Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you for your driving test tales?

106 replies

CrashTestDummy18 · 16/03/2018 12:39

Driving test next week (NC as don't want anyone to know when!)

Feeling rather apprehensive as I'm old and two of my kids have already passed their tests Blush

Thought that some tales of great driving tests would really help reassure me right now! Trying to get my positive and confident head on.

OP posts:
Sophiecatteacher · 24/03/2018 08:37

Passed on my third attempt. On the second test someone decided to do a u turn and drove into the passenger side.

InBlackwaterWoods · 02/04/2018 22:30

Argh! I've booked my driving test for the first week of May!! Help! What are your tips?
I just have to practice parallel parking and remember the show me tell me answers! Oh aye, and find the button for the rear windscreen heater! That little bastard keeps eluding me!!

minionsrule · 02/04/2018 22:39

I was the most nervous learner, hated my lessons with a passion and almodt cried at the thought of more lessons and a retest.
Test went ok, funnily my best manoeuvre was turning in the road which in my test i messed up a bit.
This was before theorytests came in and towards end we pulled over for higheay code test. .... my mind went blank and i vouldn't remember hardly anything. Lovely instructor passed me but suggested i brush up on highway code. Test was 9.30am, still think ifit was 4.30 i would have failed..... quota's and all that Grin

aspoonfulofyourownmedicine · 03/04/2018 00:15

Failed my first one, got a major for 'getting too close to a parked car' - I had no choice to stop where I was as some numpty pulled out of a street of parked cars and drove towards me, there was only enough room for one of us. The examiner was silent and I was very uncomfortable.

2nd test I passed, same examiner, but from getting in the car she was really chilled and chatty, asking about christmas plans, did I have any kids, had I finished shopping (10th December). I felt really comfortable however thought I'd failed again, but I passed with only 2 minors.

Therunecaster · 03/04/2018 15:47

Had a bit of a snogging sesh with a man I met in a club on the Saturday. Went for my test later the next week. Guess who was my examiner...Grin.

orangesmartieseggs · 03/04/2018 16:18

I passed first time, but honestly I felt like I was on autopilot the entire time! I got four minors which I was over the moon with. I was a really nervous learner - I could drive fine, but as soon as I was faced with anything complicated I panicked massively.

But last weekend I was out and faced a whole load of hazards and idiot drivers and I managed perfectly, all after having minor surgery. It's massively boosted my confidence!

InBlackwaterWoods · 03/04/2018 21:38

@Therunecaster Grin nice moves!
Dare I ask if it helped? Did you pass?

JumpingFrogs · 03/04/2018 21:47

A whole year of lessons but passed first time. Had to do a genuine emergency stop during my test as a school was emptying out and a child ran across the road in front of the car. I think he only passed me because I managed to stop without hitting a child!

Therunecaster · 10/04/2018 15:11

Maybe!

crashtestmummy18 · 09/05/2018 18:58

Just an update, I passed my driving test today with 3 minor faults Grin

Amanduh · 09/05/2018 19:09

I left the centre with the handbrake still slightly on Blush corrected it as soon as I realised. I passed! Dont dwell on any little mistakes you make and distract yourself because they may not mean anything!

Amanduh · 09/05/2018 19:10

Clearly need to read further 😂 congrats!

calistaraines · 09/05/2018 19:14

For a while I held the 'record' for failing at the start of the test in the carpark - they let me take the whole test and told me at the end!!
2nd attempt had all but passed but failed in the last 2 minutes or so!

Scotsrule · 09/05/2018 19:15

I failed my second because I messed up my parallel parking. My examiner told me that next time, if you mess up a manoeuvre, providing you haven’t failed it Automatically i.e. touching the kerb etc, then ask to start the manoeuvre again. You will get a minor but a chance to correct your mistake. I did exactly that on my third test and passed.

Double check with your instructor that the advice hasn’t changed (I passed double figures ago) and bear it in mind for your test.

Good luck!

Aeroflotgirl · 12/03/2019 14:19

Well done Crashtest, I know this is an old thread, but we always need like reading these, I have my first driving test for 22 years, next week aghghgh. This time, I am learning in an automatic so hopefully easier.

FoofFighter · 12/03/2019 15:25

I'm the OP  been happily driving for nearly a year now. Haven't ventured too far afield though because I've simply not had the cause to go more than a 20 mile radius from home.

Good luck @Aeroflotgirl !

Aeroflotgirl · 12/03/2019 15:41

Thanks Foofighter and well done for passing your driving test, that is awsome. Was your insurance high btw as a new driver?

lottieleo · 12/03/2019 15:57

The instructor thought I was hitting on him.
I was nervous talking rambling away, asked what time he works until ect 😂
He told me he was flattered but he had a wife.
I failed 3 times have not got courage to redo it yet.

Nevergotobedfangry · 12/03/2019 16:02

Failed. Heavily pregnant. A man on a mower cutter grass on pavement didn't realise he was gonna use zebra crossing and tbh didn't occur to me that they'd use a crossing. That was over a year ago. Haven't redone any more lessons as of yet though

danni0509 · 12/03/2019 16:21

@Aeroflotgirl automatic is the only reason I got a license.

It is so much easier I promise. I'd previously tried for 13 years on and off in a manual.

Passed first time in an auto.

danni0509 · 12/03/2019 16:23

Well done a year later foofighter Grin

I haven't driven far either I have no need.

How long did it take until you felt fully confident after you passed?

thecatsthecats · 12/03/2019 16:26

My instructor told me that one tester was 'dodgy with girls' and made them uncomfortable. He said he'd nod at me if he was the one, and he'd come with me in the car if I wanted. I was too nervous and forgot - and got that guy. Nothing happened though.

I did a reverse park - lots of crunchy leaves in the kerb. Thought I'd scraped the wheel and failed. Carried on.

I got a minor for 'indicating incorrectly' - ok, I actually misinterpreted a road sign and thought I was on a roundabout Blush Tester didn't know that though...

Passed first time with 8 minors. Never had an accident so far in 7 years of driving. Almost always know when I'm on a roundabout Grin

Aeroflotgirl · 12/03/2019 17:13

Automatic is so much easier danni059 got more chance of getting a licence with one, than a manual.

slashlover · 12/03/2019 17:15

I almost flooded the test centre! It was a small building, basically a room where the examiner was and a tiny waiting room with a bathroom attached. Went to the toilet and then washed my hands. Tried to turn the tap off and the water got faster so thought I must be turning it the wrong way, turned tap back and it came off in my hand. Cue water shooting out and hitting the ceiling, tried forcing the tap back on which didn't work. Eventually managed to find the stopcock and turn the water off. Floor was flooded though, water was dripping from the ceiling and I took my test slightly damp.

jimloop · 12/03/2019 17:51

Stepped out of the test centre and fell flat on my face, bounced back up, examiner asked if I was ok to carry on, it's all a bit of a blur but I passed. Not until I got out of the car did I see I had great big holes in my tights and was covered in blood, perhaps he felt sorry for me. This was twenty odd years ago and I still have scarred knee caps!