The Ultimate "Driving Test" Thread!

[Linzi]

I've been learning since I was 17... so 7 years now, nearly 8. I failed a few tests so far but Im very cautiously learning again.

I think I would have passed my tests if I relaxed about it a bit but I got myself so worked up about them I made myself worse.

One test I had I hit the kerb on the way out of the test centre car park, I said to the examiner I knew I'd failed, could I just turn round, he said no you have to continue. When I finished he told me if Id not have had that little bump Id have passed coz I drove perfectly. But I relaxed the rest of the way round because I knew Id failed iykwim?

Point is - relax, keep calm and try to have a destress the day beforehand

xx

 

[xxembobxx]

I passed my test years ago (think it was 1996) and I was one of the first people to take the theory as it had just been introduced. I don't think I'd like to take it now as it sounds a lot more involved.

I first did a block booking of 25 hours and it just wasn't enough. I knew I had failed when the examiner had to press the brake to stop me running over a schoolboy who ran behind the car as I was reversing around a corner
The second test I was so much more relaxed as I felt ready for it. I had to reverse around a corner again and this time I had to ask the examiner did he want me to stop as I was just going and going and he just sat there!

My advice is that driving instructors should be suited to you. I had 3 and it was only the third one that made me feel relaxed and it made such a difference to my driving.
Somebody told me not to tell anyone I had booked my test so there was less pressure but I don't know whether that made me relax any more!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I passed my test years ago (think it was 1996) and I was one of the first people to take the theory as it had just been introduced. I don't think I'd like to take it now as it sounds a lot more involved.

I first did a block booking of 25 hours and it just wasn't enough. I knew I had failed when the examiner had to press the brake to stop me running over a schoolboy who ran behind the car as I was reversing around a corner
The second test I was so much more relaxed as I felt ready for it. I had to reverse around a corner again and this time I had to ask the examiner did he want me to stop as I was just going and going and he just sat there!

My advice is that driving instructors should be suited to you. I had 3 and it was only the third one that made me feel relaxed and it made such a difference to my driving.
Somebody told me not to tell anyone I had booked my test so there was less pressure but I don't know whether that made me relax any more!

I agree. I liked my 1st instructor but I didnt realise that I should have changed ages ago. My new instructor is better for me

 

[xxembobxx]

I agree. I liked my 1st instructor but I didnt realise that I should have changed ages ago. My new instructor is better for me

My first instructor used to keep touching my leg which made me quite uncomfortable but I was young and thought I was just making a big deal out of nothing. I always had a 2 hour lesson but he would stop for 20 minutes each time to "let me refresh". It was more to do with him wanting a cigarette I think.
The second instructor used to listen to his radio trying to listen into the police band. My mum was paying for my lessons so I was more indignant than if I had been paying for them.

 

[LulaBug]

I've had a few instructors because I've stopped and started lessons for various reasons and it's actually only this time, out of the 4-5 instructors that I've had that I actually feel comfortable and confident.

He's quite funny and I feel he explains things a lot better. The instructor I had before him was a bit of a cowboy, made out I had no driving skills whatsoever in the obvious assumption that I was going to pay for extra lessons that I didn't need when I knew that although I wasn't to test standard, I could at least control the car and drive it.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

My 1st instructor was really nice but I could see him picking his nose in the corner of my eye lmao it was a bit rank!

My new instructor uses a lot of cockney rhyming slang and thinks its funny lol but he is actually really funny which I need now to be honest!

 

[Rhi_Rhi1]

my first instructor was useless! ... i did about 25 hours with her, and she didn't even teach me a single manouver (sp?) not even how to park! i literally drove around for two hours a week! then when we got back to my house she would just have me pull up on the opposite side of the road!!. even tho i was a perfectly capable driver in terms of roundabouts junctions had done Aroads etc at this point... but NOPE not aloud to reverse or park ! or anything..

when i changed to a new instructor i had my first lesson with him and he just assumed i could do most of these things because of how well my driving was ! lmao .. so he would say- right we will do a quick turn in the road here and head back.. and i'm looking at him like ......... i was suppose to take my Test last August but i stopped my lessons, and now i'm waiting to start again but i'm switching to Automatic to save my legs the bother, also i cannot reverse correctly as i cannot reach the clutch! .. to the point where my last instructor told me i better just hope it doesn't come up because i physically can't do it! x

forgot to add i'm JUST 5'0 .. and i know some small people can drive perfectly fine with a clutch but its about leg length and the car type lol not just overall height ! x

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

my first instructor was useless! ... i did about 25 hours with her, and she didn't even teach me a single manouver (sp?) not even how to park! i literally drove around for two hours a week! then when we got back to my house she would just have me pull up on the opposite side of the road!!. even tho i was a perfectly capable driver in terms of roundabouts junctions had done Aroads etc at this point... but NOPE not aloud to reverse or park ! or anything..

when i changed to a new instructor i had my first lesson with him and he just assumed i could do most of these things because of how well my driving was ! lmao .. so he would say- right we will do a quick turn in the road here and head back.. and i'm looking at him like ......... i was suppose to take my Test last August but i stopped my lessons, and now i'm waiting to start again but i'm switching to Automatic to save my legs the bother, also i cannot reverse correctly as i cannot reach the clutch! .. to the point where my last instructor told me i better just hope it doesn't come up because i physically can't do it! x

forgot to add i'm JUST 5'0 .. and i know some small people can drive perfectly fine with a clutch but its about leg length and the car type lol not just overall height ! x

I am 5'1 and I feel MUCH more confident reversing without the clutch. Its much better!

 

[FsMummy]

my first instructor was the same guy that taught my mum and sister but he was useless, one lesson i had to drive to a well known dogging spot and help him look for his false tooth that he had accidentally thrown n the bin lol i used to have to drive him to the post office too so he could pick up parcels. i was having lessons with him for about a year and we never done any manouvers except 3 point turn, didnt do emergency stop either. my new instructor is 10x better, weve only had a few lessons and ive already done an emergency stop and all the manouvers plus weve done high speed driving which i never done before.
bought a car today yay a 7 seat vauxhall zafira (i have 4 kids) i cant wait till i go get it on thurs

 

[LulaBug]

OMG Ladies, this time next week, I could be a qualified driver! I really really hope I am!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I had the BEST lesson ever today, my driver didnt even have to say anything really

I hope I pass!!

LulaBug good luck xx

 

[LulaBug]

Thanks hun!! xx

 

[TwilightAgain]

Good luck! I have mine on thursday next week. I'm dreading it, it will be my 4th test

My driving instructor has a feeling it might not go ahead because of the strike though

 

[Bittersweet]

good luck to those sitting their tests soon

 

[LulaBug]

Feeling a bit defeatest about Tuesday to be honest.

I'm not an awful driver, but on my mock test today with my instructor, I got 12 minors which is fine but I would have failed if the real test because I stalled the car in the middle of the road because should have gone into 1st gear rather than stayed in 2nd when emerging from a junction but because there was nothing coming either way, I thought I'd be OK, but the car was obviously going too slow to handle being in 2nd gear. I should know better.

12 minors was my instructor being extra picky than usual and said I might get less than that, but was just being pedantic. I think that's the right word to use.

I'm nervous because a motorbike overtook me on my right, despite the fact I was indicating to go right. I did see him and I had stopped, but even so.

I don't really know what advice I'm looking for here, I think, just a bit of reassurance and some encouraging words to help me gain a bit more confidence and the kick ass attitude I normally have, but I'm just feeling like it's the end of the world and that I'm doomed.

Anyone else had a mock test that seemed like the end of the world but things went fine on the actual test? Do you find you learn more doing a mock test? Just hope I can take on board all that happened today and not repeat the same mistakes.

This is going to be the longest weekend of my life and I was in labour for 55 hours.

 

[Bittersweet]

I failed all my mock tests.

4minors in my actual

 

[LulaBug]

aww well done hun!! So there is hope for me yet then? xx

 

[TwilightAgain]

I cock up all my mock tests......and real tests. But on my mocks, my instructor pulls me up on the slightest thing, whereas on my last test I only got 3 minors, 1 of which was for the show me, tell me (and majors, oops!). In my experience, your instructor marks you a lot more harshly than the actual examiner would. At least mine does anyway.

Good luck for tuesday! I have mine on the thursday

 

[LulaBug]

Good luck Twilight, I really hope you pass xxx

 

[TwilightAgain]

I had a dream last night that I failed my test, because when I came to the junction I couldn't change gears because I had a melon in my hand WTF?

I'm starting to feel the pressure now. I don't cope with test day nerves very well. The last time I was fine beforehand, pulled up outside the test centre and burst into tears. I'm dreading it