Return-Path: Received: from proof.ergo.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa15823; 28 May 90 18:39:13 EDT Received: from proof.ergo.cs.cmu.edu by PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU id aa11158; 28 May 90 18:37:59 EDT To: bovik@CS.CMU.EDU cc: azhu@appseq.oracle.com Subject: Drivers license tests in Washington County Date: Mon, 28 May 90 18:37:54 EDT Message-ID: <11156.643934274@PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU> From: Timothy.Freeman@PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU The driving poriton of the drivers license test in Washington County is easier than the one administered on Washington Avenue in Pittsburgh. Here's a description of who to call, how to get there, and a map of their course. The number is (412) 223-5200. To get there, go through the Ft. Pitt tunnel south on 279, then south on 79 to exit 7, which will be both route 70 East and Murtland Avenue. Go straight at the first light, and you will find a sign concerning the driving test on your right. Here's the map: | | |---------------\ | | | \ | | | 8 \ | | | |-----\ \ | | | | \ \ | | | | \ \ | | |------- | \ \ | | |4 3| \ \ | | | 5 | \ \ | | |------- | / / | | | | / / | | | | / / | | | | / / | 10| | | / / | 1 | |------- | / / | | | | \ \ | | | | \ \ | | |------- | \ \ | | | | \ \ | | | | \ \ | | | | \ \ | | | | / 7 / | | | | / / | \ | | / / \ \ | | / / \ \ |6 | / / \ \-------|9 |------/ / \ / \ 2 / \ / \--------------------------/ 1 is a downhill run from the start. Don't let your speed get out of control. 2 is a stop sign, take a left. Stop on the yellow line before the stop sign. 3 is a left turn into a tiny parking lot. Signal! 4 Pull so the right side of your car is within 12 inches of the curb. There isn't any parallel parking in this test. 5 Do a three point turn in the parking lot, then take a right toward 6. 6 I think there's a stop sign here, but I'm not sure. In any case you take a left toward 7. 7 Zig zags 8 Take a left 9 Take a right after stopping at the stop sign 10 I think there's a stop sign here too. To take the test, you'll need the learner's permit of the person being tested, an insurance card, registration, and a valid driver's license for the licensed driver who was in the car as it was brought to the testing arena. Thanks to Lian Wang for giving me the first draft of the map, and to the following people for pointing me toward Washington County: Ye-Yi.Wang@DEAD.BOLTZ.CS.CMU.EDU Qi.Lu@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Jyun-Ming.Chen@ME.RI.CMU.EDU Anand Patwardhan Didier.Aubert@IUS2.CS.CMU.EDU Also, here's a note from Patrick Barron about the psychological kinks of the examiners at Washington Boulevard. Return-Path: Received: from h.gp.cs.cmu.edu by PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU id aa02943; 21 May 90 0:54:42 EDT Date: Mon, 21 May 1990 00:41-EDT From: Patrick.Barron@H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU To: Timothy.Freeman@PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: Easy driver's license test wanted Message-Id: <643264919/pdb@H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU> In-Reply-To: Timothy.Freeman's bboard message of 19-May-90 16:57 As someone who just went through this, I think I can give you some helpful hints: First, the driving tests are not administered by the Pittsburgh Police. They are administered by the Pennsylvania State Police; note, however, that the people who give the tests are not State Troopers, they are just "examiners". That means, if they tell you to do something illegal during the test (as they have been known to do from time to time...), *don't* do it - they don't have the authority. I assume your friend has been trying to pass the exam at the Washington Boulevard state police facility. I did it, but it took me 4 tries to get someone who wasn't going out of his way to find excuses to fail me. It's sort of hit-or-miss out there. My experience is that if you get an examiner who's in a good mood, and you're a reasonably comptent driver, they will pass you. If you get someone in a bad mood, who doesn't like their job, or whatever, you *will* fail, no matter how good you are. Interesting to note is that, if you argue with them about anything (i.e., examiner says you did something wrong, and you don't think you did), they can fail you instantly for "failure to cooperate" (yes, there's actually a check-box they can check on the examination form for that). Allegedly easier-to-pass examinations can be had at the facilities in Butler or New Kensington. I say "allegedly" since these were recommended to me, but I never went to any of them - inertia kept drawing me back to Washington Boulevard.... Both of these facilities are only open two days a week (and Butler is the only one open on Saturday). --Pat.