Driving test F**k up :(

[KLM19]

So learning to drive for around 2 years obviously covid happened which postponed lots and cancelled Theorys ect... I had my theory the start of this year passed with flying colours... I thought that would be the hard bit for me!! I am more hands on... anyway zoom on months later I had my first driving test the other week... I failed with a serious... i am so so disappointed in myself i needed this to be able to take my children to where they need to go while I work.. I have never felt so angry with myself... #1 I can drive... i would not have said this 1 year ago but i really can... i absolutely crumbled on my test i felt sooo shaky and i was breathing like i was in labour! How embarrassing lol... everything was going smoothly i pulled up to a crossroads... the one I had just done in my lesson previous to my test none the less... and I moved into my filter lane to turn right lights were green I edged forward and stopped there was 4 cars ahead of me turning left I obviously know I give way... it's there side of the road.. anyway.. the first two cars went and the next car was a learner and he pulled out stopped went stopped went stopped he was creeping so not stalling... I totally panicked in the moment and I went to go but so did he and I went to put the break on but it disappeared from my foot as the examiner pushed quicker... I'm such a bloody idiot I keep replaying it in my head... i have never in my the past two years felt like this or made a mistake like that.. btw i wouldn't of hit him i was breaking :/ i just dont know if to give up... it took me a good week to scrape myself back to normal after that test it's really knocked my confidence... I did everything I had seen to help with nerves.. good sleep practice practice banana rescue remedy no caffeine water positive thoughts... erghhh I just dont know why I felt like that I felt I could have died with anxiety... do I go on?! Anybody had similar nerves/anxiety situation?? How did you cope?

Just book again- it happens!

I passed 3rd time. First time I was really nervous and got too many minors. Second I failed on turn in the road- I think I stalled too many times, he had me do it on a hill and I just freaked out. Third time I passed easily- I was so relaxed.

Honestly once you'd passed this wouldn't be that big of a thing.

You did go to brake. Your reactions and muscle memory aren't as honed as someone who've been driving for much longer.

Take it from me DONT GIVE UP this happened to me. I could drive but in a test situation I was awful my nerves got the better of me my leg was jiggling up and down and I failed and never went back to it. I'm 36 with 2 children and I need to learn to drive I just wished I preservered. I wish you all the best

Thanks so much everyone! I wish I had done this as a carefree teen rather than at 30... makes it so much harder. :(

Please go to the Dr and get propranolol, a beta blocker. It stops the physical signs of anxiety, like the shaking you described. Very best of luck for your next test!

I passed second time. First nerves totally got the best of me. I required nearly 80 hours of lessons though to get to that point (my parents still remind me of this because they paid for the lessons and I think they thought they would end up bankrupt the way I was going).

Pick yourselves up. Keep going.

i had my first test in june and failed miserably although i can drive and was sure i had a good chance of passing. But on the day i hadnt slept for a few night because of pain. so i was a bit out of it on top of that my glasses kept steaming up. it was a nightmare test lets just put it that way. Needless to say i failed with a serious and a dangerous is it?

I failed twice - and, in hindsight, think the experience of that has made me a better driver - shows just how 'on' you have to be all of the time when driving.

What I did on my third test was had my instructor sitting in the back - I hadn't realised she could do that, but it really helped put my at ease as I knew I could drive with her in the car - not sure it's what made the difference but maybe worth a thought?

@freesolo

My doctor prescribed me beta blockers as I got so nervous on tests the car would shake from my shaking foot on the clutch ! Passed 5th attempt

Same, but it was my sixth attempt! Never had nerves like it before or since.

Don't tell anyone you've got your test next time if possible, my nerves were due to people asking about the test/worrying about telling people I'd failed again

@KLM19

Thanks so much everyone! I wish I had done this as a carefree teen rather than at 30... makes it so much harder. :(

Try not to focus on what a difference it will make to your life. I know it sounds silly buy my sister who was also 30 became obsessed with what a big difference it would make to her and her dd (I was having to do all the nursery pick ups for her DD as well as my DC and we also live in a tiny town so nothing to do unless you drive) and that was making her even more anxious as she felt she was letting me and her DD down each time.

Anxiety is such an awful thing and can make us totally change or forget everything!

Some tips for when I passed my driving test.
I studied google instant street view religiously and googled my local driving test routes, unbelievably one came up that I had already followed the full way on google street view. I looked at every road marking, street light, cross, angle of junctions you name it. So when I was driving I already knew to be prepared for XYZ and where I was going before he said.

I even looked up my local council’s and adjacent council’s bin days to avoid driving small streets with hundreds of bins!

I wore really comfy clothes so I didn’t even think about being cold/uncomfy etc I think I even took 2 paracetamol before so I didn’t get a headache in the middle of it.

I looked up the weather app so I would be prepared to put my car lights on or window wipers, sometimes when you’re concentrating so hard you forget the small things.

You have to sell it to the driving instructor how confident and competent you are behind the wheel. Although I was making light small talk and explaining my decisions to the instructor while driving, in my head I was reciting something like, speed, mirrors, window check, don’t ride the clutch, check blind spot, double check, smooth acceleration!

I recently passed on my third attempt at almost 37 years old. Lots of Covid related delays too. I only had 6 weeks until I had to resit my theory test. I found that very easy. Driving never came to me naturally though. The first and especially the second tests were buggered up due to my nerves. I would recommend getting a cancellation app as it can bump your test date forward. Good luck, and you'll pass I promise!

The best drivers pass second time apparently

Most people fail first time. I did.

Thinking laterally a bit: Can you make it something that's not needed? Can you find an alternative that will make the car feel like a nice-to-have luxury not an essential? I know that might be easier said than done, but if you can, that's going to take away the pressure.

Passed second time.

I missed a stop sign in my first test and the examiner had to brake. So upset.
Instant fail.

Got stopped by the police during my first test

Booked my second test with the view to it being a practice run at taking the test. Did lots of practice with my driving instructor where we pretended to be in a test. Did something at the beginning of the real one that made me think I'd failed early differs do just thought 'good job it's the practice run'. Reader I passed!

Just book again, you now know what to expect!

In a lesson, I did an emergency stop for a black cat. My instructor looked at me like I was mad and told me I shouldn't have stopped for that. I assumed he was an arsehole towards cats but it turned out I had stopped for a plastic bag to cross the road.

Passed 5th time I was a nervous wreck. My instructor couldn't believe it and kept saying to my parents "I don't understand she can drive".

Fast forward to my son sitting his he was the same, could drive really well but kept panicking at tests. His last test he took Kalms for 2 weeks prior then Batch remedy and he passed. I was delighted. Hardly see him now!

OP I relate to this so very much. I’m a great driver but no licence because I can’t cope with the tests. I become extremely anxious to the point where I am shaking and breathless. Then the crushing weight of failure has me in bed for 2 days. This sounds so dramatic I know but I can’t help it, it’s just one of those things. I’ve given up for now, hopefully not forever!

I'm upgrading my license from auto to manual, and failed my first manual driving test even though I've been a competent and safe driver for 20 years, because I cannot get my head around not stalling when I'm nervous. It's like the car knows.

I'm not rebooking at the moment as I'm making way for all of those younger folk who need to pass before their theory runs out and people like you who certainly have the greater need. I'll get there eventually, and then I can hire a car abroad for slightly less than a million pounds!

Good luck OP. You can do it!

My son failed 18th August with a major pulled out in front of someone and they beeped him. It was nerves pure and simple booked his test first date Jan 2022. Downloaded an app called driving test now paid £17 and it searches for cancellations at your preferred test station. You have to go on and click to auto book if a slot comes up. I ticked every day all day up to Xmas. The next morning he had a cancellation for the 14th September and passed second time with 4 minors. You can do it dont give in and look at the apps they are worth it.

I made the examiner squeal.

I drove 40 in a 30, nearly took out a cyclist
and then
turned into oncoming traffic and the car nearly got hit on the front passenger's side. She squealed.

I was asked to drive back to the centre.

I don't think I drove that badly the first time I got behind the bloody wheel!

My next test - passed with three minors I think it was. Not quite enough distance round a parked car and not as smooth as I could have been on a roundabout - I think. It was a long time ago. Something like that anyway.

We got back to the centre, examiner said congrats.
I burst into tears.
My instructor was outside the car, another instructor was going passed and asked something like she failed? My instructor replied no, she passed, god knows what she'd have done if she failed.

So yeah. It happens. 🤣

I was really nervous on my first test and failed. The morning of my second test I locked myself out of my flat and had to scale an 8 foot wall to get in through the basement after lots of banging and phone calls proved fruitless. I just made it in time for my test and by then I was so cross I didn’t feel any nerves and just did it. Passed that time. Maybe try and channel some anger to chase away the nerves!

Got to love a happy ending!!! I passed today!!! Thanks for all the advice xx