Can I complain about Daughter's Driving Test?

espresso

Wig wrote: »

I don't understand the relevance of..........

I don't understand the relevance of you last nine posts!

:rolleyes:

Wig

beachbeth wrote: »

Im just saying that her special needs means she needs her instructions given earlier than you would someone else - they have provision for this and my gripe is that she wasn't given this provision.

Exactly the point you need to persue

Also, the area that she has her lessons in is an area that we never go so when she drives in our own car we are driving on completely different roads to those in her lessons and test. She has driven to other areas too that she doesn't know very well and in all driving conditions.

Irrelevant

Everyone

Not any more

on this thread seems to be basically saying that they shouldn't take anyone's special needs into account at the DSA. So, someone with dyslexia or someone in a wheelchair shouldn't be given any different treatment? Im not saying they should be more lenient to these people in order for them to pass, Im saying that they need help in specific areas that have nothing to do with their driving ability. This is the same as my daughter. She had a statement of special need at school and had some one-to-one teaching because of her difficulties too. However, according to everyone on here she shouldn't have any extra help with her difficulties when it comes to driving.

Unfortunately most people don't understand something until they have experienced it for themselves. The people on this thread are simply exhibiting natural human behavioir.

She simply needs her instructions given earlier than the next person and for left and right to be made clear. We booked her test as a special needs person and this was ignored or the info wasn't passed on and so she found it difficult to follow the instructions given. Even when she tried to explain this at the Test Centre and to her Examiner they weren't interested and no effort was made to see if a mistake had been made.

* It gets worse! I would also ask those who know at the headoffice if the examiner has to be specifically trained for the special need, or whether they are all trained in all the fields of special need. If they need to be trained there should be an identification card that the examiner should carry to show the student they are qualified to take the test. And your daughter could ask if they are trained.

Wig

espresso wrote: »

I don't understand the relevance of you last nine posts!

:rolleyes:

In what way? I'll be happy to explain.

beachbeth

Thanks for your input, Wig. I know I perhaps didn't explain myself very well in this thread and its ended up with me being grilled as to exactly what my daughter's condition is.

I do sometimes wish she was dyslexic instead because when you tell someone you are dyslexic they usually have an understanding of what that means.:cool: With my daughter's condition I have to explain and in doing so make her out to be a complete moron with no brains, which isn't the case!:p

As you say, Wig. She was offered and granted a certain type of test and it wasn't given. She did tell them when she arrived at the test centre as well as telling her test examiner and no one was interested. What was she then supposed to do? Refuse to take her test?

I have telephoned the DSA and they agree there was an error. They have told me that the correct procedure now is to send them an email with all the details and my daughter's details and the matter will be looked into. I have done this and am awaiting a reply or a telephone call. If I don't get a reply within the next week or so I will chase it up.

Wig

espresso wrote: »

You have been asked before if your daughter had explained to the examiner that she did not understand her directions. This communication problem could have been resolved in the first couple of minutes of the test, if she had spoken up. As she didn't, she failed, end of move on!

She did broach the subject but was flatly put down, she then tried a 2nd time but was rudely basically told to "shut up" as this was an authorotative adult (stranger) speaking to what is probably a young adolescent it is perfectly understandable if the daughter did not react or attempt to communicate on the subject any further.

Conor_3

Wig wrote: »

I don't understand the relevance of the question? Are you implying the daughters recollection of the conversation is somehow flawed? And what makes you think that it would be?

Let me see...because she was undertaking probably what has been the most stressful test most people do in their lives?

beachbeth

Wig wrote: »

She did broach the subject but was flatly put down, she then tried a 2nd time but was rudely basically told to "shut up" as this was an authorotative adult (stranger) speaking to what is probably a young adolescent it is perfectly understandable if the daughter did not react or attempt to communicate on the subject any further.

This is exactly it! After the examiner curtly said "I don't know anything about that!" she interrupted my daughter when she tried to explain about her special needs. She wasn't interested and my daughter didn't feel that she could say any more.

Wig

Inactive wrote: »

Quite simply because there will be a documented paper trail if they receive a letter from her.

The DSA are obviously happy and capable of discussing the issue via the mother. I'm not sure why you are persisting with this after that fact has been made clear.

Wig

Conor wrote: »

Let me see...because she was undertaking probably what has been the most stressful test most people do in their lives?

Do you think she has imagined the instructor's very clear and very recollectable firm manner when the instructor said "I don't know anything about that!" follwed by her attempt to explain further and being cut off mid sentence with an authorotative "My instructions are clear!"

I really find it very difficult to believe that she would recall that unpleasant situation incorrectly. On top of her recollection that she went to the enquiries desk in the centre before the test to ask about the special needs provisions . I find it very difficult to believe she also imagined doing that, and the non committal response that she recieved.

The_Undercover_ADI

Examiners' instructions are always very clear, however the way the examiner acted on the day may have been lacking in sympathy for a candidate who obviously felt under stress.

Personally I suspect that the examiner's temperament may have had something to do with the imbecile of an instructor who tells his customer that she will fail because she's got a certain examiner. Highly unprofessional. It has been suggested that this may have been because he felt that she would fail - quite possible.

If this is the case, then why was she put in for test? If it was because of pressure from the candidate/a representative for the candidate (usually parents) then this is partially understandable (though instructors should hold their ground in these situations some of them have no spine). If the instructor suggested when to put her in for it then the instructor has made the mistake.

I'll apologise for singling out the instructor here, because I am one, but the fact that the candidate had not been prepared for manoeuvres in the kind of situations described only adds to my feeling that he (?) has failed his customer.

I suspect due to the lack of communication between the booking dept who were told about the communication difficulty and the examiner the DSA may offer a free re-test. In the meantime - find a decent instructor, one who can prepare your customer properly for the test, and how to ask the examiner for instructions which suit them. Though the instructions will be given at the same point in advance of the action (not 30 or 60 yards - another load of rubbish apparently from an instructor), they are happy to point as well as speak the instructions - something which sounds like it would help.