Minibus test - ludicrous

[thermidorthelobster]

I witnessed a colleague's minibus test today at work.

He pulled out of the car park in 3rd and drove off in 4th.  (He never got the hang of 1st or 2nd throughout the whole test).  He got to the end of the road, tried to hold the bus on the clutch and rolled back about 4 feet.  He then drove off like a banshee.  The instructor had to tell him to slow down as he was consistently speeding in both 30mph and 40mph zones.  Every time he hit the brake, both the instructor and I were catapulted towards the window.

At junctions he held the vehicle on the clutch (badly) and didn't use the handbrake (or even the footbrake), even at red traffic lights.  Later on he did a 3-point turn, only looking over his shoulder and without checking for oncoming traffic or the front end even once.  He tried to go into reverse and missed, so lurched forward instead of going backwards.  Whilst doing so he frantically span the wheel in one hand, rather than feeding it from hand to hand like you're supposed to.

And...  he passed  :shock:  The tester's comment was "That was a good drive".  Well excuse me, but it was a totally godawful drive.  If he passed, I'd hate to see somebody fail it.  The tester needs shooting.  Why bother testing if it's impossible to fail?  I'm pretty disgusted by the whole thing really.

[Thrasher]

Wasn't a white mini-bus was it?

[Jimbo]

Report the instructor then !

We (Explorer Scout leaders) also do the test - we normally use a local PC who just happens to be a Scout leader and is approved by the County Council for conducting the test. On one occasion two fellow leaders had their tests done by another chap (not a PC I hasten to add), and he was awful - moaned at them for keeping to the speed limit, and for hestitating at junctions, then gave them a 'demo' drive and ragged the butt off the vehicle, exceeded all speed limits and drove 'one handed' for most of the time...........I reported him, needless to say he doesn't conduct tests anymore

[hobbit]

Must have been the same school as taxi drivers round here use :D

And yes before a missile lands on me not all are pillocks, just the ones that seem to be near me on my observations

[muddyjames]

Was this a DVLA test or one to prove you can "safely drive" for a club?

I have done the DVLA test and there should be no way he passed that test doing all that. At the end of my test my examiner said "So, I guessing this is your 3rd attempt by the way you drove?" I replied with "No this is my first time" Which the examiner said "oh, if I had known that before I wouldn't have passed you"

Whats that all about then? Due to it being my first time he would have failed me?

Baffles me that did.

[thermidorthelobster]

It's a County Council thing, not DVLA.

I took a Devon CC minibus test a couple of years back and the guy was very hot on standards.  I passed, but the guy scrutinised my driving very closely.  There's no way the guy today would have passed a Devon CC test.  In fact the Devon guy would have brought the test to a halt half way and driven back himself.

[Boggert]

There wasn't a backhander involved by any chance???

Sounds dodgey to me.

[hobbit]

I'd be more worried on the poor passengers he carries.

Quite a while ago, (20 odd years), I had a driver in a car to drive me, my wife and child to a Mil hospital in Germany while I was staioned there.

His driving was that bad, I made him stop and took over, when we got the to the hospital, went to the transport side and got the work ticket signed for me to drive back, he didn't last long on the driving side

I feel if I had someone driving me even now badly, I would repeat this operation in some way, even if it meant taking his keys and telling the company to send another driver out that could drive

[thermidorthelobster]

I used to have a works taxi company who I refused to use.  Driving down a single track road alongside parked cars, downhill on a bend, at 50mph, was the limit for me.

[Jake]

I did my coach licence (PCV) a few years ago and that was very strict
Feeding the wheel, mirrors, emergency braking, hill starts, reversing and making sure the passengers were very comfortable with the drive
I would have thought that a mini bus test would have been the same but in a smaller vehicle
I guess not  :roll:
After lots of training/lessons the test was held at the local DVLA truck centre (same place i did my HGV) and it was held under full test condictions with plenty of tough questions and an hours drive followed by more questions (including how air brakes work and safety guidelines in the event of an accident/emergency)
I cant believe that minibus drivers (the very same that ferry my children to school) pass with the greatest of ease.
I can totallyunderstand your amazement and anger at the situation David.
 :x

[Wireless]

At the end of my test my examiner said "So, I guessing this is your 3rd attempt by the way you drove?" I replied with "No this is my first time" Which the examiner said "oh, if I had known that before I wouldn't have passed you"

Whats that all about then? Due to it being my first time he would have failed me?

Baffles me that did.

I had a similar experience taking my motorcycle test, the one where they used to be on foot.

After the ride he asked me why my riding was so good, some question eh?

I asked whether I had passed before I answered, he said yes, so then I told him I worked as an Ambulance Paramedic and had picked up too many motorcyclists to want to be another statistic.

He said that explains it, and handed over the pass slip.

Didn't stop me becoming a statistic though, somebody pulled out in front of me, as they do, doesn't matter how careful the rider you're still stuffed by the mistakes of others, although these days it's more likely to be someone driving a minibus from reading this thread.