Driving Test - 8th Feb. Tips?

[XA04]

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-Take your time checking at junctions/rounderbouts... waiting tooo long is only a minor, whereas pulling out on someone is a major.
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I thought that was classed as been too hesitant by taking your time = fail?



I wouldn't worry I'd just try to keep calm, and drive just like you would with your instructor. On my test I got a little nervous before doing a reverse round corner and I put it in reverse instead of first gear (before we drove past the corner to drive round). Luckily when I put it in reverse for some odd reason I still looked behind me and corrected myself and only ended up getting a minor for it.

[mikemikemi]

that is one of the things i was worrying about, what the examiner would say and were they will tell me to go, thats one of the things i was concentrating on most.

Worst thing that should happen they'll give you a minor, I got one on my test for going the wrong way.

My instructor said I shouldn't have even got one for that but as I passed it wasn't worth arguing the point.

[shelley bda]

I found talking out loud helped ( didn't care if the examiner thought I was a loon lol )and don't be afraid to explain your actions to the examiner, and the reasons behind it, talk about what you are doing, talk about what you may expect the other driver to do, plus this helps clarify things in your own mind... For manouvres take your time, this is your test afterall... and remember to check all mirrors frequently, especially at roundabouts... And don't panic if your not sure about the examiners directions, he won't mind if you ask him to repeat himself, and don't panic if you do take a wrong turn....

I passed on my 5th test lol... Nearly passed on my 4th, but I ran over a stone and the tyre blew out 10 minutes till the end.... I had 3 minors up until then lol Was written as a "Non result" wasn't gutted though, it gave me confidence to know I could do it!!! and the examiner took pity and offered me a free retest!!! went into that test with confidence and passed with 6 minors

First test I failed for speeding ( 35 in a 30 )
Second test I failed for slowing another car down after I stalled.
Third test I failed for not giving priority to another car
Fourth as mentioned tyre blew out, non result lol

[watforddude]

I found talking out loud helped ( didn't care if the examiner thought I was a loon lol )and don't be afraid to explain your actions to the examiner, and the reasons behind it, talk about what you are doing, talk about what you may expect the other driver to do, plus this helps clarify things in your own mind... For manouvres take your time, this is your test afterall... and remember to check all mirrors frequently, especially at roundabouts... And don't panic if your not sure about the examiners directions, he won't mind if you ask him to repeat himself, and don't panic if you do take a wrong turn....

I passed on my 5th test lol... Nearly passed on my 4th, but I ran over a stone and the tyre blew out 10 minutes till the end.... I had 3 minors up until then lol Was written as a "Non result" wasn't gutted though, it gave me confidence to know I could do it!!! and the examiner took pity and offered me a free retest!!! went into that test with confidence and passed with 6 minors

First test I failed for speeding ( 35 in a 30 )
Second test I failed for slowing another car down after I stalled.
Third test I failed for not giving priority to another car Gran
Fourth as mentioned tyre blew out, non result lol

failing you because you stalled is a bit stupid isn't it? everyone stalls, my gran is 64 and still stalls the car from time to time.

[shelley bda]

failing you because you stalled is a bit stupid isn't it? everyone stalls, my gran is 64 and still stalls the car from time to time.

It wasn't the stalling that failed me, it was because I slowed another car down in the process

[watforddude]

I assume you stalled from a start off?

[scaryjim]

... it was because I slowed another car down in the process

This is a really good point actually.

When doing my parallel park on my test I stopped because there were some cars coming up the street behind me. They all went past without an issue and I finished my manouver, but when the examiner was debreifing me after the test he explained that I'd been a bit too hesitant there and could probably have carried on with the manouver for a few more seconds before waiting for those cars, in which case I'd've had the nose a lot further in - he said that because all the other cars carried on past me he let it go, but if any of those cars had had to slow down or stop for me he would probably have failed me.


My number one point for driving anywhere, even now, is this: everyone on the road is an idiot. I repeat: everyone on the road. So don't assume that anyone actually means what they're indicating to do, and most of all remember that everyone else thinks *you* are an idiot! So make sure that what you indicate for, what you position yourself for, and lane you're in, all add up to what you're going to do. And as several people have said, if you find yourself out of position, in the wrong lane, or indicating the wrong way, apologise to the instructor and do whatever you should be doing from that position. It shows a much better awareness of the road and knowledge of driving than making a dangerous manouver to get back where your instructor is asking you to go!

[shelley bda]

I assume you stalled from a start off?

I was pulling out of a junction. Like I say the stalling isn't important, I caused someone to change their actions. You can stall on a test.. as long as you can pull off again with quickly and safely, remembering mirrors etc

[shelley bda]

My number one point for driving anywhere, even now, is this: everyone on the road is an idiot. I repeat: everyone on the road. So don't assume that anyone actually means what they're indicating to do, and most of all remember that everyone else thinks *you* are an idiot!!

This is the first thing my instructor ever said to me.... and it's stuck. Even now I drive by this rule.

[TAKTAK]

Take one instruction at a time, i fell foul of that.

He told me to go straight on towards the town centre (on a dual carriageway at the time coming up to a roundabout), the road markings displayed the town centre as being the right hand lane, so i merged to the right crossed straight over the roundabout into the filter lane to turn right at the junction, got to the lights, went right at the lights and then he just said:

"Please would you explain why you turned right at the lights? Rather than continuing straight on"
To which i replied that he had instructed me to go straight on before the roundabout following the signs for the town centre, and thusly i had complied by following the road markings indicating the town centre.

Then when i got back to the test centre he told my driving instructor that i had done something that had never happened to him before , i did as him blimmin' asked!

Also talk to your tester (if you can without affecting your driving [i learnt having to talk to my instructor and listening to the radio]), once you've talked to them for a little bit they start to relax.

Obviously talking to the person depends on the person, as my first tester was a complete arse, my second one was a laugh though, we even started talking about other peoples poor driving .

And as has been said, people are idiots, treat them as such...

People go in the wrong lane for everything, just be aware

[circuitmonkey]

And as has been said, people are idiots, treat them as such...

Couldn't have said it better myself, this actually applies to most things in life!

TAKTAK's story actually reminds me of my fist driving lesson.

The driver instructor told me to take the next left to my village... Well I knew the area better then he did and there happened to be a left in about 100 yards. So I slammed on the brakes and only just made the turning!
To say the instructor was a little shocked is an understatement, it took him a few moments before what he was saying was become something that approached english.

I can recommend not doing this in the test, I imagine this would be classed as a major

[TAKTAK]

Couldn't have said it better myself, this actually applies to most things in life!

TAKTAK's story actually reminds me of my fist driving lesson.

The driver instructor told me to take the next left to my village... Well I knew the area better then he did and there happened to be a left in about 100 yards. So I slammed on the brakes and only just made the turning!
To say the instructor was a little shocked is an understatement, it took him a few moments before what he was saying was become something that approached english.

I can recommend not doing this in the test, I imagine this would be classed as a major

That's another thing to be wary of, route awareness.

Even if you know the area that you're driving in on your test, blank it out, route awareness can stuff you up sometimes (although it can help some )

[steve threlfall]

Exude confidence at the wheel. A good instructor will not pass you unless they are confident that you'll be safe on the road. How can you do this? Practise.

Mirrors!

At least you know what to expect now that it is your second test. Good luck mate

[Salazaar]

Don't panic about not following your examiner's instructions, they're testing you on whether you're safe to drive and not whether you're a total doofus. So don't panic and correct wildly if you miss a turning or something, the examiner will compensate. That said, don't ignore their requests for you to do maneuvers, they've still got to test you on them.

And don't be afraid to take the safe option, like going round a roundabout if some idiot blocks you off I was doing a reverse round a corner and because I was nervous my left leg started getting twitchy so I checked my mirrors, put on the hand brake and sat it out for a few moments before getting on with the turn. I wasn't marked down because, in the circumstances, that was the safe thing to do.

[mikemikemi]

I was pulling out of a junction. Like I say the stalling isn't important, I caused someone to change their actions. You can stall on a test.. as long as you can pull off again with quickly and safely, remembering mirrors etc

Very true I stalled on my test pulling up to a junction up hill in the wrong gear, luckily I reacted quickly enough and pulled the hand brake up, so I didn't roll back.

I was later told had I rolled back I would have failed, so yes, stalling doesn't matter. It's what happens after you stall and who you affect.

[Kata]

Yes, just remember that most other drivers are idiots! And that after they have passed their test, 90% of people drop down to about 25% of the driving standard required to pass.

It terrifies me that someone could pass their test at 17, then not drive for 40 years, and be legal to just hop in the car and go.