The Practical Driving Test...Did you Pass First Time?

[Laurel]

The impending Driving Test is looming, and I've been wondering how many people on here passed their driving test the first time?

So did you? If you have ever failed a test, can you remember why?

Got any tips for me?

Stories welcome.

Laura xx

[Error404]

3rd time lucky for me. All the people I know who passed frst time ended up in hedges within weeks. Failure is good as you get more experience before being let loose on the roads. Of course the standards are not what they used to be...

My instructor used to say "if you're going to fail, at least really scare the fu**er"

[mcandmar]

1st time for me, but that was at least 15 years ago, doubt i would get past the written test these days.

[Christophski]

I passed my theory test on the second go after failing by 1 point. I did however pass my driving test first time with 2 minors and didnt stack my car or hit anything til 2 years ago, 7 years after passing my test and I used to do roughly 200 miles a day on average for work.

Cant believe my first crash was in the second car I ever loved, the S2, luckily the damage was pretty much nothing and fixed easily with new bumper and cross member.

[Laurel]

My instructor used to say "if you're going to fail, at least really scare the fu**er"

[Jamo]

I learnt to drive in a nissan mirca mk1 I hated it the indicators were on the opposite sides to normal cars and you had to rag the hell out of it to get it anywhere, my test was in kingstanding and they take you to barr beacon which is national speed limits area on country roads, I wondered who enjoyed the test more me or the instructor

[irishs2]

I did my test in a Toyota Dyna lol, 17 years ago I failed 1st time on 'observation' .
so i made it obvious I was moving my head around , towards the mirrors etc and passed 2nd time.

[mcandmar]

^ i remember observation being a big one, instructor used to always says that, look in your mirrors blah blah blah. They obviously hand'nt grasped the concept of peripheral vision. And reversing around a corner using your mirrors, seriously who does that anyway?

[Rusty]

Passed 1st time with 3 minors... the examiner wrote so little, I wasn't sure if I'd failed when pulling out of the test centre and he couldn't be arsed to write anything more

Top tips are:-

1. Look in the rear view mirror before you do ANYTHING & set it so that you have to move your head a fraction, as the examiner can't see your eye movements as well as head movements.
2. Set the passenger side mirror so you can see the rear wheel when you do the parking stuff.
3. Don't speed!
4. Only do one thing at a time - don't turn the steering wheel and change gear at the same time (2 of my minors!).
5. Do exactly what your instructor told you to and then forget all of it when you pass, as it's of minimal use in the real world.
6. Don't clutch kick it out of a T junction and fishtail down the road.

[Jamo]

^ i remember observation being a big one, instructor used to always says that, look in your mirrors blah blah blah. They obviously hand'nt grasped the concept of peripheral vision. And reversing around a corner using your mirrors, seriously who does that anyway?

I like to see anyone reverse using RS2 mirrors

[K Simmonds]

Passed third time, 15 years ago now. I had to use a Metro.

[Rikki Kitto]

Safe,confident driving sticking to the Highway Code, make the safety checks obvious, good all round awareness of what's happening around you at all times. Watch out for speed limit changes, road signs road markings etc. People often fail for just not picking up on the obvious, relax don't panic it's not that difficult Good luck

[Laurel]

I'm feeling pretty confident, not sure what to expect though so that's a bit unnerving. Someone told me to wear my hear up in a ponytail so it swishes around when I check the mirrors. Thought that was a good idea!

Should I let my instructor be in the car too? I think it might emphasise the "test enviroment" and make me more nervous....whereas if there's just one other person in the car I can pretend I'm just going for a drive...

[s2_wot]

Attempt #1: I drove over to the test centre in the snow to be greeted by the tester who reckoned it was too dangerous to carry out the test and I drove home.

Attempt #2: I was failed for turning right when there were cars approaching from the other side. Apparently I should have waited for the whole line of traffic to pass rather than nipping across in front of them as I did.

Attempt #3: All good

[prj]

The fact that you made a forum thread about it means that you are going to be nervous as hell with your foot shaking etc. It's normal.

Whatever you do, don't start chatting with the instructor. Just concentrate on your driving and put much less emphasis on shifting exactly at right RPM etc, than watching pedestrians and street signs.

The problem with any new driver is the ability to predict things due to lack of experience.
Try to compensate for that by looking ahead, rather than spending all the thinking time to get your driving perfect.

Also, don't rush. Usually there is a fixed time that you have to get the thing done in. If you are stuck in stop and go traffic for the entire duration, then all the better to you.

Good luck Laura