Failed my driving test

[Buspassforever]

I'm 36 and have managed fine without driving but some major changes in circumstances are happening and I really need to be able to drive.

I've spent approx £2k on lessons as it took me a long time to get the hang of things, even in an automatic. Since driving lessons restarted this year I definitely turned a corner and made amazing progress. I've aced my maneuvers, good with positioning, speed and generally have a good understanding of the road.

I wasn't nervous at all but as soon as the test started I was overcome with nerves. My whole body was shaking, the examiner wasn't stern but not chatty. I was asked to put the window down and messed it up as I was shaking so much.

Ended up changing lanes on a roundabout I've driven 100 times before with no problem. Came home and cried all day and now I just feel so ashamed of myself and totally useless. I was pretty prepared for not passing first time but didn't expect to feel so awful about it. I've seen people mention kalms and beta blockers, I genuinely didn't even consider them as I don't tend to get nervous, until yesterday.

Thank You everyone

I've had a read through other driving test posts on here and glad I'm not the only one who had the steering wheel grabbed by the examiner . Something that has never, ever happened in a lesson. I've decided to stop beating myself up as there's no point really, what happened happened.

Hopefully I can get an earlier test slot, if not this could take a very long time.

get the app TESTI

my test got moved forward a month because i used the app

OP I had the steering wheel grabbed by the examiner, drove into the path of incoming vehicles, drove through a red light and almost shunted a stationary vehicle, all on my first test! Which was a v long time ago. It was nerves that absolutely turned me into a driving weirdo. I was a complete wreck!! By my 3rd I was older and a really good driver, and in fact the test examiner said it was one of the safest drives he'd ever witnessed. Just telling you that first lot so you can know theres someone out there who did far worse Like everyone says just keep going and maybe consider the beta blockers and you'll get there!!

I failed 7 times because I got so so nervous that I made silly mistakes. Rescue Remedy helped me in the end. I'm now a good and very safe driver 6 years later.

Please don't worry OP, many good drivers get nervous on the test but are perfectly all right when not in a test situation. I was 56 when I passed my test at the 6th attempt and I spent about £1,700 on lessons. It was simply nerves which were the problem.

Continue driving as much as possible and try to harness your nerves. I had to change instructors and the new one admitted he was difficult to drive with - I actually felt that I was going backwards with confidence and ability which was hard at the time - but by comparison taking the next test was like falling off a log. I eventually passed and you can too. So pick yourself up OP - you know you can do it.

It may be your mindset which is preventing success. On that last test when I got up that morning I just felt calm, that everything would fall into place and anything which went wrong wouldn't be too bothersome. At the end I heard the wonderful words, "I'm pleased to tell you ... " I didn't hear the rest as I was on cloud nine. DH was waiting at the test centre and we went on for a cream tea - he drove as I was in a bit of a state. If I can do it you can do it OP. Chin up!

I failed mine with 1 major and 0 minors 3 times. 4th time I had 9 minors as I was driving like a nervous maniac (it was the first time instructor sat at the back and I was so nervous) but no majors so I passed. All of us were shocked I passed lol. I’m now a decent driver. Just keep booking tests until you pass.

Nerves do a real number on people. My friend failed nine times and her dad was a driving instructor. On one test she drove right over the top of a roundabout! She eventually passed and has been driving for years without incident! Just think OP once it's done its done!

I think with roundabouts it helps to just practice the shit out of them. If you live within reach of Milton Keynes it might be worth a day trip.

It's Ok, I had this too. I passed on my third test. I'd left it a year as on my second test a van nearly smashed into us on a DC (assessor said it was 100% vans fault). Then I did 6 more lessons with a new teacher and passed on the next go.

Sometimes it happens. Keep trying.

Also it helped me to remember for a lot of things they don't mind if you make mistakes as long as you fix it. I was going up a hill in the wrong gear for so long the bloody car should have burst into flames but because I was able to eventually figure it out and fix it I still passed.

Oh and my first fail was also a roundabout because my indicator flicked off.

Try not to worry too much! I passed on my 3rd, both of my first two tests I got one serious and one minor, I’m a good driver but nerves got to me too. A friend of mine took 8 tests to pass, but has been driving 15 years now no accidents. Don’t give up!

My dd has anxiety (as in clinically diagnosed and on medication) and failed twice before passing on the third occasion. She took beta blockers but was still struggling to suppress rising panic. I honestly thought she would fail a third time too because she was feeling nauseous with nerves before setting off with the examiner, but luckily she somehow managed to keep it together. It helped that she was the last to leave the test centre car park and so the examiner asked her to do a reverse park at the start of the test. She bossed that and it helped calm her down.

If you are flexible enough to take a test at short notice, you should find it relatively easy getting a last minute cancellation (as soon as your 10 days post test booking embargo is over). If people cancel their tests giving 3 days notice they get a refund, so you do find quite a few tests popping up in two or three days time. Dd failed her second test on 28 May but got a short notice cancellation for 12 June and passed that one.

Ah I can relate OP. Nothing in the world more nerve wracking than a driving test! I completely forgot how to reverse into a bay at my December one and I also felt rubbish so I get that too.

Thank you all for the advice and solidarity

Wish I'd posted this yesterday! Feeling much better now that I've written it down.

I looked on my first test as a trial run.

And the second one.

I decided then not to take more lessons, DH took me out and I used our car for my test. On that third test, which was in the January, the weather was awful. Not snowing, but that heavy icy rain and sideways wind. I fully expected to arrive at the test centre to be told that it was cancelled (this was pre-internet days), but nope, it was going ahead. I think expecting it to be cancelled meant that I wasn't nervous at all, because I didn't think it'd be happening.

Met the examiner, got in my car, got myself comfy in the driving seat, seat belt on, checked mirrors etc, when I heard this polite little knocking on the passenger window - it was the examiner, I'd forgotten to unlock the door for him! Poor man was a bit wet.

Then we started the test, I got about a hundred yards up the road when a gust of wind blew my magnetic L plate off, onto the road and a bus drove over it! Had to wait for ages for a break in the traffic so we could rescue it and stick it back on.

And yup, I passed that time!

Try to put the fact that you are learning to drive because of a change of circumstances out of your mind OP, because I think you're putting additional pressure on yourself there. Driving tests can be stressful so be kind to yourself, I remember how nervous I was before mine as well

You will be fine OP, you know what to expect from the test now, so you will be better prepared next time. I passed on my second attempt, it doesn’t matter how long it takes, you only have to pass once, just keep going, you can do it. Good luck.

Well don't be put off as the best drivers pass on their 6th attempt. .well I did. All down to nerves. on the 6th go I had really given up caring and hey presto!

I failed 3 times due to being too hesitant. Not getting up to speed limits, spending too long at junctions. The 4th time I went the same route as tests 2 and 3 so passed.

DH has just passed his theory, can't get a practical within the next 12 months though so not sure if he's even going to get to actually pass. What is this app you speak of?

I passed mine 3rd time aged 36 I genuinely thought I'd never drive, I'd always wanted too but always been to nervous, the nerves weren't helped because examiners were on strike at the time and it was a 6 month wait for tests so I failed twice knowing I'd have a long wait between tests, the examiner on the first test had to grab the wheel literally 5 minutes out of the test centre then knowing I'd failed I was a wreck for the rest of the test, he should have just taken me back, at one point trying to do a reverse park he had to tell me to pull over and turn the engine off and have a minute and I burst into tears! He was so lovely, I was devastated, the examiner on the one I eventually passed was horrible, really short with me didn't speak didn't try and make me feel more relaxed, when he said I'd passed I burst into tears and he just looked at me like I was pathetic and got out of the car! I was too happy to care though! Good luck with your next test OP! You can do it!

@OrangeBananaFish

I failed 3 times due to being too hesitant. Not getting up to speed limits, spending too long at junctions. The 4th time I went the same route as tests 2 and 3 so passed.

DH has just passed his theory, can't get a practical within the next 12 months though so not sure if he's even going to get to actually pass. What is this app you speak of?

Re 'can't get a test within 12 months' - new test dates for around 4-6 months in the future are released in a block once per week. Other than that a few tests will come up daily but they will be cancellations at short notice.

Best advice is to pay for an 'on hold' test (I.e you pay, don't have a specific date and time scheduled, but are given a booking reference) then download the Testi app and pay £9.99 per month for push notifications - then you'll find a test date (but you need that booking reference in order to 'change' to any test slots that come up)

Look on the bright side - after even more practice you’ll be that much more competent/confident, when you do finally pass.

That’s what I told dds after they both took 3 goes to pass anyway, but I do think it’s true.

The other thing I said (after the first fail) was ‘Don’t tell anyone you’re taking it next time (except me and dh obvs.) - that way you won’t feel crap having to say you’ve failed again.’