Shouldn't have passed driving test?

[caroline29woohooo]

Been learning for nearly two years as found learning really nerve wracking. Put in for 1st test, but was fully expecting to fail as I failed both mock tests with serious faults and I still made errors when in busy crossroads and junctions, even on way to test centre i got myself in situations I couldn't handle without my instructor. Got on my test expecting it to be a challenging route, but the route was too easy. Mainly all residential streets and quiet roads and just two mini roundabouts and no dual carriageways or crossroads or busy junctions or village/town centres?I Passed with 10 minors but i think it's because it was all simple stuff. I now feel baffled as I still feel I really struggle and if I had been in a challenging situation it would have shown where I (usually) struggle. I really feel the test was not an accurate portrayal of my driving ability and I am a rubbish driver who has fluked it. Anyone else been in this situation?

I think a lot of us pass our tests without being properly competent drivers.

You need to have lots of road hours to get experience.

If you don't feel confident in your abilities can you be the driver but have an experienced driver in the passenger seat for a while?

Or you can do an advanced driving course.

It Sounds like rather than another test what you actually need is practice.

You just need to drive more!

Get out and do it.

As pp said I think a lot of feel like this when we first pass. Lots of practice and even some extra lessons to.cover things like city traffic, motorways etc will help you gain some confidence.

From the States here, but still, I can totally relate! I just got my license about six weeks ago (very very late in life, ha). I felt pretty confident beforehand, until I took some lessons at a driving school and the guy was adamant that I wasn't ready to take the test. Went to a different school and the guy basically drove me around the exact route I'd be taking on the day of the test, told me exactly what to do, etc. When I finally took the actual test, we didn't even do half the things I'd practiced, and in fact I ended up making the examiner mad because I was trying to complete things like putting on the parking brake and such and he was like, "C'mon, c'mon, let's go already!"

Technically I should have failed the test because I didn't successfully parallel park, but the only reason I didn't was because the examiner was too impatient to let me do the last forward-back thing to get myself fully in the spot. As for the rest of it, who knows? I certainly wasn't demonstrating much of the stuff I'd learned.

So yeah ... I agree the test didn't accurately assess my skills. I drive around now feeling like I got away with something and maybe if they really knew, they wouldn't be letting me out on the streets. Maybe that's how all new drivers feel, though.

Then again, I look around at some of the crap I see other drivers do and think, "How the hell did THEY ever pass their driving exams?" So there's that.

Do a pass plus course, it will really help.

Thanks guys. I just think the test route this guy took me on (he was apparently a new examiner) was completely flawed. All tests should have challenging aspects that reflect real driving situations but this didn't at all. I remember now that there was one crossroads where I had to turn right, but it was controlled by traffic lights so it was pretty straight forward. I guess the fact that I'm doubting my driving is better than being over confident and cocky thinking I'm a brilliant driver as they are usually the worst.

It took me a good while to feel like I really knew what I was doing, even though it took me a good few difficult tests to pass! I did pass plus which helped & also just getting out & driving - a few things I would've avoided but when faced with them I was actually better than I thought. You won't have passed if you weren't safe enough so you'll be ok just still learning.

But you have been learning for two years. You have been taught all the skills as your instructor wouldn't of put you forward if he didn't think you were capable of passing. You just need to believe in yourself and build your confidence by getting out and driving on your own that's when you really learn. Just take your time and before you know it you will feel confident.

I do recommend a motorway lesson and you can cover any issues you are nervous about. There really is no substitute for practice though - I'm finally driving enough to get to the stage of doing it automatically, despite having driven on and off for 16 years.

I recall my successful test seemed easy in comparison, but it included all required items (and took an hour thanks to traffic, which slowed everything down).

Congratulations and get practicing with a friend who knows local routes.

Whatever you do, don't become one of those people who pass their test and never drive again because they're too nervous, or who only drive on small roads/near home/to the supermarket etc. None of us are brilliant drivers when we first pass our test and driving round with an instructor is nothing like day to day driving anyway. You just need to keep at it, stay calm and push yourself outside your comfort zone sometimes.

Get yourself onto a Pass Plus course with an Advanced Driving Instructor - they check you in more complicated situations such as motorways, deal with defensive driving and it's really good for confidence. It can also reduce insurance costs.

Once you pass your test, that's when you learn to drive

I should absolutely not have passed my test. 14 minors and I went up onto the pavement while doing my 'reverse around a corner' but for some reason I was passed.

Just stick to the driving you're comfortable with, do pass plus if you want to and slowly build your confidence. I've now spent over a decade driving since my test and I still haven't had an accident - so perhaps means that my instructor was right to have passed me after all.

Agree - you learn to drive after you pass your test.
Practice makes perfect. Off you zoom now!