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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Failed driving test 5 times. Should I give up?

116 replies

Lola0426 · 04/11/2020 19:27

Hi guys,

I hope you're well and in the best of health.
I have unfortunately failed my 5th driving test today. I was really hoping to pass with us going into lockdown tomorrow and I presume the wait for next available tests would be very long.

I've recently bought a car so for the past couple of months, DH has been teaching me to drive. I have learned a lot from the last time I took a test (last year). I thought this would be the time I pass. I drove really well, managed my nervous which I thought I wouldn't be able to do. But on the way back to the test center the examiner said I made a dangerous mistake on a roundabout and gave me a serious because a builder was in the middle of a street with cars parked on both sides and had to close his van door and move out of the way so I can get through. I don't quite understand how this is a serious offence.

The examiner was very unpleasant, didn't say a word the whole journey and made me change my face mask because apparently the first one I was wearing "wasn't covering my nose", which wasn't true. But, thank God, I had a spare surgical mask in my car, even then she was complaining, I had to pull it all the way up so it was almost sitting on my bottom eyelashes.

I feel very disheartened, disappointed and discouraged 😞 and I think maybe driving isn't for me..have anyone felt this before? I'm in between two mind; to stop or continue until one day I perhaps may pass.

OP posts:
Toffiffeee89 · 04/11/2020 19:31

Don’t give up . You will regret it .

HoboSexualOnslow · 04/11/2020 19:31

Keep going! I passed on my 5th one (I think). I just lacked confidence. You will get there and having a car makes it much easier for you to build up confidence and road sense

user1493413286 · 04/11/2020 19:31

It took me 6 times and started feeling quite ridiculous as I could drive perfectly well but on the test day I crumbled. I’ve now been driving over 10 years with no problems and I think I’m a perfectly fine driver and no one has suggested otherwise.

Princessbanana · 04/11/2020 19:31

I voted YABU because you will eventually pass, so don’t give up and keep going?’c this is just a learning curve! I’m sorry you didn’t pass, I know how disheartening it can be!💕

Aquamarine1029 · 04/11/2020 19:31

Don't even think about giving up. You always regret it if you do. So what if you didn't pass 5 times? All you have to do is pass once, so learn from any mistakes and keep practising as much as possible. You can do this!

slowco4ch · 04/11/2020 19:32

Firstly take the latest fail on the chin. The examiner isn't out to fail you. They'll have seen things you may not have clocked. Are you in a manual or automatic? Maybe worth swapping to automatic to reduce distractions at least for now. I'm
A big fan of proper lessons, they give you the technique and tips to help you and correct bad habits.

37weekswithno2 · 04/11/2020 19:34

You mention dh teaching you. Are you also having professional lessons? If not, you need to. It will make a big diffeeence

chickensoup23 · 04/11/2020 19:35

Keep going I failed 6 times passed on my 7th and now I'm classed as a professional driver for work. 🤣🤣🤣

Hellomoonstar · 04/11/2020 19:38

Don’t give up. If you want a license then you shouldn’t give up. Hopefully, next time you would get nicer examiner. I was so nervous on the attempt that I passed that I couldn’t turn right when the instructor told me to. Since I did that safely and was polite he gave me a minor and I took the following right. I passed on the third attempt. The times I didn’t pass, I saw them as learning opportunities.

Sometimes, you learn something new and unexpected. Like that weird major offence. I have never heard of a rule like that.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 04/11/2020 19:39

I took 7 times. My driving instructor couldn't understand it cause each time was something different...think nerves. Keep going...you'll get that and its a lovely feeling!

FrappuccinoFan · 04/11/2020 19:39

It doesn’t matter that much for the impending lockdown as you can still drive on a provisional license, so you at least won’t have to rely on public transport for food shopping etc

But yeah, don’t give up. It’s only a matter of time before you pass.

What happened on the roundabout?

The builder thing is fair IMO, you’re always judged when other road users have to take an action like that during your test. It’s always best to be extra cautious, so instead of going through as normal you should have make a conscious effort to slow down or stop in reaction to the disruption

JuniperBeer · 04/11/2020 19:40

It counts a serious offence because you have affected another road user.
You mention DH, Can you afford some lessons with a driving instructor?

Rotundandhappy · 04/11/2020 19:40

You quite possibly need to have professional lessons. While your H may be able to teach you how to drive a car, he’ll have forgotten all the super-safety-first stuff examiners want. I don’t quite understand what happened but if you did something dangerous, then you need further instruction.

Stripesnomore · 04/11/2020 19:41

Don’t give up OP! You will get there in the end.

Flowers
Potionqueen · 04/11/2020 19:41

Don’t give up. I passed on my 3rd attempt, but had 250 lessons with a driving instructor.
The freedom a car gives you is indescribable.
You will get there.
Maybe try an automatic, they’re much easier to drive.

Level75 · 04/11/2020 19:42

I took 6 times for various reasons. I'm a perfectly decent driver. Keep going.

FindMeInTheSunshine · 04/11/2020 19:43

Definitely have some professional lessons to learn the things the examiners look for, but drive as much as you possibly can, at least an hour a day if possible for a couple of weeks leading up to the test. It all needs to be second nature. Obviously in lockdown you're supposed to only do necessary travel, so probably no practising for the moment!

Original poster
Lola0426 · 04/11/2020 19:43

Thank you for your message. I've had about 50 lessons with a professional driving instructor. This is my first test in my car. All my previous test were in my instructor's car.

OP posts:
Trailing1 · 04/11/2020 19:43

I passed 5th time around, at 36 weeks pregnant.
If I am honest the first three i took, I rushed into, i really wasnt ready and it was only because DH was badgering me into it.
The 4th time the examiner was bloody horrible, so from the start I was on edge and it didn't end well.
The 5th time I had a very calm examiner and it put me at ease from the get go.
Please carry on learning, you will get there.

MostDisputesDieAndNoOneShoots · 04/11/2020 19:44

For what it’s worth my husband passed on his sixth attempt.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 04/11/2020 19:45

No ! It took me so long I lost track of the years and tests
And then one day , passed
Trick is practice , Persistence
It’s a sucker though

Elizaaa · 04/11/2020 19:45

Keep going, I passed on my 6th test, been driving 11 years and never had an issue.

Original poster
Lola0426 · 04/11/2020 19:46

Thank you all ever so much for your encouraging and supportive messages. Flowers

OP posts:
PoloNeckKnickers · 04/11/2020 19:47

Don't give up! My sister passed on her 7th attempt. Don't throw all that practice away!!

FingersCrossedForAllOfUs · 04/11/2020 19:48

Don’t give up OP, this last examiner sounds very unpleasant.
Could you find out about having some lessons with an instructor in your own car, that might help?
Good luck.