To ask about your driving test experiences?

[babysharkdodododododododo]

I've just failed (badly) for the second time. First time was a manoeuvre but ironically the rest of the test went a lot better than today. Today was a dangerous fault followed by some of the worst driving I've ever done because my nerves went from 0-100.

I'm in my thirties and have always felt I wouldn't be able to drive. What made today worse was my reaction, I felt tears falling down my face and my hands shaking with anxiety. I went to pieces.

I had PND after the birth of my child and came off meds in July. Something about the instructor, examiner and bystanders seeing me in such a state took me right back to that feeling of utter worthlessness. I've overcome a hell of a lot this year but equally my confidence is in tatters.

I'm feeling now like it'll never happen for me, but know that it takes lots of people a few attempts. So I'm wondering how many attempts it took you and if anyone else can relate to feeling like this / had a wobbly on test day

[flower] If your instructor put you in for the test you're obviously good enough its just your nerves getting the better of you. It's not at all unusual to take the test 5 or even 6 times.

Have you tried beta blockers?

You will pass! It took me 8, yep 8 practical test & I passed 2 written tests in that time! I used to get the shaky leg & couldn't use the clutch!! I still don't know how I passed, but managed on what I'd decided would be my last try when 8 months pregnant with my first child!
It's scary but honestly persevere & you will pass! Good luck!

Oh lovely. You will not see the bystanders again, forget them, the instructor and examiner will have seen people trip over their nerves before and will not be judging you.
My advice is get back on the horse, so to speak. Driving is the most liberating experience, please keep going. Do not give up.
I passed 4 th time, I just kept going until I eventually I got a yes. Best best feeling.

“I’m going to do my driving test and this I must admit, I haven’t done a lot of studying for it, but if I fail, then that’s ok, I can always do it again another day”.
Can’t remember who sings this, but being philosophical about it, knowing you can keep trying, helped me. Good luck 🍀

Oh it’s horrible!!

Keep trying. I was massively nervous for my first three tasks and failed them all. By the 4th I’d developed a bit of a ‘Don’t Care’ attitude as I’d resolved I’d just keep going until I passed, so therefore the individual tests almost didn’t matter anymore. Passed that one.

It took me three tries over 10 years . First time, I had little experience and slid down a steep hill backwards while trying to do a hill start in a manual car. Oh dear.

Second time, a year later, tried in heavy traffic . Tester told me to merge ....I just froze and couldn't find a gap to merge into. I ran out of road and ended up sitting there in tears . I spent the next 9 years being a passenger and thinking that driving was simply not for me.

Third time, living in a small town, DH away a lot. I really needed to be able to drive , with long distances to school and work, and a car sitting in the garage which I couldn't use. I got some lessons with a friend, and did the test with the local policeman, and three toddlers in car seats in the back, chattering away. Got the license , yippee !

Once I had the piece of paper, I then actually learned to drive ! I've been a confident driver ever since - just needed to get over that bump .

Don't give up ! Driving is the most liberating thing you can do for yourself. Good luck !

I think what actually helped me pass was because I took ages to pull out of the test centre - people had even flashed me to let me out and I just froze. I assumed this was a major for undue hesitation so thought since I'd obviously failed I'd treat this test as a practise run. As it happened they let me off the nerves at the beginning and being calmer got me through the test (plus the beta blockers).

Thank you everyone, it's so reassuring to hear I'm not alone. It's horrible how you can be so confident driving around normally and then mess up on test day.

I might see about betablockers thanks OP. I think that would help a lot.

I feel so defeated today. Whole house has been ill and baby not been sleeping all week too so I wasn't in the best mood for a test I guess.

Going to book the third attempt and hope this is the one. But I guess it doesn't really matter how many times it takes, just frustrating going through the process and feeling so useless at something everyone else seems to be able to do.

@stellabird wow well done! I can totally imagine being put off by an experience like that (I hate merging and we live in a city so I dread the duel carriage ways) but amazing you did it.

I think that's what I need to remember, once I have my license the second phase of learning starts and I can go at my own pace.

I failed five or six times in a manual because each failure made me more and more nervous. I switched to an automatic and passed my first time in that. If I want to retake the test in a manual then I can but I enjoy driving the automatic so much more.

I’ve got my first test tomorrow, I’m 37 weeks pregnant and I’ve just found out that my instructor’s car may be unavailable due to a fault so I might have to drive our car (which I’ve only driven 4 times and whose gearbox hates me )

@LadyGregorysToothbrush Good luck! Everything may well fall into place on the day. You've got this

Nerves got the better of me the first time.
Second time I failed for speeding 🙈
Passed 3rd time.

I cried almost the whole way through my test and still passed, so definitely take above advice (would recommend beta blockers), and know that even if you do cry just keep going!! You can still pass through tears :D You will get there eventually

Keep at it! It took me 8 attempts . If it's any consolation, the failing got a lot easier to take after about 4 times, I just took it in my stride.

One of my tests someone rolled a melon at the car. I swerved. Apparently that was what failed me as the correct response was an emergency stop. No one had covered "tropical fruit incidents" with me up to that point.

I also failed for hitting a curb on a corner, messing up a parallel park and (the worst) changing lanes without checking my mirror. I never got any minors though, just one huge major fuck up per test!

I;m in my 30's and decided to learn to drive last year. It took 8 months of lessons before I was ready to even try my test as I was so nervous. It took 3 attempts for me to pass. First time, total failure due to nerves-I'm on anti depressants but still panicked. Second time was better but I lost control at the last minute and failed again. Third time I was more confident as I worked hard on what I failed on. I thought I'd failed as I fluffed early in the test, but I passed. couldnt believe it.
I thought I'd never ever drive! Was sobbing on poor examiner-so don;t worry what they think-they truly have seen it all!
Had my licence for 3 months now (keep looking at it and grinning like a fudd), but yesterday was the first time ever I drove our car ALL BY MYSELF!!
With P Plates!

If I can do it, anyone can!! Doesnt matter how many tests it takes, you'll be a safer driver for the experience. Just take your time, take deep breaths and you'll be fine!

Good luck

@thatmustbenigelwiththebrie I have to admit this really made me laugh! Thank you for the kind words and tropical fruit heads up 😂

@TaighNamGastaOrt well done that's amazing!! I really hope I can do it too, thank you for sharing your experience x

I was the most nervous learner ever, I used to cry in mock tests. I assumed I'd fail so actually relaxed.

I told myself I was probably going to fail the first time, and that I should treat it as a practice and see how few mistakes I could get away with so I'd know what to work on for next time. As a result I was so relaxed I passed! I highly recommend this approach for minimal nerves.

I passed first time but I think it was more luck than anything. Like a previous poster I was a few minutes in and thought I failed... I had to ask what speed limit we are in! Therefore I relaxed the rest and treated it as a practice and the nerves went.

Just think of it as practice and the nerves do go.

Took DH a while years of trying to get me to learn, finally passed at 36 in an auto, which was the compromise it took to get me on the road. Bought a cheap banger and any driving that wasn't motorway, I did it. Failed the first mock on something silly, passed the second and lucked out on test day.

No merging into lanes, no dual carriageways, just a mooch around the blocks at 30mph. Did a parallel park, although I did stop and come out a bit before the final turn as I knew I'd mount the kerb otherwise. I just explained what I was doing and why. Also slowed down coming off a roundabout as schoolkids were waiting to cross at that point and I wanted to be able to stop in time in case they chanced it. Again, explained why I did it. Very short test, the minors that I got were for hesitation, driving a bit too carefully! I had lots of rescue remedy and banana protein shake beforehand.

I passed today on my first test. I thought I had failed as I was so nervous . I got 7 minors, at one point in the test I didn't even have it in gear and was trying to move,I rolled back a bit, went in the wrong lane,

You have to keep persevering and you will do it.

I passed third time round and have now had my license nearly 7 years. I remember how frustrating failing (twice!) was, but had set myself the goal of passing before my next birthday so just stuck at it. As others have said, sometimes thinking you've failed early on helps you drive better for the rest of the test... Helped me

I passed on my eighth test - same as others, every failure brought more nerves. I switched driving instructor towards the end as my one wasn't really giving me any tips just saying 'yeah good drive' and went with an instructor my friend was using that she complained was far too strict. I passed with him and she passed first time. I needed to know that I KNEW what I could fail on and he reassured me that I could drive well and i was just psyching myself out.

Eventually passed with 0 faults. I promise you will get there.