Disappointing bureaucrats

In general, the New South Wales drivers theory test is a Bumper Book of Common Sense. However, I’m disappointed by question FD035:

FD035 – Fatigue and Defensive Driving RUH
You are driving an older relative for an appointment and are running late. They ask you to go faster to get there on time. You should –
a) Choose a safe speed and say you will not go any faster
b) Take the advice of a more experience driver and go faster where you can.
c) Drop them off at the train station.

According to the Bumper Book of Common Sense, a) is the only permissible answer.

This is bad and wrong. When some silly old sod is hassling a kid (since 95%+ of Australians learn to drive in their teens) to drive dangerously, “here’s the train station, now piss off” is clearly the most appropriate response…

4 thoughts on “Disappointing bureaucrats

  1. It's all a bit wishy-washy – even (b) has the caveat, 'where you can', which doesn't seem too unsafe. But you're right that (c) seems the best answer.

  2. Yeah, but you still need to do (a) while on the way to do (c), it being the first priority. They're right, but the question's mildly rubbish.

  3. What are you taking the test for – don't you have a UK license? http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/reco

    Need to know:
    Check for pedestrians when turning at traffic lights.
    Park in the direction of travel ( or whatever angle the signs dictate).
    Park at least 10m from a junction.
    On motorways, undertaking/ overtaking / staying in outside lane / driving as close to the car in front as possible without actually making contact
    are all perfectly normal.
    If you use a GPS in the Sydney CBD, it will get confused by the tall buildings and take you over the bridge – no matter what.

  4. No, I don't – never got around to it in the UK, which was an error but never mind. And yup, have pretty much picked up all the above from walking/cabs/buses, except the GPS one (which is a bit of a shame, given how insanely incomprehensible directions are in the Sydney CBD. Not on foot, obviously, but the interplay of tunnels, toll roads, Distributors etc…).

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