Driving test! Lets hear of your experiences?

[ed_blackadder_1]

Oh blimey that was 29 years ago, failed 1st time for going too slow lacking in confidence apparantly, so driving instructor to me to local airfield to let rip, passed 2nd time, no errors. Apart from that I can't really remember, my son is doing his theory test soon and I have been helping, they have it so much harder now, I think I had 4 highway code questions at the end of the test. Sorry not very exiting, although the first day I had my first car, I was going too fast around a bend and spun the car, parked it in the hedge and had to be towed home, oh the over confidence of youth. £400.00 later I had learnt a big lesson.

[ilove2patch]

Over 40 years ago now so can't really remember. Passed first time though on Friday 13th.

[tintinthegingertomcat]

Passed on my third attempt. I know exactly where I went wrong on the second occasion but could not understand why I failed on my first test. Even my instructor was amazed. It wasnt until I passed that I was then told that the examiner who failed me first time round was actually being investigated as failing too many people. He was since struck off. Apparently his son had not long since died in a car accident, which is when he started failing just about everybody so an eye was kept on him.

To this day, I believe that had I had the other examiner who eventually passed me, on my first test, then I would have passed. It annoyed me as I could have saved sooooo much money.

In fact on my third test when I was reversing round the corner, the examiner actually helped me by saying "if you could reverse a little further up the road, then you will be as straight as I need you to be". Sometimes a blind eye is needed. It was not as if I was a "girl racer". I passed in 2009 at the age of 47 and had been riding a moped previous to that for 30 years.

I did get caught on camera in September 2009 doing 40 in a 30 zone (was just keeping up with the flow of traffic) and was fined and sent to speed school. Since attending speed school I am even more conscious of my speed - it really did help a great deal.

Personally, many young drivers dont deserve to be behind the wheel until they are 25 and have used a moped to see how dangerous the roads are.

I am still a pedal cyclist even now, so I am always aware of other cyclists and always make sure when overtaking, that I give them plenty of room. I know how frightening it is to be cycling along and a car overtakes giving you an inch of room.

[tintinthegingertomcat]

Metrorock..............you have asked the question...............what about YOUR experience......

[metrorock11]

I nudged the kerb on first test. MAJOR FAULT. Even though examiner said she would love to have passed me. Passed theory 1st time. Passed 2nd time though.

[metrorock11]

Just to add.. I see you are a cyclist. We are bikers, We know only to well the "perils". But why do cyclists insist on riding 4 abreast on busy roads? Surley they must know that is DANGEROUS! But they think THEYare immune. & all too often, it is the car driver at fault! Sorry, but NO! I am not a fan of cyclsts on our busy roads!

[guardpig]

Passed 1st time over 20 years ago.  Turned up in a vehicle that reeked of damp mould(ex water board lovely vehicle mechanically but we never got rid of the smell). Oh forgot to put load in the back so we happily bounced over the kerb, over every pothole, did a 9 point turn, etc etc etc, then mind went blank on one of the highway code questions.  Still I passed - as OH put it - if you don't hit anything you'll pass.  I didn't and I did.  Just grateful I didn't have to parralel park - afraid I would just get out, hand the guy the keys and suggest if he wants my car in that space he can put it there himself.  In 20 odd years I have yet to parallel park!

[stroppy*cow]

Passed first time - but was an awful long time ago - I was 18!

Got grilled about overtaking on roundabouts, and I have never forgotten the lecture on the subject when my answer was obviously insufficient.

During my lesson before the test, the instructor's car developed a radiator leak, so we had to go and get his own private car and buy some L plates to put on it. I had never driven it before, it was brand new and I was scared stiff of scratching or damaging it - it was also bigger and more poweful than I usually had lessons in.

Parallel parking didn't form part of the test when I did it (told you it was ages ago). I used to be pretty good at it, but since my accident I am not confident enough about manoeuvring to attempt anything tricky - I find the modern automatics with an automatic handbrake much more difficult when it comes to fine control.

[bitsnknots]

I passed at the second attempt.  I know that my driving wasn't good enough the first time around.  I've been driving for just over 35 years now and never had an accident.  Also, I've no motoring convictions either.

[chickengrandma-2008]

Me neither, no convictions, never had an accident, never caught speeding and never had a parking ticket.

Been driving 37 years.  Passed first time after 10 lessons.

[fishpieface]

I failed my first test in 1979 (April 1st) which was the same day as my then to be Hubby

took his test and passed.  The examiners were all going out on strike and there was a

huge wait for tests so I had to wait almost a year for another one which I passed.  I always

seem to fail exams first time as I get the wibbly-wobbles but second time I know what's coming

so I'm ok.

I also took my coach test (PSV then) in 1988, failed first time on mucking everything up but

being perfect in the lesson beforehand.  Second time, a couple of weeks later, I mucked up

everything on the lesson beforehand and did everything perfectly on the test, the instructor

said it was the right way round that time!  The instructor is, or was then, allowed to sit in the

coach whilst a test was being done, and he did, sat at the back reading his paper.  I remember

a daddy-long-legs being in the coach and I wanted it out before I did the test!  I was so pleased

when I passed, but all I had to celebrate with was a polo!  It was the ropiest old coach I'd ever

seen too, but the instructor said if I could drive that I could drive anything and, so far, he's been

right.

I love driving, I could drive for hours.  Loads of my coach passengers compliment me on my

driving which means a lot to me as I love my job.

[**streety**]

I passed first time 23 years ago.
Back then it was a few questions and a 15 min drive about.

[fluffypenquin]

Well it was a long time ago, but on the way to the driving test my driving instructor said that I was driving as if I had a wooden leg - I pulled the car over to the side of the road, got out, marched round to the passenger side and said "well you drive then"!!!!  He was absolutely shocked. 

He then said he had made the comment so that I would get in the frame of mind "well I'll show him that I can drive well and pass my test" - it had the opposite effect, it just made me feel that if I was so bad then I shouldn't be taking my test at all.

[cee-dee]

Hmmmmm, long time ago.

I applied for my test early because I'd been told there was a long delay. Back came the response, test in a week's time. PANIC, I wasn't ready....

Soooo, I had an intensive week of lessons and driving every night after work in the firms van with my father "instructing". Just before the test, it was cancelled, no reason given, test in a month's time!!!

Come the afternoon of the test, I had a lesson beforehand. During the test I know I made two mistakes. Doing the "reverse round a corner" which was an uphill reverse round a 120º corner, I conked the engine. I said nowt, just handbrake on, out of gear, start, in to gear, handbrake off and reversed OK. As I came out of that corner, I felt the rear wheel clip the kerb (which was a very low kerb) and again, I said nothing and carried on.

The only times the examiner spoke was for the emergency stop and after the test when he asked me why I'd stayed in third gear in a particular place. I said it was uphill and I was doing less than 30 so I didn't want the engine to labour.

He asked if I had a car of my own and I said I'd only got my fathers car to drive. Then he said that he wished me well driving the car and that he was pleased to tell me I'd passed. Swoon.

When my (lady) instructor came out of the test centre she said "How'd you get on?" Brandishing the "Pass" I said that I'd passed. She was surprised (I still wasn't really ready) but then said "He hasn't passed anyone all day, he's been through the lights on Red and round the roundabout the wrong way, he's had a bad day".

How about that?

[mikelayuk]

I failed first time on a load of things which weren't specific - all those "use of..." things.

I was really cross because I hadn't failed on any of the "automatic fail" things, it was his judgement call. But, to be honest, looking back on it, I was very nervous and the extra few weeks of lessons did me a lot of good.

Nearly failed second time too - he showed me a freeway sign as part of the test at the end and I hadn't a clue what it was, living in the middle of rural Shropshire we didn't have freeways! I think he took pity and said "if you saw it would you stop?" I knew the red circle part meant "no" so I said "no"! He passed me.

[leoleoleo123]

In the 70s i passed my motorcycle test first time.. then in the 80s passed car test, also first time..

[wskneil]

Passed my motorcycle licence first time in 1984 ( Started riding in 1975 and was quite happy with a sidecar outfit on a provisional, then they changed the rules) then rode bikes and drove plastic pigs till 2005 when Jan vetoed my suggestion of doing the Mongol Rally in a Reliant, so did one of those 3 day intensive courses got my license and bought a 2CV (that taught her!)

[kaeptm]

I passed my driving test 1st time in 1981 OMG that sounds so long ago.

[helpemptymyattic]

I cant remember if it took me 8 or 9 tests to pass, I think it was 9. It was just sheer nerves with me and took 10 years. On 3 occasions I have the examiners examimer in the back, which scared me even more. The last time when they asked if I would mind if the extra examiner came, I told them I would rather not and that was the one I passed. 

 Margaret