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RM Driving Test

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
Lazycarton
Posts: 193
Joined: 15 Mar 2012, 18:52
Gender: Male

RM Driving Test

Post by Lazycarton »

I have been told that I have to be assessed. I am told that the assessment will take 3 HOURS!!!.....3 HOURS???? The DSA driving test is 40 minutes. What the hell happens during this 3 hours. I suppose I have no option but to suffer this nonsense.
doorstepped
Posts: 1063
Joined: 10 Oct 2011, 23:17
Gender: Male
Location: Somewhere west of London

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by doorstepped »

I take it you have had an accident in a RM vehicle then?

Someone at our DO had one last week, 3hr 15 mins of driving around etc, including commentating when driving.

better than walking the streets :)
TrueBlueTerrier
FORUM ADMINISTRATOR
Posts: 72727
Joined: 30 Dec 2006, 10:29
Gender: Male
Location: On my couch

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by TrueBlueTerrier »

The "Change over" is now 3 hours so he might not have had an accident.
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doorstepped
Posts: 1063
Joined: 10 Oct 2011, 23:17
Gender: Male
Location: Somewhere west of London

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by doorstepped »

ahh, did'nt realise that, have had a couple in our DO that have had accidents and had to do an extended test.

My changeover was approx 15 mins long and consisted of a quick drive up the road, round a couple of roundabouts and a drive back.
Pinky 1
Posts: 1510
Joined: 01 Mar 2009, 11:38
Gender: Male
Location: Wales

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by Pinky 1 »

Lazycarton wrote:I have been told that I have to be assessed. I am told that the assessment will take 3 HOURS!!!.....3 HOURS???? The DSA driving test is 40 minutes. What the hell happens during this 3 hours. I suppose I have no option but to suffer this nonsense.
Ah no worries. I've been assessed many times, and i find that if i can keep the dribbling down to a bare minimum i can usually pass.
Medication and a caring nurse also helps. :angel
"Cara yn bod 'n briod , dydy 'n fawr at ca a hun 'n anad berson a 'ch angen at blina achos 'r bwyso chan 'ch buchedd "
" I like being married,, it's great to find that one special person you want to bother for the rest of your life "
Lazycarton
Posts: 193
Joined: 15 Mar 2012, 18:52
Gender: Male

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by Lazycarton »

No accidents, haven't stepped in an RM vehicle yet :Very Happy

But 3 hours? AND after I have finished for the day! Sod the bloody O/T I am well pissed off. Will have to try to be civil.
clashcityrocker
Posts: 16692
Joined: 22 Sep 2009, 13:50
Gender: Male
Location: strummerville

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by clashcityrocker »

In an attempt to decrease the number of accidents in RM vans the changeover is now a more stringent test.
You drive around for a bit, answer questions on basic van checks and get paid for it.
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DB1100
Posts: 1976
Joined: 10 Sep 2007, 14:30

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by DB1100 »

Lazycarton wrote:No accidents, haven't stepped in an RM vehicle yet :Very Happy

But 3 hours? AND after I have finished for the day! Sod the bloody O/T I am well pissed off. Will have to try to be civil.
It takes an hour to muck it out before the examiner will get in it.
For we were soldiers once,and young
Rudolph_Hucker
Posts: 196
Joined: 21 Mar 2013, 18:19
Gender: Male
Location: Sorry but you don't have the necessary security clearance.

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by Rudolph_Hucker »

I had to have an initial assessment before I could drive an RM vehicle, had to wait about six weeks.

The really funny thing was, on the day the van to be used had a fault, the reversing lights were on constantly. The PHG chap said we should carry on and use it, well you should have seen the look the driving assessor gave him. He was a former Police pursuit driver and an advanced driver instructor. Strangely enough we didn't use it and the test had to be reorganised for a fortnight later.

Yes, he did say the test should take three hours to include looking at videos, questioning and motorway driving. However, as we are about an hour from a motorway that element never happened, so the assessment was curtailed somewhat.
If you do a job too well, you’ll get stuck with it.
krussel
Posts: 5300
Joined: 26 Jan 2009, 18:03
Gender: Male
Location: Out on the streets.

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by krussel »

Don't the AA do the tests now and include a theory element.
Rows of houses all bearing down on me........I can feel their blue hands touching me.......All these things in all positions.........All these things will one day take control..........
Rudolph_Hucker
Posts: 196
Joined: 21 Mar 2013, 18:19
Gender: Male
Location: Sorry but you don't have the necessary security clearance.

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by Rudolph_Hucker »

Not mine, the only theory was asking a few questions, nothing what you'd call a formal written theory test.

Not really sure where he was from, could have been the AA.
If you do a job too well, you’ll get stuck with it.
krussel
Posts: 5300
Joined: 26 Jan 2009, 18:03
Gender: Male
Location: Out on the streets.

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by krussel »

Rudolph_Hucker wrote:Not mine, the only theory was asking a few questions, nothing what you'd call a formal written theory test.

Not really sure where he was from, could have been the AA.
The give away at our place is that they turn up in a Ford Focus with AA blasted all over it.
Rows of houses all bearing down on me........I can feel their blue hands touching me.......All these things in all positions.........All these things will one day take control..........
Anonymouse
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 174
Joined: 02 Jun 2012, 22:20
Gender: Male

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by Anonymouse »

It's a joke.
I done about an hour and a half driving around then had to sit in the passenger seat while the instructor drove. All the while he was talking me through it like i was from a different planet and never been on the roads before :crazy:
Then had to fill in a wee form back at the office on his laptop. 3 hours overall, what a drag!

It's a waste of time. If you can drive and park you'll pass it no problem.
Lazycarton
Posts: 193
Joined: 15 Mar 2012, 18:52
Gender: Male

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by Lazycarton »

Anonymouse wrote:It's a joke.
I done about an hour and a half driving around then had to sit in the passenger seat while the instructor drove. All the while he was talking me through it like i was from a different planet and never been on the roads before :crazy:
Then had to fill in a wee form back at the office on his laptop. 3 hours overall, what a drag!

It's a waste of time. If you can drive and park you'll pass it no problem.
Just as I thought :mad
Pinky 1
Posts: 1510
Joined: 01 Mar 2009, 11:38
Gender: Male
Location: Wales

Re: RM Driving Test

Post by Pinky 1 »

Lazycarton wrote:No accidents, haven't stepped in an RM vehicle yet :Very Happy

But 3 hours? AND after I have finished for the day! Sod the bloody O/T I am well pissed off. Will have to try to be civil.
At our place, anybody having the changeover was encouraged to have it done in the afternoon as overtime.
If you didn't want/need/or couldn't be arsed with overtime, then three hours was taken off your duty time and you did it then.
You cannot be forced to do overtime, and our place was desperate for drivers.
"Cara yn bod 'n briod , dydy 'n fawr at ca a hun 'n anad berson a 'ch angen at blina achos 'r bwyso chan 'ch buchedd "
" I like being married,, it's great to find that one special person you want to bother for the rest of your life "