I cannot pass a driving test

[JillBob]

So long story short, I attempted to pass my drive test when I was 17 and failed miserably 3 times. First my driving instructor pushed me too early, 2nd I thought I’d pass and didn’t and third my driving instructor lost interest so I had 8 weeks of no driving before a test and obviously failed...

17 years later I’m here again much to my annoyance (husband pushing it, I have two kids now and I hate my job so driving would probably sort both).

Absolutely love my driving instructor, he’s completely different to the one when I had when I was younger and had made me like driving. Today I had my first test and failed within 10 minutes. I’m so upset. I’m a really competent driver outside of test but I just lose it at test.

Can anyone help me workout what to do?! I’m properly heartbroken today (I feel 17 again and can’t shake it).

How do you pass? I feel like an idiot

It took me six attempts - seven if you include the one I had to cancel because I was ill. I knew how to drive, nerves just made me fall to pieces during the test. But I did get there and so will you.

Don't think about the whole test. Just concentrate on each little step, one at a time. Just focus on taking the next left turn safely, or getting around the upcoming roundabout and then on to the next thing. If you know that you have made a mistake, for example, gone around the roundabout in the wrong lane, then acknowledge it out loud. The driving instructor won't have missed it, but they might look favourably on you and pass you if you show that you realize that you have made a mistake.

Keep going. I passed 7th time.
I’ve now been driving 25 years and never had an accident. mine was mix of nerves and a rubbish instructor for the first five tests.
You’ll get there.

I too learnt at 18. Failed 3 times. One was so bad, I reversed around the corner, knew I had clipped the kerb but for some reason instead of starting again I somehow thought if I kept going it would be ok! Needless to say it wasn’t, the whole bloody car ended up on the pavement and I had to do a 3 point turn to get off the pavement. I stopped until I was 25 and started all over again. Nerves were my problem I used to feel nauseous for a week before every test. I failed the first one st 25 but just before the 2nd one I injured my neck and it was so painful and stiff that I felt too poorly to be nervous and because of the pain every move was slow and exaggerated and that was the one I passed.(not that I’m recommending a trapped nerve in the neck but hey it worked for me)

I failed 4 tests. I used to get practically paralytic with nerves. During one, my legs shook so much I couldn't keep the clutch down. I never got nervous beforehand and was always fine until the examiner told me to start the car etc. I think that over all 4 tests I failed on everything at least once. Nothing else has ever made me nervous like that, not interviews, public speaking, nothing.

By my 5th test, I was resigned to failing. I even told my instructor I'd fail. I'd got to the point where I thought that if I took enough tests, eventually there'd have to be one where I didn't do anything. I passed that time and I was gobsmacked, but it was the only time I didn't get the shakes.

A friend took hers 7 times before she passed and she's one of the best drivers I know, safe but not slow and she has excellent observation and anticipation. I feel totally relaxed and comfortable when she's driving, which is quite rare for me. But she used to get so nervous she couldn't do anything right on her driving tests.

Just keep trying OP, you'll get there in the end.

Have you tried Kalms? I do find they chill me out (even if it's just the placebo effect).

I failed my 1st (totally panicked when I realised we were heading for a left hand turn onto a tiny and very steep hill where I'd stalled 4 times in my pre-test lesson and, unsurprisingly, stalled again then pulled out too wide. Oh the joys) - The second time I had a 9 week old at home with his first ever cold, which I had too, and I genuinely couldn't give one solitary shit about the test. I just wanted to get home. I swear I passed purely because I was so over it.

You CAN pass it - you're just sabotaging yourself by getting in your head. You said you like driving with your instructor. You wouldn't enjoy it if you were crap at it!

Tell that little voice in your head to piss right off and go do this shit!!

I failed my first test because of nerves and took Kalms leading up to my next test and passed so think it helped. Maybe give that a try?

Yes to an early morning Saturday test if you can get one. That worked for me, as did saying out loud what I was doing, eg, 'checking mirror, signalling, safe to move so pulling out' etc. You feel a bit silly but apparently examiners like that sort of thing. Good luck op, and please don't give up now!

I failed my first 3 tests and was a complete mess before them all. I was physically sick with nerves. Like a PP I took Rescue Remedy. I have no idea if it was a placebo or whether it actually did something but it definitely helped. The test itself is just a means to an end, something to get through. Keep going! You will pass at some point!

I had similar problems just down to sheer anxiety. It got to a point that there was no point me having any more lessons because it wasn't that I couldn't drive, I'd just lose it on my test. I passed when I took it without telling a sole that I had a test so I didn't have the worry of telling everyone I'd failed (again!).

I'd suggest maybe you do similar as it takes the pressure off. Maybe go and see your dr and get something for the neves? I sit a lot of exams with work and they really help to keep my head slightly clearer.

Good luck for next time! You'll get there

I switched to automatic! I had quite a few lessons with 2 different instructors in a manual, didn't enjoy driving at all and never took a test. A few years later I gave automatic a go, had my first lesson October and passed my test first time in March with one minor. I love driving automatics but obviously if you pass in an automatic you cant drive manual.

Pretend the test is a lesson with a new instructor.
If you think you've made a mistake dont panic and forget about it. I thought I'd made a big mistake near the start of my test but I hadn't at all, it wasn't even my minor.

Keep going! I passed 6th attempt for my car and 1st for my motorbike. That was well over 20 years ago. Not had an accident in all that time since.
I booked in early Saturday morning when it was quiet.

I passed 5th time and was so surprised because I was used to failing! I honestly think it made me a safer driver because I would have been cocky if I'd passed 1st time. Hang in there OP, you can do it!!

Saturday morning sounds like the one to go for!
Thank you to everyone, I really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. It really is immensely appreciated.
There are a lot of things here that I’ll take away and try.
I would love to get over this hurdle that you all of you have done. Thank you. Sounds like I need to forge on and not be so cry heavy!

I took 4 attempts in my 30s.

DD (19) passed yesterday, it was her 5th attempt! I wouldn’t let her give up and she got there eventually!

Bach rescue remedy - great for nerves. I took so much before my (5th and finally successful) test that I was sure I was stinking of alcohol. lol.

I passed at 24 on the fourth attempt. It almost bankrupted me and I felt so much pressure to pass of us failed the fourth time I'd have had to go back to my theory which I'd passed first go. God it was painful. I then didn't drive again until I was 30 and was a rubbish driver. Now I drive all over the county for work and I'm much more confident and competent but to this day don't like motorways but strangely am unphased by A roads/dual carriageways. Keep at it you'll pass by necessity in the end. Don't tell anyone when you're doing your test that takes a bit of pressure off. Good luck 😉

It took me 6 times to pass the practical!! Each time I failed over something different.
The worst was when the examiner thought I was too close to the kerb so grabbed the wheel. Really made me jump and scared me by how he reacted!!
However from my perspective I wasn't too close to the kerb, can't argue with them though.

Don't give up, keep going and you will get it.

My mother passed her test in her 50s, after inheriting my father's car. Took about 5+ goes to pass, she used to go to a test centre somewhere in South Wales (from Essex!) because there wasn't so much traffic and the exam route didn't have any roundabouts!. By contrast, I passed my test first time, having crashed the same car into the back of a dustcart the week before.

I finally passed when I took the attitude of ‘I don’t care what you think, I will drive how I see fit’. That bit of attitude seemed to give me the confidence in my abilities that I needed.

So 4 tests. that's nothing I had 6! I used to get so nervous! on my 6 attempt I sort of had given up..I thought one more time if I fail so what. I didn't care really. .and guess what I passed!

I took 4 tests and was on beta blockers for the last one.

5 tests and Beta Blockers for me too! My mum was 6 so I wanted to beat her! Haha, keep going!

9 time failer here 🤣 I was gonna give up at 10.
Been driving 12 years all over the country and never had a problem since I passed.... I had a lot of driving experience by the time I passed! I dread to think how much money I spent. I was 19 when I started and 21 when I passed.
Don't give up!

Passed on my fifth go. First test I had to turn right at traffic lights and into the test centre and I was done... I went over the line at those lights and failed - no minors. The next three were all collections of minors, due to nerves and the last... I passed by chewing gum. I know it’s not really polite but it allowed me a place for all my nervous energy to go and... I had a fair bit as it was a totally unfamiliar car (driving instructor changed his vehicle the week before my test). I figured it wasn’t my manners the assessor was interested in, just my driving skill and it absolutely worked. Good Luck and keep at it - driving changed my life (and my waist line too sadly) you CAN do this !

You should pass eventually Jillbob, going for a test too early does nothing for your confidence.

My DH told me, "You can drive, all you have to do is please one civil servant. If you were no good I'd tell you. You can drive." He was a long distance lorry driver.

When my regular instructor was poorly I got another who said he knew he was difficult to drive with as he picked up every little mistake (made me lose confidence for a while) to make the test seem like child's play by comparison. I took over almost all the driving to the shops, etc with DH so that it became just something routine I did as opposed to worrying about the test all the time.

I passed on my 6th attempt at the age of 56 and it has transformed my life. Keep at it OP. I hope your DH is as supportive as mine was. If not go out driving with someone who is. Best of luck.