Driving tests.

Saigon

Member
Messages
778
What are your memories of your driving test / tests. I was recently reminded by the wife of several driving tests I took in Zambia. The reason there were several was because no one (expat) ever passed first or second time, it was a well known fact that you might pass on your third attempt. The first attempt was called the 3 point turn fail, where you were taken to a road where it was physically impossible to turn around, the road wasn’t wide enough. We all knew where the road was and tried many times before our tests, not possible. So that was fail no 1. Nothing to do but pay the money and book another test which you already knew you would fail. The second was the no stopping zone fail, where the examiner would tell you to pull over and park, if you did you were failed for parking in a no parking area. If you didn’t you were failed for not following the examiners instructions, and everyone knew this, but you had to go through the routine. Pay again, and take your third test, and No, you could not attempt to bribe them or you were in big trouble. That’s just how things were, and was accepted.
As far as the UK was concerned, I failed my first test and can not remember what for, but on my second test I passed. It was market day and the examiner said to me I hate it here on market day let’s take a drive in the country, can you imagine that happening today. I did almost hit a sheep, so that was the emergency stop sorted!
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
I remember my car test, I had a stand in examiner as the rostered guy had been involved in an accident on a test the previous week. We set out from the test centre, turned onto Bearwood High St in rush hour and didn’t really move for most of the rest of the test. Passed first time.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Failed my first, known failure point, Tonge Moor Road, Bolton, box junction then Pelican immediately after, negotiated the box junction perfectly - lost concentration and pelican was red, anchored on, examiner shaat himself, could see it on his face, knew I'd failed. Failed.

Second, better - but at party of the road with parked cars got flashed through, I shouldn't have gone, but nothing was happening so I did. Failed, flashing is just 'here I am' not and instruction to proceed, fair enough but alternative was to sit there for 20 mins waiting. Annoyed about that still

Third time passed, instructor told me to relax, I decided not to, I concentrated like mad, and passed with zero faults. Knew I'd cracked it when examiner was looking at instructors notes open on back seat, no even worried about my driving....

Daughter has failed twice despite instructor doing the she's sure to pass thing. Annoying that, sure it's bullshiiiit...
 

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,445
I knew I was off to a bad start when I misread the car number plate..... but had other things on my mind - had to finish writing up my final year project to be handed in the following morning....
Eb
 

Oishi

Member
Messages
825
My grandson is almost 3. In 12 years he will test for his learner's permit. By then everyone will be passengers in self driving, electric pods. My plan is for him to rumble up
In a hairy chested, fire breathing Spyder GT .
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
I learn for free in the RAF. Me and a WAAF did 8 hour days with a civvy instructor, alternating every hour for a lesson. We were in a White Daihatsu Charade diesel and ploughed around the country roads of North Yorkshire and the busy streets of Northallerton. Wednesday Market days and the double roundabout were the only 'gotchas' to watch out for. After two weeks or so, we were put in for a test in the afternoon, so we both had a 'practice' test with the instructor. I had a howler, missing gears and miss timing some road work temporary traffic lights, so I was naturally nervous.
The examiner was an MT Driver Sergeant who travelled up from St Athan in South Wales specially for our tests. I was first and the WAAF followed after me. The Sergeant asked for my provisional licence, which I nervously handed to him. He inspected it and then asked 'Red or blue?'. I said 'What?', he said you're from Manchester, red or blue? 'Oh Red' I said, he said 'good Lad, what do you think of that young kid Giggs?', so we chatted about United for a bit, which put me at ease and we then drove round Northallerton. My emergency stop was perfect, as was my hill start and drive backwards round a corner.

He passed me, but failed the WAAF.
Maybe she was a City fan...
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
Failed 'a few' times. When I actually passed I recall Mrs C's mother in law pulling out on me at the Chingford Golf Course, which obviated the need for an emergency stop....

C
 

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
Well I passed first time. Just after turning 17. Borrowed mums car, same day, to go show off to my mates a few miles away.
Bloke in a truck ran the lights and boom! Crunch!
In court it was me v him (it was literally a corner to corner collision)
I got my new pass cancelled and told to retake.
******** to that.
Bought an 7 litre V8 Ford and drove that for 3 years before taking my test again. Weirdly I never got stopped - but that was early 70s for you!!
Things have changed! Good boy now!!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
 

Nibby

Member
Messages
2,027
I passed my car test third time in 1980, past my motorbike test first time in 1980. In them days you could wait for up to six months for a test so failing was a right pain but got round the wait by sending a bs letter in with the application saying you needed a car for work which got you a test a lot quicker.
One funny story was a chap sadly no longer with us went for his motorbike test and came back “How did you get on Zog?” Zog replied “I failed” another mate said “What did you fail on Zog?” Zog replied “A Honda 250”
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
Had a few lessons after turning 17 and took a short notice cancellation.
Pasted in the families Opel Manta SR Berlinetta coupe.
Typically on the route loads of people recognised me and the car and were waving at me doing my test, I was doing my best to ignore them!
Was at sixth form and a school friend of mine was driving a mark 1 Ford Fiesta 1.1 Ghia, after passing his test.
Every morning it was a rally stage race on the back roads to school in the morning. Don't know how we survived to be honest.
As you can imagine, I've always liked the 'Andrews' Opel Manta 400 Rally cars!
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
Oh yes I did pass my bike test first time. Bit different, really, as I'd been riding a 125 for about a year I guess

C
 

ScaldedCat

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
396
Passed mine 1st time. Had about 6 lessons with an instructor who sometimes thought I needed extra 'help' by putting his hand on my knee. I'd been driving tractors on the roads on a provisional for a while before which helped with confidence I suppose.
I can't believe the amount of very expensive lessons kids have to have nowadays, there seems to be a set 'minimum' number rather than it being judged on capability.
My kids were both taught by the same instructor who seemed to have an obsession with revs. I realise he was trying to teach them 'green' driving but was very surprised, when I got in the passenger seat with them after passing, to find them quite so fixated on the rev counter. It seemed a little dangerous that they were always glancing at it. They lost this habit pretty quickly I have to say!
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Passed mine 1st time. Had about 6 lessons with an instructor who sometimes thought I needed extra 'help' by putting his hand on my knee. I'd been driving tractors on the roads on a provisional for a while before which helped with confidence I suppose.
I can't believe the amount of very expensive lessons kids have to have nowadays, there seems to be a set 'minimum' number rather than it being judged on capability.
My kids were both taught by the same instructor who seemed to have an obsession with revs. I realise he was trying to teach them 'green' driving but was very surprised, when I got in the passenger seat with them after passing, to find them quite so fixated on the rev counter. It seemed a little dangerous that they were always glancing at it. They lost this habit pretty quickly I have to say!

I passed first time too after the same number of lessons. Probably because I had been practicing in a car park with my Dad from the age of 15. If you can learn to drive an Alfa 75, a Micra is easy!
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
I passed first time too after the same number of lessons. Probably because I had been practicing in a car park with my Dad from the age of 15. If you can learn to drive an Alfa 75, a Micra is easy!

But not as much fun :D

C
 
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rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
Failed my first test. I was turning right across a busy road, at a traffic light junction. Fire Engine was incoming. I stopped, let the Fire Engine pass, everyone else had stopped so I went to turn right. Failed. Apparently, I should have waited.

Second test was on a Saturday. Spent much of it crawling in traffic around the leafy streets of North London. Passed that one, despite actually driving worse!