Driving test at 38 - advice please

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Has anyone else passed their driving test much later on (compared to most people) in life?

I know I am a good driver. I feel confident and my instructor says I am the best driver on his books so I must be doing something right.

My second test is in a few weeks and on the last one I worked myself up into suck a frenzy I made stupid mistakes that I honestly never make on lessons and failed because of it.

It would change my life so much - I would be able to help my disabled mother out by fetching her things she needs and dropping them off.
Ferry my kids to places they need to go and not have to constantly ask other parents to do it for me.
Take my kids out for a day would be lovely.
Be able to just go grocery shopping.

I think knowing all these things adds to my nerves on the day, there is so much riding on it. And knowing I won't get another test until probably next year if I screw it up again.

Any tips on staying relaxed?

I passed mine aged 35 after four goes. After the third go the examiner took me back to the test centre and screamed at me in the car and I said I would never do it again. The fourth time was entirely different - I knew I could drive, I did breathing exercises and felt really calm and composed. I just kind of tuned into the voice and followed the instructions, controlled my breathing and went for it. I also found it helpful to visualise the manouvres and talk myself through them in the days leading up to the test. You can do it!

Thanks

I must admit being older now and a lot more cautious seems to hold me back somewhat

I passed mom in December at 39 I hadn’t had any lessons bar 1 prior due to the mini lockdown and decided that as it was booked just do it and take any feedback, take it slow. Other than that I pessimistically thought I’d fail and it really calmed my nerves. Think about the time of day it’s booked for, is it during school run/rush hour? What’s the weather going to be like etc

When I say no lessons I mean in the weeks leading up not none at all! I drove for ages before.

I was 35. And pregnant when I passed!! Mars and 2 paracetamol before your test...
You can do it op!!

Passed mine after three times 38z
I meditated for about 15 mins before. Calmed me down and I passed. It's just nerves. You need to learn a way to calm then you will do it xx

Passed mine at 35 on the third attempt - to be honest I made a horrible mistake coming out of the test centre and though ‘oh fuck it I’ve failed again’ and then just drove about for the half hour. Nearly dropped dead when he passed me!!

Thanks all

I've been studying drone videos of the huge multi lane roundabouts that are on the test routes and on there I can clearly see where I need to be in every possible approach but when I approach one in real life for some reason I turn to jelly which is so stupid 🤷🏼‍♀️

I know I just need to calm down because I'm at the point where i drive around with my instructor and don't do a single thing wrong.

It's been so stop start and cancelled so many times for the lockdowns. I've had to stop for a while then restart. He says now we are working on making me better than test standard so I sail through hopefully

Passed mine on the 5th attempt at 37. I didn't tell a soul apart from my boss (as I needed the morning off and we're close mates so knew she wouldn't say anything), didn't even tell my husband.

Did the usual things, banana, calms tablet, commentated my way through it for the examiner, early night etc

Tbh the main difference I think was not telling anyone as I had the previous four times and it made it feel more of an 'event'

Good luck!

For most of it I managed to role play, pretending that I was a taxi driver following my customer's instructions. It removed quite a bit of self consciousness/terror. I did pass. I would also do what others have said about calms , bananas etc if I'd known that then. Good luck

with the big roundabouts... be aware you will NOT fail your test for taking the wrong exit at a roundabout, or not following the directions correctly. In those situations what most people fail for is realising they're in the wrong lane, then panicking and chopping across lanes, usually without checking it's safe. You're not being tested on navigation, you're being tested on being safe.

Don't forget to actually stop at stop signs (sounds stupid, but it's a common fail). Make sure you understand what to do at traffic lights, particularly where there is a round green light and an arrow. DVSA publishes all the show me/tell me questions, you might want to check those so you're prepared for any that might come up, personally I get less stressed if I feel I'm prepared.

It sounds like you're ready, and as others have said, it's all about controlling the nerves.

Despite the waiting lists, some people who fail are coming back for a retest within weeks - it seems there are a lot of cancellations available (at least where I am). So all is not lost even if you have a bad day!

My dm passed on her second attempt aged 49.

An hour before your test, just do deep breathing and let the day unfold. Relax, do some stretches and just empty your mind of clutter. I did this. Made a mistake in my test, i accepted there and then that i had failed. I relaxed and continued. I passed!

I considered it just another lesson. By the time I took my test I'd done loads of practice tests with my instructor, so it was just the same thing except the person in the passenger seat was less chatty.

But I didn't have the pressure aspects you have, or the shitshow with there being no tests. I needed two attempts, first time I would have blown through a Give Way but failing was no big deal and that meant I wasn't stressed before passing.

Used to always have a nap just before my lessons too.

Rescue Remedy was a game changer for me (fifth go at 37).

Good luck

Rescue remedy and a banana beforehand! Good luck.

Another one who used Rescue Remedy here! I was 43 when I took mine. Good luck!

I passed mine at 5th attempt age 33, 6 months to the day from my first attempt. After my first test I didn't pay for any more lessons, my dad took me out every week in my own car.

I passed yesterday with a clean sheet

I'm still so excited that I've woken up at this ungodly hour

Love an update. Well done!

Well done!

Oh so pleased to see this result. Well done OP 👏

I was 37 and passed mine on the 7th attempt. My instructor reckoned I’d been at it so long I drove like an experienced driver - I never did work that one out, surely then I’d have passed?

Anyway, I was a test nervebag and I had betablockers to get me through.

Sorry - missed the update. Congratulations! 🥳

Thanks all