View Full Version : Gulp...
I have to take my drivers test (written and practical) with in the next few weeks
the written test has to be done ASAP because I didnt realise that if im here for more than 90days they will CONFISCATE my NZ licence until I have passed my Canadian one
holy potatos batman I have 25 days left! You people drive all crazy!!
wrong side of the car, wrong side of the road, you can go when the lights red if your turning right
im never going to be able to remember this!!:eek: your roadcode is as thick as the blessed bible!!:help:
once I get past the written (whats the road sign for a deer look like.. I dont know whats a dear looks like in the first place...bambi ?!??!?!)
I have to actually drive on the road in traffic!! Im going to die, I know it!
panic fright shock blargal:runaway:
Ringman
08-01-2006, 11:56 PM
driving up here is pretty easy once you get used to it. i suggest that you have someone that has had their liscence up here for quite some time take you out driving , only if its eaven in a parking lot.
Good Luck Kiwi youll do fine and will pass the test.
One-Fang
08-02-2006, 12:40 AM
One wonders what the problem is ...
Either driving freaks you out, you don't do it very well, and therefore you don't need your Kiwi licence because you won't be driving ...
... or it doesn't, you're a good driver, you can drive well, and have no problem taking the test.
Confiscate ... you mean take away? They can't can they? Just deny your ability to use it to drive.
well one fang in NZ ive driven for 7 years without a ticket
im dyslexic so having to swap sides is confusing the heck out of me
and they can and will physically retain my licence after 90 days
I love driving in nz, have no problem with it, I do however have a problem with being rushed into taking a test im freaked out about and dont feel ready for!!
its my own fault, I didnt realise I would even need to take the test I just thought it was a straight swap....
like I said, its not the driving persay that is freaking me out, but the fact i have someone judging my ability when Im not ready for it. It doesnt help that my last driving instructor made me cry then gave me my licence anyway....
ditchdj
08-02-2006, 01:13 AM
Damn Kiwi, you sound like you got your hands full! :lol:
BTW How does that feel driving on the right side of the road and having the steering wheel on the left side! :lol:
Yeah I'm sure they can take your license. Over here there's an old saying that says, "Driving is not a right. It's a priviledge."
Aside from that, just remember all you gotta do is practice a little. How was it when you first learned how to drive??? I caught on without any problems.
BTW I dont know what a deer sign looks like (I dont think we have those here in the states) but this is what most deer look like around here.....
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/mammal/images/deer.jpg
They try to stay away from people. They just have a bad habit of wandering out into the road and getting hit.
Broomjockey
08-02-2006, 01:51 AM
Driving in Canada is easy.
As a confirmed pedestrian and bus rider, these are the rules of the road as I have observed in the field.
Speed limits are minimums
Yellow means go faster
Red? What red?
Pedestrians are small and difficult to hit, therefore can be safely ignored
If you are changing lanes, signalling is only used for moving more than one lane.
When turning left, edge out as far as possible, then floor it when a 2 second gap opens, if anyone is crossing the street, see rule #4
Merging into traffic means anyone has to move out of your way so you can get in the lane
Your left wheel must be on the white dotted line when not in the left most lane.
Allowing any vehicle to pass you is an offense punishable by death.
Large vehicles can stop on a dime, so it is safe to cut them off and slow down immediately.
The appropriate amount of room to leave between you and the vehicle ahead of you is inversely proportional to speed.
When stopped at a red light, leave at least 20 ft. between you and the vehicle ahead so you can accelerate properly when it changes green.
They make the roads straight so you can race on them.
Emergency vehicles do not get right of way.
Bikers can ride anywhere they please.
An accident scene is a great place to try and look at dead or injured people. Feel free to slow or stop.
Construction zones are an inconvience, try to get through them as quickly as possible.
Passing on the shoulder is acceptable as they are supposed to have their left tire on the line anyway.
Those are all the ones I can think of for now.
Bella_Vixen
08-02-2006, 01:51 AM
BTW I dont know what a deer sign looks like (I dont think we have those here in the states) but this is what most deer look like around here.....
Ummmmmmm...those yellow signs with the leaping deer on them?
Seanette
08-02-2006, 03:15 AM
Driving in Canada is easy.
As a confirmed pedestrian and bus rider, these are the rules of the road as I have observed in the field.
Speed limits are minimums
Yellow means go faster
Red? What red?
Pedestrians are small and difficult to hit, therefore can be safely ignored
If you are changing lanes, signalling is only used for moving more than one lane.
When turning left, edge out as far as possible, then floor it when a 2 second gap opens, if anyone is crossing the street, see rule #4
Merging into traffic means anyone has to move out of your way so you can get in the lane
Your left wheel must be on the white dotted line when not in the left most lane.
Allowing any vehicle to pass you is an offense punishable by death.
Large vehicles can stop on a dime, so it is safe to cut them off and slow down immediately.
The appropriate amount of room to leave between you and the vehicle ahead of you is inversely proportional to speed.
When stopped at a red light, leave at least 20 ft. between you and the vehicle ahead so you can accelerate properly when it changes green.
They make the roads straight so you can race on them.
Emergency vehicles do not get right of way.
Bikers can ride anywhere they please.
An accident scene is a great place to try and look at dead or injured people. Feel free to slow or stop.
Construction zones are an inconvience, try to get through them as quickly as possible.
Passing on the shoulder is acceptable as they are supposed to have their left tire on the line anyway.
Those are all the ones I can think of for now.
You're not talking about Canada. These are the California road rules.
Canadian deer sign http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/NBI3060.php Add a Rudolph nose and it will look like an American deer sign.
Becks
08-02-2006, 05:29 PM
Too see what a deer crossing sign looks like (and I've seen them in many states here in the US...), just go to google and type in deer crossing signs. You'll see a few there.
toolbert
08-02-2006, 05:41 PM
You're not talking about Canada. These are the California road rules.
I was thinking the same thing, cept it should be added that Elderly people are worth 30 pts, teenagers 20pts and mothers with babies are worth 50pts if you hit them.
Hotelboy
08-02-2006, 05:43 PM
Oh, don't forget, Stop signs with a white outline are optional! Still haven't figured out what the silver octagons mean.
Kiwi, I switched to left side driving pretty easily when I moved to Bermy. Give it about a month and you'll be fine. It's just the little things that never go away. Using the window washers when you're trying to turn and vice versa. Waiting for buses on the wrong side of the street. I'm just glad the gas and brake were still in the same places. That would've been interesting.
haha yes I only drive auto and I keep slapping my hand into the door reaching for the gear stick... argh
i was kinda kidding about the deer sign people :p
ive had my nose glued to the road code book since I got it, so many little tiny differences.... ill get it by tomorrow
written test is at 9am I have my first offical lesson at 3.30 today phew im nervous!
Spiffy McMoron
08-02-2006, 11:13 PM
written test is at 9am I have my first offical lesson at 3.30 today phew im nervous!
Good luck Kiwi! I can't see you having a problem with driving on the roads-I've been doing it since I was 12! Just keep between the ditches, and you'll be doing better than most.
Spiffy, loving life in wide-open Alberta
Hotelboy
08-02-2006, 11:34 PM
Spiffy, loving life in wide-open Alberta
That reminds me. (for some strange reason) We have this lovely place called Montreal just to the right of me. Its a great place to learn how to drive. If you can make it there, you can make it any..... Ah wait, thats new york! But still...
Hotelboy's first car experience = parallel parking, on Cresent St (really steep), at 6pm, in the winter, w/ a stick shift. Yikes! Then we went driving on HWY 40. I can drive in Manhattan now with zero fear!
well I just got back from my first lesson and he said I needed maybe one more and then id be ready, he said I could risk it after one lesson but he just wanted another hour or so to shake me out of my bad habits.
He said my driving was fine on the whole but I needed to calm down and not panic so much at intercetions.
I wimped out of taking my written, im just not ready, so much of the theory is written differently even if the principal is the same.... i mean its been 7 full years since I took a theory test for driving and 5 since I took my practical test...
how many of you could say that youd pass straight off taking the test straight away with no practise... see thats why im worried :p
kyle said I could take my test in Barriere, they have ONE intersection.... hahaha apprently its prefectly legal to warp the system like that... Ill see how I feel...
volvodrivincashier
08-03-2006, 03:50 AM
heh I've always wondered what it'd be like to go from LHD to RHD or vice versa.
I'd probably crash and die if I had to shift with my left hand.
Sunsetsky
08-03-2006, 04:30 AM
I couldn't shift with my left hand. I wouldn't know what gear is what. I'm sure things will go fine with you. It'll just take some time getting used to.
One-Fang
08-03-2006, 05:10 AM
and they can and will physically retain my licence after 90 days
I love driving in nz, have no problem with it, I do however have a problem with being rushed into taking a test im freaked out about and dont feel ready for!!
Lots of practice - in nice, safe places. If you have a town with just one intersection nearby, I'm guessing you got some nice open roads there with little traffic.
On the taking the licence thing - they didn't issue it, so they can't take it. What if you return to NZ? You're going to be needing that licence.
they only retain it until I have passed my canadian one, then they give it back, I dont know if they have the legal right to or not, but Im in Canada now so the Canadian government officals can do as they please.... I can do nada about it. Im not a citizen(yet), I have no rights. I think its incase I keep driving with my NZ licence....
I didnt ask what if I never pass, because I fully intend to even if it takes a few times (which it wont) I should pass first go, I just get myself all worked up over nothing. Hell im a MUCH better driver now than I was 4 years ago when I got my first full licence. I guess if I show them an plane ticket they give it back? or i can just get a replacement in NZ, if I ever go back there that is and I have no intentions of going home.
I surrender the licence when I take the practical test, no choice. No licence, no test. I need to drive to work as soon as possible because Kyle just got a huge contract designing houses and wont have the time to ferry me around anymore.
by the way, why is it that driving instructors and driving test givers are all gruff and grumpy old men!!! I made this mistake of telling the second guy I called that I had booked a lesson with Driving school 1 and he got all up in arms about the instructor and ranted at me for 12 minutes on the phone ... I know it was 12 because thats what the timer thingy said!!
12 minutes people and all I wanted to do was to book a lesson!! and the instructor I had today (was very good) but was like, "look I dont want to hear your excuses shut up and drive".... all I was doing was answering his question of "what dont you know?" with "well I dont know what I dont know, thats why Im paying for this lesson, so you can teach me what I dont know!"
gah people just GAH!!!!!:eek:
Barefootgirl
08-03-2006, 12:38 PM
I was thinking the same thing, cept it should be added that Elderly people are worth 30 pts, teenagers 20pts and mothers with babies are worth 50pts if you hit them.
And a nun in a wheelchair is worth 250 points.
Good luck, Kiwi. i am sure after you've been driving over there for three months, you'll look back and laugh at yourself for worrying.
heh I've always wondered what it'd be like to go from LHD to RHD or vice versa.
I'd probably crash and die if I had to shift with my left hand.
I drive left-handed so I'd be right behind you while going into the ditch, off the cliff or taking out an entire herd of moose.:eek:
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.