Kiddo passed the driver's test today

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Jun 5, 2003
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Apple Valley, California
She had an appointment at the DMV today. She took the test in our lifted Fjcruiser. The FJ has zero rear visibility and they docked her for using her mirrors instead of of turning around and looking out the back.

Due to the design of the FJ nobody can see out the back. But that's what they wanted anyway.

I recommend my jeep as it's smaller and has better visibility but is a stick. She was afraid of stalling the jeep during the test which is an immediate fail.

After the test the DMV employee mentioned that most people use the smallest car they have and to pass on your first try in a bigger car is more difficult. There was 7 cars in line to take the test and she had the biggest.
 
Who in the world turns around and looks out the back while backing up? Maybe I’m just ignorant on that but I’ve never seen anyone do that. I was always taught by my dad and my drivers ed class to back with mirrors and backup camera if equipped. Back with mirrors was always the biggest thing they would remind us of. But either way congratulations on her passing the test.
 
We're not sure who's more proud... you or her! 😉

Either way, such fantastic news... I hope she has a long lifetime of happy motoring. It's a wonderful thing.
 
Well you tried your hardest with the lifted FJ and she still passed. Welcome to the world of being a teeny bit nervous while she's out and about and not sleeping until she's home at night. :oops: Passing on the first try is a nice confidence booster.
 
Who in the world turns around and looks out the back while backing up? Maybe I’m just ignorant on that but I’ve never seen anyone do that. I was always taught by my dad and my drivers ed class to back with mirrors and backup camera if equipped. Back with mirrors was always the biggest thing they would remind us of. But either way congratulations on her passing the test.
In the state of Texas they doc you if you use back up camera. I honestly back up better even with a trailer without a backup camera.
 
Probably the best tip anywhere for passing the test is to vocalize everything. "I am reversing, looking out my rear glass." "I am stopped, but checking distance to the bumper with my backup camera." Modify to your particular state's peculiarities.

Our drivers ed school teacher rode in my personal car with my kid for 40 minutes a week before the exam, on the actual streets used by the DMV. Helped with all the traps, like a stop line too far back to actually see cross traffic, requiring a second stop.

I took my test in Massachusetts with a stick shift, LOL. Turning into the sun, a bicyclist illegally zipped across a crosswalk. I didn't run him over. Passed, first time. 🏆
 
Who in the world turns around and looks out the back while backing up?
Me. defensive driving. There's always that one in a thousand chance that something is hidden in a blind spot. The mirrors should be adjusted to mostly eliminate blind spots, the key word being mostly. It's no different than looking multiple times before entering a street or "clearing the intersection" even when you have a green light, or glancing in your rear view mirror while braking to make a left turn (avoid getting rear ended).

My current car doesn't have a backup camera.
 
Sadly the DMV is slow at adopting changes. The camera’s are mandated now on any newer vehicles and get recall notices if they have issues for safety reasons. Between blind spot, cross traffic alerts etc. they should be used.

I use mirrors and camera. Way old days I would turn my head all the way with my right arm on back of passenger headrest to turn easier.

There was an article not too long ago about DMV examiners failing kids with Tesla’s. The car would start braking when foot was hovering over brake pedal or something like that. I think they referred to the 1 pedal driving thing it has. The families also only had Tesla’s and that’s what the kids learned on but the examiners didn’t know how it works.

If I didn’t post further back on thread with OP then search on me for streetsurvival.org and have her take that in something that qualifies. I don’t think they allow lifted vehicles due to higher COG.

Congratulations to her, and you.
 
Who in the world turns around and looks out the back while backing up?
I use mirrors and turn around and look. There are times when backing a trailer that things in the mirrors can be misleading because you can't get enough prospective. A turn of the head and look will reset your prospective and then it's back to the mirrors. The backup camera is completely useless when backing a trailer.
 
As you can see even a stock FJ is in impossible to see out the back unless something is very high. The rear window is shaped round on the bottom to match the tire.

Screenshot_20250114-052632~2.webp
 
I grew up driving single cab LT’s - so yeah - you looked back …
2025: My son has a clip on digital mirror that works as good as the factory iterations - blind spots gone …
 
Probably the best tip anywhere for passing the test is to vocalize everything. "I am reversing, looking out my rear glass." "I am stopped, but checking distance to the bumper with my backup camera." Modify to your particular state's peculiarities.
I agree 100%
Vocalizing comes in handy in many situations in life.

Example: Lift on 3 ... 1,2,3 ....lift
 
Who in the world turns around and looks out the back while backing up? Maybe I’m just ignorant on that but I’ve never seen anyone do that. I was always taught by my dad and my drivers ed class to back with mirrors and backup camera if equipped. Back with mirrors was always the biggest thing they would remind us of. But either way congratulations on her passing the test.
Who does that? Anyone who has read and understands the drivers handbook in their state. Screenshot of VA handbook shown.

Good thing you didn’t make any other mistakes, or you would have failed your test.

Turning around and looking is still required.

IMG_0506.webp
 
Sometimes they just want to tag you so no perfect score.

I got a few "wide turns" (left turn from left lane????) Right turn with curb that sticks out.
and one for not turning on my blinker, turning it off and turning it back on within 1second.
but hey that was almost 30 years ago.
 
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