Santa Clara driving test tips

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software007@excite.com - 10 Aug 2005 04:01 GMT

Can anyone share their experience at Santa Clara DMV driving (behind
the wheels) test. What do the look for and what do they ask for? Is
parallel parking required? Also, if you can point me to any usual route
they take that would be great! :)

TIA and appreciate your help.
-Scott

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Dave - 11 Aug 2005 04:17 GMT

> Can anyone share their experience at Santa Clara DMV driving (behind
> the wheels) test. What do the look for and what do they ask for? Is
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> TIA and appreciate your help.
> -Scott

Since nobody's had anything yet, I'll mention in San Diego it was
really simple both times, but I failed the first because I didn't see a
speed limit change because a large truck blocked the sign.

Try to scout out the area within 5 minutes of the DMV location, because
the second time I went out for my test the tester got lost. I knew my
way back, which impressed him a bit, and makes me think he was just
making up the route as we went.

Basically they had me just drive normally for about 10 minutes, just a
loop around Clairemont basically. It was really easy, just don't go
over the speed limit, make sure both you and the tester are buckled up
before you shift out of park, adjust the mirrors, don't do anything
stupid, and know the neighborhood. It'll help you avoid confusion, or
missing a sign, or any other stupid thing.

Knowing the neighborhood helps there too, so you already know the speed
limits, stop signs, etc. Familiarity makes driving a heluva lot
easier.

Good luck!

Dave

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The Real Bev - 12 Aug 2005 03:05 GMT

> > Can anyone share their experience at Santa Clara DMV driving (behind
> > the wheels) test. What do the look for and what do they ask for? Is
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> limits, stop signs, etc. Familiarity makes driving a heluva lot
> easier.

Know where your controls are (like the emergency flasher, which my mom had
never noticed before although she'd been driving the car for 15 years).
ALWAYS signal, preferably with your arm if you don't have AC. ALWAYS look
around before doing anything. DON'T just rely on your mirrors, turn your
head.

I don't know anybody in California who's ever had to parallel park on a
driving test, and I've lived here all my life.

Motorcycle test is easier: Ride to the end of the parking lot shifting up
through as many gears as possible. Come back. Don't fall off.

Signature

Cheers,
Bev
************************************************************
"Let them eat sh.t."
-- Marcel Antoinette, Marie's little-known brother

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Kenneth Crudup - 30 Aug 2005 20:50 GMT

>ALWAYS signal, preferably with your arm if you don't have AC.

Does anyone still use hand turn-signals?! (... or know what they mean, for
that matter?)

>DON'T just rely on your mirrors, turn your head.

That's the *ONE* question I missed on the written test when I got my license
here from MA. I was *pissed*; everybody I see who can't adjust their mirrors
properly enough and have to turn their heads are lame-assed drivers, and it's
like the state *sanctions* lame-assed driving (a fact that seems to be borne
out on the streets).

-Kenny

Signature

Kenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Los Angeles
H: 3630 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #138, L.A., CA 90034-6809 (310) 391-1898

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{STP} - 30 Aug 2005 21:21 GMT

> >DON'T just rely on your mirrors, turn your head.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> like the state *sanctions* lame-assed driving (a fact that seems to be borne
> out on the streets).

I agree. Turning my head is far more dangerous that quickly checking
skillfully deployed mirrors.

{STP}

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The Real Bev - 01 Sep 2005 03:29 GMT

> > >DON'T just rely on your mirrors, turn your head.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> I agree. Turning my head is far more dangerous that quickly checking
> skillfully deployed mirrors.

We're not talking reality here, we're talking about what makes the tester give
you a passing grade.

Signature

Cheers,
Bev
************************************************************
"Let them eat sh.t."
-- Marcel Antoinette, Marie's little-known brother

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The Real Bev - 01 Sep 2005 03:28 GMT

> >ALWAYS signal, preferably with your arm if you don't have AC.
>
> Does anyone still use hand turn-signals?! (... or know what they mean, for
> that matter?)

No, but it makes a good impression on the tester. If they were smarter,
wouldn't they have better jobs?

> >DON'T just rely on your mirrors, turn your head.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> like the state *sanctions* lame-assed driving (a fact that seems to be borne
> out on the streets).

Again, it's to impress the tester. Last time my mom took a driving test she
got dinged for not turning her head. She was also asked to point out various
controls in her car including the emergency flasher. She's had the car since
1988 and had never needed to know that (big deal, I don't even have one), so
it's fortunate that we went over stuff like that before the test.

Signature

Cheers,
Bev
************************************************************
"Let them eat sh.t."
-- Marcel Antoinette, Marie's little-known brother

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