Category Archives: BC Class 7 road test

Maybe Your Driving Doesn't Suck

Yesterday and today I had customers who successfully passed their road tests, a Class 7 and a Class 5, at the Point Grey licensing office. I was particularly gratified with their results because of the events leading up to their road tests.

Today’s student had already taken the Class 7 road test and failed. She had been taking lessons with another driving school, and her instructor, in my opinion, was less than professional. Apparently he was reluctant to give any positive feedback. Criticism, definitely not constructive, was the foundation of his instruction. Then the road test – the examiner was definitely not Miss Congeniality that day. She made it clear that the student’s driving sucked, and the teacher was able to gloat and say, “I told you so.” But when I saw her driving, I thought, no problem, she should pass her road test. She had a couple of areas that needed fine-tuning, needed a boost in her confidence, but otherwise was good to go. Her practice before the road test was great, she was confident, and she pulled it off. It wasn’t a perfect road test, but the examiner saw what I did – someone who was definitely qualified to drive on her own.

Yesterday’s student was an S.F.U. student originally from Macau. She had already taken her Class 5 road test twice in Burnaby, with unsuccessful results both times. Again the examiners wanted her to know that her driving sucked. So what’s the problem? She, like most examinees, felt that she should have passed. Her confidence had taken a hit.

The student lives in Burnaby, but was able to get a road test appointment in Point Grey, so she decided to give it a shot there. Looking for a Vancouver driving school, she contacted New Day Driving School (me), the Point Grey road test expert. We spent some time going over the Point Grey road test routes and working on the areas that needed to be addressed. On her road test yesterday, she got the same examiner who my other student failed with. Again, the examiner agreed with my assessment – this young lady was definitely qualified to drive on her own, and she passed her road test. It’s amazing how a little confidence can turn things around.

It can be discouraging and frustrating to fail your road test, especially if your driving teacher is not supportive, and the driver examiner is intent on letting you know how brutal your driving is. It is easy to lose your confidence without someone on your side. One of my goals is to build your confidence and have you attend your road test ready and confident that you can pass. If you are planning on taking the Point Grey road test, give yourself the New Day advantage. And if your driving sucks, at least I’ll tell you in a nice way.

Perfect Point Grey Road Test

Today a New Day Driving School student accomplished a truly amazing feat on her Point Grey Class 7 road test. After the examiner congratulated her and told her that she had passed, he handed her a truly rare thing indeed: a clean sheet, a blank paper – a road test paper without a single mark on it. Any driver examiner will tell you that this is truly a rare accomplishment. Not a single mark, everything was perfect.

When my client came back inside the Point Grey Licensing Office she looked a little glum and crestfallen. However, this was just the usual ruse of passing students trying to pull a fast one on their hopeful driving instructor. I told her before the road test that I would be shocked if she didn’t pass (I almost never tell my students that they will pass, just that I think they should pass), and for a brief second she had me fooled. When the truth of the matter was revealed, I was able enjoy the immense satisfaction of having had one of my students perform in such a spectacular fashion.

Your road test doesn’t have to be perfect; you just have to meet the minimum requirements. In fact, trying to be “perfect”, particularly in parking, has been the downfall of many examinees. I can show you the areas where perfection is not mandatory, and the areas in which it is critical to follow my guidelines and be close to perfection.

To get through the Point Grey road test with its usual array of pedestrians, buses, cyclists, and crappy drivers doing their best to make your road test miserable is not an easy task. Of course you need basic driving skill, but also necessary are discipline, focus, and good judgement in handling the multitude of situations that pop up in the course your time on the road.

If you are planning to take the Class 7 or Class 5 road test at Point Grey, why not try a session with New Day Vancouver Driving School. I cannot guarantee that you will pass or have a “perfect” road test, but I guarantee that you will receive instruction that will go a long way to achieving those goals. Give yourself the New Day advantage: professional and friendly driving lessons from a former driver examiner who knows what it takes to pass the BC Class 7 and Class 5 road tests.

"Dangerous Driver" Passes Road Test

As a driving instructor, I am not allowed to make comments about driver examiners. For example, before a road test, I never tell my students my feelings about the potential examiners. You see the examiners huddled together, and the examinee wonders, “Which one am I going to get? I hope I get a nice one.” I tell my students that they’re all the same, but of course they’re not. After the road test, my students always tell me about their road test experience and the behaviour of the examiner during the test. This is not Las Vegas – what happens on the road test does not stay on the road test.

Recently one of my students came for her road test using her own car. In the pre-trip portion of the road test, instead of turning on the headlights when requested, she turned on the parking lights. Well, the examiner apparently did not like this. During the road test, the examiner, according to the student, kept badgering her to find out who her driving instructor was. She basically told him that this information was irrelevant to the road test at hand. He then proceeded to give his opinions about the driver training industry, and how he was very unhappy with the poor level of instruction these days. They can’t even teach their students how to turn on their headlights. He mentioned the name of one driving instructor and asked her if that was her teacher. She told him that she didn’t know who that person was, but no, this examiner would not let the topic go. The stressful road test had another layer of pressure added.

Now, let’s go to the end of the road test. The car is parked, and now is the time the examiner is supposed to give his verdict. Not this one; he proceeded to point out the examinee’s shortcomings and tell her that she was a “dangerous driver.” She assumed that she had failed. He then told her to come into the office so he could take her picture. What the hell? Did she pass? What’s going on? Inside the office, she eventually realized that she had passed.

When my client related this bizarre adventure to me, she expressed her astonishment with the whole experience. Why was the examiner so concerned about who had taught her how to drive? (She had learned from her brother-in-law, with some extra help from me.) Why did she pass if she was a “dangerous driver”? Why didn’t the examiner tell her at the end of the road test that she had passed? Anyway, all this goes to show that you can pass your road test even if the examiner thinks you are a “dangerous driver”.

Now a word from our sponsor: New Day Vancouver Driving School conducts driving lessons in the city of Vancouver. We teach beginning drivers. We can help you prepare for the Class 7 or Class 5 road test. If you have failed your road test, we can help you get on the path to successful re-attempt. Take control of your driving with the road test expert – New Day Vancouver Driving School.

Point Grey Road Test Reverse Stall Park

In my experience with New Day Vancouver Driving School, the number one thing that makes drivers taking the Vancouver Point Grey Class 7 road test nervous is the prospect of backing into a stall at the end of the test. For most experienced drivers taking the Class 5 road test, the reverse stall park here doesn’t present much of a challenge. But for those with less experience and confidence taking the Class 7 road test, it presents a variety of opportunities for things to go wrong.

This road test was a pass.

The Point Grey parking lot is in a residential alley, and there isn’t a lot of room to maneuver like in the other offices. To make it even more interesting, you get the bonus of garbage bins jutting into the alley once a week on garbage day. You also get cars coming at you from both ends of the alley adding another level of intimidation. Of course the parking spots are on an uphill incline and you better have good control of the gas. And don’t forget the stone-faced examiner watching you sweat while you turn your steering wheel the wrong way, forget to put the car in reverse, and keep fiddling with a signal light that keeps going off.

At the Point Grey office you will invariably approach with your spot being on the left. In the other offices, you usually approach with the spot on your right. For some reason, most new drivers find the Point Grey approach more difficult.

Your luck on this park also depends on your examiners tolerance of getting close to the cars already parked and of course don’t forget those garbage cans. Some examiners will let you get within inches of the neighbouring car, while others will stop you if they think you will brush one of the garbage cans and call it a dangerous action. Damn, I failed my driving test for getting near a plastic garbage can!

The upside of all this is that the parking lot has a very limited number of spaces and you might get lucky and just pull over and park on the street if the spots are full. But don’t worry, you can always take a lesson or two from Vancouver’s New Day Driving School and learn how to handle this park and the others presented on the Class 7 road test.

New Day Vancouver Driving School offers friendly, professional driving lessons in Vancouver, and I would be happy to share my unique teaching style and service to help you prepare for the Vancouver Point Grey Class 7 or Class 5 road test.