Failed driving test 6 times

[crybaby22]

Hello,

just hoping for a bit of advice.

I failed my 6th driving test this morning. All tests have been different things, but what it all comes down to is nerves. Today even the examiner said he could see how nervous I was and told me to speak to the doctor. Problem is, I’m already on propranolol for it. Have been using Kalms too.

My instructor is lovely but can tell he is getting frustrated as he keeps saying about how I’m a good driver, it’s as soon as the test happens I fall to pieces. Was the same with exams at school and university.

it’s part of a wider problem, I generally have no self esteem, no faith in myself, and I’m starting to realise how bad it actually is. My family all laugh at me for the other 5 failed tests so dreading them finding out, and my boyfriend actually paid for this test and the time for the instructors car today, so he’s moaning about the cost.

I can’t keep having lessons as too expensive at £70 for a double lesson each week. An Arnold park dual hire place is about 30 mins drive away but a bit of a pain trying to get someone to watch the kids while we go as don’t live near family. The only pal near me also doesn’t drive so can’t practice in her car. Boyfriend has a van for work so not practicing in his. Feeling very lost with it.

how do I go about rebuilding this? I’ve looked up hypnotherapy online but that’s going to be the same price as the lessons. Debating just putting a block booking of lessons on the credit card but don’t want to rack up debt (don’t have any savings). Going to call my GP tomorrow and see if they have anything stronger they can give me.

I went to counselling a few years ago to help with some other bits, but can’t afford to go back and don’t see the GP referring me for failing my driving test!

just really fed up, makes me feel so worthless. If anyone has anything that can help then please send on to me. Totally lost.

thanks

Yeah my boyfriends been driving for 10 years, he’d be fine too. Have spoken to neighbour who says she’s be fine to watch the kids for an hour a couple times a week so I can get out. I don’t have anyone near me with a car as I’ve said, otherwise that would be ideal. Don’t live near where I grew up

My instructors car broke only days before my driving test. Rather than cancel the test I decided to go ahead and sit the test in his other car- different car altogether than what I'd learned in.
I thought id use it as an opportunity to see what the actual test would be like and it would take away the uncertainty surrounding it ready for when I sat the 'real' test that I hoped to pass once the car I learned in was back on the road.
The night before my test my driving instructor came for 30 minutes to show me what was what in the car ( ready for show and tell etc) and i drove a two mile round trip in it but i could see he agreed with me that this would be a mock test really.

Well, I passed!

Taking away the pressure meant I wasn't so anxious and it really did the trick.
I was more interested in the process of the exam and enjoying getting to grips with this new car and how it moved that I drove amazingly that day.

Another one who passed on test number 7!

I was an absolute nervous wreck at 17 but because my mother had learnt to drive late in life she was determined I was going to do mine as soon as possible. Every time I failed she forced me back out and the anxiety got worse and worse.

It put me off for decades.

Then 10ish years ago we applied to become foster careers but they’d only accept me on the proviso that I learnt to drive. I don’t know if this is a possibility for you but I took myself off to Norfolk and did an intensive course in a quiet area. Made all the difference and at the grand old age of 36ish I passed.

Just keep going, build your confidence and don’t put pressure on yourself to do the test until you’re ready. You will get there, I promise.

I think you're going to have to f* everyone else. Call them selfish twats in your head or whatever you have to. Then calmly think about what you know, remember what you have learnt from your last tests and keep going for it. It's possible as well that you put in for your first test too early - this is what happened with me. I was nowhere near ready but followed the stupid advice of putting in for it again straight away..then again..and again. Finally I passed on the 8th attempt. I would bet that part of your nerves has also been due to you not being ready - if you knew what you were doing you would automatically feel more confident with less nerves. What helped with me in the end as well was not telling people I was going for my test - takes the pressure off soooo much. x

Take the test in an automatic. I was the same. I could drive faultlessly for months in lessons then as soon as I met the examiner, a 40 minute panic attack ensued during which I ground gears, wheelspun and once even pulled off in third gear.

And she failed me for it, the bitch! I was just impressed I pulled it off, I mean come on! That was some nice clutch control there to pull away from stationary in third but was she impressed? Was she fuck. I'm still bitter about it as you can probably tell.

My instructor rode alongonce and said he couldn't believe it was the same person driving, it basically all came down to nerves. So we rebooked the test and I took it in his other car, an automatic and passed with 1 minor.

I intended to take my manual test in a couple of years after some road experience but tbh I never bothered. Most cars will soon be autos anyway and my car is really fun to drive, I find manual cars tedious now.

Automatic only is also a good shout. Manuals won’t be around for much longer so it isn’t the disadvantage that it used to be. I passed in a manual but haven’t driven one for about 10 years, I don’t think it was even an option on the model I chose when I bought my last car. Yes it’s a bit more expensive when you hire a car but how often do you do that and besides the days of squishing in the teeniest cheapest model finished when we had kids!