| Since early 2005 there has been an additional | | | | Road Sense or Road Craft and are particularly |
| aspect to the Irish Driving Test ...that of a series | | | | vulnerable. Teenage Pedestrians are half asleep |
| of Technical Check Questions which precede the | | | | most of the time and the rest of the time are |
| practical drive. These questions had been included | | | | either on the cell phone or playing games on the |
| in other European Driving Tests for a number of | | | | pavement or sidewalk, rendering them oblivious of |
| years. They form an essential part of the Weekly | | | | the danger surrounding them. Failure to |
| Checks that all Drivers should be performing on | | | | understand the necessity to carry out your |
| their vehicles. | | | | weekly and sometime daily vehicle checks could |
| Why do we need to carry out these Technical | | | | put you in a serious confrontation with a |
| Checks every week? Well in case you hadn't | | | | Pedestrian that will end in tears and more! |
| noticed a car, or any motorised vehicle for that | | | | The details of the Technical Checks and questions |
| matter, consists of rather a large number of | | | | and answers are available throughout our series |
| moving parts, most of which are hidden from | | | | of articles but a good place to start your |
| view! You know the old saying Out of Sight--Out | | | | Technical Check Mastery would be the Drivers |
| of Mind? | | | | Manual which came with your car. This will enable |
| Well unless you learn how to identify all these | | | | you to identify the various pieces of equipment |
| hidden parts , particularly those that you the | | | | that require your attention on a weekly or more |
| Driver have control over you are going to finding | | | | frequent basis. Your Driving Instructor should be |
| out rather quickly that this Driving lark is a lot | | | | teaching you all of these aspects on the very |
| more tedious, frustrating and much more | | | | first Lesson providing it is not pouring with rain. |
| expensive than you first imagined! In addition to | | | | Even so it is quite often the case that it is raining |
| this, an ignorance of the Technical Checks will put | | | | on a Driving Test and the Examiner does not wish |
| you in an extremely hazardous condition on the | | | | either you or himself to get drenched so it is |
| road and fast forward you into an illegal minefield! | | | | possible to be given the questions and for you to |
| Your safety and that of your passengers is of | | | | answer even if the Bonnet or Hood is not opened! |
| paramount importance and it goes without saying | | | | Failure to answer the Technical questions on the |
| that if you are driving a car that is not properly | | | | Driving Test adequately and you should be |
| checked and maintained you will be a menace on | | | | prepared to lose one of your valuable marks! |
| the road and a great danger to all other road | | | | There are only eight marks to be played around |
| users. The phrase "all other Road users" | | | | with as a maximum on the Irish Driving Test so if |
| encompasses Pedestrians of course who make | | | | you intend to Pass the Driving Test First Time |
| up a high proportion of the fatal accident statistics | | | | then you had better brush up your skills |
| here in Ireland every year. | | | | immediately. |
| Pedestrians of all ages create one of the biggest | | | | If you want to stay safe on the road and keep |
| hazards to Drivers particularly Learner Drivers | | | | your garage bills to an absolute minimum then |
| who have not yet built up their awareness skills | | | | learning and understanding the details of the |
| to a higher level. Many elderly Pedestrians are not | | | | Weekly Technical Checks will be essential. |
| Drivers and therefore are unaware of the | | | | When you have mastered the Technical Checks |
| dangers posed by vehicles. | | | | and their significance, you will be well on the way |
| Very young pedestrians have yet to learn any | | | | to becoming an Aware Driverand a safer one. |