Failed my test at Downsview today. I was expecting it (I've picked up what they consider to be 'bad habits' over the last five years), but what bothered me was the reason for the fail:
As I was entering a curve in the industrial section north of Sheppard (Chesswood area), what appeared to be a municipal garbage truck came 'round the corner, with quite a lot of the truck in my lane (i.e. there *might* have been enough room for their Aveo, but absolutely no more). I, of course, moved to the right, but shortly after we exited the curve he said something (between his heavily accented English and the incredibly bad radio reception, I couldn't understand what it was). I tapped for a repeat; same problem. As soon as he began directing me back to the test centre instead of the Allen, I knew my goose was cooked.
When we got back, he told me that I hadn't 'reacted quickly enough', and he marked the 'dangerous action' and 'rider lacks sufficient skill' boxes. Figuring I had nothing to lose (and knowing I'd never set foot in the test centre again) I argued with him, trying to get him to explain exactly what he meant; after all, I clearly reacted appropriately, since I was standing there instead of back on the street, as road pizza (that wasn't my phrasing, but I think I got my point across). I think my action was entirely appropriate; it's not like it wasn't something that a million drivers do to motorcyclists every season, and it was so routine that it didn't even quicken my pulse (unlike the driver who turned left in front of me a couple of weeks ago, where we avoided a collision by less than six feet).
Questions: 1) Has anyone heard of crap like this? I asked a few pointed questions before we started the test (i.e. what was his position on speed--was I allowed to go with the flow of traffic if it was above the limit [no], how did he feel about me putting my right foot down [he was okay with it]. We also got into a debate about whether or not I should be moving as far away from the entry/exit lane on the freeway as possible, as the handbook suggests; the jerk asked me if I'd read the book properly, and I replied that I had (it's right there on page 58). Is it possible that he was prejudiced against me and was going to find a way to fail me no matter what?
2) Is anyone aware of an appeals process? I wouldn't bother if it was a regular more-than-26-marks-fail--I'd never have a way to prove it--but this seems so absurd and arbitrary--after all, it was the idiot truck who made the dangerous action. I can apparently ask to speak with an examination supervisor, an option which the examiner conveniently didn't make available.
Any other thoughts?
