UK Driving Test, 3rd attempt

Another horror story for you Dr.P. I passed my test (and forgive me for being rather smug about it) faultlessly on the second attempt.

But the first was pretty much at the opposite end of the spectrum!

We’d been coming of a busy round-about on a A Road, when a small black hatchback came around from the right with his left indicator on, I made the logical assumption and pulled out into the gap he should’ve left when he turned off, only instead of turning off he carried on around and almost went right up our backside.

The examiner abandoned the test. He got out the car and left me in a layby at the side of the dual carriage way for 40mins while he walked back to the exam center and told my instructor what had happened!

Both tests were just 7 weeks apart and my driving hadn’t improved much in that time. Oh and it was the same examiner!

As nJayM go to the US!. Took my Arizona licence last February, $30 and ten minutes driving round the block, QED. 😀

I passed on my third attempt – the first time was a farce, the second was simple stupidity on my part, and the third, well….!

I had a great driving instructor. I’d quite often just find myself tootling along, chatting away to her about inane crap, before she asked me to do something that required actual manoeuvring. If I got it wrong the first time, or the second, she’d explain what I was doing wrong, and why.

Practice does indeed make perfect.

Apart from that, relax. Think everything through as you’re doing it. SHOW the examiner you can drive.

Only on private property with the owner’s consent. Perhaps he knows of a friendly airfield!!;)

Get use of a car and learn to not have the instructor there. Practice endlessly. Build that motor program until it is engrained. Above all, think for yourself.

Before anyone baulks at this, solo flying time is an important part of the PPL and should be ported in some form to driving imho.

I didn’t think that was legal, driving on your own with a provisional licence, you won’t be insured for starters.

Can’t give up, first I now see it as a challenge…my Everest if you will. Second, my partner and I have discussed moving from Worcester to somewhere more rural, not that you can get much more rural than Worcester mind, so I need to be able to commute to a new work place without relying on the bus. Third, it is seen more like a qualification to put on a CV these days. How many well paid jobs have you seen lately that don’t require a driving license?
Did want to go for bike license at first, but have seen too many accidents where the rider comes off worse than anyone else involved.

(ex. one guy failed his test for adjusting his positioning during a parallel park, examiner said the student had abandoned the manuevre :confused:).
Has anyone got any advice for passing? Has anyone experienced rather unfair decisions by a driving examiner? Please pass on your experiences 🙂

I screwed up my reverse park, asked to have another go but due to the build up of traffic the examiner said drive on, thought at that point I’d totally failed so relaxed and wasn’t quite so anxious about my driving and stopped thinking about it all…as a result I passed

Once I’d passed my instructor told me that now I’d learnt to pass a test it was time to learn to drive.

You could always give up and just go for a ppl, my uncle got his at 16 and breezed through, driving took about 4 attempts, I guess there is more to hit on the ground!

Benyboy – I was the bloke with the red flag!:diablo:

You mean the guy with the chequered flag – well he deserved it

Learning to drive was easy for you two. That guy walking in front waving the flag did the hard work 🙂

You mean the guy with the chequered flag – well he deserved it.:D Fancy jumping in front of an F1 car at the finish line.:)

DrP – just relax and yes keep close to a good driving instructor

DrP – just relax and yes keep close to a good driving instructor.

Yet additionally finding someone who has no fear in being with you as a licensed driver while you have your L plates on is the best way to practice. This licensed driver should be cool and not instil nervousness in you.

Stay cool, relaxed and keep your hands on the wheel while always having your left eye side glance at what’s in your rear view mirror (unless you require to show the instructor / examiner by deliberate movement of head for some tests) while learning to pan both wing mirrors, keeping your eyes firmly in front, panning the dash for speed/revs and not having to look at your gear lever to know which gear you are in. Also establish for a regular vehicle the biting point of your clutch and all this will if you practice come naturally as you get more experienced. Knowing without looking at where steering column stalk controls are and essential switches including hazard warning lights is always useful.

Be confident as you get experienced but not over confident to upset your instructor or examiner.:)

Who knows you may even some day in the future go and pass your Advanced Driving Test and as I suggested become a pilot too.:D

Learning to drive was easy for you two. That guy walking in front waving the flag did the hard work 🙂

I taught my wife and son and they both passed first time, too. And I am not ex-police nor do I have an advanced certificate.:)

Well done you:D

Did you ever get rid of your vehicle?, wasn’t it a Penny Farthing Pete.;)
Jim.

Lincoln .7

With all due respect to the members who have posted here. The test is a lot, lot harder than it was when they took it. It is no longer a driving test. It is a test of routines, procedures (what ever you want to call them). This must be taught by an instructor. It took me forever to lose my bad habits and learn the way to pass the test. Learning with parents, partners ect is detremental to passing the modern driving test.

I taught my wife and son and they both passed first time, too. And I am not ex-police nor do I have an advanced certificate.:)

Dr Pepper, Now I understand.What you need at the mo, is a Police Patrol car driver who has passed the POLICE not civilian, Advanced drivers test, a couple of lessons, and you would pass no trouble. I taught my wife and 3 kids that way, and they sailed past 1st time.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Jim, no no no, sorry you mis-understood. The student who was failed was attempting a parallel park and noticed the positioning of the car was slightly out in relation to where it should have been. To correct this he drove forward (didn’t state how far, could have been a foot or ten feet) to re-allign his vehicle. This apparently is abandoning the manoeuvre.
When I told this story to my instructor he looked puzzled and said can’t understand what he did wrong unless he did pull way too far forward or he didn’t say anything to the examiner which led the examiner to believe the manoeuvre had been abandoned. (Apparently, if a manoeuvre goes badly you can ask to do it again but you should ask and not assume its ok to do so).

[QUOTE=DrPepper;1788787]Hi guys,

(ex. one guy failed his test for adjusting his positioning during a parallel park, examiner said the student had abandoned the manuevre :confused:).
While my driving is in itself very good, though I do have my odd “t***” attack moments where I do something stupid for no reason, I live in fear of the maneuvres. I can reverse around a corner or complete a turn in the road without too much of a problem, however my bay parking is quite bad and my parallel parking is not great.

1) I agree with the examiner failing this guy, he should have made sure he had his seat, mirrors set up for himself prior to moving off.

2). Pop down to your local nick, explain your parking delima, and ask them if you can borrow 5 NO WAITING cones. I am sure they will oblige,(If not, nip out one night a nick 5 cones from a roadworks where one usualy sees hundreds sited, but nothing happening to justify their placement . Place three where the kerb would be, and one at each end of them about three feet from those used as a kerb, hey presto, you can practice anywhere and anytime you want.You have your kerb, and parking bay all in one.Don’t forget to allow for the length of the car your driving. Your lack of self confidence will soon be restored.
Jim.

Lincoln .7

Jim.
Lincoln .7

There is a well known secret which your instructor must tell you

Parallel parking by sounds of it, here in UK it’s parking behind a car along a pavement in ideally no more than 4 manoeuvres (steering wheel 360 left 360 right, one and a half right and one and a half left). Must be within two car spaces. Annoying as hell!

Hi DrPepper
There is a well known secret which your instructor must tell you. You drive and stop parallel in front of space but safely clear of their driver’s side (assuming parked car is facing direction of traffic on left side of road along pavement). Stay exactly parallel, unhook seat belt if necessary (remember to re hook seat belt just for getting your body twisted round – and please ask instructor if this is okay) and look back through rear window while still holding steering. Initially gently reverse while pointing your car looking through centre of rear window at left headlight of car behind free space. Then start correcting it into the correct position while reversing without hitting curb or rear bumper of your car against front bumper of car behind. Then usually with one manoeuvre of steering correct forward front aspect of your car. That may be all or a simple spacing as a third manoeuvre leaving you one spare manoeuvre according to the test for good measure.

What some people do wrong in practising is – using a desolate stretch of road they put marks in chalk on road (at right angles to pavement) where front and back bumpers of cars already parked are. This is not a practical or real simulation. Get out into residential streets during the day where heavy traffic is unlikely (watch out for kids though) and practice to your hearts content. Do not use friends standing on pavements to guide you either as they will not be there at the test.

Keep going and as Pete has already said Practice, Practice, Practice.:)

Dr P – nice to know that you have an instructor with a sense of humour!:)

Hi DrPepper just take up flying instead.:D

Or go to the USA where you have traffic lanes as wide as one entire carriageway of our motorways and parking spaces where you can simply park even a lorry (UK size). You don’t drive in the US you simply hurl yourself into a large box (gaz guzzler) and set cruise control and mozy along at regulation 50 mph of course turning right on reds at intersections (allowed in many states).:) It reminds me of stagecoaches drawn by horses. Apologies JBoyle and others from across the pond just being as usual sarcastic.:D

On a serious note though someone has already mentioned some of the vital aspects but the most vital is that on the day of the test use a School vehicle you are familiar with and take a lesson immediately before the test.

IMO some useless but included and essential (for civil servants’ jobs worth reasons) are reversing around a corner, and 3 point turn.

What is critical but wasn’t included in Uk test when I passed was parking between two cars parked along pavement (ideally in two at the most three manoeuvres) . Luckily I was already an expert on this as it was where I passed my test while still in college.
It is vital in any urban area.

Parallel parking by sounds of it, here in UK it’s parking behind a car along a pavement in ideally no more than 4 manoeuvres (steering wheel 360 left 360 right, one and a half right and one and a half left). Must be within two car spaces. Annoying as hell!