Passing stage 2 of the RSI ADI exam is not as easy as you may think.Lack of training and preparation has people arriving for the test unprepared for what’s about to happen and they underestimate the level of detail required and therefore fail the test.
In this article we explain what the stage 2 test is all about ,the training that’s required , the accuracy level needed, the overall understanding of the core level needed to pass and 10 of the most common failing areas.
The test itself.
The test will be around 1 hour and 15 minutes long and will take in motorways,dual carriageways, rural and regional roads.Urban areas,housing estates and you will have to perform and demonstrate 6 mandatory topic manouvres.
- Left hand reverse
- Right hand reverse
- Turnabout
- Emergency Stop
- Parallel Parking
- Hill start.
To do these Manouvres accurately and the level needed to pass is a much different thing than how we drive everday and the level of observation and accuracy and detail takes time and practice to master.
The examiner is looking for a very high level of skill and competency for this part of the exam.
On the day. What happens exactly.
You will arrive 15 minutes before the exam
The tester will call you and explain what it is you can expect to happen on the test itself.
Instructions will be clear and concise and every step of the way it will be the same.Instructions given clearly and in good time.
You will make your way to the car where the examiner will check all of your discs on the windscreen to establish the insurance , Tax and Nct is up to date.They will then ask you to lift the bonnet and ask you questions in relation to a number of items under the bonnet for example,
- How do you test for the level of Oil in the engine
- Where does the oil go into the engine
- Wheres the water reservoir bottle to clean the windscreen
- How would you locate and test the level of coolant
Having closed the bonnet the tester will then ask you to demonstrate that the indicators and brakes are in working order.The test will not be conducted if a brake bulb or indicator bulb is not working.
On entering the car the tester will as a number of secondary control checks to establish your knowledge where everything is on the dashboard.
- You must know where to locate
- Hazard warning lights
- How to clear the windscreen if foged up
- How to turn on dipped and full lights
- Fog lights
- Water for the windscreen.
- Rear windscreen wiper function
Finally before you start the journey the examiner will ask you to demonstrate some final preparation checks which is simply a quick explanation of the Cockpit drill..DSSSM. Alot of people get caught on this as they didnt know this was part of the test.
You will then make your way to the test cemtre exit and off you go for 1 hour and 15 minutes of Advanced level driving.
The following 10 reasons are why people fail the stage 2 exam.
1.Underestimating the overall level required.
If you think you can get by with 2-3 hours training on this then you’re wasting you own time and money.It takes alot of commitment,practice and professional influence to get to the level needed.There is no quick or cheap way to reach the required standard.Only time and hard work and commitment is needed.It could be 8 hours it could be 14 hours Whatever it is it is to pass .That’s how we see it here at the Adi unit.
2.Inability to react promptly to hazards
Your level of anticipation and reaction must be razor sharp. The ability to show the examiner that you can forsee hazards or situations arising is crucial.1 hour and 15 minutes is a very long time under pressured circumstances of Test.We teach you how to read and scan the road ahead a form of “scan and plan” is what we call it
- Roundabouts.
There will be a number of complex Roundabouts on the test ranging from mini roundabouts to spiral roundabouts and sometimes having 3 or even 4 lane entries and maybe 6 or 7 exits off ( Walkinstown Roundabout).You need high levels of concentration and car control to be in the correct Lanes on approach, be at the correct speed and gear and observe effectively on each Roundabout.More often than not pupils get caught as a result of misjudjing a signal or intention of a driver already on the roundabout.We show you what the best practice is for the exam .
4.Insufficient observation at junctions
We do everything with our eyes, buy nice clothes,choose nice food, visit lovely places.
In the car our eyes keep us alive.
It’s what we see and forsee that keeps us safe.When we rush or don’t look properly is when the problems start.At junctions be in open or closed left or right if we rush the observation we are open ourselves up for major problems.Pupils tend to glance rather than observe effectively and more often think they have looked enough but they haven’t.Looking right and left is not the same as observing right and left.We show you what the difference is and how to avoid getting marks deducted for this.
5.Failure to complete the manouvres with competency.
There are 2 revese manouvres on the test.A left and right hand reverse around the corner.
Accuracy and observation are critical on this part.
You should be able to complete both with ease and efficiency and correct observation.
Pupils get caught trying to be over cautious or accurate but in lieu of their observation.Also the can end up hitting the kerb or not stopping as a hazard arrives .
- Emergency Stop
An Emergency Stop is exactly that.Stopping too slowly or fast can cause skidding .This takes understanding and practice.If the clutch goes down too early on this it makes it difficult to stop promptly.The mistake pupils make on this is they clutch before braking which we will show you is definitely not the way to do it.Also observation before moving off is very important.
- Motorway/duaal carriageway lane changing
You need to travel at the speed limit on these roads.
At times you will need to change Lanes in order to do the continuous door necessary.Vhanging lane at speed requires very high levels of observation and timing coupled with correct gear and car control.
Pupils get marked due to not overtaking at all and staying below the speed limit .They also get marked due to overtaking at a time when traffic behind was approaching at pace and should have waited.
Excessive blind spot checking on the move is a dangerous a t and should not happen.theres a difference between a side glance and a full body turn.
We show you how this section of the test needs to be done.
- Progress
Thought the length of time you will enter ,leave and reenter different speed limit zones.Each new road and location will have a different speed limit.You could find yourself on a dual carriageway coming off onto a regional road into an urban areas and back out onto a rural road.Some pupils don’t pick up the faster limits and remain at the lower speed limit and at times the faster limits too.
Anticipation and proper Reaction.
One of the main failure reasons is reaction.
Too slow at seeing the problems early enough and reacting in time.Everything is a potential hazard on the road and you need to always expect the unexpected to happen Could the lights change Amber as you approach, will the cyclist suddenly change course,will the child run out.Lazer thinking needs to happen on this to not get marked.
- Insufficient clearance to other vehicles
If you are too close to parked cars in estates or when overtaking you will be marked down Sometimes a grade 3 would be given if you are too close and too fast to parked cars.We show you what a proper way to do it would be.
When the training is done correctly with us then Stage 2 is a simple enough test.We know exactly what the tester is looking for and what keeps them happy .We have an uatvhed training recorded on stage 2 and our instructors are some of the highest qualified in not only Ireland but indeed Europe.
We hope to see you in person soon enough and until then we wish you safe driving
Ladybird ADI Unit.