My partner had her driving test today and failed due to miss-understanding how the filter lights works.
I thought it was stupid and she should have known, but looking into the manuals I noticed that both books (“Rules of the Road – March 2007” & “How to Pass your Driving Test First Time“) lacks of a good explanations to this and I would consider that this should be a little bit more detailed.

For someone that is driving for a long time and probably has a full licence already might be something stupid and simple to understand, but for a new driver things like this could actually be very frustrating, so I am going to point out what and how, something that the books should have it already explained (probably in the next edition).

Below there is an scanned image from one of the books mentioned above (both books has the same or similar image):

As seen above, in the second book it is mentioned “Left Turn Only”. But what about the other options?
As far as I recall there are the least 2 other options available, one for right turn and the other for going straight ahead.

Note: The above images are created by myself and are nowhere to be found in the books mentioned above.

How these lights work?

Lets take the first image for instance: You come to a junction that has these type of traffic lights fitted, where the main one (red, yellow and green) shows the Red light on, while the Filter light is off.
You get into the right lane (for the simplicity you are going straight ahead), and stop the car waiting for the Green light, when all of a sudden, the Filter light turns Green while the main light is still Red.
In a matter of a few seconds your brain is trying to work out what to do next, seconds that could be fatal if you are in the middle of your driving test and also have some “impatient” person behind you that starts abusing the horn purpose.
If that was the case, like in my partner situation today, you just failed your test, but what did you do wrong?

The mistake you made was the fact that once the Filter Green Light comes on and the arrow points in the direction you are going, you should ignore the main light (red, yellow and green) and start moving with caution.

Same the other way around. If the main light (red, yellow and green) turns Green, the Filter Light should be ignored all-together and get moving before the car behind you starts “consuming” his / hers battery by pressing the button that shows the little “horn” icon.

P.S. Did you actually notice that the second you drive a car that has the “L” plates on the windscreen, the other drivers doesn’t give you a minute? Try it for yourself.
I did (I have a full B,C,E licence since 1997), and I probably have more miles done reversing, than the one that beeps me going forward, so what’s the story “man“? Take a chill pill…

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