Driving test at 24 weeks with twins? Worried about the emergency stop

[Cosmogirl86]

I'm sitting my driving test on Wednesday. I'm actually worried about the emergency stop because my bump is quite big

Has anyone else sat their driving test while pregnant? How did the find it?

Not pregnant but when I did my test in October he didn't ask me to do the emergency stop (even though I'd practiced for it) - so maybe it's not compulsory? If the examiner can see you're pregnant he might just not ask you to do it. Best of luck it's one of the best things I did learning to drive

My mum did at 40 weeks (!) with me. Or so she says. She says that they let her not do the emergency stop. But this was in 1977 and she’s a famous liar. So fuck knows.

Not very helpful am I?! She did pass though.

If they know you are pregnant they won't ask you to do an emergency stop. Only 1 in 4 tests get the emergency stop anyway. Good luck!

When you pass, you are perfectly likely to do an emergency stop in real life... is there a way you can ensure the belt is over and under the bump, or some device to go round ?(you can tell it’s a few years since I was pregnant!)

I really need to pass. I live in an area with poor public transport in Northern Ireland. I just don't want to be housebound after they are born because I can't get about!

When i was pregnant and learning (few years ago now) my instructor told me to tell examiner i was pregnant so wouldnt be asked to do emergency stop

If you do a emergency stop properly it won’t harm you.

I passed my test at 31 weeks (only 1 baby though). Instructor told me at the end that he had been meant to ask me to do an emergency stop but hadnt done so, he'd asked me to do some other manoeuvre instead (in his words, "it's my daughter that's the midwife not me" )

Something that helped me prepare for the test was watching youtube videos on driving tips, a good channel is advance driving school

I took my test at 36 weeks pregnant, I wasn't asked to do an emergency stop. My instructor told me if they asked if I was prepared to do one I must say yes or they wouldn't take me out for the test but it was very unlikely they would make me do one.

But, had he asked I'd have done it without worrying. I had done one earlier that week when some plonker in pyjamas walked out in front of my car! Emergency stops are a part of driving and you risk having to do one every time you get behind the wheel anyway!

If it wasn't safe to do an emergency stop no pregnant woman would be driving. You'll be fine

Just to mention that my midwife recently told me to continue wearing my seatbelt normally during pregnancy. Apparently the bump is designed to absorb shock and faffing about with the belt could cause injury else where? So she claimed - I would ask your own midwife her advice.

The lap bit is supposed to sit under the bump across your hips.

As someone else pointed out - if pregnant women couldn't do emergency stops they wouldn't be allowed to drive. It'll be absolutely fine, don't worry.

I did my test at 34 weeks and again at 37 weeks . No emergency request stop either time. But I wouldn’t have squeezed into the car for my lessons if I wasn’t prepared to do one.

Just a word of advice. I passed the second time and had a c section two weeks later. I really wish I’d made it a priority to keep driving (preferably without the baby and toddler) regularly after I passed. I left it a few months and was very anxious about driving again. Then new baby hated the car and screamed incessantly in it. I think it has really affected my long term driving confidence.

I'll also be doing my driving test at 19 weeks pregnant. Haven't told my instructor yet and not sure I will as hardly showing. Best of luck!!

The lap belt is always supposed to go under your bump anyway. Most pregnant women continue driving around right up until birth and there may be occasions where emergency stops are necessary. Babies are very well protected in there, it takes much more force than an emergency stop to hurt them.

Good luck with your test!

Good luck!! I passed at 7 months pregnant. The instructor said 'at some point during the test I may ask you to do an emergency stop. I won't ask you, but I have to say this'.
This was my second test so found it easier than the first as I knew what to expect. But the first test (6 months pregnant) I was so hormonal and emotional that I'd failed and cried all the way home.

I'm very nervous and hormonal, I have definitely cried more than once in the car!

I feel confident in my ability to drive though! So fingers crossed it'll be ok. My bump really is huge so in a few weeks I might not be able to drive comfortably anyway!

Good luck with the test. It’s unlikely that you will get asked anyway as only 1/4. There was a lady waiting when I did my test who had a huge bump and I’m pretty sure the instructors in the waiting room said she wouldn’t be asked.

It turns out that the emergency stop is mandatory in Northern Ireland. I managed it OK though, but I did fail the test.

It was really embarrassing. I am super nervous and hormonal and cried three times during it. I feel like ill never pass. Luckily the driving examiner was female, had kids of her own and was very understanding.

You don't have to do the emergency stop now

@Littleduckeggblue

Are you in NI? I was told by both instructor and examiner that it is mandatory

Just to confirm, I'm in NI as well and it's mandatory in every test over here, it's not like the rest of the UK unfortunately!

But I'm sure you will be fine doing an emergency stop anyway, it's not really that bad to be honest. I've done several emergency stops in actual driving since being pregnant. In the test, you'll only be going a max of 20 mph when you do it, so it's not really going to cause any impact or anything I don't think.

Good luck with your test! I'm also in a remote area over here and had to learn to drive because it's impossible to get around with (the non-existent) public transport!