Learn to ride with Visordown: Making progress
Why it's important to keep with the traffic flow
Posted: 15 January 2008
by Tim Skilton
 Make progress...and that means overtake if necessaryIMAGINE YOU'RE on your bike test, riding along an open stretch stretch of dual carriageway at 70mph. There's another vehicle ahead travelling at 60mph in the left hand lane. The road and traffic conditions are good and there's plenty of room ahead to overtake. What do you do? Common sense says we should play safe, ease off and sit behind the vehicle in front - after all, there's a bloke behind on a big BMW watching every move you make. But many candidates have failed their test for not overtaking in this sort of situation. It sounds bizarre but one of the most common reasons for failing is not going fast enough. It'd be a reasonable assumption to think the best way of passing would be to play it safe and have a steady tootle around the test route, but that isn't necessarily always the case. Since the inception of Direct Access back in 1997, examiners want to see a candidate can handle the power of the bigger capacity machines - and that means showing you're capable at overtaking, as well as the slow-speed control stuff. They'll expect you to recognise the speed limit of the road you're on and whisk your machine promptly to the required speed - limply accelerating to 70mph is a sure-fire way to failure. Even in a 30mph speed limit, if road and traffic conditions allow, examiners will expect you to promptly accelerate up to the posted speed limit in a safe, smooth and controlled manner. Bike examiners like to see riders that exude confidence. We're not saying you should tear around the test route like an idiot - just show the examiner you're confident, in control and know what you're doing.
Discuss this story
You are expected to show your ability to handle the bike at speed on your test. So perhaps less about making progress, more about confidence. Anyway it's only a minor.
Posted: 16/01/2008 at 10:32
I got stuck behind plenty of slower vehicles on the test, but never had an opportunity to overtake them safely. Weather conditions did permit the slower speeds tho 
It was bone dry and sunny......???!!!! 
Posted: 16/01/2008 at 11:04
What about filtering though? Been a while since my test but keep coming across riders sittingin happily  in the middle of a lane in stationary traffic! My fault for learning in London?
Posted: 17/01/2008 at 23:27
Bladerideressex wrote (see) dont filter on a test! much easier to pass sitting in a queue!  When it is obvious that you can filter, e.g. past stationary traffic, the examinor might ask you to filter. Just do it carefully at low speed and look out for those gaps at junctions! Cheers, Mansie
Posted: 18/01/2008 at 05:29
The police use Roadcraft to base their riding on-worth getting a copy to read and using it as the basis for your riding. A lot of riders also use the "Thirds Rule", which is basically from starting off the first third is used to get to the speed limit as quickly as you can, the next third to travel at that speed, and the final third is for adjusting for the next hazard (whether braking/decellerating or adjusting road position). Three stages, even though it maybe a tenth, seven tenthes then two tenths, you get the idea why they use thirds.
Posted: 20/01/2008 at 11:13
I passed my direct access today and received 3 minors, 2 for inappropriate speed. Not riding fast but riding too slow. The examiner also pointed out at the end of the test that I should have filtered on the one occasion where I had the opportunity. I would not have made much progress but he stated its the benefit of a bike and it was safe to do so...
Posted: 24/01/2008 at 22:23
I passed my direct access today and received 3 minors, 2 for inappropriate speed. Not riding fast but riding too slow. The examiner also pointed out at the end of the test that I should have filtered on the one occasion where I had the opportunity. I would not have made much progress but he stated its the benefit of a bike and it was safe to do so... Well done - what bike ya gettin? Also, drinks on you mate? newbie & celebrating!
Posted: 24/01/2008 at 22:29
's funny.. was discussing this with a friend this evening without having seen it on here. We both passed out DAS and were both told that the examiner we had was happy to see us make good progress during the test. Mine said to me "I saw you looking back to see if i was still there. I wouldn't have worried about losing me If i were you." He was driving a V8 Jag of somesort and wasn't exactly shy himself about using the power it had
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 01:04
Congratulations Paul! An hour before I took my test my Riding Instructor gave me a "dummy test" and I failed the dummy-test 3 times  but when the real examiner came out, I got my act together and got an error-free pass. . Guess I was lucky. Anyway, you got the shit part out of the way - now the fun starts. FFS though, ride safe while you build up your experience levels. Tom. My Bike Website
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 15:17
My test was due at 14:30 today and just got cancelled this morning due to 'high winds'... Fabulous, although i'd rather them cancel than me hold back and fail for not making progress.... 
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 15:21
Aw CC thats a shame! I had a test abandoned due to heavy rain and flooded roads last year...examiner just dumped my student half way through the test and refused to let him ride back to the test centre - made me go out and find him! I thought the guy would be really mad but he was grateful as he reckoned he was going to fail anyway! Least you should get another date through quickly! Good luck when you do!
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 15:27
You will not fail for being under the speed , maybe a minor mark against you.  if you break the speed limit you will fail 
My test was due at 14:30 today and just got cancelled this morning due to 'high winds'... Fabulous, although i'd rather them cancel than me hold back and fail for not making progress.... Don't worry...all the best people have test centres cancel their tests  (just don't let it psyche you out...they did it repeatedly to me which was annoying and I'm sure was a small factor in failing so many times!)
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 15:50
This whole "making progress" thing is a load of crap and so subjective. I find it ridiculous that you can get a minor fault for being UNDER the speed limit. How does the examiner know whether it was safe or not for you to be riding right up to the speed limit? He can't see what you can see, he can't see the road surface and conditions immediately in front of you. Ok, obviously you don't want to be doing 10 MPH on a dual carriageway, but I don't see anything wrong with riding at say 50 MPH in a 60 MPH zone if that's what you're comfortable with as long as you're riding sensibily and defensively and keeping to the inside lane. What we need in the UK is a very clearly defined minimum speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways. In some countries they actually have minimum speed signs on motorways clearly indicating the minimum speed.
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 16:05
This whole "making progress" thing is a load of crap and so subjective. I find it ridiculous that you can get a minor fault for being UNDER the speed limit. How does the examiner know whether it was safe or not for you to be riding right up to the speed limit? He can't see what you can see, he can't see the road surface and conditions immediately in front of you. Ok, obviously you don't want to be doing 10 MPH on a dual carriageway, but I don't see anything wrong with riding at say 50 MPH in a 60 MPH zone if that's what you're comfortable with as long as you're riding sensibily and defensively and keeping to the inside lane.
The lack of progress is only used when the examiner CAN SEE that a rider was hesitant in my experience.... its not something thats used unfairly and again its not vital to ride round exactly at the speed limit.... little bit under is fine and you will often get away with little bit over too just dont sit at a constant speed above the limit..... 50mph in a 60 limit has rarely if ever attracted criticism / minor fault that I have seen
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 16:12
Cheers guys, what an emotional week! (serves me right for doing it in Jan) Like the chap in the rain, it may just be for the best...everything happens for a reason right? I'll just have to continue to sit on my bikey and fantasise until next Friday I can understand a minor for someone going painfully slow unnecessarily and holding lots of others up...it does show a certain lack of confidence but id rather a learner err on the side of caution if they can explain their reasons for doing so than hoofing it around over confidently. There are many National Speed limit roads out there (country lanes etc) on which the upper limit is too high to ride safely at IMO.
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 17:08
Cheers guys, what an emotional week! (serves me right for doing it in Jan) Like the chap in the rain, it may just be for the best...everything happens for a reason right? I'll just have to continue to sit on my bikey and fantasise until next Friday I can understand a minor for someone going painfully slow unnecessarily and holding lots of others up...it does show a certain lack of confidence but id rather a learner err on the side of caution if they can explain their reasons for doing so than hoofing it around over confidently. There are many National Speed limit roads out there (country lanes etc) on which the upper limit is too high to ride safely at IMO. do you have the CBR now? to the OP - it's true about the making progress thing. they like you to give it a bit of beans once in the open. it was about the only thing i DIDN'T fail a test on lol.
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 17:28
thanks all... I am very happy and cannot wait to get my own bike. I am currently looking at the ZX6R. My friend is lending me a CBR600 tomorrow for 4 weeks until I get my own. I can get some practice in immediately
Posted: 25/01/2008 at 21:08
on my test, i was along a straight road comin up behind a caravan on national speed limit, and i saw the instructor in my mirrors lookin like he wanted me to overtake, i shift down a gear....lifesaver check and prepare to floor it past....only problem was i was only able to ride the bike 5-10 mins before test so what i'd usually open the throttle to overtake was like 10x. i spose slippin the clutch didnt help. i got a minor for throttle control as the front wheel went up like 6-8 inches as i went past past but he was gonna give me an instant fail but as i handled it so well he didn't. he said and i quote "your lucky i never failed you there and then...you could have got killed....but i'll let you off because i think you wanted to do that and i've never seen a car driver's face that dumbfounded...its not everyday a learner comes past with an instructor and they wheelie past him!" i managed to pass with 5 minors...and a very memorable day of my test! i wouldn't suggest the wheelie bit though...i just got lucky!
Posted: 14/02/2008 at 02:43
got my test on 1st of october and that new law will be in affect. keep hearin it's really hard anyone have a idea what the difference is? and thank tips will come in handy im sure.
Posted: 19/09/2008 at 04:32
I think they've delayed it coming out for another 6 months so you might want to get in touch with your test centre.  Here's the thread about it.
Posted: 19/09/2008 at 09:52
Passed my direct access last week after a cbt and two sessions on a CB500. Thirty five years driving cars but never been on a bike before! (late starter!). I don't ever want to have to do a u turn again though... well maybe but I'll use my feet for stability if necessary - seems common sense to me. The examiners only comment was I stuck to 40 on a dual carriageway (70 limit). I explained that I was anticipating him asking me to turn off because I didn't know the area. He said fair enough and I just got a minor for it. The riding school had told me my test was in Cardiff but I found out on the day it was in Bridgend and I didn't know the area. Looking for a Yamaha Thundercat 600 now so will hopefully be on the road in a few weeks. Good fun this biking lark...!
Posted: 29/09/2008 at 23:00
I think it is more likely that examiners want to see you ride at a speed appropriate to the road, conditions and traffic rather than just 'nailing it up to the posted limit'!
If it is dry, good road and little traffic then obviously 'making progress' is the order of the day, a wet, rough road with heavy traffic doing 40 would not be the time to nail it up to 60 as quick as possible!
Posted: 08/08/2011 at 11:16
I know this is a dead thread, but quite interesting... passed mine perfect 2nd time around about a month ago, at no point when cruising along was i UNDER the limit. Was always about 3 mph over when road was clear, and about 31mph in 30mph zones. The fact the examiner is about 4 inches behind helps that My instructor said, "in built up areas ride it like your Gran would. Anywhere else, ride it like you stole it"
Posted: 11/08/2011 at 15:13
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