Gilroy DMV driving test (Daly City, San Mateo: house, public schools, live in)

[lvcntry]

My daughter is going to be taking her driving test in Gilroy at the end of the month, has anyone recently taken the test there and know roughly where they take you. I was wondering if they take you through the outlets or other places like that since that's always a busy area. I was going to be taking her down there the day before (we live in San Mateo county near Daly City) and practice driving the streets there that night and then again in the morning before her test which is at about 9:30. Any help would be greatly appreciated since she is one of those people that get very nervous when she takes tests.

[ferretkona]

If they sense you are familiar they will redirect you. Just practice full stops, parallel parking, etc,,

[lvcntry]

Well since she's not familiar with it that shouldn't be a problem. I give her a basis on how to judge that you're behind the crosswalk when you stop (they fail you for that in San Mateo) so we will definintely practice that and her parallel parking (as long as there are no cars that she has to park between she'll be fine).

[sonarrat]

For parallel parking, tell her to pull in front of the space and back in.. so, so much easier.

[Snort]

With all the foreign tourists walking around the outlet store area, I doubt they'd use that area for a driving test. Does google answer that question?

[lvcntry]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

For parallel parking, tell her to pull in front of the space and back in.. so, so much easier.

All her friends that have taken their driving tests have said that they don't actually have you parallel park between cars but just pull up to the curb and then back up about 30 ft.

[SloRoller]

I hope your daughter passed her test. Parallel parking is not as tough as many make it out to be. I just follow the instructions my Driver's Traning teacher gave us back in 1973. We had to train in a 1972 Plymouth Fury 4-door sedan. The technique still works today. (It's too bad they took Driver's Education and Driver's Training out of the Public Schools. It was great).

1. First, turn on your right turn signal so people behind you will have some idea of what you are about to to. Don't be one of those idiots that doesn't know what a turn signal of for or how or when to use it. It will only **** people off, and that will make an inexperienced driver more nervous and distracted. They don't need the extra pressure.

2. Determine if the space you want is large enough for your car. Pull up near the car in front of the space you want to park in, with your front bumper nearly parallel to, or even with the rear bumper of the car you want to park behind.

2. Look over as the empty space to see if your car will fit. You need to make sure that the rear of your car is not "overlapping" or even with the front bumper of the car behind the space you want to park in. You will need about 12" - 18" more space than the length of your car. You will be able to eyeball this distance with experience.

3. If the space is big enough, pull forward (remember, you're still in the traffic lane next to the parked cars) so that your front bumper is even with the front bumper of the car you want to park behind. You should be next to that car, about 12" - 16" away.

4. When it is safe, slowly begin to back up.

5. When the trailing edge (the edge toward the rear of your car) of your passenger door is almost even with the rear rear side window of the car you're parking behind, cut your wheel hard to the right while continuing to slowly roll backward. This will point the rear of your car into the space and toward the curb. (The point at which you begin to turn your wheels will differ depending on the lentht of your car and the length of the car you are parking behind. This is not an exact science).

6. Continue to roll back until your car is at approximately a 45 degree angle to the curb. At this point the rear of your car should be well into the parking space. Now it's time to tuck in the front of your car.

7. Once your car is 45 degrees to the curb, turn your steering wheel back to the left until your front tires are straight while continuing to roll backwards. Your car should now be rolling back in a straight line.

8. Check your spacing with the car you are parking behind...make sure you're not going to scrape it with your fender or bumper as you roll back.

9. Once the middle of your right front fender is even with the rear bumper of the care your are parking behind, turn your wheel to the left. The front of your car will begin to move toward the car you are parking behind. This will begin to bring the front of your car into the parking space. Check your distance to the car behind you, and be sure to check your distance to the car in front of you. You don't want to scrape your fender against the side or rear bumper of that car.

10. Once you're in the space you can make whatever adjustments need to be made. Be sure to leave enough space for you to get out and for the cars behind and in front you to get out as well. People sometimes do nasty things to your car if park on top of them.

It's not as complicated as it sounds, it just takes practice. I learned to drive in a 1966 Oldsmobile 98 4-door sedan (AKA The Battleship). Dad would not let us have the keys until we could parallel park the Olds. Now I can parallel park anything!

[lvcntry]

Well she takes her test on Thursday and now all they have you do for parallel parking is just pull up to a curb (usually there is no one there) and then back up for about 30 feet in a straight line. So it's not like it was when I took my test back in 1980. She doesn't parallel park anywhere anyways because most parking spaces are diaganol or like in small shopping centers. The only place that she would actually have to parallel park would be in front of a house and I know she's gonna only want to park in the driveway when she gets her car so she can avoid it at all costs. LOL And then of course at places there's always valet. LOL

[Ixthus]

How hard is it to pass? I failed twice in Redwod City b/c of all of the traffic. Is there a lot of traffic there?

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by Ixthus

How hard is it to pass? I failed twice in Redwod City b/c of all of the traffic. Is there a lot of traffic there?

If you have trouble driving in traffic, I don't want to see you on the road.. I almost rear-ended someone yesterday who decided to STOP before merging onto 237.. he had a phone in his hand of course.