Can I Fail P1 Test for Doing Too Many Headchecks?

biontears on 06/03/2022 - 01:40

Hi,
Learner license here still practicing my driving
I know for P1 driving test, test officer monitor your headchecks or blind spot checks when turning or merging
I often forget to do this so I started having a habit of doing head checks whenever I turn or merge

Often there is a situation where headcheck is not necessary, e.g you are pretty close to the curb or turning infront of parked car or turning left at the single lane roundabout

Even in those situations I do a head check

From the marking criteria, failure to do the headcheck of three times is failure for the test

Will they penalize me for doing unneccesary headchecks when it is not needed to do so?

Automotive

Comments

  • gmail92 on 06/03/2022 - 02:05

    In those situations, there could be a cyclist?

  • Porker on 06/03/2022 - 07:11
    +7

    Do the test. Failing is not the end of the world and if you did fail, they should tell you why which is what you would need to focus on.

  • dsiritz on 06/03/2022 - 08:00
    -2

    No. You will never be penalized for being too safe. Drive like a sensible elderly citizen that has the confidence to maintain within 5km/h of the speed limit.

    After that, be like the rest of Australia.

    • djkelly69 on 06/03/2022 - 08:54
      +16

      You will never be penalized for being too safe.

      I failed a driving test for driving too cautiously (waiting for bigger gap in traffic, etc). Instructor said if everyone drove like that it would take forever to get anywhere.

      • SnowDragon on 06/03/2022 - 09:03
        +1

        In the test I failed (for other reasons) my instructor wasn't happy about me doing this either. I can understand both sides of the argument, but I think you shouldn't fail a test due to it unless you are constantly waiting a unnecessarily long time every time.

        • 87percent on 06/03/2022 - 09:55
          +2

          That’s a bullshit reason..

          • [Deactivated] on 06/03/2022 - 12:26

            @87percent: It is but I’ve heard that a lot of instructors act like mini dictators and there isn’t really anything people can do about it.

      • the Unforgiven on 06/03/2022 - 14:09

        I failed my semi licence test once because the tester did not like me.
        I had a mate who lived at the end of a court and I had a bus with a CB antenna on a stiff spring & when I went screaming down the Court Road to the end, I used to hit this power lead-into-the-house hard (I did not know the person living there was a tester).
        I just had to do a few more learner drives, then go to somewhere else to do my test. Still all up, I did less than 12 drives to get my semi license

    • Ughhh on 06/03/2022 - 10:01
      +5

      You will never be penalized for being too safe

      Some people soft and hard brake in the middle of traffic at the sight of anything. Creating potential hazardous situations under the pretense of safety is not actually being safe.

    • apple2016 on 06/03/2022 - 10:21
      +3

      You will never be penalized for being too safe.

      Being too safe could be interpreted as lack of confidence!

    • AndyC1 on 06/03/2022 - 12:51
      +1

      Wrong. You can be penalized for being too safe. I was penalized for stopping at a T intersection and then moving out to see in front of the semi on the left before going.

      To the left of the T about 30 meters was a 90' right turn and to the right about 40 meters was another 90' turn to the left, so the T was sandwiched between two streets where traffic can enter without very much notice.

      For locals the intersection is one they stay away from if possible and take their time as it does have allot of minor accidents due to people not looking and waiting and double checking.

  • Lunarboogie on 06/03/2022 - 08:20
    +1

    You joined one week ago and this is your second question about your upcoming test. Chill kid. The sun will come up again tomorrow. In the meantime, maybe talk to someone about your anxiety levels?

    • Porker on 07/03/2022 - 10:50

      Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun.

      • Euphemistic on 07/03/2022 - 11:55

        I dunno. It’s been a while since nsw coast had sunshine.

  • Quantumcat on 06/03/2022 - 08:23
    +10

    Pay a driving instructor to take you on a sample test. They will tell you what you need to do or not do.

  • life is suffering on 06/03/2022 - 09:58

    Afaik you need to find a balance between headchecks and driving safely so you don't hinder others commute. Find the key head check and do that.
    Lane change and big intersection where you have green ( yes green) . The examiner I got said I didn't do head check at signals. This is where lots of people run yellow so a good spot for headcheck

  • Caped Baldy on 06/03/2022 - 11:23

    Often there is a situation where headcheck is not necessary, e.g you are pretty close to the curb or turning infront of parked car or turning left at the single lane roundabout

    These seem like good habits. Dunno if someone is doing something stupid or there's an emergency. Although we do miss out on the "am I fault posts".

  • bobbified on 06/03/2022 - 11:38
    +6

    If you do that many headchecks, are you really driving 'forwards' or are you 'driving' backwards?

    • life is suffering on 06/03/2022 - 13:48
      +1

      Hey life is a journey not a destination

      • vinnychase on 06/03/2022 - 16:59
        +2

        username checks out

  • kanmen on 06/03/2022 - 12:24
    +1

    You can if it's to the detriment of driving safely.

  • HairyChickens on 06/03/2022 - 14:01

    Teachers with eyes on the back of their head

  • Philthy on 06/03/2022 - 14:18
    +2

    yes you can.. if you do too many checks.. its regarded as you aren't uncomfortable enough to drive.. too nervous..overcautious.. etc.

  • crimsafe on 06/03/2022 - 15:57

    You won’t get marked down for unnecessary head checks unless it’s dangerous to do so. There isn’t a descriptor on the marking document that would fall under doing an unnecessary head checks otherwise.

    Make sure sure you check left when entering roundabouts for cyclists. You also have to check when merging into a lane even if it’s just started as it counts as a significant movement regardless of that fact it’s basically impossible for anyone to be there.

  • Keplaffintech on 06/03/2022 - 20:34

    technically you're supposed to head check in those situations anyway. E.g. parked car could start moving, roundabout exit could be blocked with traffic

  • Euphemistic on 07/03/2022 - 08:57

    Of course you can be failed for too many head checks. Just what is too many will vary between examiners.

    Checking every time you need to change lanes, enter traffic etc is not too many.

  • forged on 08/03/2022 - 18:00

    Every time you’re doing a head check, you’re not looking where you’re going… so if you’re head checking unnecessarily, it’s making you less safe.

    A good driver should know when it is necessary to head check, and do so only then.

  • Nathan18 on 04/02/2023 - 19:04

    I got failed for doing too many unnecessary head checks and he put me down as missing 4 head checks, he wouldn't even let me explain myself that i got told off a driving instructor to always check over your shoulder before turning, he rekons i did it too much but he wouldn't let me ask where i did it too much or even tell me, he just said read the driving test guide book and i got really pissed off after i was done cause to me he seemed very rude and disrespectful

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