Getting a Full Drivers License

[patty]

As some of you know I have my N. As of January.26, 2009 I can take the exam for my full drivers license and wanted to know what the delica community thought about me taking the exam in my deli.
-First off, would they even let me?
-Second off, I would have to change the blind spot checks and all that jazz. which I do already, but it might confuse the instructor.
-Any one got any tips?

I might just borrow a friends car as I can switch back and forth (right to left) easily.

[Golf Cart]

Patty,

Id call them up and ask. Better to know now than 2 minutes before your appointment. And also , they will not let you take the road test in a rental car. You also might want to ask how far in advance you can book. I know my son had to wait 2 months after he was eligible.


Good Luck

[konadog]

Can't imagine why you would not be permitted to use your delica - it is a legal vehile, after all. Great to hear the fresh glow plugs got your starting issue sorted out, btw! Good luck on your test!

[Green1]

I took my class 4 exam in my Delica (class 4 so I can drive an ambulance)

It really depends on the examiner, the one I got obviously didn't like it, he still passed me, but barely, and some of his marks against me didn't make sense, he told me I was taking corners wide and hugging the white line, I think he just wasn't used to the RHD and narrow vehicle. (he also made me do my parallel park in a large snow drift!)
however the other examiner at the same registry office obviously would have loved it, he was really excited about it, but the one I had asked his supervisor before doing it and looked disapointed when he was told to go for it.

basically it will go one of 2 ways, either the examiner will love it and spend so much time asking about the neat vehicle that you'll sail through with almost no scrutiny on your actual driving...
OR they'll hate it and hold a grudge against you from the start and scrutinize you that much closer...

[jessef]

Agree with Green1.

The examiner will not be sitting in their usual spot and it will be different for most of them I would imagine.

If you get a nice examiner, you may get lucky and go through it normally but do you want to take that chance ?

Personally, I would not use any RHD for a driver's test.

Same reason as I would not take my friend's Toyota street-legal mini-monster truck in for a road test. Common sense and courtesy applies here.

[mararmeisto]

The only thing Transport Canada specifically speaks to with regard to right-hand drive vehicles is: you can't use hand signals (because no-one would see them), and because of that, your vehicle has to have either electrical or mechanical signalling devices (which these do).

With regard to the blind spots: you couldn't 'change' any of them even if you wanted to. They are what they are, and each vehicle is different. That door pillar is not going to move because you can't see past it; the windshield frame is going to stay in the same spot no matter how much you want it to be somewhere else. As the operator, you have to look around them. And your mirrors are supposed to be set up so you can see behind you down the side of the vehicle, and that doesn't always include being able to see directly off to the side or four-lanes of traffic over. Keep all your curtains open in order to open up your field of view, this will help.

With respect to the test, the only issue to address the tester should be looking for is that you're following the rules of the road and that you are operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Everything you're going to do in a vehicle is supposed to happen only after the operator has determined it is 'safe to do so'. For example, for over-taking or passing, one is not supposed to do it unless it is safe for the operator to do so. Therefore, if you can't see past that tractor-trailer unit in front of you in order to pass, you're not supposed to pull out into oncoming traffic (and you're also not supposed to rely on the passenger to 'look' for you).

I've seen a couple of high-school-aged folks driving about in RHDs (with the 'L' or 'N' on the rear) and I've always wondered what the tester thinks when they get into the vehicle for the test.

[marsgal42]

When I did my road test (it seems to long ago now...) it was one of those Decembers in the Cariboo where it had gotten cold, but there was no snow. It was about -35 that day, the examiner told me not to bother with hand signals, and to leave the window closed.

I did. I passed.

Personally, I'd avoid distractions and borrow an LHD vehicle. YMMV.

...laura

[The Pinkfingers]

Common sense and courtesy applies here.

Common sense, yes. Not sure what courtesy has to do with using a RHD , unless you're concerned the examiner may get hit by a bus getting out of the vehicle?

As for common sense, as much as I love the Deli (and you could use it as it is legal), I'd use a LHD if possible. Why give them another possibility to be picky?

I took my class 4 exam in my Delica

Green, does Alberta have 2 levels of class 4? When I took my class 4 I had to use a 15 passenger van, or else I would have had a limited class 4 (taxis, limos, ambulances). Unlimited class 4 means I can drive up to a 25 passenger bus.

[Green1]

Green, does Alberta have 2 levels of class 4? When I took my class 4 I had to use a 15 passenger van, or else I would have had a limited class 4 (taxis, limos, ambulances). Unlimited class 4 means I can drive up to a 25 passenger bus.

no, there is only one level of class 4, but according to the driver's handbook you may use any class 5 vehicle to take the test (keep in mind it also includes things like taxis, they don't go rent a special vehicle to get their license) I can drive taxi, limo, ambulance, and buses up to 25 passenger. (really though, ambulance was the only one I needed it for...)

[mdrive]

my nephew drives RHD all the time, but when he wanted to take the exam in Richmond, the examiner refused to use RHD, so he had to borrow a local car.

[Green1]

one other thing to think about though... there is a small adaptation period when switching, if you've done very little LHD driving, and mainly RHD, you may be more comfortable doing your test that way, if that's the case, it may be worth the risk to go for it knowing it will help you in the actual performance.

[mararmeisto]

From ICBC's own website:

You must bring your own vehicle for a road test. Make sure it is properly licensed and insured (bring your registration documents with you) and is safe.

So you should be able to show up in your RHD vehicle.

Also, on the page that details class 5 vehicles, it list 3-wheel vehicles (not ATVs)! Imagine showing up in a 3-wheel Morgan? See what the examiner has to say about that.

[Green1]

From ICBC's own website:
You must bring your own vehicle for a road test. Make sure it is properly licensed and insured (bring your registration documents with you) and is safe.
So you should be able to show up in your RHD vehicle.
Also, on the page that details class 5 vehicles, it list 3-wheel vehicles (not ATVs)! Imagine showing up in a 3-wheel Morgan? See what the examiner has to say about that.

problem is, if you have to throw the rule book at them to be allowed to do the test, you can bet you won't be passing!

[mararmeisto]

From ICBC's own website:
You must bring your own vehicle for a road test. Make sure it is properly licensed and insured (bring your registration documents with you) and is safe.
So you should be able to show up in your RHD vehicle.
Also, on the page that details class 5 vehicles, it list 3-wheel vehicles (not ATVs)! Imagine showing up in a 3-wheel Morgan? See what the examiner has to say about that.

problem is, if you have to throw the rule book at them to be allowed to do the test, you can bet you won't be passing!

Well, that's just not cricket!

[Profister]

From ICBC's own website:

You must bring your own vehicle for a road test. Make sure it is properly licensed and insured (bring your registration documents with you) and is safe.

This is nonsense. What if I want to get a license without being a car owner? In fact I passed a road test in my fiend's car because my SAAB 900 was broken at that time.