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!!!!

I'd also say keep it secret if you haven't already told anyone! My first I told people because I was so excited but the closer it got and the more I was asked about it I felt like I was under pressure! This one only my parents know about! 🤐

This is definitely not one for social media!

Take your time, remember to breathe, ask your examiner to repeat instructions if you haven't heard properly/need reminding - you won't be marked down for this, if you take a wrong turn don't panic - just do whatever is safest to correct it. It doesn't have to be the prettiest drive you ever do, just think about what is safest.

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

This is me too! My judgement is ridiculous, when it comes to my routines at roundabouts etc I either do everything far too early or leave it to last minute so that I'm rushing and flustered. I can't seem to get the right balance.

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!

This is exactly how I feel.

My instructor was meant to turn up for a lesson before my test and he hasn't shown up. Test is tomorrow. I'm in bits. I don't think I can do it tomorrow

Oh no, did he contact you at all? That's rubbish!

What time is the test tomorrow? Do you have a lesson before hand?

He just got in touch with me - he 'double booked' apparently.

We'll have an hour and a half tomorrow before the test.

I've built this up to be such a big thing in my head. I need to get a grip and some perspective.

It’s a big thing for you, no bad thing to have built it up. It’s hard when things go wrong so close to it too. Try to distract yourself tonight and get as much sleep as you can (easier said than done!) and try and make sure to eat before you leave. I really feel for you - just think, an hour and a half of practice will help your nerves to settle and by that time another hour will seem much less daunting

cantmovewont - it sounds like your instructor may be part of the problem!

Please don't build it up too much and remember that you can change instructors and try again if you feel like he's not supporting you properly. It's not the end of the world or your only chance at getting a licence.

I found it useful to watch some videos on YouTube of tests just to see how things worked and to remind me that I'm not the only learner out there who makes silly mistakes.

I'm hoping for a pass tomorrow because, if I'm honest, my ego has taken a bit of a hit having to sit the test 3x but I just keep telling myself that no one cares in the long run. I'll keep going until I've cracked it!

I failed a lot of driving tests! What helped for me was saying out loud what I was doing and not caring what the examiner thought! So from the start I just started talking myself quietly through...'I'm looking in my mirror, I'm indicating left...'
I think he passed me in the end cos he was scared of how odd I sounded...

I've literally just found out about the show me tell me checks. First I've heard about it arrrgghhh. I'm such an idiot for not having checked all this stuff

My instructor was unreliable and didn’t fill me with confidence (told me a week before my test that I should postpone it as I wasn’t ready, told me the day before my test that he didn’t feel he would be able to trust me with his car!!) what helped me massively was imagining his stupid face when I passed and the knowledge that I wouldn’t have to see his stupid face again!

For show me tell me... there are lots of lists online and if you can get someone with a car and some knowledge to point everything out to you, it’ll make it easier. I didn’t know about it either until the night before and DH helped me, I literally recited the answers over and over the morning of the test until they stuck

He should've been explaining/practicing all that with you @cantmovewont!

Thanks all.

What a nightmare.

This video is useful for the questions.

Squinteastwood. That's super helpful. Thank you

Dont cancel, just go for it. I passed my test in july on my 4th attempt. I had issues before each other my previous test, I nearly missed the 1st one due an accident on the motorway, 2nd one my instructors car broke an I had fo take my hubby's car but its huge an I'd never practiced parking in it and the 3rd my instructor was unavailable so I friend came with me 🤦‍♀️
Even if you dont pass 1st time there is no shame in it. And it's good practice for the next time. I had some rescue remedy lozenges and they helped to calm me down , I changed instructors too and my new instructor was amazing. I passed with her after 8hrs to brush up my skills and I passed with only 2 minors.
Have faith in yourself. They arent looking for a perfect drink or they want a safe driver. You can do it. Good luck!! Xx

They dont fail you for it and most instructors dont go through the show me but until the day of your test anyway. In the 4 tests I did I only saw 1 person looking under the bonnet 🤷‍♀️

Must be different in different areas, of the 5 people I know who've learnt within the last 3 years we've all been told about and coached on the questions and under the bonnet and that's with 4 different instructors.

I've had to lift the bonnet on both tests too.

You don't fail if you can't answer/show them but you do get a driver fault.

I passed about 5 years ago on my second try.
Something I found helped was thinking I'd already failed. At the beginning of my second test, I did something, can't remember what, that I was convinced was a major and I had failed. Went through the whole rest of the test just relaxed and driving normally because I was convinced I'd already failed! It took so much pressure off. Sounds weird I know.
Let us know how it goes. It'll feel like the end of the world if you fail, it did for me, but it's really not, just re book and try again. Good luck!! 🚗🚗🚗🚗

Thank you so much everyone.

Your responses have really helped me.

I had a good cry earlier which has eased the tension and I'm currently watching real life driving tests online which is helping too.

I'll report back tomorrow.

I really will do my best but will be really surprised if I pass.

Thanks all

Good Luck OP 🤞

As a woman who passed her driving test later in life, the only thing that worked for me was a ‘power hour’ beforehand. Really get yourself psyched up, hypnotism, give yourself a good talking to beforehand: I CAN DO THIS etc.

Good luck for tomorrow OP, I was in exactly the same boat a few months ago.
Don't worry about show me tell me- in my test the show me was how to beep the horn!
Give it your best shot, and if you fail, use it as a learning curve.
Remember, you start the test having already passed it, as that piece of paper has no minors or majors on it, and who cares if it becomes full- only you and your examiner will know.
Again best of luck x