to wonder if it's even worth turning up to my driving test this afternoon?

[isithometimeyet]

Shamefully (but also, I feel, justifiably) starting to feel like a 14 year old with regards to my driving test.
First time - failed for being 10 miles over speed limit (this was on the way to a sliproad to a dual carriageway, so there was a logic to it, but I guess fair cop)
2nd - forgot to check blind spot when changing lanes (as do most of the people I take rides with)
3rd - ok, my bad - parent was very sick - mind wasn't on the road - did appallingly
4th time - 'took left corners too widely'. At this point, my very sane, lovely driving instructor started to sit in the back with me to find out what was going on. Yeah, I know it's weird, but I like it. He felt that was a dubious call and he is a hard arse.
5th time - clipped a corner. Fair cop, but I was hyped up due to 1-4
6th time - 'pulled out too quickly, forcing a driver on main road to slow down' - hardarse instructor felt this was dubious again.
Now I'm not denying there's a lot of my fault in the above catalogue of woe. Obviously you have to be safe. However, the driving test is completely unrealistic because in real life every driver makes a small mistake on every drive. it's a money making machine.
My instructor has said there's no point in contesting, because it's a closed shop.
Blame me and flame me, though please don't tell me 'yes but you've got to be safe' - I know that. That isn't what I'm talking about.

ah, been there got t shirt. took me seven bloody years

StAY ON THE HORSE
YOU WILL GET THERE IN THE END

and every failed test teaches you something

lots of luck

well i managed to fail for not realising i had to give way at traffic lights to on coming traffic, when i was turning right1 . examiner had to use the dual conrol brakes! i was 17, though .so youre better than i was.

on a serious note. best of luck. keep us posted. you can do it!

I finally passed my test 2 years ago at age 45. It is worth going to the test - you never know,you may pass.

On the test I passed the driving examiner actually started to tell me to slow down because of a car in front! But he still passed me as he said that I had started to do this myself as he started to say it. I thought I had failed.

But I do wonder if you would be better with another instructor tbh. It does make a massive difference who you have. Yes I do still make mistakes and sometimes for example clip kerbs and my paraller parking is still hit and miss. But my last instructor taught me defensive driving i.e. assume everyone else on the road is an idiot and will do something stupid and this is good advice.

And tbh the one time I didn't check my blind spot I got a massive fright when I realised there was a car there. Sorry, but that actually is pretty dangerous thing to do.

Tell us if you passed?

Give it a go...you have nothing to lose.
If you do fail though get a different instructor, my dsis failed her test because her instructor never taught her how to turn right on a dual carriageway. When she told the examiner he told her 'get a better instructor, your's never teaches girls properly' He was right, the boys in our village passed within months but the girls took over a year if they stayed with him.
She passed 4th time in the end

That's the spirit isit.

Let us know how it goes!

I genuinely believe there are certain examiners who get a perverse kick out of failing people:

1st test - failed for 'overconfidence'.
2nd test - failed for 'underconfidence'. Same examiner. Read into that what you will.
3rd test - different examiner, failed because I changed lanes too late. Fair cop.

2 year break

4th test - same examiner as 3rd test. Failed due to not doing an 'emergency stop' on a 60mph road and sailed through a traffic light on amber. Was told otherwise it was a great test and I should have passed by now. Unbelievable.

1 year break

5th test - an admittedly appalling drive from start to finish. Thought I had failed immediately. Passed!

Did my motorbike test the next year, and passed immediately. The examiner was terrific and gave lots of advice at the end of the test.

Go. Good luck! Please tell us you passed.

No good will come from not going. But I do find it interesting how some people who have failed are keen to blame over zealous examiners rather than themselves or consider themselves somehow unlucky. Two cases from close friends:

• failed for not stopping at a stop sign - not fair as nothing was coming so not actually dangerous. Overlooking the point that it was, you know, a STOP sign.

• 5 majors and 2 dangerous fails - no I don't feel i need more practice, I'm just going to put in for my test again as I was unlucky.

I failed my driving test on friday :( was a really stupid mistake 400 yards from test centre, i got carried away when he said "after the second set of traffic lights turn right back into the test centre" Thought i'd actually passed and concentrated on the second set of lights and nearly drove through the red light on the first set of lights :(

I only had 5 minors too (your allowed 16) and examiner told my instructor that it was a really good drive. I felt like a twat :(

Came home a rebooked straight away!

I also failed two tests 4 years ago but looking back I couldn't actually drive at all and curse my instructor for allowing me to book those tests. I've only just started to take lessons in June this year as it took me 4 years to recover from the fails.

Also what I found that has really helped my confidence is driving my own car with hubby around. Its really helped things become nateral and made me a much more confident driver :)

Good luck!!

BEST OF LUCK!!!! YOU CAN DO IT.

WE SHALL BE HERE KEEPING EVERYTHING CROSSED AND LARGE BAR OF CHOC PLUS WINE FOR AFTERS X

Absolutely wasabi. Blaming the examiner is not going to get you anywhere, and a lot of the time it's the drivers fault. But that doesn't mean that there aren't certain examiners who salivate at the idea of upping their fail ratio. I still remember my instructor's face draining of blood when he saw who I had the first two times. He was spot on, despite me doing two near flawless tests.

Overconfidence and underconfidence in consecutive tests by the same bloke...come on! As if I wasn't going to be a little more circumspect after the first time.

Take no notice of the sanctimoniarses. Everyone is more likely to make mistakes when they're nervous, and the more test you fail, the more nervous you get. Everyone makes mistakes when they're driving, and the more practice you get, the fewer mistakes you'll make. Trouble is, it's much easier to get that practice in once you've passed the test.

Good luck this afternoon. It is a matter of luck to a great extent. If you think you've messed up, take a deep breath and keep going - sometimes you get away with things if you cope with them well.

Please go. I took LOTS of tests, had a long break from driving, tried again and passed. I'm not a very confident driver, don't like the motorway, etc. but it has made such a difference to my life.

Good luck. Honest, if I can pass I'm sure you can!

Er...
I am now a driver
Thanks everyone
A good brisk slap from a lady is sometimes just what is needed :-)

Congratulations!!!

YES! Let me be the first to congratulate you! Even though I was only lurking and no help at all this morning. CONGRATULATIONS!

Dammit! The second to congratulate you then.

(and, um, how are you feeling about going out on your own? Because I passed last week and still haven't quite psyched myself up to actually do it yet..)

Well done!

Well done - congratulations.

Splinters: you snooze, you lose! (and how annoying is that dot com!!!)

Well done!!!

Alliwant, how very dare you. I wasn't snoozing, I was composing a message of congratulation. A longer one than yours.