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Original poster

Driving Test Woes

26 replies

PigletsFood · 17/08/2022 19:06

My lovely nephew has just failed his driving test for the third time and is quite upset and a bit embarrassed.

Its only been one stupid thing each time (hill start today). I’m sure it’s only nerves but my sis and me want to encourage him to keep trying.
Please give me your stories if it took you quite a few goes to pass, of how you got there in the end, so I can tell him he’s not the only one. He’s 23 so not that young but I feel for him.

OP posts:
cantthinkofabetterusername · 17/08/2022 19:23

I passed on my 5th attempt. Always stupid things I failed on and was so close to giving up.
Best advice I can give him is keep going!! I passed at 37

WhereToGoFromHere33 · 17/08/2022 19:24

4th time for me!

On my final go I took my driving instructor with me, she sat in the back.

DownNative · 17/08/2022 19:27

My mother took 7 attempts to pass her driving test when she was 40 or so. She was nervous every time, but conquered it!

It can be done! Never give up or doubt!

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MomwasCasual · 17/08/2022 19:32

My daughter passed on her 7th attempt- not helped by Covid disruption and backlogs etc. It just made me more proud of her when she did it, for just not giving up.

She's just coming up to a year of driving now, she's really embraced it and is a far more confident and skilled driver than I was when I was her age (21).

I also have a friend who passed on her 8th, but had two 'abandoned' tests where the examiners didn't feel safe, so halted the proceedings... and another who passed on her 12th go.

You wouldn't guess either one from how they drive now.

NoMoreLifts · 17/08/2022 19:38

4th go for me. 30 years ago. OK driver now.
Keep going, he'll get there.

Headbandheart · 17/08/2022 19:38

IMHE it’s about confidence of the examiner. If the examiner feels confident you are in control you will pass and a small minor slip that you got out of appropriately won’t be a fail. Whereas if they generally don’t feel confident right form get go then they’ll fail you on smallest thing.

and the way for learners to feel confident is to practice and practice outside of actual lessons. Get out and do a lot of road time. Do stuff like driving round a busy supermarket car park and parking in spaces, reversing into spaces. Do stuff like just moving the car by reversing, 3 point turns around a large drive or empty car park. It’s not just about driving on roads.

I failed 3 times- that was big difference for me. I’d had all lessons I needed by then…I just needed way more practice to be fully in control of the car in term# of clutch, gears, steering.

MadonnasKebab · 17/08/2022 20:02

My DC failed 2nd time because a white van honked his horn when a bus was indicating to move off from a bus stop - instructor told him if van handed honked he would have passed

apparently more people pass Mon - Wed

cptartapp · 17/08/2022 20:11

I took four attempts. Pulled up the car in front of a hedge at the test centre car park after the test, touched it ever so slightly with the bonnet as I stopped. Examiner said 'up until then you had passed but that could have been a child.' So failed me.
DS1 took five attempts although lessons and tests badly interrupted with COVID.
Persevere.

ElegantAndWild · 17/08/2022 20:18

I failed my first test quite spectacularly. I was turning right at a crossroads with traffic lights and just froze there in the middle with two lanes of traffic going round me. Then I stopped at a mini roundabout and tried to take off in third gear. Three times. I literally bunny hopped onto the actual roundabout in three goes. It was a complete fucking disaster.

I passed second time though. So I managed to go from full on dangerous nightmare to competent driver between one test and the next. Therefore if your nephew is only making minor mistakes he has a much smaller gap to bridge.

Minor mistakes are usually caused by lapses in concentration. This is true regardless of task. Probably the best thing he can do is increase his concentration. So, things like crosswords, meditation and so on. He can obviously drive. He just needs to concentrate when he does so.

MissyCooperismyShero · 17/08/2022 20:22

Pretty sure it took four attempts for ds to pass. And that's the thing- we don't even remember now! Ancient history. No one cares once you finally pass. Of course nephew should keep going. He will pass soon enough.

ApolloandDaphne · 17/08/2022 21:12

It took my DD1 7 goes. She was just spectacularly unlucky. She is a good and confident driver now.

Original poster
PigletsFood · 17/08/2022 21:54

Thank you lovelies.

OP posts:
Phoenix76 · 17/08/2022 22:47

As an ex driving instructor I often picked up pupils who had not passed (we weren't allowed to say failed 😉) from other instructors, I'd take them out for some lessons before their test and the looks on their faces when they came back saying they'd passed still makes me smile to this day, in all cases their previous non passes were simply due to nerves. I'd strongly encourage him not to give up, I have a friend who gave up after not passing on his first test and now being almost 50 says it's always a regret for him as he let his fear fester for so long he never regained the courage.

Moon22 · 17/08/2022 22:50

I would say get straight on and book the next test as soon as he can. He is test ready. Just needs luck on his side.

PointyNails · 15/09/2022 12:39

Aw it’s horrible for them. Ds is just about to take his test for the 4th time and I’m a nervous wreck, never mind him.
What makes it worse was the examiner on his last test said that he would trust him with his kids in the car but had to fail him on one mistake.
Good luck to them both OP.

Nat6999 · 15/09/2022 12:44

It took me 5 tests to pass, 5 tests in 6 months knocked my confidence & the test I passed on I had more minor faults than any of the other ones I had taken. He needs practice, I had my own car & my dad took me out every weekend & came to meet me from work during the week for me to drive home, he took me out in all weather conditions as well.

PeekAtYou · 15/09/2022 12:50

My teen dd watched a lot of YouTube. There are many instructors on there talking through complicated situations on the road and giving hints and tips for the test.

Has he looked up the test routes? That will help establish tricky bits that he might want to practice. Eg a junction with limited visibility Has he always tried the same test centre? There's 2 test centres within 15 miles of where I live and the pass rates are much higher than one than the other.

Original poster
PigletsFood · 15/09/2022 17:15

I don’t know if taking him out in our car would be a good thing tbh. He’s a good driver - according to his instructor - and my sis and I have been driving 40+ years so too many bad habits. Don’t think I could handle the stress as well!
He is well practiced in the test routes. It’s all about what’s happening on the roads on the day. Fingers crossed everyone for his next attempt.

OP posts:
Original poster
PigletsFood · 16/09/2022 14:00

Well I’m sorry to say he’s had a test today and didn’t pass. Just one thing again, stupid mistake on a road he’s driven on loads of times. It’s just nerves taking over again.

Apparently he is sulking in his room, annoyed with himself and my dsis is in floods of tears! So here we go again.

OP posts:
blebbleb · 16/09/2022 14:03

It took me 3 attempts to pass. I was so nervous, especially the second time. After that I told myself it doesn't matter as I couldn't take it 100 times if I had to. It took the pressure off at least.

SarahShorty · 16/09/2022 14:19

3rd go for me, I was 22. 1st attempt I hesitated at a highstreet junction because some idiot was racing up the road. 2nd attempt I did a parallel park but the overly-judgemental examiner complained that I took too long despite not bumping the curb/kerb. 3rd attempt the route was better, less maniacs on the road and more well-rounded and calm examiner.

In my view it makes you a more experienced driver overall. And even if you've only failed it once, you know what the test conditions are like and thus what to expect, so your nerves tend to be less of an inconvenience in further attempts. I understand the driving test has changed a fair bit since I did mine, so I appreciate there may be more nerves anyway.

Years ago when one of my husband's friends took his driving test, his nerves were fully strength-tested. Because an examiner of driving examiners was in the car with him throughout the duration of the test. Two examiners, plus him. He passed.

He'll get there.

pompomdaisy · 16/09/2022 14:28

I'm literally sat in the test centre now as my daughter is taking her first driving test.!!

Original poster
PigletsFood · 04/10/2022 12:24

Well pleased to report he’s passed!! Perseverance paid off. So happy for him 😊

OP posts:
ChickenRat · 04/10/2022 13:21

Congratulations @PigletsFood Smile really happy for him

I have my driving test later this month, first attempt. My lessons were interrupted by covid lockdowns and also I had a baby.

I also work for a driving school (in an admin role). Nervous does not even begin to describe it Confused

Original poster
PigletsFood · 05/10/2022 08:51

Thank you @ChickenRat.
Good luck in your test. And we’ll done on passing the theory test. That’s an ordeal in itself!

OP posts: