Your driving test fails

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Lighthearted thread..

I am a later in life learner! Early 40s.
And I have my first ever driving test this week. I’m extremely nervous and scared that I am going to make a silly mistake on the day due to nerves.

I thought it may make me feel a bit better to hear if others have made mistakes (including silly mistakes!) but then after failing they have gone on to pass and be good drivers!

I would love to hear your stories to help me feel more positive

About 20 attempts to reverse park before the examiner told me to move on

On the second test I was asked if I could follow the signs back to town and confidently said I could, then turned up a road that was clearly wrong (tiny country lane rather than the main road) and had to do a U turn. Thankfully that wasn't a mistake that matters but it was very embarrassing!

I passed on my 4th attempt aged 30. I was a competent driver but nerves would let me down every single time. On my first driving test, I was so focused at having perfect manoeuvres that I failed to spot a sign about roadworks and a lane closure. Driving examiner suddenly went, ‘you’re on the wrong side of the road’. They’d closed a lane and made it a lane for oncoming traffic so because I’d stupidly missed the sign I was indeed on the wrong side of the road. Had to endure the rest of the test knowing I’d failed.

My 4th and final time was a dream. I had a lovely examiner who put me at ease and said ‘let’s work together and see if we can get you a pass today’. Instead of barking orders (like the others had done) he was calm and softly spoken. I calmed right down and passed with just 1 minor.

Get some Rescue Remedy and take a quick shot before the test starts. That really helped to take the edge of my nervousness.

*edited as I’ve just spotted that you PASSED! Well done and congrats!!

First one I failed because he asked me for the hand signal when your indicators fail....i put my left arm straight out and slapped him in the face!! 🤣🤣
Second time I stalled but I passed....it was the same examiner!!!
He had a beard so I didn't recognise him 🤣🤣

First, I missed a speed limit sign (as did everyone else on the busy road) so automatic fail. The fact my instructor was able to take me straight to it suggests I wasn’t the only one to fail there.

Second, I stalled the car leaving the test centre. Had to drive over the pavement to the road and I’d never done it before so was nervous. Had never stalled a car before so was unsure what to do. That wasn’t a fail but I was then so nervous I got a heap of minors.

Third: hasn’t been told I could readjust a bay park so was confused when the examiner got out to check. That set my nerves up which meant I failed at the roundabout I dreaded.

Well done, OP!

I took my test over 40 years ago. I was driving down a narrow road with cars parked all along my side. Examiner failed me because my driver side wheels were just over the mid line of the road. As a learner, I still wasn't confident about the width of the car and had left a generous (but not ridiculous) gap between me and the parked cars when travelling along. To have avoided doing so I'd have had a couple of centimetres between me and the parked cars. I'll never forget the examiners name - Mr J Luck. He wasn't lucky for me that day.

The irony is that now, I can drive very close to the parked cars, but I regularly see other motorists who drive practically down the opposite side of the road to avoid an obstacle.

I should add, I was also one who passed after stalling the car at a junction, right at the start of the test. I just figured I'd failed and I relaxed and had a good drive. Examiner told me it didn't matter that I stalled, what mattered was that I took the correct action to restart the car safely, and without getting in a panic.

Me too. The difference in attitude is astonishing. I passed my test after speeding offences that would get me a fine today.

Woooooh! Well done you
🎉🎉🍾

thanks so much everyone for your lovely congratulations messages. And thank u for all the stories. For those still waiting to pass, you can do it 💪🏼