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AIBU?

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Original poster

To the think the driving test is so hard for young people

111 replies

Sunnyday1203 · 20/08/2018 14:28

I learnt to drive over 30 years ago boy how things have changed. DS 18 has just failed his theory for the 3rd time, missing out by 2 points. Can't help thinking that that is has almost become yet another why for the Government to generate revenue. One of the questions was what is the speed of a mobility Scooter, whaf. He is great driver and really needs to pass so he can get to work, we live in a rural area with no public transport, so very frustrating

OP posts:
Sirzy · 20/08/2018 14:29

I think it’s right that it’s hard tbh. As tough as it is when you fail it needs to ensure that someone is a competent driver and safe to be on the road, too many awful drivers as it is!

LightDrizzle · 20/08/2018 14:30

My daughter’s failed 4 times. Academically bright, professionally successful, but dizzy as fuck. Maybe it’s a good thing!

dreamingofsun · 20/08/2018 14:31

how much revision did he do? sorry this sounds braggy and isnt meant to be...but mine all passed first time so it cant be that hard and they didnt do much revision and at least one of them did it after clubbing and getting about 3 hours sleep

LightDrizzle · 20/08/2018 14:32
  • she passed the theory no bother though. If he has any additional needs like dyslexia, I think they will make some special provision but he can’t, and shouldn’t, get around actually knowing the theory.
Metoodear · 20/08/2018 14:34

No it’s not often they don’t study for the theory and belive they can blag it when you study you pass

KanielOutis · 20/08/2018 14:34

I agree, how much revision did he do? I bought an AA road book with practical and theory questions. There are hundreds of multiple choice questions and I completed the lot. The speed of a mobility scooter came up on at least 10 questions in the book.

akkakk · 20/08/2018 14:34

The needs have changed - driving on our roads now is way more complex than 30 years ago, and so the test needs to be more detailed.

When you see the standard of driving for many newly passed, actually the test could do with being more complicated...

Sorry if that sounds brutal, but driving is a privilege not a right, and I would want to be understanding why he is not passing the theory test which should be the easy bit - does he generally find learning facts difficult, or is he just not revising it enough?

knowing about speeds of other road users is an important part of driving, it will help him understand how to deal with them if / when he meets them on the road - if you were to ask the average driver questions from the highway code, they would fail many of them, at least this should be bringing in a new generation of drivers with better understanding...

GladAllOver · 20/08/2018 14:35

I learnt to drive over 30 years ago boy how things have changed

Boy how the roads have changed too.

Sitranced · 20/08/2018 14:35

It doesn't matter how you passed 30 years ago, we've progressed since then. The testing should be made difficult and you need to know the theory behind the practice.

user1471459936 · 20/08/2018 14:36

Fewer people on the road is a good thing. The test should be made harder to only allow the most competent to drive.

Twistella · 20/08/2018 14:36

Dd1 has dyslexia and slow processing, can't do exams at all and even she passed her theory first time! She worked really hard at it though and got me to test her for weeks beforehand

Baumederose · 20/08/2018 14:36

They also seemed obsessed with trailers and how fast you could drive when using one. I had 3 questions on my theory about trailers. In 7 years of driving I have never used a trailer and don't intend to in the future.

It was pointless so yanbu

Alwayscommuting · 20/08/2018 14:37

I just failed my practical and my heart says that yes the test is too hard but that's because I'm feeling sorry for myself. Logically the test has to be hard because it's hard to drive out there these days. Loads more traffic and drivers aren't as considerate as you'd like them to be tbh. Best of luck to him.

akkakk · 20/08/2018 14:40

They also seemed obsessed with trailers and how fast you could drive when using one. I had 3 questions on my theory about trailers. In 7 years of driving I have never used a trailer and don't intend to in the future.

Fair points - but it has to be one test for all, and there is no way of knowing that you won't tow a trailer at some point...

You yourself don't know whether something will change in your life meaning that you get a trailer...

It was pointless so yanbu

so, not pointless ;)

Original poster
Sunnyday1203 · 20/08/2018 14:42

I agree I think he will need to study harder, and I agree only competent drivers should be on the road, but not sure how questions about mobility scooters and trailers make you a better driver. He is very alert follows the speed limit, I feel totally confident when sitting next to him when he drives.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 20/08/2018 14:42

Having heard about how some of DS’s friends drive, I’m not convinced it’s hard enough.

mumsneedwine · 20/08/2018 14:44

That app is great. Can do it anywhere and endless banks of questions. Think it was £4.99 but worth my DD said.

Twistella · 20/08/2018 14:44

but not sure how questions about mobility scooters and trailers make you a better driver.

Because you should have respect for other road users and learning about them helps this.

Original poster
Sunnyday1203 · 20/08/2018 14:46

soup I don't think passing a theory test has anything to do with young drivers being nutters though does it. My DS has a friend who is crazy and passed first time, I think the practical needs to be hard and all young people should have black boxes fitted. It could save lots of lives. But this is not my point

OP posts:
TheMadGardener · 20/08/2018 14:46

How much has he really revised? I passed my theory last autumn while learning to drive in my mid-40s. I downloaded the official theory test app plus a couple of free theory test apps to my phone and just practised questions all the time. (You have to pay for the official app but it is worth it as it is the best one) I got DH and DDs to read out questions from the app and test me. I downloaded hazard perception clips and practised loads. By the time I sat my theory test I felt really confident. I got nearly all the questions right but only because I'd seen the same questions from the question bank over and over whilst practising.

Most people should be able to pass the theory test if they do loads of revision, unless they have significant SN that make memorisation of answers difficult. Yes, it's true that your DS may never need to know the speed of a mobility scooter or the rules for towing trailers in real life, but I hope he doesn't feel that learning that stuff is a waste of time, or he never will pass the test with that attitude. He just needs to get his head down, get on the app and learn all the answers.

GladAllOver · 20/08/2018 14:46

I think the insurance company statistics on new drivers' accidents speak for themselves. Driving is a difficult skill to acquire.

MissCharleyP · 20/08/2018 14:47

Scooters aren’t allowed on the road AFAIK so may as well ask what the top walking speed of a pedestrian is or the speed of someone pushing a pram or manual wheelchair. I drive 60 miles a day, mainly on motorways, young drivers are not the worst. If I overtake a middle lane sitter who thinks 55mph is an acceptable speed, I can guarantee they won’t be young and driving at that speed on a motorway is dangerous.

CasperGutman · 20/08/2018 14:47

It's worth knowing about speed limits when towing trailers so you understand why the car with a trailer is going more slowly, instead of getting frustrated that the driver is a prick on a personal mission to hold you up!

drastard · 20/08/2018 14:49

Out of interest I just took a theory test online and passed it easily.

The problem is your son, not the test.

This is the second thread I've read today where people seem to think they deserve a pat on the head and a qualification for effort. It really isn't hard to pass.

Should he have the pass grade lowered because he lives rurally? Should the pass mark be lowered because he's onto his 4th attempt? how many before he passes a multiple choice exam through luck?

Maybe you should email Grayling and tell him your poor son deserves a licence because he tried, bless him.

Frightening!

bigbluebus · 20/08/2018 14:49

soupdragon my DS passed his theory 1st time but I grit my teeth every time I'm in the car with him. I think they are taught to drive more aggressively than I was so I'm not entirely sure it is the theory test that is to blame - more the teaching and practical test.

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