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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask who the hell has passed a driving test in exeter recently without killing themselves?,

86 replies

sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:21

I have my test this week! Am nervous as hell! My instructor has purposely left the dangerous haldon hill Devon expressway until yesterday and today as he said it was too dangerous to do any earlier in my lessons. Suffice to say that was my first experience of slip roads and driving a 60mph down a very steep hill and I'm now shitting it for my test ! He has also kindly told me that another girl rolled her car on that route ! Aaaargghhhhhh!

Any exeter mummies out there that have done a test recently that can reassure me that they don't all get taken up haldon hill?!

It may well be RIP sannaville by the end of week!

OP posts:
peachypips · 28/02/2013 12:27

I did three tests and never went there! That was ten years ago tho.. I have, however, totalled my car on Telegraph Hill!!!

Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:29

Nooooo peachy don't tell me that! I thought I was going to have a heart attack today doing it. I can't get the hang of when to pull out on a slip road either can't judge in my mirror how far behind me they are it's so scary :(
The test centre has moved to marsh Barton now so they've changed the test routes half go topsham and middle moor roundabout and half do haldon hill.

OP posts:
Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:30

The girl that rolled her car did it on her test! She clipped a curb at 60mph! Luckily walked away from it

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piratecat · 28/02/2013 12:31

it's shit of a road, i don't blame you. Coming down there is such a weird angle at that speed. I know it's a 50 limit going up, and i think it should remain so till the flat.
I havent done it on test, i did mine at Newton Abbot. Can you check with him that maybe you could try 50-55 coming down on the inside?

piratecat · 28/02/2013 12:33

what time is your test, it makes a difference commuterwise coming down that hill, or trying to get on to it coming down.

Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:36

He tells me not to brake - I don't give a shit I don't listen to him I don't feel confident enough to fly down and am petrified of losing control only did it for first time yesterday ! And would much rather get a minor for going slow than kill myself.

I think my instructor is a bit of an idiot to expect me to know how to do it in two one hour lessons to be honest, think he's left it a bit late

OP posts:
Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:37

My test is at 10.24 so spouse by time we in car and have had the show me tell me questions we could be up there by 10.40. What is it like at that time on a Friday do you know?

OP posts:
peachypips · 28/02/2013 12:40

Yes brake!!! I wouldn't do that stretch at 60 and I'm a bit of a speed demon. Just brake slightly, don't panic. If you can't judge with mirrors do a quick look over your shoulder as you approach. That is how I do it and how I was taught.
It's a practice thing def- do you have someone who could practice with you?
Also, don't be sad if you don't pass first time- it's a process

peachypips · 28/02/2013 12:40

Will be fine at that time- prob best time to do it IMO.

Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:42

Ah that's ok thanks peachy.
I did look over my shoulder first time but unfortunately took car with me! Ooops will know tomoz just to glance quickly!

OP posts:
lollilou · 28/02/2013 12:44

Your instuctor is an arse to make you do that so close to your test. You need confidance boosting and to tell you about the girl who rolled was ridic!
My dh had an instructor who made him parallel park in the middle of a town centre on the morning of his test. Dh got flustered with the traffic behind him it shook him up and he failed.

peachypips · 28/02/2013 12:46

I used to do that. Keep your hands steady and glance 'casually'!!
You'll be grand- tell yourself that tomorrow is a practice test and that you'll prob pass on turn three- then it's a bonus if you do pass.

grovel · 28/02/2013 12:47

Go and have a pint in the Queen Victoria before your test. Simples.

Ilovesunflowers · 28/02/2013 12:48

Once you drive by yourself you will have to do routes you don't know anyway, including hard and dodgy roads.

In my test (about 14 years ago!) I got taken on a route I didn't know. Apparently a new route for the area and my instructor knew nothing about it. I had to cross a fast, busy duel carriageway to turn right. I couldn't work out if I could do it in two parts and sit in the middle of the duel carriageway as the area was very small. I ended up sitting for about 5 full minutes (feels like ages when the examiner is next to you!). In the end I floored it across the whole duel carriageway with my foot to the floor. I was bricking it! I passed though! I nearly killed my instructor for not showing me that route before but he calmly explained that I would now be on my own anyway and I would come across new routes all the time. He said it's called learning to drive not learning to drive on set routes. He was right though.

Wewereherefirst · 28/02/2013 12:48

My husband has and would do Haldon hill at 60+ but he's been driving for 20 years, I on the other hand would brake like fuck. Its a horrible road.

Good luck!

Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:49

Loll my instructors an idiot and a patronising one anyway which is why I'm desperate to pass! Don't want to have to take more lessons!
We've got a 90 min lesson tomorrow before the test so hopefully it won't make me more nervous!

Thanks peachy, if I fail I fail as long as I don't crash the car in the process!

OP posts:
Linoleic · 28/02/2013 12:56

Shock do break! Of course you have to break, otherwise your speed would just increase until you broke the speed limit!

Your instructor is a bit silly to let you get so worked up about it though, by saying it was too dangerous to do it.

Other people will have rolled their car on that route, and probably people will have rolled their cars on many other roads. But every, many many more people successfully drive that route with no problems at all.

YANBU to ask if anyone has passed a driving test in Exeter without killing themselves.

Cassarick · 28/02/2013 12:56

Hoping all went well, OP. Well.............did you pass?

Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 12:57

Thanks everyone, it's not so easy learning when you're over 30! Wondering how many rescue remedy sweets I will get through tomorrow..... Will report back here tomorrow and let you know what happened!

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Trinpy · 28/02/2013 12:58

Dear God, no. I'm a scaredy learner driver anyway. Will NOT be going near the death road any time soon.

Sorry if that isn't what you want to hear but I'm sure you will be fine really. Good luck Wink.

SueDunome · 28/02/2013 13:00

Well, technically you don't need to brake as there is a continuous lane at the bottom, so you can just drive straight on - you don't need to feed into the traffic - but I think it is unnecessary to do it at 60mph as a learner. There are two lanes so impatient idiots other drivers can get past you if they have to.

Trinpy · 28/02/2013 13:00

And how nice of your instructor to scare the crap out of you with that story before your test...

Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 13:02

Trinpy I'm a scaredy learner driver too! At least with my instructor I am! In my own car when DH takes me out I'm fine and confident but instructor makes me feel so nervous I seem to make one mistake that leads to another its awful! I can feel myself heavy breathing and having palpitations I'm so stupid!
Trimly a, sure you will be fine too, ill let you know where I get taken so you can prepare!

OP posts:
5Foot5 · 28/02/2013 13:02

The girl that rolled her car did it on her test! She clipped a curb at 60mph! Luckily walked away from it

Did she pass?

Original poster
sannaville · 28/02/2013 14:02

5foot5 god knows doubt she dared to sit test again!

Haven't taken my test yet its tomoz

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