1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,480 The Random Driving Test, sponsored by the Road Safety Authority. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:06,400 Did I pass? 3 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:11,839 Across the country, we're asking one simple question. 4 00:00:12,199 --> 00:00:14,440 Next junction out the end of the road, turn right. 5 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,879 If you had to redo your driving test right now... 6 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:20,760 Don't indicate until you're on the roundabout, isn't it? 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:22,599 Like, you know. 8 00:00:23,639 --> 00:00:27,120 Would you pass? And you could win up to ?1,000. 9 00:00:27,879 --> 00:00:29,440 Fault or no fault? 10 00:00:29,559 --> 00:00:30,959 It's a fault. 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:32,879 How!? No fault. 12 00:00:32,959 --> 00:00:34,080 Yes! 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,360 Did she pass or fail her driving test? 14 00:00:42,839 --> 00:00:46,879 Today we're in Athlone, where the driving test pass rate is 51%. 15 00:00:47,319 --> 00:00:51,319 Athlone is one of Ireland's oldest towns, beautiful to look at, 16 00:00:51,599 --> 00:00:52,839 trickier to drive through. 17 00:00:53,239 --> 00:00:55,639 The route brings traffic, busy junctions, 18 00:00:55,879 --> 00:00:58,559 narrow pinch points, and tight streets where 19 00:00:58,639 --> 00:01:00,800 pedestrians and other cars can get a little 20 00:01:00,839 --> 00:01:02,279 bit too close for comfort. 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,800 Then there's the N6 bypass where drivers have to merge with traffic 22 00:01:05,839 --> 00:01:08,319 moving at 100 kilometres an hour. 23 00:01:10,239 --> 00:01:12,040 First up, I'm at Golden Island Shopping 24 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,480 Centre to ask people about their driving test. 25 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:16,400 When did you do your test? 26 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:17,879 About 6 years ago. 27 00:01:17,919 --> 00:01:19,800 Oh, I'd say about maybe 8, 9 years. 28 00:01:19,839 --> 00:01:21,519 What's Athlone traffic like? What are the drivers like? 29 00:01:21,559 --> 00:01:22,599 Oh, hell. 30 00:01:22,639 --> 00:01:23,919 Eh, it's not great, no, being honest with you. 31 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:25,559 No, it's fairly busy. You're going round 32 00:01:25,599 --> 00:01:26,959 in circles half the time. 33 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,080 So have you had any incidents on the road then since you've 34 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,440 done your driving test? No, but a few, not my fault. 35 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,000 It's never their fault. 36 00:01:35,559 --> 00:01:38,639 Only a couple of them, it wasn't my fault, but it was a couple. 37 00:01:39,199 --> 00:01:40,639 It wasn't my fault now. 38 00:01:41,199 --> 00:01:43,440 Was it your fault? Yeah, I'd say so. 39 00:01:43,599 --> 00:01:45,760 Hey, we got one! Do you think you'd pass? 40 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,959 No, I don't think so. No, no, no, no, no. 41 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,519 Yes. Not right now. 42 00:01:50,919 --> 00:01:54,720 For today's test, we've someone who actually drives for a living. 43 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:56,519 Meet van driver Inga. 44 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,599 Inga got her full driving licence 10 years ago on her second 45 00:02:00,639 --> 00:02:04,239 attempt, and today she's going to take on our test in a manual. 46 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,480 Now, yeah, let's go for a little drive and we'll have a chat. 47 00:02:07,519 --> 00:02:09,040 Can you help me with this? 48 00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:11,800 How do I... Press that button. 49 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,639 There you go. Now you've started. 50 00:02:14,959 --> 00:02:17,400 We're actually not meant to go this way, we're meant to go down. 51 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,879 Oh, we're going the wrong way. 52 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,959 We don't care about one-way systems, all right? 53 00:02:24,839 --> 00:02:27,239 So tell me, are you feeling confident today? 54 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:28,440 No. 55 00:02:28,839 --> 00:02:30,319 Well, 50/50. 56 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:32,959 50/50 is good. I'm a good driver. 57 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:34,879 Have you ever had any crashes or? 58 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,559 A few small ones. Just a few. 59 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,599 Just a few small ones, no big deal. 60 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,040 Not my fault. 61 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:43,279 What do you think will come natural to you? 62 00:02:43,319 --> 00:02:44,599 Driving fast. 63 00:02:45,319 --> 00:02:46,839 No, that's not what I mean. 64 00:02:46,959 --> 00:02:49,440 Don't be saying to the tester, I'm great at driving fast. 65 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,639 Would your friends say you're a bit of a... 66 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,599 Crazy driver. Would they, yeah? 67 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,239 Especially when I'm rushing. 68 00:02:56,279 --> 00:02:59,040 Are you rushing most of the time? Yeah. 69 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,639 Oh, you cut out. 70 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:04,839 Goodbye, it says. 71 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,040 You take all the time you want because when we get back, 72 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:09,680 he's going to get back in. Oh, I know. 73 00:03:09,839 --> 00:03:11,760 I don't want that. 74 00:03:12,319 --> 00:03:13,400 So should we go for coffee then? 75 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,120 Yeah, we've gone for an ice cream. 76 00:03:15,239 --> 00:03:17,400 Coffee in one hand and ice cream in other hand. 77 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:20,879 All you gotta do is just do your thing now. 78 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:22,440 Right, best of luck. Thank you so much. 79 00:03:28,239 --> 00:03:29,760 You got this. 80 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,239 Will Inga pass or fail? 81 00:03:34,599 --> 00:03:37,680 That's Brian's call, a former RSA tester who's done 82 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,639 over 25,000 tests, and for the last time this series, he's back. 83 00:03:43,639 --> 00:03:45,839 Hello, how are you? Very good. 84 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,599 So whenever you're ready, and we're going left. 85 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:51,760 Yes. 86 00:03:53,959 --> 00:03:55,319 Sorry. 87 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,639 Now we're going to follow around to the right up here. 88 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,360 (HORN BLARES) 89 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,720 Now we're turning right at this next junction. 90 00:04:05,839 --> 00:04:06,879 Okay. 91 00:04:06,919 --> 00:04:09,559 We move off again, go directly ahead. 92 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,040 Okay, so I can stop there now. Thank you. 93 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,760 Okay, Inga, Brian the tester has gone 94 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,040 through all your test results. 95 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,440 We're about to find out, did you pass or did you 96 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:28,559 fail your driving test? 97 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,080 Start out with ?1,000 in the glove box for you. 98 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,160 Every fault you make, you get ?100 taken off that prize. 99 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,639 If you get 9 faults or more and you fail, you go 100 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,720 home with nothing. At the end, we're going to look back, 101 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:39,839 and if any of those faults 102 00:04:39,879 --> 00:04:42,480 is grade 3, dangerous, or potentially dangerous fault, 103 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,720 you get nothing and you fail. You go home with nothing at all. 104 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:46,760 We're starting with the hill start. 105 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,000 We're 7 minutes in, so what happened then? 106 00:04:49,879 --> 00:04:51,959 Whenever you're ready, you can move off again. 107 00:05:01,959 --> 00:05:02,959 We've stopped the video. 108 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:04,720 Brian, Fault or no fault? 109 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,480 No fault. Oh, so what happened? 110 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:09,680 Why is there no fault? 111 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,040 You show good observation, check your mirrors and blind spot, 112 00:05:14,519 --> 00:05:15,559 then move off safely. 113 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:17,879 So there, so we still have a thousand euros, 114 00:05:17,919 --> 00:05:20,440 and then the next thing we thought we better throw a hazard at you, 115 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:21,599 make it a little bit more difficult. 116 00:05:21,639 --> 00:05:23,559 So say hello to Des and his e-scooter. 117 00:05:23,599 --> 00:05:24,720 Look at this guy. 118 00:05:24,959 --> 00:05:27,720 Hi, I'm Des and I'm your e-scooter hazard for today. 119 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,839 Don't forget that roads are for all road users, 120 00:05:29,879 --> 00:05:32,279 so please do keep an eye out for me and I'll see you later. 121 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:33,760 Uh.. Look familiar? 122 00:05:33,919 --> 00:05:35,919 Oh yeah, he's still alive. 123 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,199 Okay, yeah, we know he's still alive, but we have to find out 124 00:05:39,599 --> 00:05:41,720 how you dealt with him when he got into your way. 125 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:42,760 So let's have a look at that. 126 00:05:48,879 --> 00:05:51,319 Oh, dodgy Des and his dicky e-scooter getting in your way. 127 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,199 Yeah, looks like you're doing all right to me. 128 00:05:53,599 --> 00:05:56,400 So slow, going so slow. 129 00:05:57,239 --> 00:05:59,599 Down below here, we'll be taking the next turn on the right. 130 00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:01,519 Okay, he's gone. 131 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,639 Oh no, you have to go after him. Yeah. 132 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,000 It's just, is it going to cost you £100? 133 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:08,559 Probably. Well, I don't know. 134 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:10,800 We'll find out. I don't know, I don't know. 135 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,599 Okay, that's it, you finally escaped him. 136 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,360 Brian, fault or no fault? 137 00:06:16,199 --> 00:06:17,480 No fault. Yeah, there you go. 138 00:06:17,599 --> 00:06:19,199 (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) 139 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,480 We set up this surprise hazard to test you, 140 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,360 and with the road conditions, the bridge, and oncoming traffic, 141 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,199 you correctly hold back. 142 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,319 Then, using all your van driver skills, you show good 143 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,360 observation and pass safely. 144 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:35,720 We're flying! You've done really well. 145 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:36,959 ?1,000 still. 146 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:38,559 Right, let's see what happened next then. 147 00:06:38,599 --> 00:06:40,279 Okay, so when you're ready, now you're safe, 148 00:06:40,319 --> 00:06:41,639 you can move off again. 149 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,720 I'm just still trying to figure out what's going on. 150 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,160 What do you think? Fine. 151 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:48,360 It looks fine to me. 152 00:06:50,199 --> 00:06:52,760 Brian, what happened there? Fault or no fault? 153 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,120 There's a fault. Ah. Oh no. What happened? 154 00:06:56,199 --> 00:06:57,239 What was the fault? 155 00:06:57,319 --> 00:06:58,879 It's observation moving off. 156 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,000 You have a zebra crossing in front, but you're still looking 157 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,000 behind as you move out onto the road. 158 00:07:04,559 --> 00:07:07,000 If anything happens ahead, you can't react. 159 00:07:07,319 --> 00:07:09,160 Okay, we lost £100, still ?900. 160 00:07:09,319 --> 00:07:11,279 So the next thing we did was the turnabout. 161 00:07:11,519 --> 00:07:13,120 So I love the way I'm putting we in this. 162 00:07:13,239 --> 00:07:15,919 Okay, so we did the turnabout. Let's see how we got on. 163 00:07:15,959 --> 00:07:18,519 Yeah, now what I'm going to get you to do here is I want 164 00:07:18,559 --> 00:07:21,040 you to turn the car. It's the turnabout manoeuvre. 165 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:23,800 I mean, like, you're just- you're looking all over the place. 166 00:07:23,879 --> 00:07:25,839 Well, I was trying. I was trying to look. 167 00:07:26,199 --> 00:07:28,720 Let's presume slow is good, right? 168 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:30,959 Now it's slow enough I can see what those people keep in their 169 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,279 front room, but that's all right as well. 170 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:33,480 Yeah. Yeah. 171 00:07:34,199 --> 00:07:35,959 What do you think? I think you did well. 172 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:38,519 Of course I did well. I took my time. 173 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:40,559 You definitely took your time. 174 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,040 This is why your test took 20 minutes longer than we 175 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,080 thought it would, isn't it? 176 00:07:46,919 --> 00:07:48,839 Okay, Brian, fault or no fault? 177 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:50,760 There's a fault. 178 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,279 Uh, still ?800. Why? 179 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,120 What was the fault? You didn't make proper 180 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:56,879 use of the width of the road. 181 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,040 I'd expect you to turn the car around in 3 here. 182 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,000 I'd allow 5, but it takes you 7 attempts. 183 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:05,720 That's a competency fault. 184 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,360 It was a big car to drive. 185 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:09,800 It is a big car. 186 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:11,879 Golfs are huge. Yeah, exactly. 187 00:08:11,959 --> 00:08:13,080 Yeah, it's a huge car. 188 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:14,800 We still have ?800, right? 189 00:08:14,919 --> 00:08:16,480 And we're coming nearer to the end, so let's see 190 00:08:16,519 --> 00:08:17,599 how we got on after that. 191 00:08:17,639 --> 00:08:19,800 The road behind you on the left is the road that I want you 192 00:08:19,839 --> 00:08:21,000 to reverse the vehicle into. 193 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,519 Oh, the reversing. Oh my God. 194 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,080 Why did you do that? What are you worried about? 195 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,160 Why did you do that? I took my time again. 196 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:32,360 I don't know if taking your time is a bad thing. 197 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,519 I don't know. Nice soft elbows. 198 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:38,080 Oh, no stiff arms there. 199 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:39,440 That looks good to me. 200 00:08:40,199 --> 00:08:42,400 Is that a fault or was that not a fault? 201 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:44,279 No fault. No fault. 202 00:08:44,319 --> 00:08:45,639 (CHEERS) Yeah, there you go. 203 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:46,959 See? Wow. 204 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,599 So what made that so perfect then? 205 00:08:49,879 --> 00:08:51,879 You really show off your van driver skills here. 206 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,959 You control the car well and your observation is excellent. 207 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,080 Flying. 208 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,680 See, the car is no problem to you, even if it is a huge Golf. 209 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,239 So 2 faults, ?800. 210 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:05,279 So let's see how you got on next. 211 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:09,000 The motor way. 212 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:10,480 Looks good to me. 213 00:09:13,519 --> 00:09:14,519 Oh, hold on. 214 00:09:18,279 --> 00:09:20,480 At least he was wearing pink. We're never going to miss him. 215 00:09:20,519 --> 00:09:21,599 It looks fine to me. 216 00:09:23,599 --> 00:09:24,879 Brian, fault or no fault? 217 00:09:25,599 --> 00:09:26,639 There's a fault. 218 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,040 (ALL GROAN) Ah, no, that's not... what happened? 219 00:09:30,199 --> 00:09:33,680 One thing you should never do is beckon a pedestrian. 220 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,319 Pedestrians are vulnerable road users, and once you wave them on, 221 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:39,000 they can feel pressure to go. 222 00:09:39,319 --> 00:09:41,120 But you don't control other traffic, 223 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:42,959 so you're putting them at risk. 224 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,040 Oh no. Oh yeah, I'm afraid so. 225 00:09:46,239 --> 00:09:48,800 Doing a good deed. I'll never do it again. Exactly. 226 00:09:48,919 --> 00:09:51,279 Never do a good deed. No good deed goes unpunished. 227 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,720 That's proof. Did we get to the end? 228 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:55,239 We have ?700 left. 229 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,279 Just down to the end here and we rejoin the road itself here. 230 00:09:58,360 --> 00:09:59,599 Okay, we're turning left. 231 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,360 So this is near the end, right? Nearly at the end, right? 232 00:10:02,519 --> 00:10:03,519 Nearly. 233 00:10:03,919 --> 00:10:05,239 Oh yeah, this one. 234 00:10:06,639 --> 00:10:08,599 I know what was wrong going in. What did you do? 235 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:09,720 Hold on. 236 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,080 I was trying to get out and they were on my side. 237 00:10:12,639 --> 00:10:13,879 They're on your side? 238 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,760 Yeah, they were like moving around the vehicle there. 239 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:18,760 But you're waiting though. 240 00:10:20,839 --> 00:10:22,239 Brian, fault or no fault? 241 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,559 A fault. Ah, get out of it, will ya? 242 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:26,160 Oh no. What do you mean a fault? 243 00:10:26,319 --> 00:10:27,480 What are you on about now? 244 00:10:27,519 --> 00:10:30,440 Before you turn left, you should always make sure it's safe. 245 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,639 You're moving out onto the road while you're still looking 246 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:34,919 over your shoulder. 247 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:36,559 You've committed before checking. 248 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,239 Then you have to brake to avoid the oncoming cars. 249 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,879 But sure, I let them pass. She did let them pass. 250 00:10:41,919 --> 00:10:43,559 Yeah, I did let them pass. But you committed. 251 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,440 That other driver had to actually slow down. 252 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,480 But he was at fault because he was on my side. 253 00:10:48,519 --> 00:10:49,800 He was passing the obstruction. 254 00:10:50,279 --> 00:10:52,400 You're entering the road, he's already on the road. 255 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:53,639 It was not fault. 256 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:55,080 I don't... well, I don't think so either. 257 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:56,839 I don't think so either, but it's not up to me. 258 00:10:56,879 --> 00:10:58,519 I don't know what I'm talking about. 259 00:10:58,599 --> 00:11:01,319 Okay, ?600 is what we got to the end with, 260 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,919 but we do have to find out if any of those faults was a Grade 261 00:11:03,959 --> 00:11:05,559 3 fault, a dangerous fault. 262 00:11:05,680 --> 00:11:07,000 potentially dangerous fault. 263 00:11:07,599 --> 00:11:08,760 And if they were, you get nothing. 264 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,199 You get no money at all and you fail your test. 265 00:11:11,279 --> 00:11:15,800 Okay, so were any of these faults a grade 3 fault? 266 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:18,440 Observation moving off. 267 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:21,400 Competency on the turnabout. 268 00:11:22,319 --> 00:11:23,800 Beckoning pedestrians. 269 00:11:24,959 --> 00:11:26,400 Observation turning left. 270 00:11:26,959 --> 00:11:30,120 Brian, did we pass or fail? 271 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:32,559 Was there a grade 3 fault? 272 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,680 It was touch and go with the beckoning. 273 00:11:36,279 --> 00:11:37,559 Beckoning, okay. 274 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,160 But it was controlled because of the type of junction it was, 275 00:11:40,279 --> 00:11:42,239 and you didn't beckon somebody to cross 276 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,480 2 lanes of traffic. There were no grade 3 faults. 277 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,400 (CHEERS) I did, I did, I did. 278 00:11:49,959 --> 00:11:51,319 Well done. Thank you so much. 279 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,160 Well done. Thank you. So, £600. It's a good day's work. 280 00:11:54,239 --> 00:11:56,839 It was very hard to pass it with instructor beside me. 281 00:11:56,879 --> 00:12:00,000 After 10 years driving, we all pick up some bad habits. 282 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,360 I'll never do a good deed again. Yeah, we've learned a lot today. 283 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:06,080 After the break, we're in Navan where travel agent 284 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,559 Trisha is just brushing up on her rules of the road. 285 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,160 Yeah, I have to be more observant. 286 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,519 Yeah, like going through a red light like the way you just did. 287 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:15,279 I didn't actually, that was not... I know, actually, 288 00:12:15,319 --> 00:12:18,080 I didn't, um, I definitely didn't break it. 289 00:12:21,879 --> 00:12:24,400 The Random Driving Test, sponsored by the 290 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:25,559 Road Safety Authority. 291 00:12:26,279 --> 00:12:27,480 Did I pass? 292 00:12:29,839 --> 00:12:33,480 The Random Driving Test, sponsored by the Road Safety Authority. 293 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:35,440 Did I pass? 294 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,519 Across the country, we're asking one simple question: 295 00:12:40,919 --> 00:12:45,120 if you had to redo your driving test right now, would you pass? 296 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,360 If you do, you drive off with ?1,000. 297 00:12:49,879 --> 00:12:52,639 And as we reach the end of the series, we thought it might 298 00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:54,680 be nice to bring you back to where it all began. 299 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,599 So in the summer of 2025, we went down to Navan to test this 300 00:12:58,639 --> 00:13:01,319 idea out, and our previous driving test 301 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,400 tester and driving instructor, Niall McDaid, he marked 302 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:05,839 the test for us on the day. 303 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,440 What'd you think of him, Brian? He did a really good job. 304 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,160 An excellent test, but he really did annoy our 305 00:13:10,199 --> 00:13:12,480 driver in Navan, didn't he? He did. He did, yeah. 306 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,199 So welcome to Navan. 307 00:13:15,639 --> 00:13:18,680 where the driving test has a pass rate of 55%. 308 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:22,639 People who've done the test here talk about the tricky hill start 309 00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:26,279 at Springfield Glen and the number of tight roundabouts in the town 310 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,919 with ramps and pedestrian crossings. 311 00:13:30,199 --> 00:13:33,040 I popped into Navan town centre to chat with the locals 312 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:34,760 about their driving. How's lads? 313 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:36,400 When did you pass your driving test? 314 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,440 Oh, I can't remember, it was that long ago. 315 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,279 So you have a licence? I do, of course, yeah. 316 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,760 When'd you pass your test? I didn't pass my test. 317 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,760 It was before the test came out, 1964. 318 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,760 So if I told you you could win like £1,000 to pass your driving 319 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,519 test on the spot today, you think you might be able to do it? 320 00:13:55,839 --> 00:13:57,800 I'm busy all day. 321 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,040 I'll tell you what, if you pass your test today, 322 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:03,839 faultless pass test today, I'll give you £1,000. 323 00:14:03,879 --> 00:14:05,319 Is that a deal? That's a deal. 324 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,000 I'm... I wouldn't be as confident as I was 40-odd years ago, 325 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:09,919 let's put it that way. Not a chance. 326 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,559 Oh, I'd be very confident. 327 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,680 Well, Trishas up for the test, so we gave her a choice between 328 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:19,080 an automatic or a manual. 329 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,160 She's gone for the gear stick, and we're off to the start 330 00:14:22,199 --> 00:14:23,800 of the test route. So just turn it on? 331 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,239 You just turn it on. 332 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,480 Whenever you're comfortable. Okey-doke. 333 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,279 It's been a while since I drove the Golf, and... 334 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:33,400 oh yeah... 335 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,319 That is the gear stick. 336 00:14:39,559 --> 00:14:40,919 Yeah, yeah. 337 00:14:40,959 --> 00:14:44,040 Like, you remember any of the old tips now that you probably 338 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,480 stopped doing or started? 339 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:47,519 Yeah, I have. 340 00:14:47,559 --> 00:14:52,120 Like, obviously, uh, watching the speed limit and the, um... 341 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,720 But observing. Like, most people fail observing. 342 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,559 Yeah, I have to be more observing. 343 00:14:56,599 --> 00:14:59,000 Yeah. And, um, I have to, uh... 344 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:00,959 Like, going through a red light like the way you just did. 345 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,000 I didn't actually. 346 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,480 That was not... no, that definitely... well, him, 347 00:15:04,519 --> 00:15:08,279 but I actually, I didn't, um, I definitely didn't break it. 348 00:15:08,839 --> 00:15:11,239 It was about to go, about to go green. 349 00:15:11,639 --> 00:15:13,800 Okay. Yeah, most people that sit 350 00:15:13,839 --> 00:15:16,279 in the passenger seat with me, actually, you'd think they had 351 00:15:16,319 --> 00:15:18,760 a brake on their side, like, because they're normally putting 352 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:19,879 their foot down like that. 353 00:15:19,919 --> 00:15:22,040 All right, so you're, you're a bit nippy, are you? 354 00:15:22,559 --> 00:15:24,040 Probably, yeah, yeah. 355 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:26,879 Are you feeling more or less confident going 356 00:15:26,919 --> 00:15:28,120 into it than you were? 357 00:15:28,199 --> 00:15:31,400 I'm too comfortable in my... the way I drive that I just have to 358 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:33,959 snap out of it and go, listen, this is a test. 359 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,199 like, you know, we're here now, is that all right? 360 00:15:36,279 --> 00:15:37,879 Yeah, so we'll pull in here. 361 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,360 Fine, absolutely, I got this. 362 00:15:42,519 --> 00:15:45,360 I'm glad you blessed yourself and not blessed yourself 363 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,879 in front of him. 364 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:52,760 Pass or fail, that's up to Niall, a former official RSA tester. 365 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:54,800 What will he make of Trisha's driving? 366 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:57,760 Hiya, Trisha. Hi, how are you? 367 00:15:57,919 --> 00:15:59,879 Good, my name is Niall, I'll be your tester today. 368 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,040 How are you? How are you keeping? Good, no bother. Good. 369 00:16:02,239 --> 00:16:03,639 Thank you. 370 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,199 Now at the roundabout, you're going to take the second 371 00:16:05,239 --> 00:16:06,879 exit, which is the road directly ahead. 372 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:08,800 Next junction, turn left. 373 00:16:08,879 --> 00:16:11,279 Okay, so whenever you're ready, you can move off again. 374 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,400 Right, turn your car around. 375 00:16:15,919 --> 00:16:18,720 Just follow the whole way down to the roundabout, 5th exit, 376 00:16:18,879 --> 00:16:20,080 just the road all the way around. 377 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,040 So we're coming toward the end of your test. 378 00:16:34,599 --> 00:16:37,639 Okay, Trisha, our tester Niall has gone through your driving test 379 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,000 results and we're about to find out if you passed 380 00:16:40,319 --> 00:16:44,440 or if you failed. Okay, we start with ?1,000 and for every fault 381 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,080 you make you lose ?100. 382 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:50,120 If you have 9 or more faults, it's an overall fail, 383 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,559 but then if we look back and any of those faults were a grade 3 384 00:16:53,599 --> 00:16:55,480 fault, you also fail straight away. 385 00:16:55,639 --> 00:16:57,800 We're gonna go and we're gonna start now at the beginning 386 00:16:57,879 --> 00:16:58,879 of your test. 387 00:16:59,319 --> 00:17:01,400 At the next junction, you're gonna turn left. 388 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:11,959 First stop in the first minute of the test, Niall. 389 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:14,440 Uh, we have a position turning left. 390 00:17:14,839 --> 00:17:16,800 Okay, so you need to have your car more to the left. 391 00:17:16,839 --> 00:17:18,519 You've come out a little bit square. 392 00:17:19,319 --> 00:17:22,000 You're turning left here, but you're sitting too far right. 393 00:17:22,239 --> 00:17:23,680 Look at the gap. 394 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,599 Another vehicle could come up your inside. 395 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,760 For a left turn, you should be positioned on the left. 396 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,199 So that's a fault? That's a fault. 397 00:17:31,239 --> 00:17:33,800 Down to ?900. That's okay, it's just ?900. 398 00:17:33,839 --> 00:17:35,440 Oh, come here, listen, I better go back to my desk 399 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,839 because I'd say I must have done that about 50 times. 400 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,319 We're only getting started, let's see what happens next. 401 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,000 Okay, so whenever you're ready, you can move off again. 402 00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:47,919 Was I overlooking left and right? 403 00:17:47,959 --> 00:17:49,559 A little bit at the start, but you're alright. 404 00:17:49,599 --> 00:17:51,919 Yeah, yeah, that's just paranoia though, isn't it? 405 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,360 Okay, second stop just after the hill start. 406 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,120 Is it a fault or no fault? No fault. 407 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,680 Woo! Hey, now see, see, now we're at it. 408 00:18:02,919 --> 00:18:05,160 Good hill start, good observation, 409 00:18:05,199 --> 00:18:08,160 good use of mirrors and signal, and a nice smooth takeoff. 410 00:18:08,959 --> 00:18:10,319 Okay, so we're still on ?900. 411 00:18:10,639 --> 00:18:11,800 We're doing good, we're doing good. 412 00:18:11,839 --> 00:18:13,239 Let's see what happens next. 413 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:14,959 Okay, so at this point I'm going to ask you 414 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,199 to turn your car around 415 00:18:16,239 --> 00:18:18,319 on the road to face the opposite direction. 416 00:18:19,279 --> 00:18:20,879 This is my 3... is this my turn thing? 417 00:18:20,919 --> 00:18:22,959 Turnabout. Oh, turnabout. 418 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,599 Yeah, I can see me going into a minus here. 419 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:49,680 Niall, fault or no fault? There's a fault here. 420 00:18:50,199 --> 00:18:53,080 Oh, give over! How? 421 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,639 So on the turnabout, you need to make full use 422 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,199 of the width of the road and use the full extent of your steering. 423 00:18:58,239 --> 00:19:00,360 Okay, so given the width of this road, I would expect 424 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,040 you to do that in 3. I got... 425 00:19:02,319 --> 00:19:03,680 and how long did I do it in? 426 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,319 5. Oh, it was more than 3. 427 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:06,559 We saw you do more than 3. 428 00:19:07,319 --> 00:19:09,720 Look here, you don't use the full width of the road. 429 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,440 So you run out of space and can't complete the turnabout in 3. 430 00:19:14,239 --> 00:19:15,400 That's a competency fault. 431 00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:19,760 That's okay, it just cost you £100, it's no big deal. 432 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:21,720 Shouldn't! We're ?800 in. 433 00:19:21,839 --> 00:19:24,559 Okay, next thing we did was we deliberately put a little bit 434 00:19:24,599 --> 00:19:26,839 of a hazard in the way to see how you deal with it. 435 00:19:26,959 --> 00:19:29,680 I know. So say hello to Conor the cyclist. 436 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:31,680 I've seen him. Hi, I'm Conor. 437 00:19:31,919 --> 00:19:32,919 I'm your cycling hazard. 438 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:34,800 Please give me enough room as you pass. 439 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:37,480 So, how did you deal with Conor? 440 00:19:58,279 --> 00:20:00,919 Niall, fault or no fault? Trisha, no fault. 441 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:06,279 Woo! Everything was excellent here. You gave great clearance. 442 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:08,360 Yeah, you gave a great signal. 443 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:09,919 Your mirror work was excellent. 444 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:12,160 You handled this surprise hazard really well. 445 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,040 You spot them early, check your mirrors, 446 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:19,000 signal, and pass safely, leaving plenty of room. 447 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:21,959 See, we're flying, we're flying. 448 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:23,559 Okay, let's see what happened next. 449 00:20:24,879 --> 00:20:27,360 So what I'd like you to do is to reverse into this road 450 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,800 on the left, continue reversing while it's safe 451 00:20:29,839 --> 00:20:32,000 to do so, keeping reasonably close to the left. 452 00:20:33,639 --> 00:20:36,519 Oh, this is my reverse one without hitting the curb. 453 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,120 Car coming up behind me. 454 00:20:43,319 --> 00:20:45,480 No, no, no, you were trying to get me there. 455 00:20:45,639 --> 00:20:46,720 You were trying. 456 00:20:46,839 --> 00:20:47,919 Oh, I know I'm very serious. 457 00:20:47,959 --> 00:20:49,919 You're very serious all the time. Oh my God. 458 00:20:52,599 --> 00:20:54,919 5th stop, reversing around the corner. 459 00:20:54,959 --> 00:20:56,760 How did you do? Fault or no fault, Niall? 460 00:20:56,919 --> 00:20:59,319 No fault. Yeah, there you go. 461 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,120 I was competent with that one. 462 00:21:01,199 --> 00:21:03,599 Good direct observation out the back window here. 463 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,160 Good car control all the way through. 464 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,319 You go a little wide, but it's not enough for a fault. 465 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:11,480 I think we're doing pretty well. 466 00:21:11,519 --> 00:21:13,480 We're more than halfway there, so let's, let's see 467 00:21:13,519 --> 00:21:14,639 what happens next. 468 00:21:15,199 --> 00:21:16,680 Next junction, turn left. 469 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,160 I was smiling there a little bit, but when I cracked a little 470 00:21:20,199 --> 00:21:21,239 bit of a smile there... 471 00:21:21,279 --> 00:21:22,639 I don't know if that's good for you or not. 472 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:23,919 I know, I know, I know. 473 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,639 I thought I was on my way back. 474 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,120 Okay, it's only 1 minute since the last stop. 475 00:21:30,239 --> 00:21:32,120 What's after happening this time, Niall? 476 00:21:32,319 --> 00:21:34,839 We're in fault. Positional fault for turning left. 477 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,279 Just came out square again, too much room left 478 00:21:37,319 --> 00:21:39,199 on the left-hand side. Oh, you really are now, um, 479 00:21:39,239 --> 00:21:41,120 pushing it. ..you really are, you really are. 480 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,080 You're positioned again as if you're turning right. 481 00:21:44,639 --> 00:21:47,319 For a left turn, you should be in tight to the left. 482 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:49,160 That's a fault. 483 00:21:49,599 --> 00:21:51,440 Well, not over yet. 484 00:21:52,239 --> 00:21:53,319 You're still doing okay. 485 00:21:53,639 --> 00:21:55,599 Let's carry on, let's keep going with the test. 486 00:21:56,559 --> 00:21:58,879 And over the main junction, we're gonna be turning right. 487 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,040 Niall, what's after happening here? 488 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:11,680 We have a steering fault here. 489 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,400 You used underhanded steering to steer the wheel. 490 00:22:14,879 --> 00:22:16,480 It limits your steering ability. 491 00:22:16,879 --> 00:22:19,680 Okay, so the control of the car is not the same, not the best. 492 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,800 Look here, your left hand is gripping 493 00:22:23,839 --> 00:22:26,000 the wheel underhand as you make the turn. 494 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:28,639 That's poor technique and it's restricting your 495 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:29,720 control of the steering. 496 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:31,639 Let's carry on with the test. 497 00:22:40,319 --> 00:22:41,760 Okay, that's another stop. 7 stops. 498 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:43,080 No, no, it's not my fault. 499 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:44,360 It's your final stop. 500 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:46,319 I don't know really what happened there. 501 00:22:46,360 --> 00:22:48,360 Niall, can you explain it to us? There is another fault. 502 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:49,959 Oh, give over now Niall, will you? 503 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,400 You failed to bring the car to a complete stop at a stop sign. 504 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,279 You rolled over the stop, I'm afraid. 505 00:22:54,599 --> 00:22:57,440 You're coming up to the junction here, but you trickle right 506 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:58,879 through the stop line. 507 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:01,879 You don't bring the car to a full and complete stop. 508 00:23:02,239 --> 00:23:03,239 That's a fault. 509 00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:04,800 So you have 5 faults. 510 00:23:05,519 --> 00:23:08,400 That means we've got ?500 in the bank, okay? 511 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:09,559 ?500, that's for you. 512 00:23:09,839 --> 00:23:13,720 But if any of those faults was a grade 3 fault, it means you fail 513 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,480 anyway, and you also get no money. 514 00:23:15,959 --> 00:23:20,239 So you fail the test and you get no money if there's a grade 3. 515 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,760 So this is where we find out. Niall, how did she do? 516 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:26,480 Position turning left twice. 517 00:23:27,559 --> 00:23:30,919 Competency on the turnabout. Steering fault. 518 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:33,519 Failure to stop at a stop sign. 519 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,959 Trisha, you have no grade 3 faults. 520 00:23:38,239 --> 00:23:41,160 Congratulations, you passed the test today. 521 00:23:41,239 --> 00:23:42,239 There you go. 522 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,440 I was going... Amazing! That's actually incredible. 523 00:23:45,559 --> 00:23:48,080 That is so, so hard. That is absolutely brilliant. 524 00:23:48,239 --> 00:23:50,959 The driving test today definitely opened my eyes to a lot of my, 525 00:23:51,319 --> 00:23:52,680 um, driving habits. 526 00:23:52,839 --> 00:23:55,639 Definitely was an eye-opener for a lot of things. 527 00:23:55,839 --> 00:23:57,800 I honestly thought it was impossible. 528 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,199 I wouldn't have taken the job if I thought it could be done. 529 00:24:00,239 --> 00:24:01,400 Well done, well done. 530 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,120 Over the past 6 weeks, we've asked people all across 531 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,239 the country to redo their driving test. 532 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:09,959 Some passed. Yeah! 533 00:24:10,239 --> 00:24:12,559 And, ah, some failed. Failed your test. 534 00:24:12,959 --> 00:24:14,919 But what about you? Would you pass? 535 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:17,279 Or would Brian find a few bad habits? 536 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:19,639 There's a fault. You tricked me like. 537 00:24:19,879 --> 00:24:22,680 Oh! Either way, safe driving out there, folks! 538 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,360 ♪♪ 539 00:24:48,319 --> 00:24:49,559 SUBTITLES: RTÉ, 2026. 540 00:24:57,360 --> 00:24:58,720 The Random Driving Test. 541 00:24:59,279 --> 00:25:01,000 Sponsored by the Road Safety Authority. 542 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:02,800 Did I pass?