The latest round of changes to Irish Driving Test were implemented on, Feb.14th 2005, as part of a chain of E.U.Directives.

Test Candidates are now required to have a basic level of mechanical knowledge, which any good professional School of Motoring would have been teaching from day one in any event.

The car of today is a very different beast compared with its grandparents and any driver, young or old, should have a range of skills that enable them to identify problems and take necessary remedial action.

The Driving Examiner will select three questions at random from a list of technical aspects which will include opening bonnet. While it is not exactly space technology, ability to identify this range of equipment and to describe how individual checks would be performed, does require some thought and a little practise. Some of equipment will have accompanying warning lights on instrument panel some does not, so some of requirements will already be known (hopefully!)

Candidates will be asked to explain how they would perform checks on three out of following list:- Engine Oil: Coolant: Steering: Brakes: Horn: Indicators: Lights: Tyres: Reflectors: Windscreen washer.

The under Bonnet checks relate to:-Power Steering Fluid; Brake Fluid; Engine Oil; Engine Coolant; and Windscreen washer Fluid. In a newer car all of these pieces of equipment are easily identifiable by coloured tops to various reservoirs, which have an easily recognisable icon painted or etched into them. The location of these five essential items does vary a little from model to model so if you have changed your car in lead up to Driving Test then spend a few minutes double checking.

In fact, during era I grew up in women were looked upon in a very different light. If you deviated from norm you were labeled as a “tomboy”. However, there were many, like myself who loved to drive, work on cars and got a lot of satisfaction in doing so. Just because we did however, didn’t mean we weren’t women, girls, ladies, whatever you wish to be called.

Many of us so called “tomboys” were product of being first born girls with dads who wanted prodigal son first, but got a daughter instead. My dad and I watched sports together, baseball, football, basketball. In fact, my dad was neighborhood dad (those who grew up when I did will understand) and played with all kids in neighborhood. We would have touch football games, kickball, baseball, t-ball and even badminton and volleyball games.

I developed an avid interest in cars, because my dad worked for Rolls Royce and was always bringing some great cars home. He brought home Joe Namath’s Jaguar, a Silver Cloud Rolls Royce (owned by one of builders in area I grew up). In fact I got to drive it, which was a thrill to say least.