Driving test

[cantmovewont]

Hi,

I'm a mess. I have my driving test in 2 days. I can't explain how important it is for me to be able to drive.

I just don't think I have a full grasp of driving and I know my instructor thinks he might have advised me to put in for my test too early.

Today I drove up a lane into oncoming traffic. The lanes weren't clearly defined and I just panicked - there were no other cars btw.

Not being able to drive has been a HUGE thing for me and for various reasons I've only really been able to start learning now. Should I cancel my test?

Wise Mumsnetters, pls help me!!!!

Not sure I can help to say whether you are ready or not but I have my test in 5 days and I doubt my abilities completely! I'm 39 and really need to pass, so I feel the same

Don't cancel your test, give it your best shot and if you fail, you'll be more prepared for the next time. I understand the pressure and the fear, I passed mine in the summer and the nerves were terrible. I made silly mistakes in the lesson before the test because I was over thinking everything.

Best of luck!!

I have some hesitation but I'm not really making any minor errors - every mock (5 in total) I've made a major error based purely on getting the right lane

Good luck Jack!

Have you had any mock tests - how have you done?

Anyone have any experience of really feeling under confident embarking on a test?

I've had a few, mainly done ok, but have made the odd bad mistake. I feel like I'm at the stage where more lessons won't really get me much further, I need to go for it!

Treat it as another practice. You need as much time behind the wheel as possible.

Jack - I definitely don't feel like that. I think I have more to learn.

Glad - that's definitely the way to look at it. Driving has just become such a big thing in my head

Just go for it. The worst that can happen is you fail but you'll be more confident the next time. Go in with the attitude that if you pass it'll be a bonus so you're not too worked up with pressure.

I failed my first test because I lost my head but I just booked another one during which I was much more relaxed and passed no issues.

It'll be good practice

Some routes are easier than others. You may get an easy route and breeze through it.

For the mannouvere, take it slow. You won't be marked down for going too slow on that part, so take it easy. Plus, this will eat into your driving time.

If you have your ears pierced, then wear jingley earrings. They will make it really obvious that your looking in the mirrors etc.

Good luck! And do update the thread with your result.

I'm sitting my 3rd test in a few days too - but no one knows so shh 😉

Remember it's not your ONLY chance, you can keep trying until you get it. Yes, in an ideal world we'd all pass 1st time but statistically that's not how it works! Most people need atleast 2 attempts.

I failed with a few minors and 1 major (stalled 3x on a hill start and almost cut in on a driver who was in the wrong lane on a roundabout 😳) so I know I CAN drive but just needed a little more experience of thinking for myself on the road instead of having someone instruct me which is safer for everyone really!

If u fail u can always retake the test
Don't sweat it
Take your time
Remember all your acronyms
It's just 1 hour
Good luck

Well I remember my dad taking me out the day before my test and i made loads of mistakes and he gleefully told my mother there was "no way" I'd pass. I was actually pretty relaxed on the day being convinced I'd fail and I passed!

Treat it like a practice run. I have mine booked for the end of the month and do not expect to pass. I also don't feel I fully grasp it. My nerves and lack of confidence always get the better of me and I end up flustered. I have had an embarrassing amount of lessons, both my instructor and myself felt that booking my test is necessary for me to get out and see what is expected of me and hope it will give me a boost.

Terf - that's what my instructor said.

So. Deep breaths, look on it as extra practice and if I fail, I fail.

I'm torn between setting myself up to fail and trying to think the best

Pivot - just like me! I agree that it's good practice for advancing me to the next stage.

My hesitation will get the better of me: I'll either go too fast and blow it or hesitate and blow it - then drive straight into oncoming traffic lol

Oh I totally get this - please go for it, even if you don’t pass you’ll feel so much more prepared and capable the next time. I was on the verge of cancelling mine the day before due to my instructor being an arsehole and basically telling me I was going to fail, during the test I was bricking it but by the end felt great... I had failed pretty much immediately due to a major as I left the test centre 😂 and another later on but genuinely didn’t care, was so pleased and proud I had done it. Rebooked and passed a few weeks later, felt so much better during the second one as I knew what to expect. Best of luck!!

Thank you pigaletta

I don't think I'm ready, as it were, but more that I could take a billion lessons and still not feel like I can drive! So I may as well go for it!

I can't bay park for toffee, and sometimes my head just goes and I forget everything but I kind of feel endless lessons won't cure that, I need to just go for it :/

Jack - I also feel like that. There are just some things that I don't get. I'll update on Friday. Would be nice to hear how you get on

This might sound so silly but the game changer for me was when I didn’t concentrate TOO hard. When I overly thought about what I was doing and my feet were, I just couldn’t get it. Then one day my instructor put the radio station (actually my Spotify) on in the background of the car, very very quietly but enough that my brain/subconscious had something other than scary silence in the car. And I magically could do it! I think because I wasn’t thinking so hard about my every minute move, I wasn’t as panicked and managed to do it! Passed my theory and my test first time worth a go and even if you do fail, it’s just one test that you can take again. You’ll soon pass x

And also bay parking, you just have to be in the lines, you can go back and forth as much as you like and you can even ask to start again. You’ll be fine

Oh I know exactly how you are feeling! I panic so much and get myself into such a state! The few lessons I had before my test were worse than my very first lessons I honestly thought I was fucked! I had my first test the start of September was absolutely crapping myself. I had a dream the night before I was sick in the car mid test and then freaked out all morning until my instructor picked me up and to top it off nearly fell down the steps going into the test centre 😂

I failed in the first half of my test with a major but didn't actually realise and tbh I'm glad I didn't because if I'd have realised I'd of just given up. Everything I was worried about the most and thought I would fail on I did perfectly (reversing and bay parking) and obviously apart from the major I only got 2 majors.

I'm rebooked and hoping now that I know it's really not as scary as I thought that I won't be so bad the second time around! Defo don't cancel and good luck 🤗

Thank you everyone - these words of encouragement and experience and those going through the same as me - all of them are making me feel more calm about the whole thing. I think just letting go is the key and doing my best.