Failed my Driving Test Today for stopping for a cat in road

[blueg33]

7mike said:

Realy? Could you provide references?

Here's the examiners' SOPs to get you started, I'm sure you have access to the HWC.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/dsa-dt1-standar...

That is a big document, care to point us towards the right section?

[FisiP1]

Bit of an odd rule this.

I'm a firm believer that its always the car behinds responsibility to be able to stop before hitting you, no matter what you do. People need to follow much further back than most do. There is an element of responsibility you should take should you be stopped around a blind bend for example or in fog or heavy rain/snow, but other than that it seems clear cut to me.

I'm not a huge speed hippy, but tailgating on the other hand is extremely dangerous and gets you nowhere.

[roachcoach]

R11ysf said:

If having an avoidable BUT not SAFELY AVOIDABLE collision then yes

Clearly OP's was safely avoidable since no-one crashed

[7mike]

blueg33 said:

That is a big document, care to point us towards the right section?

What section?

[blueg33]

FisiP1 said:

Bit of an odd rule this.

I'm a firm believer that its always the car behinds responsibility to be able to stop before hitting you, no matter what you do. People need to follow much further back than most do. There is an element of responsibility you should take should you be stopped around a blind bend for example or in fog or heavy rain/snow, but other than that it seems clear cut to me.

I'm not a huge speed hippy, but tailgating on the other hand is extremely dangerous and gets you nowhere.

Insurance companies etc take the same view

[R11ysf]

7mike said:

R11ysf said:

I was referring to it being a non-reportable accident. Also I was told by my driving instructor that in the event of a pheasant that we had round our way, slow down but do not swerve and do not stop.

I still stand by that advice.

If you are an instructor are you genuinely saying that in the circumstance described by the OP that there is NOTHING he can do to not fail? If so I don't believe you.

Sorry, call me thick but I just can't get my head around that question!

Sorry, I'll clarify.

If you are saying that hitting it is a fail and the examiner is saying that stopping is a fail, and I hope we can agree swerving round it probably a fail too, then how do you suggest the OP should have dealt with this?

My view is hit it and then pull over at a safe point. (Purely on passing the test point of view)

[julian64]

I would say gently slowing and using your horn for the only thing the highway code actually allows, when you have first demonstrated to your examiner that there was nothing behand by looking in the mirror.

[7mike]

R11ysf said:

Sorry, I'll clarify.

If you are saying that hitting it is a fail and the examiner is saying that stopping is a fail, and I hope we can agree swerving round it probably a fail too, then how do you suggest the OP should have dealt with this?

My view is hit it and then pull over at a safe point. (Purely on passing the test point of view)

Thanks for the clarification. I would suggest each case is considered on its own merits. As I said earlier in this thread, I always offered to sit in on tests when I taught learners. The choice was always the test candidates, I would strongly recommend any learner consider this for their own test.
The best example I can think of from my own experience was a candidate who came around a corner and had to brake hard to avoid a cyclist as a car was coming in the opposite direction. Now, had I not been there, no doubt the story would have been along the lines of " it wasn't my fault the cyclist was just round the bend". However, as I was there, I know that, had the candidate been a little more relaxed they would have been looking further ahead and spotted the cyclist across a bend much sooner. I also know that in that case both I and the examiner had seen the cyclist and that his decision was a fair one. Incidently, failing that test was, in hindsight the best thing that particular candidate could have done. She went on to be a far better driver than had that cyclist not been there (and as I was new to the job also learnt a lot from the experience).

[NHK244V]

Beeby said:

I have two cats. You did the right thing. Anybody with a conscience would have done the same. No doubt you will get some moronic comments saying 'it's only a cat you should have run it over' or the like. Anybody who says they wouldn't have slowed down is a nasty, cruel sh ite.

I have 3 cats and still wouldn't have stopped,
signed
mr cruel nasty ste

reason - cos there's no way i'm gonna possably cause a pile up for a friggin cat

Edited by NHK244V on Tuesday 20th September 18:22

[GC8]

okgo said:

Ridiculous.

I'd have called her a complete idiot and taken it straight above her head.

Mind you your story would have more clout if you had not got so many minors.

Loving the beer/coke thing.

It doesnt
do any good. Something similar happened to me during a vocational test (at the end of the month too). I received something ridiculous like 20 minors and 1 major - for not doing something that have caused a massive accident (had I done what I was failed for not doing, my massive vehicle would have squashed an oncoming vehicle at a traffic light controlled junction - the suggestion was beggared belief).

The training company caused a proper stink with the DSA, but the outcome was only that I had the head examiner for my retest the following week (which I passed with 4 minors btw).

Sometimes you get f*cked-over and theres little that you can do about it.

[blueg33]

Why do so many people just assume that slowing or stopping for an animal in the road will automatically cause a massive accident?

If you are not going to endanger others why not slow down or even stop?

I don't get the mentality at all

[Raize]

blueg33 said:

Why do so many people just assume that slowing or stopping for an animal in the road will automatically cause a massive accident?

If you are not going to endanger others why not slow down or even stop?

I don't get the mentality at all

Because I'm a real badass and I like to brag about killing fluffy animals!