Let down by driving instructor on test day

[Oakleypaul]

DS has his driving test this morning. His instructor has phoned 10 mins before he’s due to pick him up for his pre test lesson to say his car has a flat tyre so DS is to meet him at the test centre in his own car for the test.

Im furious but keeping calm for DS. Thankfully DH is off work today so he’s quickly going over the under the bonnet stuff with him.

This instructor has also been an hour late on 3 occasions for lessons.

Poor DS.

Ok. What do you want from us on this?

So you don't believe he had a flat tyre?

It’s unsettling for your ds but a flat tyre usually can’t be helped?
I would not have accepted 3 x very late lessons but you can’t do much about that now.
good luck to your ds today

And? Things happen, its not the end of the world. At least ds had another car to drive! Not many can say that.. first world problem here.

If your child has a car or his own, I would have thought it would be best for him to use that car for the test. My DC both had access to a car which they drove far more often than the instructor's car, so were both very comfortable driving it for their test.

If your child has a car or his own, I would have thought it would be best for him to use that car for the test. My DC both had access to a car which they drove far more often than the instructor's car, so were both very comfortable driving it for their test.

Thank you. It’s hard to do anything about these things as there’s a 3 month wait for a new instructor so we’ve been stuck with him!

He’s only had it a week.

Just sharing a stressful morning that’s all. No need to be rude.

Good luck to your DS. My DS’s driving instructor was hospitalised the day before his test so he had to do the test in my car which he had never driven before. He still passed!

Sorry about your stressful morning op. I took 6 times to pass my test so i get it. But I also wouldn’t describe a flat tyre as ‘letting down’ your DS, as it can’t be helped.

Thankyou. Oh wow, he did really well to pass! It’s surprising how different cars handle especially when you’re new to driving!

Thankyou.

To vent! And quite right. It’s a shit situation and whilst argued it couldnt be avoided the instructor sounds flakey as anything

Frustrating but can’t be helped. Focus on calm and positive narrative to DS and fingers crossed he does well!

Do you always act like such a knob or just this morning?

You should not have accepted someone who cannot be on time on multiple occasions.

Hope your DS passes and neither him nor you accept anyone so unreliable again.

So sorry.

My son also has his driving test today.

It's taken years and many £100s of pounds to get ho to this so I cannot imagine how I would feel.

Cannot believe people can be bothered to come on and write inane and rude comments.

Hope he passes.

Its been tricky as he was great to start with but the last month has been very flaky, there’s a 3 month wait for a new driving instructor here and after investing so much already DS didn't want to stop his lessons and wait to find someone new.

Many thanks. It’s so expensive and like you say, so much time and effort to get to this point. Best of luck to your DS too!

It's actually a big thing. The wait for driving tests is absolutely bonkers, and tests are expensive. imagine on the day of the test you've been gearing yourself up for, you find out you have to take it in an unfamilar car you've only had a week. The manoevres etc will feel different, definitely will add to the nerves.

OP, I feel your pain. I remember the days when my DS was learning to drive. Good luck to your son, fingers crossed.

Good luck to your DS and ignore the idiots OP, I understand how annoying it can be when it looks like late/flaky/unreliable people are going to mess up something important. The driving test system in this country is absolutely fucked so having a last minute problem is extra stressful if it means potentially failing then waiting 6+ months for another test slot.
Both of mine passed 1st time using my car because their instructor wasn't available on the day so 🤞🏼

I failed twice in my instructors car. A year later I got my own went for a test (back when you could just book one) and passed. He can still do it!

Good Luck to your DS.
I often wonder if id pass my test these days.
I think there should be a compulsory re test every few years.

Ah, that's stressful! But sometimes (trying to put a positive spin in things!) these last minute changes can work in our favour, if nothing else by stopping us having the time to procrastinate about the task in hand.

I once had to beg a lift from a neighbour I didn't really know to get me to an exam when my car wouldn't start. The stress of dealing with the logistics stopped me worrying about what the exam might throw at me, and I did pass.