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Original poster

Terrible driving lessons before test

23 replies

pixiedust21 · 08/06/2021 15:04

Learning to drive has been a huge issue for me - have been trying on and off since I was 17 (with huge gaps in between!!) though never did a test as my anxiety around driving and lessons was just out of control.

I had a period of ill health with general anxiety (not specific to driving) which has generally improved and so I started learning again last year in an auto. Lessons obviously stopped for quite a while with covid but my dad has taken me out regularly and I feel I can generally drive ok.

My test has been booked for quite a while and is tomorrow.

The last couple of weeks I have done a lot of intensive lessons (2 or 3 a week and some of them 3 hours long) in order to do manoeuvres and just practice as much as possible. In hindsight doing so many lessons in a short time has not been great and I have started hating the lessons again. This last week my lessons have been terrible as in almost feeling like a proper beginner again, making extremely silly mistakes and stressing out a lot.

I am less stressed about my test than I am about the lessons to be honest. I feel like it's a quick 40 min drive, I can only do what I can do so just stay calm. But sitting with the instructor watching me and feeling so stressed these last couple of weeks has been really surprisingly awful. Sobbing during and after lessons and just not driving well!

Has anyone else struggled with bad driving before their test?? Or just struggled in general - if I could get away with never driving I'd gladly never bother but I will just stick with it now even if it takes me more than one test. Not even sure what my point is. Just... aghhhh!!

OP posts:

Faranth · 08/06/2021 15:08

My lesson immediately before my test was horrendous. Couldn't reverse round a corner, emergency stops I just came to a gentle halt. 3 point turn? More like 47...

It was bizarre, the instructor was completely at a loss.

It was stress/nerves. I ws so stressed out I didn't recognise my own name when they called me to do the test, I have no recollection of the test at all, and never did, even immediately afterwards. I genuinely couldn't hold the pen to sign my name.

I passed.

Pootles34 · 08/06/2021 15:09

Yes! I full on pulled out in front of someone and nearly caused an accident the lesson before my test - mortifying. Apparently she said it was very common to have a dreadful lesson just before?

I actually loved my test because I didn't have someone wittering away at me, they just sit there quietly!

oreosoreosoreos · 08/06/2021 15:16

DSS had his test last week. We pulled up at the driving centre and he had to reverse backwards into the space - literally straight back 2m, just with a slightly wonky kerb. It took 10 mins. There was shouting, crying and swearing. Fortunately he had 10 mins of fresh air before his test started, but I was sweating it for him as it didn’t seem like the best start.

He passed, with only 6 minors!

Good luck for tomorrow!

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Sparklingbrook · 08/06/2021 15:19

Yes, awful lesson the one just before my test. the instructor even said afterwards he wasn't hopeful if I drove like that during the test but I passed.

Good luck!

Polkadots2021 · 08/06/2021 15:26

Me too - I still almost have nightmares about the sweaty, boiling hot 2 hours I spent the afternoon before my 8.40am test, constantly attempting manoeuvres and literally failing every single time, almost crying with frustration! I was almost sick with nerves the day of the test. I also passed!

Original poster

pixiedust21 · 08/06/2021 15:26

Ahh thanks for the replies, it does make me feel a lot better. I just feel so stupid and frustrated because I can drive - today I was following a sat nav, completely went the wrong way, took the wrong lane at a roundabout and just acted like I could not drive!!

It was marginally better than yesterday when I was approaching every junction far too fast and my instructor said I was driving like I was stressed (you think!!)

I mean I guess I don't know how it will go but I do think it will help just driving with someone other than my instructor, who is nice but I'm constantly waiting for him to tell me what I've just done badly!!

OP posts:

Original poster

pixiedust21 · 08/06/2021 15:27

@Polkadots2021 that was like my lesson yesterday, it was just awful and I felt physically ill afterwards. The instructor said "well just don't drive like that on test day".

OP posts:

CEBT · 08/06/2021 15:28

Me!! I had awful anxiety about driving and fell to pieces when I had tests. I failed 3 and then had hypnotherapy before my 4th which I passed. The lesson before I passed, my driving instructor said it was like I'd forgotten everything id learnt and he didn't think I should take the test. I psyched myself up after that and was just so determined to pass and I did! I found driving on my own so much less stressful that with the instructor watching. Good luck with your test tomorrow. It really is all about believing you can do it!

Bananarice · 09/06/2021 09:07

I failed twice because of the nerves. The third time I asked if my driving instructor could accompany me for emotional support. This was decade ago and allowed. I really wanted her to see where I needed to practice more. Despite missing few right turns but doing it safely, I passed.

I also loudly narrated my thoughts and directions. Saying what I was going to do before doing it helped me remain calm.

Good luck 👍

Hairbrush123 · 09/06/2021 09:16

Oh I really hated learning to drive with a passion. I can remember the days I wished my instructor would text me saying he has to cancel my lesson at short notice and I would have been so happy! I sometimes would cancel at short notice because I was dreading the lesson so much. I failed my driving test four times. Passed on my fifth attempt. I can totally emphasize with how you’re feeling. It took me three years to pass my test and I had four different instructors in that time - one said I was the worst student he’s ever had . I really struggled.

On the driving lesson an hour before my driving test, while I was parallel parking I got too close to someone’s car and clipped their wing mirror . My instructor immediately reassured me to not stress and it’s okay to have hiccups on the hour before the test and low-and-behold — I passed! Good luck OP. If I can do it, you can do it too! Please keep us updated.

GlutenFreeGingerCake · 09/06/2021 09:20

My driving instructor turned up in a different car just before my test I had an hour lesson before but couldn't get used to it and it threw me out completely. I failed that test but listened to some confidence boosting hypnosis before my second and passed.

Hairbrush123 · 09/06/2021 09:27

Empathize* not emphasize

MrsFlinch · 09/06/2021 10:04

Yes I completely went to pieces in my lesson before my test. I was nearly in tears. Luckily my driving instructor was also a good friend of Dh and I so let me get out and have a cigarette to calm down.

But having said that he kept complete faith in me and remained positive. He said a lot of people have a bad lesson before hand due to nerves.

I passed!

MrsFlinch · 09/06/2021 10:08

Just realised your test is today, Good Luck!

Dollywilde · 09/06/2021 10:09

Good luck OP! It took me bloody ages but I did it - you can do it

WTFisNext · 09/06/2021 11:04

I hope your test goes well and you pass.

My last week of lessons before my test (that I passed) were horrendous. Even my instructor was baffled as to how I'd seemingly forgotten how to drive!

Passed with a couple of minors with an examiner notorious for failing people based on awareness of motorbikes irrespective of whether there were any so most definitely down to nerves. Just glad I had mine prior to the test

Original poster

pixiedust21 · 09/06/2021 12:46

Ahh thanks everyone!!

It honestly does reassure me to know other people struggle to do this and it's not just me being the worst learner ever!

Unfortunately I failed my test but on a really silly and avoidable error of driving too fast in a 20. Don't know what happened to make me do that. Weirdly - and annoyingly - the rest of the test was good, my driving was good and I felt reasonably ok. I only had 1 other minor fault for my bay park.

Trying not to be too down about it, what's done is done and I actually now feel more confident for next time. So the whole experience was strangely ok?!

Tired now though

OP posts:

WTFisNext · 09/06/2021 13:37

Ah bugger, sorry to hear you failed.

My husband failed on a flawless test (one minor) because someone flashed to let him into the test centre and he went. Immediate major and fail! He did just fine the second time round because he knew it was a silly mistake and not because he couldn't drive.

You sound similar so I'm sure you'll get through the next test fine.

Dollywilde · 09/06/2021 14:51

Ah I’m sorry! If it makes you feel any better my first test I failed on a tricky roundabout, I’d assumed I’d already failed but the instructor told me I’d been doing fine - except for that one major I’d have passed with 3 minors. Did it again the following month and passed with 2 minors!

You know it’s an avoidable mistake, you’d have passed but for it, you won’t make it again, you’ll smash it next time

Original poster

pixiedust21 · 09/06/2021 15:33

Thank you!

The more I try to think about it the more it's annoying me just because it was so avoidable and unnecessary (WHY did I speed up!!) but I guess that's where my nerves came out and I had a bit of a mind block.

In a way it was reassuring as I got away with a bad bay park (but corrected it so it was a minor) and kind of made me realise they really aren't looking for perfect.

So yes.... I'll get it next time. Not sure when I'll next be able to book a test though so that's my next issue but never mind!! Pleased just to have survived because the way I felt this morning you'd think I was going to my execution or something

OP posts:

Polkadots2021 · 09/06/2021 17:32

I think you did amazing and you now know you can drive really well under test conditions. I bet you will ace it next time!

amusedbush · 09/06/2021 17:45

Ahh sorry to hear you failed. I passed third time as I made silly mistakes due to nerves in my first two. The first fail was actually driving too fast as well, as I hadn't noticed the speed limit change on a 40mph road.

I also did stop-start lessons for years due to nerves. I started when I was 18 and I picked up and dropped lessons a few times before passing at 25.

The lesson before my successful test was bad but not because of anything I did. My instructor (who was usually really nice, I liked him) turned up hungover! He snapped at me when I hesitated at a roundabout, then made me drive him to a burger van at the local industrial estate. He bought us both a bacon roll and we ate them over the bonnet of his car

MeadowHay · 09/06/2021 17:58

This was me last month and sadly I failed my test after about 20 mins of it. I was an absolute WRECK though, far worse than I even anticipated. I cried before I'd even set off from the test centre and I had a very cold and rude examiner who made me worse. I've got it rebooked for 3 months time (because I couldn't get an earlier slot), had 1 month break off lessons and will be resuming occasional lessons in a couple of weeks. I do honestly think that I needed that absolute shit show though as a first experience, now I know better what to expect I don't anticipate feeling as awful next time around. Whether I actually pass next time or not though who knows...

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