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Original poster

Driving test tomorrow but I can’t drive

165 replies

Toottootbang · 14/09/2022 18:19

Do I cancel? There are still times (not often but at least once or twice a lesson) when my instructor has to brake for me or tell me to steer away from a parked car. My test is tomorrow. I’m not ready am I? I still can’t reliably reverse park either. I feel like crying. I have 1 hour before test tomorrow to somehow magically learn how to drive. Instructor says she thinks I’m ready. I just don’t see how.

OP posts:

BigSandyBalls2015 · 14/09/2022 19:35

Too late to change it now and you’d lose your money so just go for it and hope for the best. If you don’t pass you will know what to expect next time.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 14/09/2022 19:42

Just do it, treat it as a practice run. Honestly my first test I failed in the first 30 seconds with a major error. The test of the test was so much more relaxed knowing I'd failed and I think it really helped the next time knowing what to expect.

sintrawest · 14/09/2022 19:46

Take it as a practice run. And remember to do lots of looking and blind spots etc!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking

BeyondMyWits · 14/09/2022 19:47

I couldn't drive when I took my test either, I knew I was going to fail. But I passed.

Because I knew I wasn't ready and that I'd fail, I just went for it. I had a friend with me when I drove afterwards for about a month until I felt like I could drive.

FuckThisForAGameOfNotSoldiers · 14/09/2022 19:48

been driving for 40 years, still can't reliably reverse park

KitBumbleB · 14/09/2022 19:50

You sound better than me and I've been on the road 10 years 🤷🏻‍♀️

RedHelenB · 14/09/2022 19:51

Toottootbang · 14/09/2022 18:19

No you're not.

YoSofi · 14/09/2022 19:53

Best of luck tomorrow, failing isn’t the end of the world and you might surprise yourself!

Twinsforthewin · 14/09/2022 19:57

Go, expecting to fail, it'll be great practice, you get to see the routes etc. I passed on the sixth time, the whole system is rubbish, just get it out the way so you can be less nervous next time. Good luck!

JimmiChoux · 14/09/2022 20:03

FuckThisForAGameOfNotSoldiers · 14/09/2022 19:48

been driving for 40 years, still can't reliably reverse park

Same 😁

MrsWhites · 14/09/2022 20:05

Can you postpone free of charge if you had Covid symptoms for example?

ButterflyBitch · 14/09/2022 20:07

Do it and see it as a learning experience. Don’t expect to pass, just expect to learn what you need to work on.

JimmiChoux · 14/09/2022 20:10

I would go ahead tomorrow. The worst that can happen is you fail. At least you will know what the test will be like.

SavingsThreads · 14/09/2022 20:12

KitBumbleB · 14/09/2022 19:50

You sound better than me and I've been on the road 10 years 🤷🏻‍♀️

Please tell me that's a joke

Bollindger · 14/09/2022 20:17

You can do this, you can drive or you would not be on the road, the over corrections from your instructor are making you panic, and your over thinking things.
You know how to drive, and so long as you don't panic you could be passed by tomorrow,.

EnormousStuffedMarrow · 14/09/2022 20:19

I'd say take the test and treat it as a practice run.
You have nothing to lose. If you're taking the test in your instructors car then the examiner will have dual control so nothing really awful will happen.
Good luck!

GuerlainHo · 14/09/2022 20:21

All you can do is try and give it a go.

the more you do it and realise how much money your spending on lessons and failed tests, will soon make you learn to drive better in the hopes of getting your licence and saving that money.

dimples76 · 14/09/2022 20:23

From what you said about the roundabout it sounds like the other driver was the one at fault. 5 hours of driving lessons in one day must have been exhausting

I clipped a parked car's wing mirror on the road the test centre was on (at the start of the test) so knew that I had failed from the start! There was a roundabout at the end of the street and I said to the examiner shall I go all the way around and back to the test centre.

It's a long wait for test slots at the moment isn't it. I would probably go for it. One of my friends was so nervous at her test that when the examiner told her to go straight on at the roundabout and drove straight onto the roundabout.

GuerlainHo · 14/09/2022 20:23

I done my test twice before passing and I remember feeling so fed up of spending money every week on lessons, that by the third test - I was determined to pass.

MuchuseasaChocolateTeapot · 14/09/2022 20:28

I try and be as kind as I can in life but you are not ready to dive on the highway. You shouldn’t be driving something that can kill me or my loved ones until you are more road savvy. Sorry

TooHotToRamble · 14/09/2022 20:33

Toottootbang · 14/09/2022 18:31

My instructor braked today because at a roundabout it looked clear to me, the car was signalling to come off and looked like he was positioned that way but actually decided to come round instead.

You know you have to wait until you can see they are actually staring to manoeuvre to come off, not just signalling? Many many people signal incorrectly particularly on roundabouts. Has your instructor made that clear?

LemonPledge555 · 14/09/2022 20:34

Give it a go - but this is why intensive courses just aren’t worth the money. You’re better off letting the skills sink in of yoU see what I mean.

Give it a bash and you never know - you’re already managing your expectations. My step dad is an instructor and he’s often surprised at who manages to pull it out of the bag on tbe day.

If you don’t pass I’d be looking for another instructor to be honest.

TooHotToRamble · 14/09/2022 20:36

I also agree with PPs. Treat it as a practice run. You won't get your money back anyway.

PS I also buggered up a reverse park only yesterday. Been driving for about 30 years!

Alucadekena · 14/09/2022 20:38

Tonight watch some mock test videos on YouTube so that you learn from others doing mock tests. Ds is learning to drive and has watched a lot of these as they present situations that he cannot experience in 4 hours of lessons per week. They are helpful for talking through each situation. Best ones are Clearview Driving and DGN in my opinion.

Your driving instructor knows you best and thinks you are ready. Are you hard on yourself? If an instructor keeps putting forward learners who are not ready for test then the DVSA then look into that instructor which they never want.

Lots of people correct parking and so don't get it right first time every time. The DVSA also list the 10 most common things people fail on but to be honest it covers everything. Number 1 is not making effective observations at junctions, then mirrors, always use them when changing direction so pulling around parked cars right mirror and left mirror for moving back over, number 3 is steering, look where you are going, sounds obvious but lots of learners don't they look at the front of the car rather than into the junction.

If you don't pass this time, there is a next time, It isn't a one shot go. Less than 50% of people pass their test according to stats so you are not alone if it happens. Another great thing to watch is dash cam videos which show you where people mess up all the time and they have all passed their tests. Ruby Dash Cam Academy tells you who was in the wrong too which helps new drivers. Good luck.

custardbear · 14/09/2022 20:38

My dad used to say when you pass your test you can't drive properly but you're safe enough to go it alone and get hours under your belt

Go, if it's a fail, try again and work on your problem areas whatever the outcome

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