Why did you fail your driving test?

Noctu

First test: fail due to not checking blind spot when pulling away after emergency stop

Second test: coasting too much (lots of minors, added up to a major -- this was pretty harsh!)

Third test, passed - despite it being Friday 13th and the instructor taking me on route number 13. I think he wanted me to fail!!

Gloomendoom

diamond_dave wrote: »

Don't know how true this is but my Dad always told the story about a guy taking his test on a motor bike. The examiner would wait on the pavement and step out in order to get the rider to do the emergency stop.Yes, you've guessed it - one day the examiner stepped out right in front of the wrong bike!! This was sometime in the '50s.

Not that old chestnut. My heard that one from my dad (now 90) well before 1978 and he swears it is true.

lincroft1710

diamond_dave wrote: »

Don't know how true this is but my Dad always told the story about a guy taking his test on a motor bike. The examiner would wait on the pavement and step out in order to get the rider to do the emergency stop.Yes, you've guessed it - one day the examiner stepped out right in front of the wrong bike!! This was sometime in the '50s.

This scenario has featured in episodes of at least 2 comedy series, one of which was a 1978 episode of "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em".

lincroft1710

lincroft1710 wrote: »

This scenario has featured in episodes of at least 2 comedy series, one of which was a 1978 episode of "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em".

The "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em" episode was screened this afternoon on BBC2. The scenes with the driving examiner were shot in Bushmead Avenue, Bedford, where in fact the local Driving Test Centre was actually situated until recently. The DTC does not feature in the episode though.

iolanthe07

SailorSam wrote: »

I can hardly remember what i did yesterday. I've no idea about something from over 45yrs ago.

I remember my driving test on 12 December 1963 very well indeed. It was an absolute farce that lasted barely 20 minutes, and I'm sure I passed only because the examiner wanted a lift to the library. He left me to drive back to the driving centre on my own, clutching the pink slip in my sweaty little hand. (Is it still a pink slip?)

iolanthe07

Car_54 wrote: »

Mine were also £1, or 15 shillings (75p) if you used your own car! That was in 1967.

My lessons were 17/6 (87.5p) and the test was £1.0.0, as I recall. That was in 1963, when I earned the princely sum of £4.15s.0d a week. So it is probably cheaper now, pro rata.

curty510

passed my car and motorcycle tests first time, without using a 'qualified' instructor for either. I solely taught my daughter to drive, she passed 1st go, my son will be getting taught by me and his mother from Feb 17, again no intention in paying £30+per hour for a 'qualified' :rotfl: driving instructor.

Bumblebear

Passed second time; first time I was driving along quite merrily down a straight bit of road, with cars parked on the opposite side - large lorry comes along and decides to squeeze in between me and the parked cars rather than wait. Yes, it was possible, we could have just both taken it slowly. But I was always a very nervous learner, panicked, and bumped the kerb. Instant fail - frustratingly had few minor infringements though and until that point I was set to pass.


Second test, a month later and I only had one refresher lesson on the morning of the test itself. Chucking it down with rain. I picked up 11 minors, too many to tell you what they were. 12 minors = 1 major I think. And I didn't have enough in one category to warrant a major that way either. So passed by the skin of my teeth - the examiner even said he didn't want to pass me but he had to! Not great to hear when you're a very nervous learner/now new driver.


My SIL took 5 goes to pass, but she's the best driver of all of her siblings.

Madbags

I failed my test twice before passing.


I did use one of those websites that inform you of cancellations and earlier appointments. I paid for the privilege of this service (I don't think it was much) and I must say it was extremely useful and I got the earliest most possible bookings for my next test on each failure.


I am a reasonably confident driver, even while learning I was driving to other cities etc perfectly fine. (just not on motorways of course). I think just the nerves of doing the test get to you.


I failed my first test because I pulled in a bit too close behind a car off the slip road onto a dual carriageway. Didn't help the right hand lane was clear and he/she didn't think it was prudent to move over to it to allow me on but at the end of the day it was still my fault. The examiner then told me I was driving too close to said car up the dual carriageway and advised me to pull back a bit (I thought I was at a sufficient distance and road conditions were good). So 2 Majors there, failed.


I failed my second test because I had a complete brain malfunction after an emergency stop. Bearing in mind I'd been driving this car daily for over a year as a learner before I started taking my test. What happened was I did the emergency stop, that was fine. But when pulling off for some strange reason I thought the car had broke because I could not find the biting point. Every time I thought I had it and released the hand brake I kept rolling back. I did this about 2-3 times before I decided to reverse back into some parking space and collect my thoughts.


Anyway due to a motorcycle coming up behind me during this ordeal it was down as a major and I failed.


Finally on my third attempt it couldn't have gone smoother, I only got 1 minor for hesitation when a bus was indicating to pull out of a bus stop and I wasn't sure whether to let it.


It's just the test it makes you so nervous. I drive everywhere confidently and safely and have avoided several incidents due to quick reactions etc. when other drivers have "fallen asleep at the wheel".


Anyway glad that is all behind me now


Good luck to anyone out there. In hindsight, if you've been taught well it is pretty easy to pass really and the time flies. It's just those silly little things you wouldn't ever normally do that catch you out.

takman

Madbags wrote: »

I did use one of those websites that inform you of cancellations and earlier appointments. I paid for the privilege of this service (I don't think it was much) and I must say it was extremely useful and I got the earliest most possible bookings for my next test on each failure.

My partner took her driving test earlier in the year and I was surprised to see that the local test centre had appointments at 8am everyday available. They also had later appointments a few days later, which I wasn't expecting because they are usually fully booked for weeks or even months!.