into you at any moment if they haven't checked.
This vehicle might have less than a normal amount of blind spots but other vehicles may have huge blind spots. You are required to check even non existent blind spots during test conditions to prove that you are conditioned to check them automatically.
In 6 months time you could be driving a panel van
You could load your car to the brim with stuff for the tip.
I'm aware it's disappointing to fail the test but your attitude seems to stink of entitlement
Disagree on the entitlement comment, but appreciate the rest of your post. Thank you.
My friend, whenever you're moving off in test conditions just rotate your head like an owl 360 degrees even if there's no need. My instructor told me to do it even if it feels daft. Rather be safe than sorry. Good luck on your next try.
Thanks mate. Was my mistake - I’ll own it. Hopefully boss it next time.
Course you will bro, it looked like your test was perfect apart from that
If that's all it was.. you'll smash it next time
Keep going man. You've got this
Thanks, appreciate it. Here’s hoping!
Observations is a major thing , even if you disagree with them.
On my bike lessons they call that last blind spot check the ‘lifesaver’ so you really do need to do it
5 checks as you pull off:
Blind spot left
Left wing mirror
Rear view mirror
Right wing mirror
Blind spot right
Then reverse the order If you’ve had to park on the right have side of the road.
Get into the habit of emphasising that every time you pull off and you’ll be set to smash it next time.
Screenshotted. Thank you.
For tests, I would always exaggerate my checks and verbalise either, no it's not safe right now bc of this car (or whatever reason) or yes, it's safe right now for me to move off. Verbalising my decisions made sure my examiner knew what my judgements were.
Having been on both sides of this (being pulled out on by a driver not checking their blind spot, and failing to check my own blind spot) it 100% is a thing. 9/10 times there won’t be anything in your blind spot, but you can never guarantee it and you should always check. The potential for an accident is why failing to check is a serious fault. But your instructor should’ve explained all this to you.
My instructor was able to get right up to the window and knock on it without being visible in the rear or side mirror, at least until she was right there. Its one of the things she did to demonstrate different blind spots in a car and it was quite surprising the amount you cant see. I have actually bought a couple of stick on mirrors to increase visibility but still do shoulder checks. On your exam the examiner wont tell you what you are doing wrong or what you should be doing, if they are asking you to do something again then its up to you to determine what it is, they are after all examining you and not instructing you.
My instructor was able to get right up to the window and knock on it without being visible in the rear or side mirror, at least until she was right there.
I do something similar and it's hilarious every time. The eyes widening "Oh" moment when they realise how easy it is for something to hide is a great learning moment.
I won't repeat what the others have said about ehere the blind spot is but, just for your next test in Llanishen, just an FYI the access to the test centre is on one of the main blue light routes for the police.
This makes your blind spot really important. 9 times out of 10 the emergency vehicle is going faster than you and suddenly its there alongside, there's also regularly two cars. You may have clocked one and thought that's it, but there's a second car you didn't see. Always double check for the second emergency vehicle. (Same for Ambo and Fire)
Also the roads there are pretty narrow, just pull over and let us get past (or at least acknowledge you saw us by indicating). This is one the highway code needs updating on, it's safer and quicker for everyone if you pull over and stop.
Always make the safest decision for everyone om the road and you won't go too far wrong.
My driving instructor told me that checking for a blind spot would be monitored again and again and again in the test. No messing with that check, gotta do it, each and every time.
Seems like you’re a good bet for passing second time around though - no other faults 🙂
I also remember in one lesson he proved the blind spot existed by getting me to park where a bin was in my blind spot, and then getting me to turn around and look at it. Could be a useful exercise for you?
On my test (which I passed), if I hadn't checked my right blind spot when the examiner asked me to move on when it's safe, I would have run over a bloke walking his dog who for some reason decided behind a car with L plates, with its engine running and indicator on, was a perfect place to cross the road.
Checking your blind spot by physically turning your head isn't just something you do to pass the test, it's literally the bare minimum of safe driving. If you're not doing that habitually and more crucially, understanding where you need to look and why, you're not test ready.
so basically a few things here:
1: stop trying to be right your own way, its a test, just do what they want and then drive how you want safely when you pass
2: exaggerate all your mirror checks or they might not see you doing them
3: you cant “check” if you have a blind spot in a specific car. All cars have blind spots, because you aren’t sitting there stationary staring at your mirror, youre moving doing a hundred complicated thoughts and movements in your head, and you have an area on four corners of your car with limited visibility, not literally blind, but enough that you cannot see properly while in motion.
4: the real blind spot you have ti check when pulling out is IMMEDIATELY next to you. Quiet cars or people speeding have almost caused me ti crash multiple times as i go to pull out, look in my mirror see nothing, and a car zooms past my face cos it was right next to me. had i not looked in my “blind spot” i.e. turned my bloody head, id have hit them.
This is exactly how I failed even though I thought I was checking, guess I wasn't moving my head enough.
You'll get it next time!
i think on exams you need to massively exaggerate that sort of stuff. Even verbalise it maybe! (so basically break your neck and turn way more than necessary and then say 'blind spot check!' - hard to fail you then lol)
Doesn’t matter,you will pass the next one That’s all you need to know
Fingers crossed. Big positive for me that the rest of the test went well - I was uncharacteristically shook before the test, so was surprised at no other issues. Frustrating that I could’ve easily passed though, with a minor change to my behaviour at the wheel. Kicking myself.
You are so close! Next test you are going to be part of the zero minor club!
As someone who’s learning, I asked my instructor where the blind spot was, it is directly to your right and not behind you, so basically blind spot is out side of your peripheral vision, I promise you we all have a blind spot.
There's no way you learned with an instructor. That is literally on the first thing you learn before moving off list.
As a motorcyclist: you do have blind spots, we all do, checking them could save your life or mine.
It’s hard to ‘realise’ that you have a blind spot but you have to check regardless. I do it because I like to see what I saw in my mirrors with my own eyes before moving anyway so it’s not a problem for me. But I had my first real experience with it last week after 3yrs of driving. I checked my mirror to change lanes and it was clear, then looked over my shoulder and there was a biker right there next to me. Looked back to my mirror and it still looked clear. If I hadn’t have checked I would’ve injured that biker for sure. That made it very real for me
I get what you mean but there are definitely places you can’t see. I was on the motorway just the other day, it looked clear to change lanes. Thank god I checked over my shoulder as there was a car coming right up the side of me that I couldn’t see in either mirror.
Definitely did a burnout moving off
The easiest way to check is to look over your shoulder and see if there is anything that you can't see from the mirrors alone. There will be. Think about cars parked on the opposite side of the road or driveways/junctions on the other side that someone could pull out from.
I'm guessing you don't have a driving instructor as you would be taught this on your first lesson and would certainly be picked up by an instructor if you were doing this on a lesson. Try watching some YouTube videos about it.
i failed mine today too dw😔
Sorry to read that. Chin up - we’ll pass eventually!
You don't have a blind spot on your right. OK then 😂
It’s been pointed out to me in this thread that I clearly do, and has been said in a much more helpful manner. But, thanks. 🤣
As someone that does 40k miles a year in the car and an avid motorcycle rider, you absolutely have a blindspot there. Even if "technically" you don't (i.e. your side mirror is crazy convex and you can see right up to where your periheral starts which is rare af) your brain will never be able to piece together the info to allow you to build an accurate model of whats around you when on the move. It takes literally 1 second and cannot be beaten in it's effectivness.
Take this fail as a lesson, build from it and move forward. If this is all you failed in it's an easy thing to learn, but please don't forget it as soon as you pass. One day there will be a biker there and you'll pull out and knock them into oncoming traffic and kill them.
The blind spot is not that far back, its further right than you can see out the wing mirror or left if you have your head turned that far back I suppose
You literally just said "I don't have a blind spot" 😂
Final verdict: fail
Always check blind spots car, bike, walking always know what's going on around you
Get gud kid
I get it’s frustrating mate but it’s nothing to do with how you feel or if you feel like you don’t have a blind spot, until you pass you have to do everything that they want and also think good habits after I passed I still do the checks as it’s ingrained into my mind 😂😭 and unfortunately you just need to go back to your instructor and say what you failed on so they make sure you’re focusing on getting better at that but only YOU can change process and get into the habit.
You also don't sound like you want to learn from this and how to be safe
Interesting take. I’d disagree, and would think that everything I’ve written here today concurs with that.
Yeah you deserved to fail. It’s one thing to forget your checks; but to consciously disregard them is just bonkers. I was about to write a whole paragraph here berating you but just do the checks man.
Where did I say I consciously disregarded them?
I made no other errors on the test - seemingly would’ve passed without a single minor, were it not this one issue (albeit significant), but you think I purposely went out of my way to do something that would cost me the test? Out of what, pride or something?
At no point did I say I consciously disregarded anything. I stated quite clearly that I’d not considered there to be a blind spot on that side, so the thought hadn’t even entered my mind. I was checking blind spots everywhere else throughout the test, just frustratingly not on this particular manoeuvre. It’s sht, and I have to live with it, and others here have *helpfully corrected me on my error.
We live and learn.
OP is correct. If you set up your mirrors correctly, you shouldn't actually have a blind spot. Whether OP has their mirrors set up in this way, only they can answer.
Which is why I was so frustrated after the test, and led to my post here.
BUT, everyone is right. My mirrors covered my right side on the roads I was on in this instance, but if I was in [for example] the left lane on a motorway, that mirror coverage wouldn’t cover cars coming in from the third lane over etc., and I would completely miss them and likely wipe us all out.
I just need to take that thinking with me to all roads, whatever the size. I’ll insist my coverage in the test was absolutely fine for where the examiner failed me for not looking, but given they’re using it as a snapshot to see how I’d behave on similar manoeuvres in the future, I clearly demonstrated that I wasn’t thinking bigger picture and would be unsafe for others in a busier and/or larger environment.
Sucks, but it is what it is. Contrary to some of the people trying to downvote me in here, I’ve seen it as one heck of a learning experience. To be honest, had I had someone in real-life telling me what some of the helpful people in here have told me over the last 24 hours, I likely would’ve been able to file away my frustration far quicker and not come on here and opening myself to a pasting from some others 🤣
Long story short: for where we did the manoeuvres, my coverage was absolutely fine through my mirrors, but everyone who has commented is right: it wouldn’t be if I was in other situations, and the examiner was right to take my behaviour as something I’d have done in more precarious circumstances as I truthfully haven’t had it drummed into myself to perform that check.
Lesson learned. Now to not repeat the same mistake next time I’m in the car!
I'm losing my motivation with the Hazard Perception in the theory test, shit is just guesswork.
It was easy.
Oh hey, whaddaya know? I also failed in Llanishen... After driving 2 and a half hours from Southampton :')
Oh no way? Sorry to hear that (especially after the time you took to travel down!!)
Top tip for your test.
If the person who’s going to decide if you pass or fail tells you to do something, you should probably do that.
Thanks for the tip, mate. Had that conversation actually taken place, I’m sure I would’ve been able to put that tip to good use.
Blinder of a comment 👏🏻
Ahh you’ve opted to patronise me…
I guess I miss understood ‘flagged it 3 times’ to mean you were made aware of this at the time… it would appear you didn’t, super, super sorry my guy.
Now allow me to patronise your for a hot minute, because you clearly think you know better than the DVLA because checks notes you got your wife to walk round the car… you failed on literally the basics. A major fail means you’re dangerous
So maybe accept that you’re wrong & try driving how you’re taught. If you haven’t been taught that, change instructor. If you have & you ignored it because you know best, maybe, just maybe, entertain the possibility that you might be the problem.
👏
Genuinely only read the first two paragraphs of that. Lost me after about one sentence of the third.
I’ve made many comments in here replying to people who have been genuinely helpful, and I’ve very quickly accepted where I went wrong. You want to rock up in here, ignoring everything said in this thread, well that’s on you mate.
Can’t reply to anything else in your post as I genuinely don’t have any interest in reading it.
P.S. It’s absolutely hilarious that you think I’m the one who patronised first. Poor attempt to gaslight 👍🏼
Stay safe out there
lol you clearly aren’t ready to be on the roads safely. Please pass on my thanks to your tester if you get the chance x
Just spin your head around elaborately every time you need to do anything. You don’t even need to check your blind spots you just need to look like you are.
Bad advice. Please actually check the blindspot. I'm a learner and I could've probably ended 2 lives if I had not checked my blindspot on a long dual carriageway drive last week. Motorbikes are literally invisible in that blind spot.
I mean, that’s essentially how my instructor has worded it to me today, but I imagine he’s not actually encouraging me to just pretend to do them 😅
I guarantee you do have a blind spot in your right wing mirror when something is literally next to you. You need to check. It's actually quite basic knowledge