Are all driving test centers the same? Are some driving test centers more equal than others? What constitutes a driving test center anyway? And what should you look for when planning your driving test in Ireland?
First of all, every major city in Ireland has its own driving test center, so you must be a short drive from the nearest test center, no matter where you live.
A Driving Test Center is where your practical driving test begins and has nothing to do with Theory Test Centers, which are also freely spread across the country. The Driver Theory Testing Centers operate under a government contract and were created in 2001.
Driving test centers are the responsibility of the Department of Transportation and are about to become part of the newly established Road Safety Authority that will control all aspects of licenses, driving tests and soon the examination, regulation and monitoring of driving schools and instructors from 2007.
A Driving Test Center cannot be found on the main street of a town or city and will be located in the suburbs, but it will be a regular feature of the driving test that will cover parts of the city center where heavy traffic may be experienced. Although a Driving Test Center may be located in a quiet area of the city, out of the way of much of the commercial traffic, it is important that you know the wider surrounding areas in preparation for your test.
Obtain both manual and automatic transmission licenses
The facilities vary greatly, so it is important to check in advance with the Exam Center you have chosen. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, older test centers may not have sanitary facilities as in the case of Limerick’s main test center at Wooodview Mall. Therefore, it is a good idea to know where you can take a break and also a visit to the bathroom before your driving test. It is a good idea to have a place to prepare for the driving test before arriving at the Test Center. When we hire the school car for the test candidates, we invariably have a cup of coffee at the nearest hotel to reflect on any final points that need clarification. There is always something to discuss.
Driving test centers are privately owned, sometimes government-owned, and sometimes not. When a custom test center is operational, you are not allowed to enter the grounds to verify the situation or practice. In fact, you will find explicit requests not to practice on the Test Routes on the Examination Boards during the normal exam hours. This is primarily aimed at driving instructors, many of whom like to spend hours with their students going round and round the test routes.
It is a free country and if your vehicle and license are in order, it is perfectly acceptable to know the local area where the tests are done. It is not always possible to practice outside the normal driving test times. So if you are practicing during the day on the driving test routes, there are certain protocols that must be observed. If you encounter another learner driver on a test route, assume they are on your test and avoid them entirely. Certainly never follow them.
There are many things a beginning driver can do to increase the likelihood of passing the driving test, and one of the most important is knowing your local driving test center and the area within a two-mile radius. When you are familiar with all the key factors within your driving test area, you will have more than a fair chance of obtaining the Pass certificate. A certificate that continues to elude those learner drivers who don’t take the driving test seriously enough.
What to do and not discuss in the next article Protocols to consider in the Irish driving test
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