Driving test in Llantrisant

[WoT02]

DS due to take driving test in a few weeks in Llantrisant, some 150 miles away! Is there any Llantrisant locals that can comment on difficult junctions or road set-ups in the area. We will drive down to Llantrisant for the test, but my DS will have very limited time to practice in the area, so any hints or views form locals welcome.

I would recommend your DS practises the roundabout where the A119 and A473 intersect, about half a mile south of Llantrisant. 2 reasons: 1. at two of the exits, 2 lanes of roundabout traffic merge into 1 on leaving the roundabout . 2. Hope I can explain this clearly- he needs to make sure he follows the dotted lane markings on the roundabout and thus follows the curve of the roundabout and keeps in his lane and doesn’t cut into the next one. Sounds obvious but I have several times had drivers fail to do this going north to south from the Llantrisant direction towards the M4, and come into my lane, resulting in near misses, and judging from the local Facebook group it’s a common problem . Also I don’t know whether the test route would go through Llantrisant town itself, but just in case, the main road through is narrow, up a steep hill, with 2 sharp bends, so worth practising.

@Manon10 is right, that's a complicated junction and it's a busy area.

Tell him to have a good look at Google Earth too.

What time of day is the test?

Why is it so far away? I would go on the cancellations list for something closer in an area he knows

When my DD did her test in this area she was advised by her instructor to practice the lanes around Creigau, Efail Isaf & Llantwit Fardre as sometimes the examiner takes them that way.

The lanes around Creigau are definitely one of the routes. And hills, hill starts and being fine with big hills

his test is a Thursday mid afternoon, chosen with the hope of traffic being quiet

During school holidays?

In which case it will be quieter. Definitely get here early and practise that junction plus the lane between Creigiau and Efail Isaf.

just as a closure on this thread, my DS passed his test today in Llantrisant, second time. My learnings: Llantrisant is a good location to take a driving test. The examiners are friendly and helpful. You dont need to know the area to pass your test, if you can drive you can drive anywhere. Its not right that young people need to travel hundreds of miles just to get a driving test date in the next 4 months. Thanks all for your support.

Well done to your DS! I hope you managed to have at least a few hours to explore the area yourself while you were here too.