The O.C. Englishman's blog » driving

See! See! Someone has actually read my blog!

The Englishman — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:34:15 +0000

This week I’ve been left with that warm fuzzy feeling one gets when one helps someone out. Normally the lucky recipient of kindness is a friend or family but you can also get those special moments if they appear to come out of the blue. Or more precisely in this case via the god of the modern age: Google.

This moment came earlier in the week when I was sitting at my desk pushing pixels for my latest web design project. A shot-in-the-dark email appeared in my inbox from someone who had read my post on my driving test at Fullerton DMV. They were due to take their behind the wheel test that very day and were in a bit of a tizz because they were concerned about how to handle a particular intersection on the route.

As it turned out, I had had the very same concerns about that intersection (Orangethorpe and Basque) and so was able to share my opinion on how best to handle it.

Armed with that knowledge and reassured, my good-deed-recipient went ahead and passed their test first time. Needless to say it was a relief that my advice had been of use and I’m glad it made their day.

What made it all the more special was that this person I helped was an expat Brit like me. Well, us Brits have to stick together, right?

Still waiting for California DMV to send my driver’s license

The Englishman — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:00:09 +0000

I have been settling in nicely to my new life and have just about got all the things I need to feel at home – SSN, bank accounts, credit card, store card and driver’s license.

That last one though isn’t quite complete. This is because while I have passed my driving test, I don’t yet have my driver’s license photocard. Yep, although I passed on November 9, 2009, to date I’m still making do with a paper temporary license. This is of no use whatsoever as valid ID, so whenever I need to show some, I have to whip out my green card. I don’t like having to carry it around because to be honest it’s a precious document.

Why the hold up anyway? Apparently California DMV need to verify my eligibility to reside in the United States before they can issue the card. The fact that I showed them my green card when I applied for my license is apparently neither here nor there. Nope, they need further proof. Where this proof is coming from is anyone’s guess but it’s certainly taking some time.

In this day and age you’d think that one government agency could run a check on someone’s status with another agency at the touch of a button, right? Yeah, well this is the modern United States so no, no you can’t.

I was given a number to call at the DMV HQ in Sacramento for the ‘verification department’. However, this number would just ring… and ring… and ring until I got sick of it. I have now taken to writing letters to the inquiries department. The first was sent at the end of January (no reply) and the second sent this last week. From now on I am going to write to them every week. Hopefully somebody somewhere in the bowels of the DMV will get sick of my constant whining and do something about it.

Then again, this is the DMV we’re talking about…

Fullerton DMV driving test route

The Englishman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:41:27 +0000

Update Apr 5, 2011: This is the most popular post on my blog. I know why you’re here. If you want to skip my rambling intro, just skip to the route!

If you find the info useful (or not), please share your experiences in the comments below. Good luck, test-takers!

Today has seen yet another milestone in my California adventure – namely my behind the wheel driving test.

As I have been fortunate enough to drive alone while I practice (due to my holding a UK licence), I have had plenty of opportunity to get out there on the mean streets of Fullerton. Also, a car and freedom allowed me to unashamedly stake out and stalk the DMV examiners over the past couple of weeks. I will do anything to get an edge and know no shame. In fact I became so familiar with the Fullerton DMV test route I actually knew it better than my examiner on the test day.

I’ll admit I was nervous about taking the test – I had the test mentality that one develops while learning to drive in the UK (i.e. it’s very thorough). However, due to my stalking and practice practice practice, I got through it in one piece and with only two minor errors (one of which I feel was NOT an error – clearly I was being more observant than my examiner).

Anyhoo, to reassure any Californians doing the Fullerton DMV test, let me tell you it is actually easy compared to the UK. I hear they’ve made it ‘tough’ recently and everyone’s whining about how hard it is. Well, sorry to upset you but it’s not. It was over in about 15 minutes and involved driving around mostly quiet residential streets. I had to reverse along the curb a bit, which was the extent of anything that could be remotely described as ‘difficult’.

In the UK your test would be at least twice as long and you have a number of maneuvers to undertake, which may include: parallel parking, reversing around a corner, change in direction (using forward and reverse gears), and emergency stop (no skidding). Also, each test centre has a variety of test routes, not just the one like I experienced at the DMV in Fullerton. You see, if you have only one test route, sly scamps like me easily work it out and ace the test. Duh.

So, here it is for all you wannabe drivers. Fullerton DMV test route:

Leave DMV by turning right on to Valencia
Cross over Euclid, continue on Valencia
Left on to Basque
Left on to Ash (this is where I had to pull-over and reverse along the curb. Alternatively it may be on Oak)
Right on to Lee
Right on to Oak
Right on to Basque
Left on to West
Over Eadington
Left on to Pacific
Left on to Oak
Over Eadington
Right on to Basque
Over Orangethorpe
Right on to Woodcrest
Right on to Eadington
Right on to Orangethorpe (this is where I had to perform a lane change)
Left on to Euclid
Right on to Valencia
Left into DMV

There you go, piece of cake. For those of you concerned that it is harder to pass at Fullerton DMV than other offices, I will say that if you can drive and have practiced until you are sick of driving around those streets, then you will pass. It may well be harder, but it’s still a lot easier than other countries.

Believe me, a lot of stupid people drive in the UK and they passed the ‘tough’ test. If they can do it, you can pass California’s. Anyway, if you can’t pass at Fullerton or another California DMV, you shouldn’t be driving, right?