Category > driving
I would like to drive in my car
Driving Test I
And so I finally got around to booking a driving test.
For my 17th birthday, as is now traditional in our family, I was given driving lessons. And for a few months I failed to do anything about this, and then started them, and went off on a course of 10. I continued to have lessons for the next few months, pausing for A-Levels and resuming for summer. Then I went to University for two years.
I came back, procrastinated for a few months, and then went back to the lessons. Eventually, around christmas last year, getting to the point where there was no point in me having the lessons until I had booked the test.
Three months after that point, I booked the test. And three weeks after that I told the instructor, Chris, about the test. I now had two weeks until the test, and I hadn't driven in a few months.
Two weeks
Revision driving test. Wandered around in fine and sunny weather. Got back into the habit. Booked some lessons for the next week.
One Week
Basic driving. Hour lesson, pootled up to the town where the test centre is, practiced manoeuvres around the area where the test is usually, went home.
Six Days
Nice day, pootled back up to Tonbridge Wells, manoeuvred, drove around, had a look at the entrance to the test centre, came back.
Three Days
It's now Friday, the last week has been mostly sunny, much wind, and the occasional light drizzle. My driving has improved a couple of hundred-fold, and I'm now silently confidant that I should pass. The biggest problem at the moment is that the sun is so bright, fortunately I'll be doing it in early morning. My parallel parking is going like clockwork (literally, go back until the car lines up with *here* then one turn of the wheel *right* then back until *this* point, then one turn *left* then steer like a baby bull...) My reverse around a corner is so accurate you could use it as a protractor, and the three-point-turn is done in barely two and a third... and, basking in the balmy sunny afternoon on Friday, I went home with a spring in my step, and thought I might just pass this.
Two Hours
Six forty, and I'm awake, staring at the ceiling. I get up, shower, the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds, it looks like a nice day. Shower, Breakfast, check mail...
One Hour
...and it's 7:35 and Chris is here for one last lesson to brush up on things. Wander up to the town, dealing with rush hour traffic. Wander around Sherwood, where the test frequently is done, Parallel park, reverse around a corner, do a three point turn behind a white car, and make our way though the One way system that the Tunbridge Wells Test Centre is in the middle of. Turn into the test centre, and note with disappointment as it starts to drizzle.
Watch with dismay as the drizzle begins to escalate and turn into real rain.
Zero
By the time I've signed the declaration of insurance, and done the eyesight test, and he's got the model of the car and ID numbers, the rain is incredibly heavy. And I've never driven in heavy rain before.
Cars stop differently in the rain. Sometimes they don't stop at all. Mine stopped every time I told it to. Just not where I wanted it to, and I was so tense that my steering went everywhere. I was positioning right for left turns, and vice versa.
Then came the parallel park, done in Sherwood to park behind a white car. I realised later it was exactly where I had been doing three-point-turns earlier, but at that point it might as well have been on the moon. We pulled in, and as we did so I hit the curb, which I *know* is an automatic fail. At this point I knew I was done for, and might as well relax I parked next to the car - slightly too far forward - and went into reverse. I slowly backed the car to the exact optimal point for turning, missed it by three feet, and then steered the wrong way. There was no way I could have done it in a car's length now, and so, having already failed, I reset to the right position, and repeated the manoeuvre perfectly.
At that point, I discovered afterwards, I hadn't actually failed.
But I did, on three counts of inability to steer, reversing around a corner, and parallel parking.
Stupid weather.
Sarabian:
Curse driving tests (I failed three times) and snow did for me on one occasion.
justme:
I have my test tomorrow. The difference with me is that I ‘m 30 years old, have a foreign license already but have to take it here for a full manual license. I already took a full bike test here. I have 14 odd years of driving under my belt already. But i will say that the tests in this country are by FAR the hardest! After reading what all you went thru, I am really not looking forward to this. Mainly cos I feel like an old dog—i know how to drive – just not the crap, unrealistic DVLA way which has NO bearnig on real life driving. I already have an automatic license so it’s no biggie if i dont get this but i will be VERY pissed off If i dont. I’m worried about really stupid crap, like not getting the signals right, or this “hesitation” crap. I’ll let you guys know tomorrow after 2pm.
justme:
I have my test tomorrow. The difference with me is that I ‘m 30 years old, have a foreign license already but have to take it here for a full manual license. I already took a full bike test here. I have 14 odd years of driving under my belt already. But i will say that the tests in this country are by FAR the hardest! After reading what all you went thru, I am really not looking forward to this. Mainly cos I feel like an old dog—i know how to drive – just not the crap, unrealistic DVLA way which has NO bearnig on real life driving. I already have an automatic license so it’s no biggie if i dont get this but i will be VERY pissed off If i dont. I’m worried about really stupid crap, like not getting the signals right, or this “hesitation” crap. I’ll let you guys know tomorrow after 2pm.
JustMe:
Passed first go, thank god. only 1 minor—late signal which is debatable but i ‘ll give it to him. Did my left reverse around a corner really well and he didn’t even ask for an emergency stop, parallel park or turn in the road—just 1 manoever. It was pretty much just driving which was nice.
So, that’s out of the way. Worst bit was the leading up to it. Good luck to the rest!
joanne:
saying this doesnt help those who fail first time
Richie:
I’ve just failed, for the second time, un-F_U_C_K_I_N_G believable! Both times my sheet was empty apart from the two serious marks. This time, one serious was for taking the wrong exit on a roundabout, and then continuing around the roundabout in the left lane (the wrong lane) which I suppose was fair enough. But it was at the end of the lesson, and i’d already done 13 roundabouts perfectly, which i think “proves” to anyone I CAN DO ROUNDABOUTS! (give me a break! these examiners are robots man!). The other serious mark was for “being to close” when meeting traffic. What a load of bollocks! I mean, I didn’t even make anyone slow down! How can they compare that, to say…going through a red light? I know people who’ve passed their test (my mum) who clearly shouldn’t be allowed on the road. And I fail on two things that really, could/should have been minors! I wouldn’t mind but it costs me £100 every-time I fail! (revenue generator maybe?)
The DSA say “if you meet the standard, you will pass”..... yeah, right! It’s got nothing to do with standard, and everything to do with “finding fault”.
Now I’m seriously loosing confidence, not in my driving, but In their marking!
I’m seeing a lot of holes in this system!
Sid:
I have my 3rd test tommorow. I failed first time because the instructor told me to pull over on the side. I did so succesfully. After that he said “when your ready we can head of straight”. I indicated and put the handbrake down with my foot on the break checking all mirrors before moving off. A van approached at high speeds and stopped. I thought he gave me way, i swear anyone would think that so i started moving off bearing in mind i indicated to show my intention. The instructor immediately stopped me and gave me a serious. What an asswipe, the van was stationary and i indicated and even if the van intended to not give me way i did not cause any harm, he was dam right stationary. Anyway lucky i was tired or i would have uppercut him as soon as i finished. Second test all went great but then i got was taken to a hilly place (like the teletubby hills) and the instructor once again told me to pull over in a safe and convienient place. There really was no place as such so i tried to get myself in this tight spot and hit the curb because it was a hill and needed more acceleration. Serious there, fair enough. 3rd test tommorow. Although im confident, high chance some bullshit will happen so not getting high expectations to be honest and stupid weather forecast says its raining. Im going to chill out and if i fail im going to try bribe the instructor with £300 cash. If the instructor doesnt accept it im going to hostage him (if its a guy only) and order him to pass me! I also totally agree with everyone that the DSA sucks, if they were to resit their exam they would probably fail due to a serious fault of over cocky-ness and arrogrance! They got letter bombed for a reason, that guys child probably failed for similar reasons as us people!
Sid:
i passed guys on 3rd attempt! onyl 6 minors. Ill teel you now if you think the first 30 mins have gone well anything can go wrong. so keep kool head and think as thought you just started. ye nerves are biggest problem i controlled it by thinking “look doesnt matter if i pass or fail, what ever happens, happens”. Other thing is dress well, instructors do get taken on by that believe me, worked for me, i dressed up nicely (not rudeboy or anything) and kept it kool, sweet talked instructor but was confident talker but polite. so avoid words like “yea i get you” and say “yes i understand” sounds better! GOOD LUCKY ALL OF YOU! you will pass!!
darren:
Hey i just did 30 mins of my test perfectly only 1 fault then in the last 10 mins he asked me to parallel park and while i was slowing down to stop a car came round the corner. I saw him straight away and saw that he was stopping for me, so i just stopped and he got quite angry and said i had made a serious fault for not indicating. To be honest no one has ever told me that you should indicate when stopping next to a car before a parallel park, but fair enough he was right. So anyway that was 1 serious fault, so i started my manouver, was doing ok and another bloody car came from the front and starting rolling really slowly towards me. So I waited for him to stop and the instructor then told me off for stopping too long. I did the maneuver perfectly but was now shaking like a rampant rabbit in jo brand’s bed chamber. Then cos i was so nervous i messed up my gears making the car bunny hop down the road (2 minor), then i turned left but had my car in the right position of the road (1 serious) then i came off a roundabout and didn’t take off my signal (1 serious) couple of other errors and ended up with 3 serious and 5 minors and up until 30 mins i just assumed i was going to pass. Thing is i wasn’t nervous till i made that first mistake and then i just turned to a pathetic dribbling cabbage unable to concentrate on anything. Moral of the story is it’s just experience and luck on the day. If I hadn’t of made that first serious then there is no reason why I wouldn’t have continued on the way i was already. Also that was my first time so i didn’t really know what to expect. And i feel a bit better knowing that others have had very similar experiences. I dont dispute the examiners decision though, i get the feeling he wanted to pass me but i did royally mess it up at the end and i dont think it should be easy to pass first time, otherwise we would have alot of cocky drivers. I would defo be cocky if i had of passed first time.
~Anon~:
I failed within the first five minutes of my test! The following half hour was pure torture.
Charlie_*:
Hi, I would just like to say I have my first ever driving test on the 10th August, just over 2 weeks away and i’m really nervous =( I have had 50 lessons and I do feel ready but i’m so not confident! Any tips on how I can beat the nerves? =) Good luck to every one you will pass! xxxxxxxx
Kelvix:
It’ll happen. Possibly the worst drivers pass the first time round. Nothing like that moment at the end when the examiner turns to you to give you the results, is there? Heart in your boots etc etc…
Anonymous:
ive got my test soon and im so nervous, im hearing all sorts of stories, and i cant think straight, this is the worst feeling…........help
KILROY:
Man Took my driving test stalled on my first pull in then need when in to the Curd at 50 MPH on the dual carrage way in the end had 2 serious and 2 dangerous driving!!!
KILROY:
Man Took my driving test stalled on my first pull in then need when in to the Curd at 50 MPH on the dual carrage way in the end had 2 serious and 2 dangerous driving!!!
Sharon:
I know how you feel, i have my second test tomorow so am slightly more chilled out simply because i know what to expect. I know my nerves were what failed me last time and am trying not to get wound up. I have told myself that it doesnt matter if i fail, i will laugh it off and apply again and its true isnt it? Its not the end of the world (although not cheap!) and you can keep on trying. Good luck x
lewis cook:
i took my test on tuesday 30th may, i was so nervous, my drivin was gd, i did 23mph in a 20mph zone, nd this was 10 minutes into the test, i got 4 minors and 1 serious,i thought the examiner would give me the benefit of the doubt and let it go, and see if i exceeded the speed limit again, and if i did then it would be understandable, but no, failed me straight away. but i think this was so harsh,my friend took a test his first one and passed, he was in the wrong lane wen the examiner sed go right, e went straight on, i mean that was leniant. so for anyone who is nervous i say, as long as u r totally 100% brilliant at everything u will pass,if not no hope. the examiners know who there passin before they even see you, i bet.
Nomis Nitram:
i agree with your last statement totally. I’m now looking to pass on my FIFTH attempt at Sidcup after failing for the fourth time. My instructor was in the car with me, and I failed with three minors – my one, and only serious was pulling out in front of a bus (that was parked in the bus-layby) and not indicating, despite the fact i indicated to get over into the left hand lane in front of it, to go straight on at the lights. My instructor swears blind i was correct, as do i, and i find it incomprehensible that, having only had THREE minor faults that he can fail me for such a minor, if ridiculous thing. I will try again at Sidcup, with my instructor in the car again, and if I fail then as well, i’ll complain to the DVLA - i have not exceeded three minors on any of my test, yet people are allowed to pass with as much as fourteen.
lisa smallwood:
hi ive had 5 tests and hate it!! i get so nervous!some tests ive had 5 minors and 2 serious .an other i olnly failed on manouvers.!!its so frustrating .ive even tried calms? no good??have u tried owt?my confidence is goibg each time i fail,ive tried so hard ,i now feel its making me ill.and i dont look forward to lessons any more ,i have been learning for 2 years now ,had someone run into back of me on a LESSON!!any tips cheers lisa x
dannii:
hi lisa,iv taken 3 tests now!So fustrating bcos i can drive rly well. I got that nervous on my last test i had to stop the car and have a breather bcos i nearly passed out!Need to go to the doctors and get sum tablets from there.Try it,tell them that ur failing ur tests due to nervs.Works hun,i got sum tablets.Not yet passed my test tho.!!! Good luck for future!!
moBaker:
passed third time try making an appointment with doctor to ask for beta blockers before taking test. they do work, nerves are a real stumbling bock
Jason:
I hope you only ever plan to drive when you’re calm and completely rested.
Is it not time for people to be tested for this kind of drug as part of the driving test? Or are you planning to have a bottle of magic pills ready for when you drive to a job interview? If “nerves” make you an unfit driver, you don’t deserve to pass.
tracy:
well i’ve gotta say the entire driving test experience is a big pile of shambles! i failed my first test this morning because of 1: using the wrong signal on one occasion, 2: only driving 45mph on a 60mph road going back to the test centre and 3: forgetting to check behind my shoulder ONCE while pulling off. never mind that most friggin drivers do not indicate, they consistently drive well over the speed limit and rarely look over their shoulder! i’ll tell you something the way they expect you to drive is totally unrealistic and it is so true that you don’t really learn until you pass your test and drive on your own. the examiner was trying his best to make me nervous. at one point he asked me to pull over to do a turn in the road and when i did, he commented sarcastically “fine, just stop in the middle of the road then” after that i got really frustrated and wanted to bite him! he made comments like why aren’t you going? when surely it was my place to make judgments since i was driving? he chose to make me nervous when in fact if he had kept quiet i would have been ok. after all i am paying him so he should do what he is told!! it’s not a nice feeling coming away after failing but please know that it all boils down to luck and money at the end of the day. my driving was undoubtedly up to standard regardless of the heavy traffic at 0830 but he had set out to fail me before he even met me. it’s unfair and unjustified. keep going people and we will all pass i can promise you! xx
tracy :
well 2 months have gone by and i’m chuffed to say that i have passed this morning! the reason i wanna tell you is not to brag but to say that i had a different examiner who was LOVELY, chatty and considerate. i also made mistakes such slip over the speed limit a couple of times and stalled twice and nearly forgot how to restart the friggin keyless car! so it just goes to show that a lot falls on the examiners perception of a safe driver. he choose to dismiss my silly mistakes and judge me on my overall driving. keep your chins up folks if i can do it you can too!
sian:
o my life i know. the first time i failed i waited till the arogant ass got out the car and then cryed. the second time i failed i didnt bother waiting till i got out the car i just wept i really thought i had cracked it second time round, o well try again :(
Liz:
Hi I just had my first driving test yesterday. i
I don’t think I have ever been so scared in my entire life. I got through the show me tell me questions (I got the easy ones).
I was pulling out on a busy round checked behind me for cars indicated left and a bike came out of nowhere I know I should have done a final mirror check I was just so scared I could not think!!!!
The examiner had to stop the car, can’t stop kicking myself I always check that mirror. Booked another test it’s just the doh complex. I asked if I failed he said yes so I asked if i could stop the test. I know I should have done it just to see what the test was like. I so glad I found this site it’s good to know that you are not alone.
Good luck to us all
Lizxxx
Tony Evershed:
Don’t worry – it took me three goes to pass, and I was actively terrified each time. And that was with 45 hours instruction over the course of a year, plus driving with my parents.
You’ll be a safer and more confident driver for it.
Jim:
i failed my driven test exactly today at 3:00pm the examiner said due to “undue hesitation” bullshit!!!! that was my 2nd go anyway theres always Next Time just a bit pissed off was lookin forward to drivin :(!!!.
Patience!!! it takes patience people….
Carla:
Oh dear… I failed yesterday. After driving perfectly for the past 3 weeks thinking ‘yes I’ve got it, I can do this’ there’s nothing quite like nerves to send your driving ability round the bend and up the spout. I had a lesson before hand, drove well, manoeuvres not a problem.
It came to the test and I can safely say I don’t think I could ever drive quite so badly again. Half way through my test I did a turn in the road, perfect no problem. Then I had to reverse left round a corner now this is when it all went haywire I did something I’d never done so badly before, I mounted the kerb …no I didn’t just brush it, I went the whole way over, then I couldn’t steer out of it, then I didn’t know which way to steer and thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Finally managing to get out of the predicament I’d put myself in, I continued to drive off and break the speed limit doing 40mph in a 30 zone. I wished there was some way of turning the clock back but you can’t – what’s done is done. Finally getting back to the test centre and thinking ‘did I have an out of the body experience or something ‘ Because I’m sure that wasn’t me driving. I waited patiently as the examiner totted up my driver errors I knew what was coming ‘I’m sorry to tell you on this occasion you’ve failed’. The word ’failed’ was enough for me to feel my heart sink into my shoes but with a thud (I think my examiner heard it), my throat tightened as I controlled my emotions and held back the tears.
Better luck next time.
Michelle:
I hear ya hunny… I just failed today. I’m so upset. I was so looking forward to having my license for the summer. I was unbelievably nervous, but who isn’t on the day of their road test, you know? First of all… I made sure that my hands were where they were supposed to be… speed was under the limit… and i was alert. I made the first turn good. Then, the @sshole told me to make a right at this next upcoming intersection. So, I was so nervous I just made the right… not noticing the stop sign I was so nervous. He calmly said to me that I had just went through a stop sign. I felt like an idiot. I never would have done that if I wasn’t so nervous. I can relate to you when you say that you couldn’t believe that that was you just driving… cause you would have never done that. Then, directly after that, he told me to pull up next to a car… ON A DOWNWARD HILL… and parallel park. I had practiced parallel parking in my driveway for HOURS and I had it down packed… but never on a friggin’ hill. I put it in reverse. Inside I was freaking out cause I had never parallel parked on a hill before. I went through my steps, when hitting a new step on stepping on the gas a little bit in order to get going since I was on a hill. Well, my gas is touchy so we might have backed up a little faster than we should have and I hit the curb. Now, in real life… who really parallel parks on a hill? Well, I knew I had failed so I was real pissed at myself and this pr*ck I got. I said f*ck it from then on. I really didn’t care anymore. My mind was racing. I couldn’t concentrate even if I tried. I think that if I hadn’t been so nervous and went through that stop sign, he might not have felt like being an @sshole and making me park on that hill. I’m very upset. I think it was wrong of him. He was in this “bad mood” from what I heard from some of the parents that were waiting for their children to get done with their tests. He was in a “bad mood” because I guess the first kid he got this morning gave him a hard time. 8 out of 10 kids failed before me. WOW. WHAT A D*CK.
alisha:
hey i think that mood is every thing and nervousness is too. i have my driving test in couple of weeks make it 4 and im confident but who knows i have always been confident on what i do i think when you plan some thing and dont get nervous and say that yes im am going to get this thing done and pass it, thats when you know you can do it. and if you lose the confident and say forget it im not doing this again cause whats the point. No!!!! practice makes perfect and when you leave some thing people think thats it he or she is stupid enough to admit it they cant do it. just take your time on the test and go through it easily they only give you half an hour and take your time to do your msm’s for example if you do 2 msm’and it takes you 15-20 minutes then you only have at least 10 mins to do the rest so take ur time and do it and hopefully you will pass well hope i pass because im going to take my time and not rush to it.
watson:
I think the whole thing is a money making scam for the government i failed again yesterday.
I was approaching a junction and the arsehole told me to find a suitable place to stop. I thought that was a bit strange becuase i was always told never to park within 10 metres of a junction anyway i said to him are you sure? He replied yes aslong as you stop before the lamp post (which was just after the junction opposite it) so i had no choice but to stop. I asked again and he said yes thats fine.
Later he failed me for it said it was a major hazard and dangerous driving. What a load of B*llsh*t.
So don’t worry ppl if you fail it probably isn’t your fault.
The instructers are bent!
Adam:
Its a money scam, you’re damn right about that! I’ve failed twice now. The first time was understandable as I caused an oncoming car to stop on a roundabout because of me. But the second time I got 4 majors for very stupid reasons. 3 of them were completely unjustified. I think that it’s an absolute sham that we have to wait 3 months for a driving test slot (getting even longer as I write) and then be failed because the examiners are incompetent and inconsistent. Driving tests are all about luck and potential: how you perform in 40 minutes of driving under INTENSE pressure which really gets to you. Maneuvers and driving are judged on the potential of things happening: If you fail to indicate before changing lane then there is the potential that other road users around you could misjudge you and cause an accident, but was is the probability of this happening if you look in your mirrors and make sure that its safe to complete the maneuver? I think that the problem is the waiting. It’s terrifyingly painful. You should be able to book a test and get it within a couple of weeks. To solve this problem I propose private test centres, independent of the useless DSA be set up, with authorisation from the government and examiner training from the DSA.
As soon as I pass, I’m telling the examiner that I haven’t learnt anything and that I’ll be driving my own way from now on :D
Sam:
I failed my test today, the moment he said i failed i went numb inside, my throat tightened as i listened to the chief examiner tell me what happened ‘UNDUE HESITATION’ 1X Serious Fault :( and 4X Minors i mean what is undue hesitation i stopped at a roundabout for longer than was neccesary he says, the thing is due to the fact that there where other people coming around the roundabout and i didn’t feel it was safe to go i get failed! However if i had gone i probably would have failed and caused an accident! On road once i have passed my test if i came up to the situation i would stop and wait till i felt it was clear enough and safe enough to go simply because i am quite a cautious would be driver. So what gives him the right to fail me simply because i was being cautious and felt it was unsafe to go!
Ben :
People who dont pass first time should not be allowed to drive. simple as.
Admin Note: I don’t usually do this, but since it’s a special occasion: Ben is my little brother who did pass first time, and is therefore in the time-honoured sibling tradition of “taking the piss”, or “Shit stirring”. so you don’t need to reply.
Comment edited by aquarion 2005-08-06t09:34
Fred:
People who pass 1st tme need locking up as they too cocky and kill ppl i failed 2nd time cos stupid instrucktor said that i lost control and hit a bike stupid bike was on the pavement anyway so he deserved it
Mandorallen:
It took me a number of tests to pass. My instructor was simply confused, since as far as he was concerned, I had been ready 6 weeks before my 1st test. When I was out with him, I’d drive perfectly. All my manoeuvres were great.
It just seemed that on the test, something went wrong. Every time. He couldn’t understand it.
The only explaination I’ve evr managed to come up with is that I was under extra pressure cos most of my friends had all ready passed their tests.
People who don’t pass first time are normal. Those who do, are lucky bastards. :-p
Kelli:
I totally agree, i just failed my 3rd test the other day and my instructer- bless her is also baffled because she knows that i am a good driver.
The only thing i can think if is that i am putting a lot of pressure on myself to pass because most of my close friends have and i feel out of place. I do believe that it’s better to be a safe driver than a cocky one and so i feel that if i fail, it will only make me a better driver when i pass. Also on a bad day, i REALLY hate examiners, stories of them understanding that you are nervous is strictly not true, they are so serious and usually cold and so that makes you doubly nervous on the test
Kelli:
I totally agree! I failed on my 3rd attempt the other day and i was feeling the nerves 4 days before the test. I’ve placed far too much importance to passing my driving test and i feel that i’m putting too much pressure on myself because friends have passed. My instructor was shocked -bless her, she couldn’t see any reason for me failing because she says that i can drive, i can only blame nerves and horrid examiners. On my first couple of tests the examiners were like victorian school headmasters, so i don’t believe the saying that they “want to put you at ease” Anyway, think positively, more you have to take your test, the better driver you’ll be, i REALLY believe that!
meow:
i just failed my 2nd one.. wut do u have to do if u fail ur 3rd one?
Jason:
There ‘s a ritual you have to do involving pointy sticks and a cheese grater. Call the DSA on 0870 0101 372 and they’ll explain in detail.
—Jason (passed fifth time)
Rachel:
It ‘s such a relief to see that someone else has had so many attempts at passing their driving test. Today, I just failed my 4th test. It was absolutely the worst weather conditions. The test checklist was filled with ticks and 3 serious faults. I don’t know what happened on the last test I only got one serious fault for reversing round a corner, and 3 minors, so near to passing and today I completely messed it up. It started when turning left from the test centre. A car flies out of no where from my left leading me to slam down on the brakes. Then, it just goes from bad to worse. Nerves…..Also the examiner was so fat that I felt restricted when using the gears. His layers were pouring over the seat to his right. As everyone else has highlighted on this site. Examiners are not blessed with good communication skills. Mine, today, did not put me at my ease, and I guess the prerequisit is to be moody. I am a nurse and if I were to treat a member of the general public like that heads would roll, and whats more we are paying for it.
Anyway, thats my little rant. Nice to know alot of people have a similar experience. Just gotta get back on that horse, as they say!!
carly:
hey im about to go for my third test now. im 25 this year. i know i will cry if i dont get it.
ben:
WHAT?! You are kidding?!
Ray:
I think you need to grow up.
It’s probably people like you that causes accidents for being too cocky.
Get a life dickhead
Kim:
Hi everyone, I totally sympathize with you all. The first time I took my test I just went loopy,the minute I got in the car I forgot everything I mean everything, stupid things like what gear to go in at what junction…it was crazy! I failed with 6 majors and god knows how many minors! It completely put me off doing my test.. I booked 3 more tests and cancelled them all cos I was so scared of a repeat performance. In the end I finally went for my second test and it was so different. I had been taking something called gelsemium on recommendation of my driving instructor( you can get it at boots, it calms nerves) and it was like a miracle I totally chilled, they make you feel drunk but you can still function. It was wierd cos I was still nervous but not stomach churning so. I got in the car and I was so calm I drove better then I’ve ever drove.. I was possessed by a good driver this time and I passed with just 5 minors!
The point is when the time is right it’s right,but if anyone suffers from real bad nerves then I really recommend gelsemium, it’s a herbal remedy available at boots and it takes the edge off your nerves so you can focous! brilliant! : )
If your not sure try it out on one driving lesson…u need to be taking it for one week before your test ( 6*2 first day then 4*2 for the next 6 days)!
Kim x
Dory:
I just an hour ago failed my test for not looking behind when reversing into a bay. everyting else even rain and hail when i first started driving then the rain and hailed stopped just as i was coming back and i had passed until i apparently didnt look behind. I hope i pass on my second test as i cant afford any more. The instructor i had was a woman and she was so moody, i tried to make a joke but she just said nothing and when she wanted me to turn left or right it was as if there was no effort at all to even saying it. She didnt even ask she just said ‘Turn left, Turn right’ but i only failed at the end for apparently not looking behind when i reversed in to a parking space.
David:
stupid driving test. failed 3 times now! 1st time its kinda normal to fail. 2nd time was a bit annoying, but still 3rd time lucky. failed 3rd time, really annoyed! got exams comin up. might just leave it.
examiners hate me! and we live in the hardest place to pass!
Dory:
I have finally PASSED my test on Weds 19th May 2004. As you can see from my other comment i failed my first with a moody examiner, but this time i had a man who talked to me through the test and made me feel at ese and i felt confortable (not like that) but i felt like i was just having another driving lesson with someone else. My first test with that woman i had 11 Points and this time when passing with the male examiner i only got 4 points…. i know 4 points. Technically i only got 3 for Driving because i got one point for answering the mechanic question at the beginning, he asked me a question about the steering and my mind went blank because i was so nervous. Plus my first test it was hailing and chucking it down with rain, but when passing it was sunny and blasing hot.
Gina:
omg ive failed 2nd time 2day!!! it was the most biggest pile of shit eva and again it wasnt really major!!!
on my 1st test i got 5 minors and 1 serious fault which was that sum bitch in a F*in BMW tried to overtake me going down a slip road – but get this we had already passed the overtaking bit so then i didnt know wah to do…. apparently i shud av slowed down… which i did think would av been the sensible option lol but today i failed with again 5 minors and this time 2 serious faults! them being i didnt look left wen doing my turn in a road… but thats the whole point of the manoever observation as well as the manoever… n i knew i looked, cuz thats wah ur supposed to f*in do!! n the other one was for not looking left wen coming back into the left lane after overtaking! i was like wah??? i sooo did though thats y it pisses me off cuz u know u look or do something but cuz they never saw u do it its an automatic fail!! GRRR im so angry,,, n now next test ent till jan 3rd 2006!!!! thats another £45.50 gone!!!
~~*Liz*~~:
That is bullshit….there was this guy once who lived by me and he passed first time and guess wot, a few months later he crashed into our garden wall and nearly killed someone as well as himself. Therefore, how can you say that ppl who dont pass first time should not be allowed to drive?! There are soooo many contributing factors that could cause someone to fail: Weather conditions, idiot drivers on the road and EXTREME pressure. So im sorry if those who dont pass first time are not egotistical idiots, but some people actually get nervous and actaully have bad luck. Most people are not ‘perfect’ so therefore im classing you’re statement as invalid…
Liz xx
p.s No offense lol!!
Mike:
Grow up you bloody fool.
steve:
Your a prick, simple as
nick:
fuck off u gobshite, y should we have to pass 1st time to be roadworthy-that is so generalised. u mite as well be a fuckin rascist sayin that all asians are terrorists or sumthin u prick. if i knew where u lived id burn ure house down for that comment or even justify ure comment that “if ppl dont pass 1st time they shouldnt be on the road” by mowing down ure mum in a car that im driving…oops ure right!
Peter:
I know exactly what you mean, I’ve failed twice now and on my first test I was failed for that undue hesitation crap. What a load of incompetant pricks.
Lindsay:
I ‘m from America, and we have private testing, in fact the government does not test you anymore. I assume you are from England because you used the term roundabout. Our tests are pretty much the same as yours though. I just failed for the second to time today. This time for a rolling stop. The first tome I failed because I had no idea what was on the test and I did’nt know you had to back into a parking space and I had never done that before. Hopefully third times a charm. I fell better after reading your post. I wish I had the balls to tell the instructor I’m gonna drive however after I get my license.
Sharon:
Thats awful! I would be complaining about that. My mates examiner didnt even bother to take his pen out of his pocket, made no notes and just sat with his arms crossed looking bored. At the end of the test he ticked some random bits on the sheet and failed her. I think its best just not to take things personally, its not fair but dont let the b***ers get you down eh?! Im on test no2 tomorow and just gonna do my best (with shaking hands and a churning stomach!)im taking Kalms herbal pills which are really good, you need to take them for 2-3 days to get in your system and i also hear bananas are good because they contain pottassium (which supposedly helps nerves)My last examiner was really nice so they aint all bad, good luck everyone!!
Andrea:
Hi Carla been reading through all messages and yours made me laugh out loud. Failed my first test today – at ripe old age of 38. Had panic attack at reversing bay in full view of other instructors and students. You’re right about out-of-body feeling. Then I accidently set the wipers off and neither me or test lady couldn’t stop them. Like a bad sitcom. Rescue Remedies certainly didn’t work for this gal.
skye birch:
hii failed today due to *undue hesitation because i wanted to let sum ppl go at around about and not moving in right or left wen i turn that ways, it was my firstb time i got 3 majours 4 minors is that ok?
Adam:
I failed first time for cutting up a car on a roundabout, understandable but get this the second time i failed for leaving my signal on when he asked me to pull up on the side of a road! I spent £50 to get that test and they just literally swallow your money by saying you failed because you forgot to move that lever there an inch downwards! I hate testers, they act all nice then take ya back to the centre and say “im so sorry that you failed, i really dont like this part of the job” then they get out the car walk back to their office and say just another fool been taken for a ride”. Ah well all you got to remember is that if u can accumilate a minor every three minutes youre gonna pass, thats presuming you dont hit a kerb or nothing. And to the bloke who sed about if ya fail once you shouldn’t drive? the truth is i bet you offered sexual favours to the tester or something because you probably take your cocky attitude to the road and anyone with that attitude cannot pass a driving test so yeah its got to be sexual favours, besides who in their right mind comes on a website about failed driving tests if they already have passed? you must be very very sad, probably a life full of microwave meals and chat rooms for you. Go bother ppl some place where u are wanted coz u most certainly aint wanted in here.
Gemma:
I completely agree about the nob who said about not being able to drive if you don’t pass first time. What is your problem mate? I took my test today and failed and am very gutted, but I am willing to practise and practise hard and pass next time. If all our lives we go thinking: oh no i’ve failed, i’m a failure, let’s give up and die a failre, instead of thinking: let’s try again and succeed, then that’s a pretty crappy world/life.
Altogether it’s about what happens on the day and in some wasys i think the whole testing system is silly because u could get some loony who is extra good in that 40 mins and passes, and then a rly good driver who gets nervous and unlucky and fails. i wish there were another way of doing it so u could be tested along the course of driving and along a duration of time instead of one 40 min slot where anything can happen. I was extremely unlucky – 6 majors!! i couldn’t believe it. I was so unhappy, i really thought i would not do that badly at all but my nerves just got the better of me. best of luck to anyone taking their test soon – don’t let your nerves beat you, keep calm!! xxxx
Jason:
I don’t want to be unkind, but 6 serious faults doesn’t sound particularly unlucky to me.
As for “anything can happen”, this is true of driving after you’ve passed your test, too, and you just have to deal with it. Nobody else /ever/ makes you fail your test.
gem :
well actually i passed last week with only 5 minors and i cant improve that much in just 2 months so it is luck
Gemma:
I completely agree about the nob who said about not being able to drive if you don’t pass first time. What is your problem mate? I took my test today and failed and am very gutted, but I am willing to practise and practise hard and pass next time. If all our lives we go thinking: oh no i’ve failed, i’m a failure, let’s give up and die a failure, instead of thinking: let’s try again and succeed, then that’s a pretty crappy world/life.
Altogether it’s about what happens on the day and in some ways i think the whole testing system is silly because u could get some loony who is extra good in that 40 mins and passes, and then a rly good driver who gets nervous and unlucky and fails. i wish there were another way of doing it so u could be tested along the course of driving and along a duration of time instead of one 40 min slot where anything can happen. I was extremely unlucky – 6 majors!! i couldn’t believe it. I was so unhappy, i really thought i would not do that badly at all but my nerves just got the better of me. best of luck to anyone taking their test soon – don’t let your nerves beat you, keep calm!! xxxx
Johnny:
Well i have my test in the morning. It will be my 2nd time. 1st time round i had a female examiner in which i got 18 minors and 2 serious. My nerves were out of control, she asked me where do i switch on the headlights…my mind went blank, i couldnt believe it. Anyhow…lessons are too expensive…taking a driving test is too expensive so im hoping, fingers crossed, with about 50 hours worth of driving that ill pass.
Gemma:
how did you do jonny? did u pass? i hope so!
Johnny:
I passed this time with only 2 minors. Passed Tuesday 25th of Jan and recieved a letter from the Police 2 days later for a stupid mistake i made…drove my friends car in October and got caught. No license at the time, no insurance, and speeding on a motorway @ 106mph… He was in the car at the time however :(
I will be going to court 22nd of Feb 05, i hope they just take my license off me for a year or so rather than making me do everything again.
I wish i never did it : (
zouzou:
My driving test is next week and I am finding the reverse round a corner quite difficult I am struggling with turning points, as it seems to me that every corner I use is different from the previous one. Any tips on turning points will be extreeeemely welcomed!!!
disco:
got me test saturday mornin, well early so hopfully b less traffic. i ad a great lesson today but jus depends on the day i think.
Laura:
Failed today 10 minors, one serious fault for stalling the car whilst doing the turn in the road???
Really unfair, I think.
Tobeon:
Failed yesterday, the test was near perfect the very best I could have asked for, great weather very little traffic I had the two maneuvers I wanted (turn in the road and bay park) and I failed because in the last 5 min of test coming up to a junction a learner driver (like me) was turning right and instead of going round of him I hesitated then paused to let him turn right first (there was no on coming traffic so I thought he would go strait away) but as a learner he had hesitated too! so he didn’t go straight away so I was waiting behind him for a fair bit before he turned and I could continue… was really wound up because I know I am more than ready for my test and that was the only thing I did wrong on my whole test grrrrrr
ben:
i just wanna say i’m the cocky basterd that said “if you dont pass first time you shouldnt be allowed on the road” and i stand by it.
To the people who jus blindly took the piss outta me for nothin I dont know who you are and i dont care, you didnt have to get personal but you did, so here we go, you are all a bunch of poo stabbing, scared pedestrians, yeah. and i come on this site because normally it doesnt have any wankers talking about how they failed their driving test.
Had to get that off my chest.
Initially, it was a joke. But i think fundamentally what i mean is, some people are good at it, and those who are’nt need to practice more than them. In some cases alot more.
You need to relax in the car, know your surroundings, and always look to whats happening in the distance.
Big A:
prick
Nikki:
Look ok lets get one thing straight, you cannot say people who dont pass first time shouldnt be aloud on the road (the examiners are the most fussy fuckers in the world) for example for a seroius thought I signalled and then looked in my mirror when really u mirror signal (BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN IM NOT SAFE IT IS JUST THE STUPID DAM RULES) I STILL LOOKED TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS COMING) i just failed mine im 17 and rather hurt everyone knows hw much they wana pass (ignore the examiners they are idoits
Lindsay:
OK plain and simple, you are a cocky asshole dick MOTHERFUCKER!!! It ‘s ok to fail your drivers test. Some people are not mechanically incline, which can make it harder to driver. Your car is a machine. And some people have a harder time learning how to operate that machine. You can fail ten times, it does’nt matter. It just means you had a harder time getting it down pat. In fact it might make you a better driver because you have been though the motions so many times. It’s cocky assholes like that get to overconfident and end up getting in a horrific car accident. Oh well, I’ll ship you some flowers when your in the hospital.
Lindsay:
BTW,I ‘m soo impressed with your language skills. We’re all a bunch of poo stabbing, scared pedestrians. It’s amazing how you can pass your drivers test on the first try, but you cannot come up with better insults. My advice, pay more attention to English class and pay less attention to driving. For F$^k sake, you are English, your country invented the English language. At least the people who failed have a better grasp on the language than you.
Ben D:
Ben. Dont talk shit mate. Ive been driving on the roads for 3 months (off road for 9 years) and just failed for not looking over my shoulder when moving off from a standstill. So for you to say people like me shouldnt drive, is a very stupid comment.
Anna:
hi, i failed for the fourth time yesterday. It is a terrible way for the government to make money! I didnt realise that stalling was a serious faut. I was at a junction, gears fine and the car stalled! It was serious because the stupid prat behind me drove round me! It wasn’t even my fault! The examiner said that it shouldnt have stalled and that i am a really good driver-but he still failed me! I only got5 minors! The cheek! Its so unfair!! I wish there was somewhere peoplecould appeal to!
Big A:
try and do it by ’feeling’ rather than specific reference points. you can tell if you are too close / too far away that way.
but what do i know i have failed twice!! first time one serious and one minor, second time one serious and two minors…. so dont you all talk to me about luck!!
ben:
fuk u. ’feel your way’ ??? You look at the road ahead and work your way back from the farthest point looking for potential obsticals and difficult situations to try to pre-empt and avoid those incidents.
While tryin to go as fast as you can from a to b.
Ali Barker:
hey everyone, i was upset cos i failed for my second time today and thought i would just look somethin up bout failing driving tests and i found this. I actually member looking at this before my first test. lol anywayz today i got 5 minors and 1 serious i was on a roundabout and well someone cut infront of the pathway of the people to the right of me so i thought i could go, but obv i couldn;t so yup i got a serious. My manouvers were perfect! and i got the ones i wanted, not the dreaded reverse round the corner which is wat i failed my first test on. my first test omg it was just like i did the manouvers first, ya know he asked me to do em early on in the test and i was asked to do the o so wonderful reverse round the corner…i hit the curb and then some stupid woman came from behind stops and starts beepin! its like hello i am a learner and can;t you see the man next to me in his flourescent vest i am in a t