Driving Test cancelled - because of weather

[mel]

This happened to a friends son on Tuesday and he's now got to wait 6 weeks for another test but I couldn't decide how I fealt about it. The weather here on Tuesday wasn't too bad, no new snow just laying, all the roads were open and gritted and it was only really in the heart of the estates where there was compacted snow still on the roads, everyone made it to work and all the schools were open.

Part of me says he's an inexperienced driver and it should have been cancelled on safety grounds but then I think, no if he'd passed he would be licensed to drive in all weather conditions so it should have gone ahead regardless, but I'm really not sure either way.

[scotal]

I would have thought it almost impossible to pass a test in the road conditions on Tuesday.

[andy-xr]

Happened to me when I took mine, not worth the aggro of an L plated emergency stop

[911motorsport]

I would have thought a few days wait for a new test would have been more reaonable. If I was all 'fired up' for my test I would be gutted at having to wait another six weeks!!

[TheGreatSoprendo]

My girlfriend had her test cancelled in the summer due to "unforeseen circumstances" and had to wait almost 2 months for another test. When she enquired as to the nature of the unforeseen circumstances, they refused to tell her. Nice!

[DIW35]

I've always felt that was a big failing about the test in the UK - they don't expect you to drive in poor conditions, at night, in fog or on a motorway. As soon as you have passed your test you may have to do all of these, perhaps all on the same journey.

[CivicMan]

Keep going online and try and get a cancellation. They come up quite often.

[damci]

My girlfriend had her test cancelled yesterday she was a bit gutted about it. Doing the manoeuvres would have been a problem as there usually done on side roads and there like ice rinks around here.

[R2D2]

Are we not licensed to drive in all weather conditions anyway? Or am I only allowed to drive in summer as thats when I passed

Edited by R2D2 on Thursday 5th February 11:20

[Geoff82]

This happened to me 7 years ago when I was due to take my test. It was cancelled once due to hard frost on the roads but I managed to get a cancellation within 2 weeks. That was cancelled again because it was mildly frosty.

I remonstrated with my instructor, not that he was to blame of course, that if I were a newly qualified driver I would be expected to be able to drive in all conditions therefore I should be able to take the test in all conditions.

He agreed to a certain extent, but the test centre had decided if its even slightly icy or frosty they would cancel all tests owing to the 'increased risk'.

[tinman0]

R2D2 said:

Are we not licensed to drive in all weather conditions anyway?

Technically a learner isn't fully licensed until they've passed the test though.

[iRoll]

Geoff82 said:

He agreed to a certain extent, but the test centre had decided if its even slightly icy or frosty they would cancel all tests owing to the 'increased risk'.

Yet if you'd had your test booked the day before, and assuming the conditions were fine that day, you'd have been perfectly fine to drive in that weather.

I got lucky with mine. I was worried they were going to cancel because it was quite icy the day before but it had all cleared for my big day!

It's all a bit stupid really.

[R2D2]

Geoff82 said:

This happened to me 7 years ago when I was due to take my test. It was cancelled once due to hard frost on the roads but I managed to get a cancellation within 2 weeks. That was cancelled again because it was mildly frosty.

I remonstrated with my instructor, not that he was to blame of course, that if I were a newly qualified driver I would be expected to be able to drive in all conditions therefore I should be able to take the test in all conditions.

He agreed to a certain extent, but the test centre had decided if its even slightly icy or frosty they would cancel all tests owing to the 'increased risk'.

To be fair, I wouldn't want to be the examiner with a new driver in any conditions.

[TonyHetherington]

I agree that it's probably very frustrating getting all geared up, and prepared, for your test then having it cancelled and waiting 6 weeks.

However, look at it from the other side of the coin; the pupil may have never driven a car before, have no idea of car control what so ever and be an absolute nutter; so it's probably on safety and "sensibility" grounds more than anything?!

[R2D2]

tinman0 said:

R2D2 said:

Are we not licensed to drive in all weather conditions anyway?

Technically a learner isn't fully licensed until they've passed the test though.

Unless I'm reading this wrong....Mel said "no if he'd passed he would be licensed to drive in all weather conditions" Hence me querying if I'm allowed to drive in all conditions, I'm just scratching my head a bit

Edited by R2D2 on Thursday 5th February 11:36

[R2D2]

R2D2 said:

tinman0 said:

R2D2 said:

Are we not licensed to drive in all weather conditions anyway?

Technically a learner isn't fully licensed until they've passed the test though.

Unless I'm reading this wrong....Mel said "no if he'd passed he would be licensed to drive in all weather conditions" Hence me querying if I'm allowed to drive in all conditions, I'm just scratching my head a bit

Edited by R2D2 on Thursday 5th February 11:36

Ahhh I get it now! I think I just woke up...as you were

[Geoff82]

R2D2 said:

Geoff82 said:

This happened to me 7 years ago when I was due to take my test. It was cancelled once due to hard frost on the roads but I managed to get a cancellation within 2 weeks. That was cancelled again because it was mildly frosty.

I remonstrated with my instructor, not that he was to blame of course, that if I were a newly qualified driver I would be expected to be able to drive in all conditions therefore I should be able to take the test in all conditions.

He agreed to a certain extent, but the test centre had decided if its even slightly icy or frosty they would cancel all tests owing to the 'increased risk'.

To be fair, I wouldn't want to be the examiner with a new driver in any conditions.

Its not something I'd entertain lightly either, but instructors are not supposed to put people forward for their driving tests unless they are actually ready to drive by themselves which is why I think tests should be held in more challenging conditions as well as when it is sunny and dry.

[CivicMan]

The DSA confirmation letter states quite clearly that on the test day, if there is fog, ice, snow or high winds, the pupil should contact the test centre to see if the test is going ahead.

Not only H&S for the examiners, but in the event of a failure, to avoid claims of an unfair test due to adverse weather conditions.

The test would then be rescheduled at the earliest date the DSA can offer without further fees. Unfortunately, it's advisable that the pupil will have to keep lessons ticking over with an ADI which will have to be paid for.

[Trikster]

Remember my test being canelled (a few years ago now ) due to the examiner being ill. TBH probably the best thing that happened - crammed as much driving into those extra couple of weeks as possible - my road 'awareness' and general confidence went up leaps and bounds - and the passed.. unsure whether I really would have had the original date - not because I couldn't do the manouvers, but I was just more 'rounded'

[xiphias]

CivicMan said:

but in the event of a failure, to avoid claims of an unfair test due to adverse weather conditions.

This. I know it's not representative of real world conditions but you have to have a reasonable standard across tests otherwise people would complain it's a lottery. Also if it snows outside it would be unreasonable to force someone to take a test in it - I know nobody can force me to drive in the snow and this week I've taken the option not to.