To ask for your driving test tips but also your most disastrous test stories

[chillydawg]

One of my biggest fears is doing something completely insane and dangerous and hearing about other people who have done that would ease my nerves a bit, even if that sounds weird!

The test is today and I feel sick thinking about it.

- I accidentally put the car into reverse on a dual carriage way when trying to find 4th gear..

Oh god this is my worst nightmare! My gears were all over the shop today!

My examiner saying : 'well I used to drive police cars and I wouldn't have gone (and cross the traffic lanes to take a left turn). There was no point really carrying on tje test after that!

@chillydawg 3 of us sat our test at the same time sat in the little waiting room together, we were all called roughly together, we did our eye sight tests one by one in a single file and then got into our cars, which were parked next to each other, i was in the car in the middle, so just before setting off I looked left put my thumb up to the young lad, looked right put my thumb up to the bloke and for some reason I think nerves I just sat and giggled loudly to myself. the examiner was looking at me and do you know when you can tell by there face they think your an absolute fruit loop! 😂

My mum's friend was involved in an accident on her driving test (not her fault and car still driveable) the examiner asked her if she wanted to carry on the test and she said yes and passed!
The examiner said she did everything right when the accident happened and praised her for keeping very calm.
Nerves of steel!

Wow that is fantastic RayRay, good on your mum.

My friend failed her first test by taking the wrong turn on a roundabout and ending up on the motorway.

Extra embarrassing for her because her husband is the driving instructor

I failed multiple times. It came to a point where my theory expired and I had to redo that. I learnt for years but just could not pass the test.

I even had the SAME EXAMINER like 80% of my tests, which didn’t help cause each time he would mention the previous fails.
I constantly wanted to give up but my DH wouldn’t let me cause he said I could do it.

In the end just to pass I did automatic and DH bought me an automatic car. I ended up getting a new instructor who booked me a test for a Saturday morning 8.05 test. The roads were dead but I had to do bay park manoeuvre. I messed this up massively but the examiner was nice about it and got out to check. I still believe I was outside of the bay. But because I thought I failed I just drove normally and I passed. I cried when I passed I was so relieved. Then less than a month later I found out I was pregnant. after taking 2 years of ttc.

I’m still nervous on the roads but I did it. I didn’t have an issue with the gears but it was nerves for me.

One test I cancelled when I knew I messed up (I got to close too park cars and he grabbed the steering wheel) and had them walk back as I refused to waste anymore of my time. The biggest fail I think was when I did 50 in a 30 as I was paying attention to satnav and it was wrong .

Stupidest fail was going into a faint cycle box! When stopping at a ref light. Rest assured they’re was no Cyclist but my fault for not stopping.

So please don’t give up, if I can pass anyone can pass.

I hit a wingmirror of a parked car within the first minute of one of my tests!

It’s fine, I passed eventually and I’ve not had one bump since passing 3 years ago.

I passed on my 5th test - once you've done it though it really doesn't matter how many you failed before, fingers crossed for next time!

Glad to see I'm not the only one to fail before leaving the test centre Bobojangles 😂 Nerves + bay parking got the best of me too. Was so paranoid about touching the lines (is that even a fault?) that I was just basically shuffling back and forth for an age before asking the examiner if he was really expecting me to drive for 40 minutes when we both knew I'd already fucked it

I'd agree with the rescue remedy suggestion for the nerves. It got me through my driving test with no faults cause it really helped me stay calm. Maybe try it on a lesson before you resit the test so you can gauge how you feel.

My best friend rear-ended at police car at the traffic lights. And passed! (Not in the UK )

I failed my first test for being in the right hand lane on a big roundabout, to go straight over. Straight over was the "furthest" option (or, I suppose, last exit before my road)- there was no right hand turn possibility. I failed on that because there was a right turn about 150 yards after the roundabout. Irritatingly, I had checked that exact thing (which lane for straight over at that roundabout) in my last driving lesson, so I was doing what I was taught

The second test, I was diabolical: stalled once, took ages before pulling out at a junction - and thought I had failed. When the tester told me I'd passed, I turned round in my seat and yelled, "Are you serious?! I was dreadful!"

And I never did manage to pass my riding road safety at Pony Club - it was roundabouts that got me every time there too . Mind you, there weren't a lot of those on the country lanes of rural Oxfordshire

Oh- and in 30 years of driving since, I've had two accidents: rear-ended in a traffic jam (not my fault) and hit by a lorry driving dangerously on the motorway (definitely not my fault) - I think the best drivers don't pass first time

Ah, unlucky @chillydawg.

You'll get there. Don't give up. Once you've passed, it won't matter how many lessons you had or how many attempts at the test you needed. Like PP said, consider it a rehearsal.

Come back and let us know when you pass!

I think the best drivers don't pass first time

I passed first time. Crashed my car (my fault) a few weeks later. I think you're right!

I passed first time with three minors BUT I was sure I'd failed about 10 mins in as I thought I'd hit the kerb while going round a corner. All the anxiety and pressure dissipated and I was like 'fuck it'. And then it turned out it had just been a pothole and I'd passed. I think if I had remained as nervous as I was pre pothole, I might well have failed!

I failed my 1st test the week before Christmas. It was raining heavily and I was at a pain in the bum roundabout, steep hill start, very busy so I was waiting ages for a gap. I was concentrating so much on not missing the gap and making sure I didn’t roll back that I swung out too wide and ended up slightly over the lane next to mine. That was a serious fault.

Got my second test booked for next week. I will hopefully pass this time round. I’m feeling much calmer and less stressed this time round. I think it’s because I’ve done one now and know exactly what to expect.

All these stories and tips are great, I do tend to over narrate what I’m dining all the time and my instructor keeps telling me to stop saying what I’m doing and just to do it. I’m like that with everything though. I narrate away to myself when I’m washing the dishes, cooking, polishing my shoes, checking I have everything I need when I leave the house etc. I just like to talk myself through stuff.

I failed 3 times, first time the tester grabbed the wheel cos I slightly went over the lines at a round about.
2nd time the woman was horrible kept sighing and putting me off. She then had to slam brakes on for a car half way around the round about... I think she just didn't like me lol
3rd time it was a week before Christmas and the tester looked like santa! As we were pulling out the test centre a car stopped and he went oh he's letting us go, give him a little wave to say thanks.
I got more minors on the test I. Passed on.
I was so happy I took my seat belt off and gave him a hug. I don't know who was more shocked by it, me or him lol.
That was 10 years ago.
I also agree don't tell anyone it puts more pressure on you.
Only person I told was my mum on the morning of the test and just as I was leaving she gave me my grandads wedding ring. She felt it always kept her safe. I've never taken it off.

Unlucky OP. You will be loads better prepared next time

I have got my test next month. Did a mock test last week and was v pleased with how it went. Loving all the stories and tips, especially pretending the instructor is someone you're giving a lift to

I think the best drivers don't pass first time

I did, see my previous essay of the disasters that relaxed me, I also never had any 'proper' lessons, just OH, who will tell anyone who'll listen that he has a 100% record of first attempt passes for his pupils!
Since then, 1972, the day a referendum voted to enter the Common Market oddly enough, I have never been involved in an accident, had one speeding fine because of a Bank Holiday Monday, and, apart from being hit by another car, I have never made an insurance claim. Not a bad record for a first time passer!

Keep going, you'll get there!! My nerves kept getting the better of me, I've failed for pretty much every reason out there. I got there in the end.

I'm sure the stories about emergency stops are (at best) exaggerated, but in my test I did one so violently that the examiner dropped his clipboard

I did a three day group course for motorbike direct access which finishes on the third day with everyone taking their test in turn.

We all watched as the rider before me nervously pulled out of the test centre and up the road to a cross roads with traffic lights, where they stopped as the lights were red for them. Sitting there they looked 90 degrees to their right and saw the green light of the traffic lights meant for the other road crossing the junction. Their brain went; green light - go!

Instant fail for going through a red light, within about 50 yards of the test centre, with all of us as an audience.

Passed 4th time recently!

1. It doesn't have to be a perfect drive, it just needs to be safe

1. There is no limit to how many tests you can take (I checked as was genuinely worried I'd be told I had to give up

1. Take note of any issues you failed on and practice practice practice.

1. You didn't "fail"...It was an (expensive) practice run and when you do pass your first test will be ancient history.

Good luck!

Oh and also, think of the test not as a test but just showing someone else you can tick boxes to get your licence. You can drive, or else you wouldn't be booking your test.
Your confidence comes once you pass and drive day to day.

I stalled EIGHT times on my first roundabout!!! He had to use his brakes to stop us rolling back. It was bad bad. But it really prepared me for the next test which I was more relaxed on and passed. Good luck for next time.

I did pass first time, but it got off to a bad start when I turned out of the test centre and there was a car driving the wrong way down the one-way road towards me.

It could always be worse — my friend ran over a pheasant on her first test.