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 don't think I've actually parallel parked since I passed my test. Parking bays and empty streets all the way!

My 'disaster' story is not actually mine (honest). The test centre when I was younger was set down from the road on the side of a hill, so you had to accelerate up the ramp with enough power to make it, but stop quick enough so you don't shoot out into the road. A friend did her test, but when too quickly and went straight up the ramp and into the road. Thankfully no-one was coming but she failed on the spot. They still made her carry on the rest of the way around.

A colleague finally passed her test - I think it took her 8 attempts (after that long I am not sure she should be allowed to drive). She failed a lot for 'observations', but actually failed for exactly the same observation in about three of the tests (going around the roundabout in the wrong lane and then cutting people up at the same place every time!).

Someone else I know (not saying how as it is outing) passed her test on one attempt, but I am still not sure how. She was told to pull up on the opposite side of the road and as there was traffic, she pulled to the centre line and started indicating left to let the cars behind her know that they could go past her on the left as she was going to pull over to the right when the road was clear!! Must be a really clever driver behind to have understood that I think they just saw the bad driving and test car and decided to watch out

My instructor didn't think I was ready for my test, we did the show me tell me 15 minutes before hand.
Within the first 3 minutes of my test the examiner had to remind me I had priority as I sat waiting for every car to come through.
I thought yep I've failed, I must of stalled about 3 or 4 times on the test. When I got back to the centre and he said 'well done you've passed' I burst into tears and my instructor stood open mouthed
I rang my DH in such a state he said 'don't worry you can try again' before I got out I'd passed in historical sobs

Drink a can of redbull and eat a banana 30 minutes before your test.

A friend of mine completely froze mentally and drove around a mini roundabout the wrong way, there was like a series of them she had to go round and she just lost all coordination of which way to go.

I failed my first test before I ever left the test centre after having to slam on the brakes at the exit. I was so worried about not going too soon but also not hesitating too long I just fucked it.

My first test, I had an awful shouty instructor who had insisted I booked my test before even attempting any manoeuvres. He'd then cancelled loads of my lessons so I basically went into my test not knowing anything but driving forwards! I can't remember exactly what I failed on but I know curbs were mounted and I hadn't even been able to park forwards in the test centre bay afterwards. It was the chief examiner too 🙈
I changed instructor and passed with 2 minors just a few months later. That test was on the one day of year we had snow and every test after mine was cancelled due to the weather. The examiner also helped me when the car steamed up as we left the test centre and I couldn't remember what buttons I needed to de-mist it.

I was told the Red Bull tip too but for me it just made me feel spaced out.

Thought I'd update the thread to say I passed! Such a massive relief. Third time lucky, the examiner was very friendly which made such a difference! I also feel like he overlooked quite a few things as he knew I was nervous. Anyway just thought anyone lurking might like to know it can still happen after a couple of disasters!

Yaaaaay! Well done @chillydawg

Well done!

Fantastic!

My examiner (second attempt) definitely wanted me to pass, I'm sure of it. Well done OP

Well done, Chillydawg!

I didn't even get as far as the test my first time round. The lesson before, I was so nervous, I told my instructor I was sure I would fail.

"Never mind," he said, "Let's have a run through and see how you get on."

On the hill start, I slid all the way to the bottom.

My reverse round the corner ended up on the wrong side of the road - actually, if we're honest, it ended up partly on the verge at the side of the wrong side of the road. I didn't hit the letter box: it was a big red thing and I saw it in time .

I did a 9 point turn in the middle of the road, hitting the kerb both sides.

I ran a red light and stopped just past it.

The instructor finally asked me to drive round the block repeatedly until I calmed down, then said "I think we'll postpone, shall we?"
I almost kissed him!
I did pass when I eventually took the test.

I heard about a poor lady in a nearby town who hit the accelerator instead of the brake and drove straight into the river in the town centre. Fortunately, it wasn't too deep and they were rescued from the roof of the car.

Then there was my friend who, on being told to take the next available left, turned onto the railway line at the level crossing and held up the train network while they got her off.

Reverse around the corner was my nemesis move, god knows why, think my instructor massively overcomplicated things. Anyway, midway through a hesitant but mostly successful reverse around the corner on my test, there's a knock on my driver's window. It's a little old nun, dressed in full habit, asking for directions. Bewildered examiner rolls down the window, proffers advice. The nun hobbles off. I resume my manoeuvre, instantly panicking and mounting the kerb. Got failed for that, and also received a major fault for failing to spot the elderly nun approaching the vehicle. Eventually passed on my fourth attempt...

I was heavily pregnant. I had a hill start at traffic lights and I kept putting the car into third rather than first and stalled the car again and again. Traffic was honking behind me.
I knew I failed so burst into tears, examiner asked if I wanted to pull over and stop the test. I screamed at him "NO IM FINISHING THIS SODDING TEST IF IT KILLS ME!!!!!!!" whilst sobbing and snotting everywhere.

He looked terrified, let me finish the test, told me quietly that I'd failed then couldn't leave the car fast enough.

I'm quite meek and mild irl.

Anyone else remember Maureen and Dave from Driving School?

Well.

There was the test where they told us to park in a multi story car park so we did (turned out no one else ever did at this test centre which was not one my instructor knew) i had never driven out from a multi story, had to deal with the barrier, clutch control, getting out onto the road, I was a nervous wreck.......

Another test was cancelled because the wimpy examiner refused to go out in a slight snow blizzard, muttering something about health and safety.

On my last test the examiner asked me about the procedure when approaching a roundabout. I rattled it off and he said in a surprised voice, "oh you do know it then..." But he still passed me!

Well.

There was the test where they told us to park in the multi story car park ( found out later no one else ever did but it was a centre my instructor was not familiar with) by the time I had navigated the twisty bits, coped with the barrier and getting out onto the road I was a nervous wreck.

Then there was the unexpected snow storm when the wimpy examiner cancelled the test muttering some rubbish about health and safety, I dunno I had already done about four emergency stops on the way to the test centre.

On my last test I was asked the procedure for approaching a roundabout, I rattled it off and he said in a slightly surprised way " oh you do know it then". I passed.

Many years ago a friend took her test about three days before her first child was born, I am not sure how she got behind the wheel! SHe thinks it was probably the shortest test ever, they were back at the test centre within 20 minutes and clearly the examiner was more nervous than she was in case she started labour. SHe passed.

Sorry, thought I had lost that first post.

This didn't happen to me, but my driving instructor had another pupil who failed her driving test for running over a pedestrian. On a pedestrian crossing.