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Original poster

Driving test fail/ pass stories please!

28 replies

Shesasuperfreak · 02/12/2022 08:38

I have my test today and my biggest fear is failing on something dangerous and embarrassing myself.

Has anyone got got any stories to calm my nerves?

I dont feel confidence atall

OP posts:

Thatsshallot1967 · 02/12/2022 08:47

Op, I don't have any stories to calm your nerves but just wanted to wish you all the VERY best. 🙏🏻👍

WhenDovesFly · 02/12/2022 08:55

Unless you're completely unprepared then I think it's unlikely you'll fail on something dangerous.

I failed my test the first time on something frivolous (IMO) and the second time the test centre was this place where, as you pulled away, you were immediately at a junction to turn on to a major road. As I pulled up to the junction, I stalled the car. This was literally a minute into my test. In my head I thought "Sod it, I've failed already" and that somehow made me relax and just drive to get the test finished. When the instructor said I'd passed I was gobsmacked because of the stalling, but he said that I'd done everything correct in the circumstances to make the car safe and restart it, so it wasn't an issue.

Good luck today OP, and do lots of positive thinking "I can do this"; "I'm a good driver" etc. Be very observant for potential hazards and road signs. Nothing will take away your nerves, but try and have some belief in yourself.

MintyGreenDreams · 02/12/2022 08:57

I failed the first time by rushing the maneuver (parallel park) .
Don't rush anything that would be my tip.Good luck!

Interested in this thread?

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Driving & parking

Shemovesshemoves21 · 02/12/2022 08:59

Best advice I have is just to treat it like any other trip and make conversation with your assessor. I found by chatting to mine about mundane life stuff helped keep my nerves at bay. Plans for Christmas may be a good place to start! Good luck!

AngelsWithSilverWings · 02/12/2022 09:00

I took four tests before I passed so I'm no help to you!

My DS 17 passed his test last week. His instructor did two mock tests with him before hand. First mock he got 12 minors , second he got three and in the actual test got just one even though he forgot to put it in gear at the start of the test due to nerves.

If your instructor thinks you are ready you should be ok if you relax - easier said than done I know!

RoseDog · 02/12/2022 09:03

Good luck!

Both my dc passed their test this year, Ds just a fortnight ago, he's just a naturally calm person and wasn't nervous beforehand.

Dd was nervous and had taken her 2 years of lessons on and off through covid, she treated her test as "just a lesson with a different instructor" she just kept repeating that the morning of her test!

Both had some minors one of Ds was because he approached a roundabout too slow 🤷🏼‍♀️

PaniniHead · 02/12/2022 09:05

I passed earlier this year. Not sure if this is still in place but if you do something that causes a major then they divert you back to the test centre straight away. If you’re driving and reach the 40 minute mark then you’re on the home straight.

Iamclearlyamug · 02/12/2022 09:06

I whacked the kerb on the way out of the test centre! Only 30 seconds into my test and spent the whole time thinking 'dammit this is going really well - shame I've already failed' so it was such a surprise when I was told I'd passed with just 4 minors 🙂🙂 good luck!!

softpilllow · 02/12/2022 09:09

Good luck OP.

Worriedmrs · 02/12/2022 09:11

My only advice is to let the examiner know before hand if instructions confuse. For me, I get confused in left and right, told my examiner before hand and he pointed with his hand as well. You can also ask them to repeat instructions, say if they asked you to do independent driving and told you everything in one go but you forgot midway then ask them to repeat.

pluckie · 02/12/2022 09:16

Good luck, fingers crossed for you.

mondaytosunday · 02/12/2022 09:21

My American friend failed her test before she even pulled out - tests (back then anyway) we're fairly easy in the States but she didn't look in her mirror or something and he told her not to bother pulling out as she'd blown it. She failed it three times before she eventually passed (and is still a bad driver).
I failed mine here three times, and I'd consider myself a good driver. I've friends who passed first time that I'd hesitate to have drive me anywhere!

inigomontoyahwillcox · 02/12/2022 09:22

I passed my test on the 3rd attempt after what I believed to be an automatic fail within about 2 minutes of leaving the test centre (cyclist rode across the road in front of me and I had to emergency stop - cyclist yelled and wrung his fist at me) - made me relax for the rest of the test as I was resigned to failure.

Easier said than done I know, but try to relax and rely on what you've been taught and all that practice you've done. Keep looking in those mirrors and don't rush through manoeuvres - take a deep breath before you start them.

Best of luck OP.

Saladd0dger · 02/12/2022 09:25

Good luck op! I failed In October for speeding. I was devastated, I thought it was a 40. I managed to get in again 3 weeks later and passed. You can do this. I bet your nerves are going crazy x

Shortpoet · 02/12/2022 09:37

I failed my first within five mins (hit the curb reversing round a corner). Like PP said, knowing I’d failed made me relax and I drove really well for the rest of it. It was a great test practice session.

Managed to get a cancellation for 2 weeks later and passed.

Then didn’t drive for 3 years and had to almost relearn when I started driving again.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 02/12/2022 09:46

I took 7...lessons fine. Mock tests fine soon as got into the test situation nerves took over. Failed one before leaving the test centre on parking..another once knew failed we had a really nice chat about her whole job.
The one I passed went in with a more sod this attitude and was fine! Take your time. Dont over think things.

ToffeeNotCoffee · 02/12/2022 10:06

Good luck.

First driving test (this pre-dates the written test first)

I was so nervous when I did a three-point turn that I hadn't heard the car engine stall. I was trying to find the 'biting point' in neutral !

Second driving test I was approaching a junction, I had seen a motorcyclist travelling straight across and I knew that the motorcycle would be gone by the time I had got to the junction. Bloody bitch examiner chose to hit the brake about 20metres from the junction ! (You can tell I'm still cross, can't you ?)

Third driving test I passed. That's because by then I was determined to. Treated it like an exam, not just a test.

CryCeratops · 02/12/2022 10:16

Easier said than done, but I think the most important thing is to try and stay calm.

I stalled the car on the test I passed, which I was sure would count against me, but because I’d handled the situation correctly when I restarted the car, I still passed.

marmiteadict · 02/12/2022 10:18

I nearly ran someone over on my second test. I doubt you will do anything worse.

Everything crossed 🤞 Lots of luck 🍀

Original poster

Shesasuperfreak · 02/12/2022 11:14

Thank you for your story's. I'm binge watching YouTube test videos right now and my instructor is picking me up 1.5 hours before test so will have a bit of practice.

OP posts:

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 02/12/2022 11:15

I was absolutely dreading my driving test - I was having nightmares about it.

I thought I'd failed my test fairly early on. A lorry was blocking a narrow road (Alpine pop lorry - 30 odd years ago) I was waiting for the examiner to tell me what to do, but no instructions came. I went up the kerb and around. I thought 'That's it - fail'. I relaxed and just wanted the test to end so I could get on and rebook.

The test had started at 3.55pm in December and it got dark whilst on the test. I was the only car to arrive back at the test centre with my headlights on.

I was driving my father's car, he was sat in the test centre waiting with some other driving instructors. A driving instructor told him that I had passed because of the colour of the form the examiner was filling in. He told him that all the other people taking their tests had failed because they'd forgotten to put their lights on.

When my dad came out of the test centre I was pretending to look sad to trick him into thinking I'd failed but I didn't know that the driving instructor had told him I'd passed.

Thank goodness for automatic headlights nowadays - I'd forget to put them on all the time.

The hardest thing is to try and relax - when I first got in the car with the instructor my 'accelerator foot' was shaking so badly that I was told to get out of the car to calm down and get back in when I stopped shaking.

If it wasn't for the lorry being in the way I don't think I would have passed because I just felt my self physically relax when I thought I'd failed.

I actually enjoyed the rest of the driving test.

pluckie · 02/12/2022 21:39

How did you get on @Shesasuperfreak

Original poster

Shesasuperfreak · 03/12/2022 08:05

Failed on reverse bay parking. Which I asked my instructor to practice beforehand and we only did it when we parked into the test centre 😅.

I'm glad its over now and I have the experience of the test. I will be taking a break for a while its too expensive and stressful.

OP posts:

goingtotown · 03/12/2022 08:24

Change your instructor.

RedHelenB · 03/12/2022 08:26

goingtotown · 03/12/2022 08:24

Change your instructor.

Why? Plenty of time to practice reverse parking before the next test.

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