[KelvinAng]

Congratulations, KelvinAng. It's interesting that you didn't have to do a u-turn - maybe I only had to do one because where I live there's only one road that goes through town, so to get back to where you started you have to do a u-turn!

Thanks everyone :D I've no idea why, too. I'm guessing that for me, driving an automatic car with power-steering, stuff like U-turns are pretty easy so maybe the test officer just assumes that I can do it? Basically if I can drive along straight, and turn right, there's no reason why I cannot do a U-turn!

My bike test got postponed as the test officer was hospitalised for concussion on that day. The test was re-scheduled to a Saturday (and the test centre where I went to don't do tests on Saturdays normally).

I'm sure you'll be right, pebbles16. Just remember to indicate "left" as you exit a roundabout even if you're really just going "straight" through it.

[peebles16]

Okay first 'proper' lesson in NZ and it went really well - I love automatic cars and now realise that most of my problems with driving really were down the gear changing :yes Just drove around, practised pulling in to roadside and out a lot , got up to 80km on my first lesson :eek:, did a few u-turns and intersections and that was it :D Another one tomorrow :)

Karenx

[Tia Maria]

Okay first 'proper' lesson in NZ and it went really well - I love automatic cars and now realise that most of my problems with driving really were down the gear changing :yes Just drove around, practised pulling in to roadside and out a lot , got up to 80km on my first lesson :eek:, did a few u-turns and intersections and that was it :D Another one tomorrow

Karenx

:clap Nice one!

I'm sure the fact that I'm learning in an automatic has made it a lot easier on me. The only people who nag me about it are UK expats who are convinced I need gears, the Kiwis I've met don't bat an eyelid.

I think for late learners or nervous learners automatic is the way to go.

Great to hear it went well, I was surprised at how well my first lesson went also.

Cheers

Tia

[Flutterby]

funny you should bring up the automatic issue, my partner is pushing towards getting me an automatic, and stubborn old me whos never driven an automatic before is thinking if i'm gonna learn to drive i should do it in a REAL car (ie one with gears) i'm sure once i get there and try an automatic i'll change my mind, but its always in the back of my mind that learning with an automatic will leave me with another hurdle and extra expense later on when i want to drive a car with a stick and limit my choice of cars to buy in the mean time.

Can you put me in the possible future members, tho it wont be until sept '09

[Jo Jo]

but its always in the back of my mind that learning with an automatic will leave me with another hurdle and extra expense later on when i want to drive a car with a stick and limit my choice of cars to buy in the mean time.



Here in NZ, if you pass your restricted test in an automatic you are only allowed to drive automatics unless you are under supervision, but for your full test if you pass in an automatic you are allowed to drive a manual car!

[Jo Jo]

I think for late learners or nervous learners automatic is the way to go.



I learnt in a manual, but our car at home is an automatic, and the first time I drove it I thought how easy it was in comparison. If I'd had a choice, I'd have preferred to learn in an automatic, and would definitely have felt more confident about my test beforehand.

[jeffanar]

I think for the first few lessons Automatic is the way to go - it's scary enough being on the road without having to worry about changing gears. Then once you're comfortable on the road try a manual with a driving instructor in a dual control car (removes the fear of stalling in the middle of an intersection!) then once you've mastered that you can do it all on your own! That's how I did it anyway :D

Personally I much prefer driving a manual, and that makes it quite hard to buy a car because the vast majority are automatic. Maybe if I drove in traffic more I would get an automatic.

[Flutterby]

Here in NZ, if you pass your restricted test in an automatic you are only allowed to drive automatics unless you are under supervision, but for your full test if you pass in an automatic you are allowed to drive a manual car!

Ah, i thought that i'd have to do an additional test to be able to drive a manual, this may well be a deciding factor!

[KelvinAng]

:clap Nice one!

I'm sure the fact that I'm learning in an automatic has made it a lot easier on me. The only people who nag me about it are UK expats who are convinced I need gears, the Kiwis I've met don't bat an eyelid.

I think for late learners or nervous learners automatic is the way to go.

Great to hear it went well, I was surprised at how well my first lesson went also.

Cheers

Tia

Technically you have gears too in an automatic (well, most automatics... as Continuous Variable Transmission [the system with "infinite gears", as used on most scooters] hasn't quite caught on in cars).

In fact you do need to "change gears" to do certain things like climbing a hill, by pushing the stick to tell the car only to use the 1st gear only, or 1st and 2nd gears only, etc. Although technically you can still climb up a hill on "D" mode it's not the best way to do it :D

On most automatics you can also "change gear" by flooring the accelerator. It drops a gear and goes into high revs, useful for overtaking, climbing slopes, or drifting if combined with the handbrake :exit

And if you engage Overdrive mode (if available), it uses low-revs with big gearing for that smooth, quiet, fuel-efficient cruising at motorway speeds.

Who says automatics have no gears to worry about? :D

[peebles16]

Have booked practical test for next month - wish me luck :exit

Karenx

[smudgerand4]

Do you have to do theory here before practical like in UK ??

Sharon
x

You take a theory test exactly in the same sort of manner as the UK but it is a lot simpler. You will not have to suffer the Hazard Perception video test that goes on in UK. For basic driving theory you can go on the NZ Land Transport website and test yourself on all the theory questions relevant to you. You can also purchase the theory book from the AA shops or many good book shops for around $20 and all the rellevant questions and answers are in there; just a matter of blasting thorugh them all.

The test itself iis a "scratch and sniff" affair! You have a multiple choice paper and you scratch off the answer you think correct. I think that you are allowed 22 out of 25 questions to pass. If you have any experience of covering the Highway Code in Britain then you will not go too far wrong. There are a few differences; ie "Stop Lines" and "Give Way" lines on the road are both solid but "Stop" lines are yelllow instead of white.

You just have the amazing, "Give Way to the Right Rule" to overcome and you are there!

[Jo Jo]

Have booked practical test for next month - wish me luck :exit

Karenx

Good luck!

[NikT]

Have booked practical test for next month - wish me luck :exit

Karenx

Good luck!!:nice1

Nick.:cheers

[Tia Maria]

Have booked practical test for next month - wish me luck :exit

Karenx

Good Luck!

I failed mine for being over cautious but on the whole it was fairly simple, general driving - roundabouts and one 3 point turn - it only lasted 20 mins.

Don't forget to check your brake lights are working - an expensive mistake I made!

Cheers

Tia

[peebles16]

Passed this morning - Yippee :clap Watch out Rangiora here I come :D

Karenx

[Jo Jo]

Well done!

[IanW99]

Passed this morning - Yippee Watch out Rangiora here I come

Karenx

:raebanana:raebanana:raebanana:raebanana

Ian

[JandM]

Passed this morning - Yippee :clap Watch out Rangiora here I come :D

KarenxCongratulations, and go safely!:nice1:clap

[Tia Maria]

Well done! I was thinking it must be soon!

Cheers

Tia

[Georgebulldog]

Congratulations what a great feeling eh? :cheers :nice1

[peebles16]

Thanks folks :) Drove the kids to pre-school etc and then on to work today in the horrible rain and managed fine apart from parking the great lump of a car my OH has landed me with :o Off to practice more parking tonight....

Karenx

[KelvinAng]

Congrats!
:raebanana:raebanana:raebanana:raebanana

[Flutterby]

i got my learners license 2 days ago, i had to get a eyesight certificate for it as i have a weak left eye, i passed with monocular vision which means i wont be allowed to drive commercial vehicles like trucks or taxis.
If anyone has a highway code book that needs recycling i'd gladly take it off your hands.
I transfered my provisional to NZ learners and will apply for exemption so that i can take my test sooner.
Who is still learning?

Congrats to peebles for passing.

[Jo Jo]

Good luck with your lessons. I'm still driving on a restricted license, nearly a year after passing my test. I really must get round to taking the full test...

[peebles16]

Best of luck from me too :D

Also still on restricted...:o

Karenx

[cathgates]

I've missed this thread completely until now!!! I took many lessons in the UK, but on the two occassions I took my test, I clammed up and failed on silly things. I completely intend to take lessons here. I am so busy rennovating our new house and working, I haven't time for lessons, but as soon as the house is under control, I too will be taking lessons!!!

Cath XX

[KelvinAng]

I had gotten my full license as of June, for both car and motorbike :D:D There's a lot more numbers and letters missing on the license... maybe someday I'll add a few more endorsement to it :D:D

[frootbat]

: she says most people only need 5, with maybe one extra just before the test!

No wonder they're all such flippin awful drivers here if that is all the instruction people have!

[Flutterby]

just wanted to share as feeling very proud......
today i drove a fully loaded van (normally 10seater) in sun, rain, day and night, on the motorway, over the brinderwines, and lots of windey roads and through auckland.
This is the 1st time i've driven in this country and the 1st time i've driven anything in about 3 months and i didn't add to the dents in our van (very proud)
(sorry to anyone who got stuck behind me)
My pet hate of kiwi drivers has been confirmed, tailgators, get off my bumper please!

i'm now high on adrenaline and confidence, cant wait to get some more practice!

[Jo Jo]

I passed my full driving test today. :D

[peebles16]

Woo-hoo well done JoJo :clap

Was it that different from the restricted test?

Karenx

[cappuccino]

I passed my full driving test today. :D

Congrats Jo Jo. :clap

[Jo Jo]

Thank you. :D

Yes, it's very different - it's all about hazard perception, though obviously the examiner is watching how you drive as well. It's in three parts - the first bit you just drive around as instructed, then in the next bit you drive around and then have to stop every so often and describe all the hazards you saw (parked cars, junctions, other traffic, pedestrians, children, etc.) and then in the third part you have to drive around and describe all the hazards you can see as you are driving. You have to get 80% in the first part to proceed to the rest of the test, and have to get 80% overall for parts 2 & 3, and if you break any of the road rules you fail. Overall it lasted about 45 minutes.

EDIT: There's an outline of what the test involves here (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/58/full-licence-test.html).

[JandM]

:nice1 Well done!

[Flutterby]

Congrats JoJo.

[KelvinAng]

Congrats!
:raebanana:raebanana:raebanana:raebanana

[martin&maria]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has transfered their uk provisional licence to nz learners licence without sitting the theory test, if so, how do you go about it, thanks in advance! Maria

[unar]

Had my first proper drive today, a refresher lesson from a driving school. I know how to drive already, in theory.... Drove everyday for a few years in Houston, but haven't driven for 4 and half years while living in London.

We drove around the hills a bit first, then to a quieter part of town, and then into Newtown, around basin reserve and back up to Newtown and into the hills again. Yikes, I was nervous. I am assuming I did OK, since he won't of taken me into busy streets.... Also he didn't scream or press on his breaks... too much. :D

What I found is I keep too much to the left, so not driving in the middle of the road enough (I think I got better towards the end of the lesson). He said it is a very common thing in people who is used to driving on the right.

The weird thing was how comfortable I felt on a one-way street. As soon as we pulled into one way traffic, I just relaxed (felt so right). Than he pointed out why I felt so good, because it is how I would of sat in traffic if I was driving on the right, this is when I kill people by turning right into traffic...that stop the calm feeling immediately. :uhoh

I booked another driving lesson with him next week. Also will go on a drive (maybe a very long drive) with sister-in-law tomorrow. Poor sister-in-law. :o

[Tia Maria]

Well after starting this thread a long, long, long time ago I have now passed my provisional, (after one fail).

I'm well chuffed! :D

Anyone else learning at the moment?

Cheers

Tia

[JandM]

Well done, Tia. :nice1

[Mamee & Co]

:clap:nice1 Congratulations Tia

[Kanga]

Well done, enjoy :)

[Sam B]

Oh fantastic Tia, well done!

[Ana&Steve]

I always wonder how I can completely miss a 20 page, 2 years in the making thread...
Congrats Tia!:clap:clap:clap

[peebles16]

Brilliant Tia - well done :clap

Karenx

[cbrown]

Please be very afraid when I get there...I have never driven on the opposite side of the car and the opposite side of the road...UGH...i cringe to think of the potential destruction that I can cause....I think for the first couple of months i'm gonna drive like a lil old lady!

[JandM]

You could book yourself a few familiarization lessons with a driving instructor - it might make you feel a little more confident.

[Tia Maria]

Thanks everyone, it's still hard to believe I'm being let loose alone on the roads between the hours of 5am and 10pm! :D

It's always harder learning these things as an older driver and probably something I would never have bothered with back in the UK but I think it will be a big help in NZ.

Cheers

Tia

[Tia Maria]

OK a quick scan of this thread and I think the current members of the club are:


Current Learner Members:

Hannah-NL
Bergita

Passed Restricted Test!

Tia Maria
Peebles16
KelvinAng

Passed Full Test!!!

Jo Jo

Possible future members:

Shakyle2906
Just let me know if I need to add/move anyone.

Cheers

Tia

[peebles16]

I'm still on my restricted and have no real urge to sit the full test at the moment :o On the plus side I'm never really a good choice for sober driver cos I turn into a pumpkin at 10pm :D

Karenx

[bananamuffin]

Wow, I have to sit and read through this whole thread at some point, but wanted to say I'm probably going to be jumping in soon! Nice to know I'm not the only adult who's never learned to drive. Thanks Tia Maria for pointing me here :nice1

Lived in cities where I never needed to, and most times couldn't afford it, and mostly I was just too lazy :o, but now that I'm moving to NZ and starting a new life I figure "why not!" :nice1

So add me to the list of potential future members!! I'll be taking lessons in Auckland so any tips and suggestions for good instructors, things to be aware of, etc, encouraged. And this will likely be happening in July-Aug so if you're in the Auckland area around that time look thrice, four times, five times, before you cross :exit

OK, back to packing, closing accounts, canceling magazine subscriptions, sending change of address notifications, ad nauseum ad infinitum!!

[KelvinAng]

Lived in cities where I never needed to, and most times couldn't afford it, and mostly I was just too lazy :o, but now that I'm moving to NZ and starting a new life I figure "why not!" :nice1

That's *exactly* my situation :yes although driving is a bit of a necessity now rather than "why not" after I've moved out of the city and into the wop-wops!

[Tia Maria]

So add me to the list of potential future members!! I'll be taking lessons in Auckland so any tips and suggestions for good instructors, things to be aware of, etc, encouraged. And this will likely be happening in July-Aug so if you're in the Auckland area around that time look thrice, four times, five times, before you cross :exit



Done!


Current Learner Members:

Hannah-NL
Bergita

Passed Restricted Test!

Tia Maria
Peebles16
KelvinAng

Passed Full Test!!!

Jo Jo

Possible future members:

Shakyle2906
BananaMuffin

Good Luck all and in the meantime try not to run anyone over - apparently they don't like that on your test....

Cheers

Tia

[KelvinAng]

Oooohh, you'll have to bump me up to the "Passed Full Test" category, Tia! :yes

[Tia Maria]

Done! :D


Current Learner Members:

Hannah-NL
Bergita

Passed Restricted Test!

Tia Maria
Peebles16

Passed Full Test!!!

Jo Jo
KelvinAng

Possible future members:

Shakyle2906
BananaMuffin

Cheers

Tia

[Flutterby]

i'm a learner member

[Tia Maria]

i'm a learner member

Oooh yes, I seem to recall you trying to decide whether to try automatic or manual, what did you decide in the end?


Current Learner Members:

Flutterby
Hannah-NL
Bergita

Passed Restricted Test!

Tia Maria
Peebles16

Passed Full Test!!!

Jo Jo
KelvinAng

Possible future members:

Shakyle2906
BananaMuffin

No idea how you got missed off the list! If I've missed anyone else just let me know....

Cheers

Tia

[cbrown]

I just drove today for the first time!!! It was frightneing at first, but I got the hang of the right side of the car, left side of the street thing! (I'm from US..it all feels foreign).
I made it to two stores without killing anyone!!!!
Yeah me!!!!

[KelvinAng]

I just drove today for the first time!!! It was frightneing at first, but I got the hang of the right side of the car, left side of the street thing! (I'm from US..it all feels foreign).
I made it to two stores without killing anyone!!!!
Yeah me!!!!

Congrats!

I suddenly recall an episode of The Simpsons where they visited the UK and started driving... horribly of course, due to the left-right confusion, and then gets stuck in the roundabout driving round and round the entire day because they couldn't get out... :D

[JandM]

and then gets stuck in the roundabout driving round and round the entire day because they couldn't get out... This reminds me of the real-life happening where a woman reported her elderly father as a missing person, as he didn't arrive to spend Christmas with them as promised, and they went to his house next day and he wasn't there. He was eventually found, sleeping in his car on the hard shoulder of the M25 (for non-Brits, this is the motorway that rings London), as he'd gone round and round, uncertain which exit he was supposed to take to get to their place, till he ran out of fuel.

[ellenmelon]

This reminds me of the real-life happening where a woman reported her elderly father as a missing person, as he didn't arrive to spend Christmas with them as promised, and they went to his house next day and he wasn't there. He was eventually found, sleeping in his car on the hard shoulder of the M25 (for non-Brits, this is the motorway that rings London), as he'd gone round and round, uncertain which exit he was supposed to take to get to their place, till he ran out of fuel.

Oh that both cracks me up, and makes me a bit sad! Poor old dude! I'd be the same though..motorway's can be really confusing.

[Flutterby]

i got a manual but i'm not getting much driving practice as my partner LOVES the car and really enjoys driving it, plus i've been experiencing that early pregnancy tiredness so decided it was safer to let him drive.
MIL has an automatic that i did try but found it rather confusing as i have only driven manuals before.

[bananamuffin]

Booked my theory test for Friday. Going to use the website for prepping. Wish me luck!!

[bananamuffin]

WOOHOO!! I passed the theory test! I am the proud owner of a Learners Permit!! :)

Now I need to find a driving instructor so I can get on the road... yay!

[Tia Maria]

Congrats!!! :D


Current Learner Members:

BananaMuffin
Flutterby
Hannah-NL
Bergita

Passed Restricted Test!

Tia Maria
Peebles16

Passed Full Test!!!

Jo Jo
KelvinAng

Possible future members:

Shakyle2906

Cheers

Tia

[atuffchick]

WOOHOO!! I passed the theory test! I am the proud owner of a Learners Permit!! :)

Now I need to find a driving instructor so I can get on the road... yay!


I'm going to gloat for her since she won't do it herself.... She passed in 7min with 100% correct. The guy at the AA told her the pass record (not 100% and a retest) was 5min. Rock on:cheers

[JandM]

:cheers:clap