The Ultimate "Driving Test" Thread!

[TwilightAgain]

Mine is exactly one month today. Arrrrrrgh!

 

[LulaBug]

Ooo good luck hun!

 

[expecting09]

Good luck to those that have their tests soon!

Theres a waiting list of 8 weeks here, and my instructor has said give it 2 more lessons then we will book it.. so excited

 

[LulaBug]

Has the waiting list always been so long?

 

[twinkle1975]

I passed mine 3rd time about 9 years ago - what does the Independent driving bit involve??

 

[LulaBug]

I passed mine 3rd time about 9 years ago - what does the Independent driving bit involve??

It last's about 10 minutes or so and they basically show you a diagram or tell you where they want you to go and you have to go where they tell you. So they might tell you to head towards the town centre and they'll get you to follow signs for it.

 

[expecting09]

Has the waiting list always been so long?

Pretty much, all the people I know that have had tests in the past couple of years have always had to wait a fair while. I don't think there are that many test centres in Cornwall so always busy I guess!

 

[FsMummy]

hi all. i passed my theory in feb and started lessons in march. i have one 2hr lesson every week. going to basildon for the 2nd time next week (where closest test centre is) instuctor wants to go again next week and if im ok with the roads book my test!

 

[Sophie1205]

I passed my theory in October and Ive just booked my test now for July.
I had a 3 month break because my instructer was really ill and Ive only just started up again and she said im looking at needing another ten lessons, so ive booked it for the end of July xx

 

[Pessimistic]

Got mine tomorrow - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! Having a 2 hour lesson today and tomorrow beforehand. Trying not to think about the cost of this! I'm hoping the roads won't be very busy as people will be at work..
Just want it over with!
I think the reason people get so nervous and upset if they fail is because a) it is expensive and b) the waiting list is quite long so you will have to wait a while before a re-take which is frustrating when you just want to get passed and on the road!
Keep thinking negative but trying not to.

 

[FsMummy]

Got mine tomorrow - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! Having a 2 hour lesson today and tomorrow beforehand. Trying not to think about the cost of this! I'm hoping the roads won't be very busy as people will be at work..
Just want it over with!
I think the reason people get so nervous and upset if they fail is because a) it is expensive and b) the waiting list is quite long so you will have to wait a while before a re-take which is frustrating when you just want to get passed and on the road!
Keep thinking negative but trying not to.

oooh good luck for tomorrow!

 

[LulaBug]

Good luck Pess, let us know how you get on! xx

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

Passed mine on 31 may 2000. 1st attempt, I got 8 minors, one for not moving into the middle lane when passing a slip road on a dual carriageway, 2 for not pulling into the middle of the road when waiting to turn right, one for going too slowly (I thought the speed limit was 30 but it was 40 and apparently the conditions allowed for doing 40 so I should have done it) One for going left when the examiner told me to go right, and i think there was something involving not overtaking a bus.
I was quite stunned to pass

 

[LulaBug]

I have a driving lesson tomorrow so going to ask about doing a mock test at some point soon, so I have a few weeks to work through what needs to be worked through.

 

[LulaBug]

I'm getting closer to my driving test, about 6 weeks to go now and my next driving lesson will be next friday which gives me 4 and a half weeks from then, so I'm hoping I'll be able to start doing weekly lessons til then. My instructor is saying that I'll benefit so much more, but the problem is, I just don't have that much money and I know I need to fit more lessons in, I think what I'll do is when it's like a week or so before the test, if I feel like I need more time, I'm going to re-arrange. I hope I won't need to re-arrange but if I have to, I will.
I was really tired yesterday on my lesson, had only had 3 hours sleep, so wasn't driving to the best of my ability and felt like I dropped down a bit which dented my confidence a tad.
Six weeks to go, I'll see how I go. Part of me thinks I should take the bull by the horns and go for it, but it's a lot of money for the chance that I'll fail. But then even if I take extra lessons and rearrange, the chance is still there. Ugh! I hate tests.

 

[LulaBug]

I bought "Driving Test Simulator" from play.com for £5.99 so hopefully it'll help me out a little. Although I'm a tad sceptical seeing as I don't have a PC Steering wheel so I doubt using my arrow keys is going to be the same but as long as I gain SOME understanding of things, I'll be happy.

Also, the dreams at night have started lol, I keep dreaming about my test, sometimes I pass, sometimes I fail and sometimes I don't even start the car because I'm in too much of a wreck. Oh wow, we're almost in June now, 29 or 30 days left now to go. Aiming for a lesson a week now.

 

[LulaBug]

Another 18 days now til my test and for the most part I'm OK, but yesterday I had a really horrible lesson. It's like my head had hit a funk or something.
I was fine driving round Sittingbourne and going on the roads where the national speed limit was, but then when I got to Faversham, i didn't know the area at all and I was just feeling a bit out of my depth and started messing up. Was forgetting my signal, then I stopped in the middle of a road where I had right of way and traffic from either side of me sat waiting for me to move, then when I did try and move, I stalled the car. I felt like a total tool. It's not like I don't know how to control a car, so what the hell was happening to me yesterday I don't know. However, if it's a case of I drive like that in lessons and manage fine on my test, I'll take that anyday. It shouldn't really matter if I know the area or not, a road is a road so I should just look ahead and deal with the issue at the time.

I also got a practical driving simulator thing from play.com for £5.99 and while I think the fact sheet and the videos on it are really helpful and informative, the 3D driving simulator bit just is a pain in the arse. It goes at 3mph and if you make a slight mistake, you get sent back to the beginning and it's annoying.
But it's good, I think I've learnt a bit, but I need to start focusing more during my lessons. Focus more than I've focused before.

Got another lesson on Thursday, then I'll have one more after that before being picked up at 6:10am on morning of my test for 2 hour lesson before hand. I really hope I pass, theres so much riding on this.

 

[emsiee]

If I tell you this, you wont believe it.

I passed on my 5th go in 2005. Passed Theory 1st time. After failing one time for not being able to turn off the windscreen wipers!!! Can you believe that?!

When I passed, I had 3 minors, thats it. But after 5 goes, I was an expert by then lol....good luck, its the most nerve racking day of your life xxxxx

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Mine is in next few weeks. I have a new instructor now and feel much better xx

 

[Lollylou]

Hi hope you don't mind me poking my nose in

I'm actually a driving instructor in Edinburgh so please feel free to ask me any questions! Have been doing the job for 8 years.

Lolly x