Disastrous driving test yesterday

[beezlebubnicky]

Took my first driving test yesterday, I've had over 80 hours of tuition, my instructor agreed I was ready and I've been driving really competently and safely and managing my mock tests well. Had an 8am rush hour test and everything went from bad to worse, I didn't feel that nervous initially but it was just a shit show. Did a right turn out of the test centre onto a busy road, took ages to get out and that had me rattled from the start. Then it got worse, traffic got busy and of course that's no excuse, but it was so stressful.

I drove in a way I never do during lessons, and ended up with 1 dangerous, 6 serious and 5 or 6 other driving faults. I even messed up the right reverse which I've never not managed easily; I knew I was too far from the kerb but I just kept going anyway, I'd given up. My dangerous fault was for trying to get out at a busy junction, kept looking left and right and when I went out there was a lollipop person who stepped back, suddenly a car surged forward and me and examiner both hit the brake at the same time. Also tried to hold back for a coach & it didn't have enough room to get past me. Failed for positioning, never normally have problems with that.

It could literally not have gone worse. The examiner was nice though and said he could tell I was nervous and my instructor wouldn't bring a student to test who wasn't ready. I cried all day yesterday and it was just so humiliating. I was prepared to potentially fail my first test, but not to get so many faults. I really just wanted to give up on the whole thing.

I'm not giving up and prepared to work on all the things I got a fault for , but I can hardly stand the thought of having to go through that again. I feel sick at the idea. I did breathing, mindfulness, got a good sleep, Rescue Remedy etc before test but just went to pieces anyway.

Did anyone else have a terrible test and then go on to pass?

Hello! I failed twice and I just did my tests in (very unbusy) late 90s Belfast.

The first time when the examiner told me I had failed I was almost like "say what?!" As I had never failed anything in my life before. 🤣

But apparently I'd almost knocked the wing mirrors of all the cars parked along the Boucher Road off as I'd driven so close to them on the route back to the test centre. I had absolutely abysmal spacial awareness and my sense of direction is still pretty atrocious.

Passed about 6 months later.

20 years later, now drive the crazy mean roads of suburban east London on the school run. I am definitely one of the better drivers on that route: women in cars way too big for them just blocking lanes as they rudely edge out, people unlawfully stopped on roundabouts as they drop their kids off. It's carnage.

Driving well is a skill it takes a while truly to master and I am still learning. But if i can
do it, so can you! Debrief on faults with your instructor, identify areas to focus on and back behind that wheel! Also be kind to yourself: a rush hour test contains many more challenges than one at, say, 11am!

Dobest Did they get a ban from taking future tests after doing that?

Sort of. It took years to get another appointment and he had to travel to the regional test centre to take the test.

A man who was built like a gorilla sat in the back seat during the test. He was supposed to be another examiner.

I've just booked another test for mid January, 2:22pm. It was tough to find a new date, only rush hour ones were coming up initially, but I managed it. I will potentially catch the beginning of the evening school run but it's not as bad as proper rush hour so that's fine by me.

Feel determined to do better this time!

I completed fucked up my first driving test then ended it by driving into a bush instead of a parking space back at the test centre 😂

I passed 3rd time and have been driving fine ever since.
You'll get there op. Don't be embarrassed. Count this one as a "practise test"

@IsitaHatOrACat That's quite impressive 😂 😂.

Will def treat this as a practice run, and for the next test, whatever will be will be.

The first test I hit a cyclist within 3 mins of the test starting. He was going the wrong way on a one way street, it was more of a gentle low speed nudge, he was completely fine.

I did fail though. Passed second time! And have never hit anyone since....

@Saz12 I'm sure that taught you a really important lesson!

On the plus side, a test can't get much worse than that, even when the cyclist in question is being a pillock. So I'm sure the next one was like 'the only way is up!'

Two horrendously bad fails (including driving through a red light 😬) and then passed gloriously and drove happily for many years (I don’t drive now, health reasons) - I even drove a truck for a living at one time, reversing in and out of narrow lanes etc.
It will all be ok. Just don’t give up. xx

Good luck, Saz12I

Bit of an update.

Test 2 yesterday - failed again 😭 but at least I was prepared for the possibility. Started a beta blocker a few days before, had a relaxing morning, got some exercise beforehand, 2:22pm test. My instructor took me for a walk around the supermarket car park beforehand as I was so nervous 😂. But alas!

Didn't do as badly as the first time but unfortunately failed with 4 serious faults and a few minors including for hesitation. Got 3 of the serious faults in the first 5 minutes of the test, and then the final one in the last 10 mins.

1. Clearance - On my angled start, I was slightly too close to the parked car at the angle I came out into the road. I do these every day in my area so kicked myself!
2. Awareness/planning - got flustered on a right turn after my first roundabout, didn't go into chevron area for a right turn blocking traffic. Then turned into road and decided to wait for a pedestrian who was standing on pavement (why?) and blocked traffic again.
3. Response to signs/signals - traffic lights. Got to a right turn at a busy traffic light controlled junction and just sat frozen while lights changed red to green to red and someone behind beeped me, I knew I had to come out and get out of the way as soon as light went red, but I just sat. Eventually had to tell examiner I was flustered and he told me to go, I knew it was over then in first 5 mins. When he gave me feedback he said "I can tell you know how to do right turns at lights because you did all the other ones perfectly". It was like my brain short circuited.
4. About to head back to test centre, 3nd exit right, miscounted and went for 2nd exit with a right turn signal on, and to make matters worse, exited in the overtaking lane rather than leftmost lane. Took the examiner on a detour through a nice country village on the way back lol!

Also nearly failed for hesitation. l'm normally great at taking gaps on roundabouts but repeatedly I just sat there, unable to make the decision to go and missing blockers. I'm so pissed off with myself. Even had my instructor in the back as I thought it might keep me calm, but it didn't work.

My instructor insisted afterwards that he knows I am a good and safe driver, but the nerves seem to be a bit struggle for me during tests.

I just don't know what it's going to take for me to get control of my nerves. Tried telling myself I was taking the examiner for a nice drive, to have no expectations, doing breathing and taking a break when I pulled up on the left, etc.

But I'm not giving up, and trying again soon! I've even bought a little car over Xmas and I've been going out with my husband and practising - he's also happy with the way I've been driving, with only minor mistakes.

You'll get there with persistence. It was nerves that were my major problem, too.

I agree, persistence is the key! Well done for continuing to try. I'm certain you'll pass one day!

Thanks for the kind wishes both.

@EBearhug What made the difference for you on the time you passed?

Betablockers (which you've already tried.) I didn't expect to pass any more, so it was just something I had to get through safely, which probably meant I was less tense and nervous. Also, by then I was away at uni, so realised I probably could get through life without driving, because I was already travelling around by myself without driving, so it was less important to me - it was just my parents who insisted I must do it (we lived rurally.)

I wondered if hypnotherapy could help?

My son passed end of last year on his 4th attempt. He used my car for this test and I took him out a lot beforehand repeating tricky roundabouts, junctions etc.

One of his issues was feeling under pressure to make decisions quickly and then panicking. I encouraged him to take his time, look and plan ahead and read the markings on the floor. He also took Bach rescue remedy beforehand. Not sure it made any difference.

The absolute clincher for him though was the examiner on the day. First 3 tests he ended up with the examiner with the ‘reputation’ - ex police and regional head examiner. 4th time he had a lovely examiner who chatted away to him and put him at his ease. Resulted in a much calmer drive all round. Completely out of your control though I know!

I completely disagree with previous posters and comments relating to number of tests taken. My son is an excellent driver, I have no hesitation driving with him. Nerves are a killer and that is what tripped him up!

Best of luck with your next test!

I failed twice, passed my third. The second test I blame a silly cyclist who was wobbling all over the road and so I was too nervous to overtake. Great feeling when I did it! I have been driving 15 years now. Keep going you can absolutely do this!

I failed 3 times all for things I either wasn’t doing before or at least my instructor hadn’t told me I was doing. Got disheartened gave up for a while, tried again and went for my 4th test. Early on in the test a fire engine came hurtling towards me sirens and lights blaring on a road with cars parked down the side and I hit the curb trying to get out of its way. Convinced I had just failed I think I relaxed and I managed to pass!!!

I do feel for anyone trying to get a test now, the system seems ridiculous and you have the added stress of trying to get a test date.

My daughter passed on her 3rd attempt , about 32 hrs of lessons . She is the most nervous driver I’ve ever met . First 2 times she failed with 1 major each time but different ones and I think if she hadn’t passed the third time we may have called it a day as it was making her physically ill . 3 rd time she got 1 minor . Good luck with it @beezlebubnicky , you will get there .

DS passed third time - the difference for him was doing the test in our car. DD did pass first time and she used our car as well. Thinking about it when I passed second time it was in our car too.

DH took numerous goes to pass. At least 4. He got incredibly nervous he says - not sure what helped him in the end. He’s been an advanced driver for longer than I’ve known him and coaches people through the IAM (institute of advanced motorists).

You will get there 😊

Chuck it in the fuck it bucket and move on!

Nerves really got me. I was driving with no mistakes until I was on the test then like you my brain would freeze. When I passed I had moved town so the route was different, the car was different and the instructor was different. But taking a driving test was starting to feel familiar. (!)
And the examiner was much less intimidating than the ones I had before.
Keep going, you'll do it in the end.

@LeoTimmyandVi I think that's good advice on slowing down that bit earlier when you need to so you can plan, my instructor always says the same. I need more processing time sometimes and it's all on the planning on my approach to hazards and junctions - the earlier I see it and slow down a bit, the more time I have to think and make a decision. Glad your DS passed.

@MistyWater Blimey, sounds stressful! At least I made different serious faults to last time, lol - so I'm clearly not making the same mistakes.

@MistyWater Amazing to hear how your DH overcame those test fails to not only pass but become a brilliant advanced driver who teaches people. What an achievement :).

You're all so kind and it keeps me going to hear about other people who struggled as well. My husband took me out in my car tonight and we did that horrible right turn junction again and some difficult roundabouts, went ok. Wanted to cry at the thought of driving but he told me I should get back on the horse, and I'm glad I did.

@beezlebubnicky did you pass?? Xx

I failed first time, my examiner was being examined himself which made me even more nervous, but I failed in the first minute, actually on leaving the test centre. Just to the right of the exit there was about a metre of wasteland, it was a dead end but the examiner said as I didn't stop and actively look for traffic (which couldn't be there) it was a fail for observation. A few other things but that was a serious fault so no coming back.

I passed the next time though, and that time I really exaggerated my looking, like craning my neck in every direction really obviously

Same, passed on fifth attempt. Been driving over twenty years now and never been involved in any accidents🤞