Driving Test

[Megirlan123]

My son has failed his driving test today, this was the fourth attempt.

Im going to have a chat with his instructor. But his instructor has been saying he is ready.

I feel so bad for him. I think he feels upset and embarrassed.

I don’t know how to help him.

Any advice?

My niece took 11 tests for her practical.
One of my nephews took 8 tests for his theory.

I felt so so sorry for them.

One practical thing to do is to get the test results for those 4 tests and have a good look at what he's failing on. Then work on fixing that.

Do you already know what he's failing on?

Diazepam.

that and loads and loads of practice.

A GP isn't going to prescribe diazepam for someone to take their driving test. (Although maybe you were joking?)

Thank you.

Aw it’s so hard for them. He passed his theory on the 2nd attempt and I think we are pretty surprised he is having so much trouble passing so it has been a huge dent to his confidence.

Thats a good tip thanks, yes we do know the reasons, that’s definitely a good place to start. Thank you!

I was seriously considering speaking to a doctor about something to calm him a little but obviously don’t want to go to far the other way either 🙈

regarding practice, is it good to go out with say me or his dad? We’ve always been worried he would pick up our bad habits 🙈

I was one of those over achiever kids and did well academically across the board. Somehow I thought this translated across to driving tests, but I was a terrible driver. I passed after about 4 attempts.

I would recommend your son does not tell anyone about the test. I didn't tell anyone about my last one and that's when I passed! There wasn't any pressure aside from the pressure I put on myself. Everyone was so shocked when I announced it. I bought a car immediately and then accidentally ended up on the motorway. I also almost ended up killing a child that same day! It was horrifying but thank God nothing actually happened!

I mean I took an absolute ton to get through my test. So much so I knocked my breathing off a bit. Passed, 2 minors.

Ask enough people and someone will have one knocking around.

I don’t think it matters who he goes out with. He needs to drive at least twice a day. Endless pointless errands. Until it is just second nature.

He could try these @Megirlan123

And I took 5 times to pass, and didn't pass until I was in my late 20s! So tell him not to give up just yet!

Kalms Lavender One-A Day - 14 Capsules - Boots

Actually they do recommend a half tablet pre-test for anxious drivers.

I agree he needs to drive all the time, my dd drove somewhere with me in my car every day for months.

My dd did the test in my car in the end and passed first time.

Practice practice practice.

What is he failing on?

Practice between lessons will help . I agree with a pp to not tell anyone about doing a test and then nobody keeps asking . My daughter passed at her 3rd attempt , both times before she just had 1 major fault . Aside from the driving instructor and us nobody knew she was doing tests or indeed in our case nobody else knew she was even learning to drive .

Thanks for the responses.

it seems to be something different every time, crossing the solid line at traffic lights when they are red (when stopping - so overshooting a little) this happened twice. Had to be told to slow down in a 30 zone (didn’t notice when the 40 turned to a 30 🙈) and I can’t remember the other reason.

I mean I’m not disagreeing that he failed but it’s frustrating when he is making these mistakes only on lessons not in mock tests with his instructor 🙈

and it’s sooo expensive too 🙈🙈

When DS was learning I put him on my insurance as a learner and he more or less drove everyday. Practice really does seem to give them confidence.

Has he tried some guided meditation? Say 10 minutes a day and doing 10 more minutes before he leaves for his Driving Test?

Just seen your last post. If he's not noticing the change in speed limits is his instructor taking him around possible test routes?

DS' instructor did this and we also spent an hour there every third day just driving around the town so he'd get used to the area and it's little idiosyncrasies

I passed on my 5th attempt and had to do my theory test twice as it expired in the middle

I had 3 instructors. My first instructor was just after money and really knocked my confidence by belittling my driving even though I was ready for my test. I had a couple of lessons with a different instructor at the same time as her and she said I was more than ready.

My first 3 tests were with the same examiner and he just wasn't right for me. I was nervous and he kept talking in a soothing way telling me to breathe. Unfortunately that is the opposite of what I need and it makes my anxiety and nervousness sky rocket. If I'm ignored I find I can get a hold of it in a minute or two and be ok. I just need to gather myself and not focus on the nerves. The 4th test was with a different examiner but I did much better but got 1 major fault. This was probably the hardest of the fails on me.
I then did my 5th at uni in a different city. I had a new instructor who was ok but I hated his car. I had a lesson 2 days before my test and it was my worse lesson ever and the instructor said that if I could have cancelled without losing my payment he would recommend that so instead not worry about this test and we will start preparing for the next test afterwards. On the day of the test he promised to get a cream cake for me if I passed. I vowed I was never going to drive his car again when I sat for my test. I passed! He didn't get the cream cake, he promised to put me some chocolate through my door but it never materialised! For me the tests were a mental challenge as much as a driving challenge. My head was really not in the best place during the first 4 tests and it did show

thanks for the replies!

some really good tips!

I’ve just insured my son on my car and I pick him up and he drives home. He’s doing fine in the car so far. I’m trying hard to relax lol
I’ve looked at some meditation too thank you.
great idea to drive round the test route. Apparently he has been with his instructor but I’m tempted to try someone else to get their opinion etc.
thanks everyone

My sister went to the GP with her very anxious DS and was given propranadol which is a beta blocker.

He had failed 4 times from nerves - so anxious he cried in the waiting room - a big 18 year old lad! Is fine in academic exams etc, but the driving test made him so anxious. He’d tried rescue remedy and bananas before.

He explained it all to the GP and said he only wanted something for this one-off situation. GP was symapthetic and gave him 5 proprandaol tablets. He tried one the day before to check how he felt. All fine. Took one an hour or so before the test apparantly and then aced his test.

I think most GPS will have had someone come and ask for this before a driving test. It really can be the answer if they are generally a good driver (confirmed by instructor) and just nerves are the problem.

How's he doing now @Megirlan123? I quite miss DS driving me around for a bit in the evening