Wed, July 17, 2024
Failing the HGV Test
The latest incarnation of the HGV driving test includes the 3a and 3b components. The 3a test focuses on off-road maneuvers, such as reversing and uncoupling exercises. Responsibility for conducting these tests has been delegated to driver training establishments and their instructors. While your instructor can teach you these exercises, the actual testing must be performed by a different instructor from the same establishment.
Acknowledgement of the difficulties and challenges faced by many candidates.
One major advantage of this new system is that if you fail the 3a segment, you can retake it the next working day. You must pass the 3a segment before attending the 3b, the on-road test, which includes at least 60 minutes of driving, five stop-starts, and an independent driving period of approximately 10–15 minutes. Another significant benefit is that if you fail the 3b test, you only need to retake the 3b test without having to redo the 3a segment. However, it's important to note that your 3a certificate is only valid for six months.Whilst failing the on-road segment of an HGV test can be quite traumatic for some, it certainly doesn’t mean that you’re a failure. Over 50% of the tests taken at Guildford end with a negative result and when that happens the best thing anyone could do is remember the old adage and “get back on the horse”
Common Reasons for Failing the HGV Driving Test
Drivers fail tests for a multitude of reasons, and sometimes the cause isn't always clear, which can make it harder to accept. On the other hand, if you understand what you did wrong, it's much easier to accept and move on. Some people even go into denial after failing a test, refusing to believe they made any mistakes. This denial doesn't help you, nor does it help your instructor understand what went wrong or where it happened. Additionally, one of the psychological effects of failing a test is that it seems to get increasingly difficult the more times you fail.
The HGV test plays an important role in road safety and has changed significantly since its introduction in February 1970. As the volume of traffic grows exponentially and lorries become bigger and faster, the test must evolve to ensure safety on the over 250,000 miles of paved roads in the UK.
To pass the test, it’s crucial to be properly prepared and understand what’s expected of you. This is why getting your training from a professional and well-established provider is key. Always remember the 6 P’s: Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
Biggest Reasons for Failure:
The most common reason for failing the test is undoubtedly a lack of proper preparation. When an examiner conducts the test, they grade faults as follows:
Driving Faults: Often described as minor faults, you can accumulate up to, but not exceeding, 12 driving faults and still pass the test. These faults are typically differences in driving technique that don’t involve or inconvenience another road user or pedestrian.
Serious Faults: Committing just one results in a failure. Examples include parking across someone’s driveway, jumping a red light, speeding, not checking blind spots, getting too close to something or someone, or inconveniencing another road user. Although these faults are serious, they are not considered dangerous.
Dangerous Faults: Like serious faults, committing one results in an instant failure. Dangerous faults involve actions that almost certainly include a third party and pose significant risk.
ETA’s (Examiner Takes Action): This is also an instant failure, similar to serious and dangerous faults. An examiner might take verbal action, such as alerting you to a speed limit violation, or physical action, like grabbing the steering wheel or applying the parking brake to avoid a collision or rollback.
Hesitation:
You don’t have to be the best driver in the world to pass the test. If you follow the procedures correctly and provide a safe, hesitation-free drive, you should pass easily. Excessive hesitation is a failure because you need to display confidence in every decision you make as an HGV/LGV driver. Hesitation at a junction or roundabout could have a catastrophic effect on other drivers. For instance, the driver behind you might think you’re moving off and then run into the back of your vehicle when you change your mind. A driver coming around the roundabout might swerve needlessly, thinking you’re going to pull out, and end up hitting someone or something else. Such hesitation could potentially involve multiple drivers at once.
Addressing the Myth: Do Driving Examiners Deliberately Fail You?
As an instructor, I've often been asked, "Do examiners have a quota?" Personally, and this is my own view, I do believe they do. Nationally, the average first-time pass rate is approximately 50%, but each test centre is slightly different. The pass rate at the Guildford driving test centre is 49%. I strongly believe that if an examiner marked every single fault a driver makes, the pass rate would be in the 30s. I also believe that examiners are likely to give the benefit of the doubt on some decisions and use their discretion to only mark faults that are worthy of discussion. This way, examiners can ensure they don't stray too far from the centre's average pass rate of 49%. After all, we only want safe drivers on the road, don't we?
It’s natural for us to want others to like us, and examiners are no different—they're human, after all. I would like to believe that an examiner won’t fail someone who rightfully deserves to pass, though I acknowledge that tough decisions and surprises can happen. If you're struggling to pass your test, consider having your instructor ride along with you. They can't speak during the test, as any interference would lead the examiner to terminate it. However, their presence offers significant moral support, and with your instructor present, the examiner must ensure fairness is seen to be done.
It’s important to remember that when you are offered a debrief at the end of the test, you can request the presence of your instructor as it’s always best for him to hear what the examiner has to say about your driving first hand. The more accurate the information is from the examiner the more your instructor can help rectify any faults that may exist in your driving. If you’re unfortunate enough to have an instructor that never attends a debrief at the conclusion of a test, then that instructor is letting you down.
Why Do I Keep Failing My HGV Driving Test?
Failing a test is never a pleasant experience, and it's common for someone who has just failed to look for someone else to blame—often the examiner. This is evident when a test candidate says, "The examiner failed me for ???" In reality, the examiner simply recorded the faults present in the candidate's driving.
Maintaining a positive attitude towards the test is crucial because examiners genuinely want you to pass. When you fail a driving test, the examiner must write a report detailing what you did or didn't do, where it occurred, and the potential consequences.
Consistency is also vital when learning, especially for driving lorries. I always recommend rebooking with the same company and preferably the same instructor on the same vehicle after failing a test. Knowing the test time allows you to practice during that time of day, getting accustomed to the traffic volume on similar routes. Your instructor might even conduct a mock test to simulate actual test conditions, providing valuable insight into your performance under pressure.
Don't worry if you see the examiner picking up their folder, which contains a tablet for recording faults. It's important to note that the examiner might simply be ticking a box to indicate that a specific segment of the test has been completed, and it may not signify anything more.
Conclusion
Failing the test doesn’t define your abilities, and it’s important to remember that it’s not a waste of money, time, or effort unless you give up.Drivers fail for various reasons, and your instructor is the best person to help you overcome challenges. To get the most out of their support, involve them fully—invite them to attend your debrief or, if you're facing difficulties passing, invite your instructor to ride along with you.I hope this blog has provided some helpful insights, and I wish you the very best on your next test!
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