Help! I keep failing driving tests!

Did you relate in some way to that last blog?  Could you feel the pain?  Failing driving tests costs serious money, it is super demoralising, and makes for stress city.  You agree with that?  If you had a choice you wouldn’t be where you are right now…. right?  But you are, so, what can you do about it?

I want to help you, and to start that process I need you to take the first step.  Go print off that last blog titled “I hate driving tests” (the link is in the first line of this blog).  You stand a much better chance of getting this monkey off your shoulders if you start by printing it off.  If you can’t print it off (no paper, no ink, no printer), please go and read it again, from top to bottom…. don’t 'speed read' it, absorb the emotions in it.

You probably can relate to some of the feelings, thoughts and emotions expressed in that blog.  I have observed on enough occasions now how this hurts to be on the receiving end of a driving test fail.  It rocks your faith, it makes you angry.  You question yourself, your driving instructor, the examiner, the test, the other drivers around you at the time of the test, the weather, the time of the test – in fact, anything and everything that you can possibly think of.  Think it through, cry, talk/shout at your friends about it, tweet about it, do what some others do and stick a video up about it on YouTube, just get that stage out of your system…. it’s important before you move on.

In the UK, anyone in possession of a provisional licence, a theory test pass and with access to an insured and suitable car, has the right to take the test when they want to.  There are great differences across the globe regarding learning to drive; the age you can start driving, the process of undertaking the training, the standard and frequency of the tests – for good or bad, it greatly differs.  As the law stands currently in the UK, a 17 year old, in possession of the theory test certificate, and no training whatsoever in how to drive a car, has the right to book up a driving test and assuming s/he has access to an insured car, take that test.  If on the other hand, they do not have access to a car for the purposes of the test, then they will be needing to contact a driving instructor who will at the very least, be keen to ensure that if they were to use their driving school car for the test, there is every good chance that the car and everyone in it will survive the experience.  I mention this, as it is often at the heart of the problem when people cannot pass the driving test. 

Imagine you are that person in the previous blog, here are a few questions to think about:

    1.        “Liking” the driving test.  Does anyone?  Some might be better at managing the situation than others, but does anyone actually like the experience of the driving test?  Is it correct to draw a comparison between the driving test and taking a school/college exam?  What are the differences?  Ultimately, what is the purpose of the driving test?

    2.       Mock tests.  Do your mock tests “feel” the same as the driving test?  Are you passing the mock tests?  How important is the mock test in helping you prepare for what is coming in the driving test?  What benefit (if any) do you get from taking a mock test?  Would it be an idea to skip taking mock tests, or perhaps just simply ignore the results of the mock tests?

    3.       Examiners.  Why do they act and talk the way they do on the driving test?  What training does an Examiner undertake to do their job?  Is there such thing as a “good” or “bad” examiner?  If they make a mistake doing their job, what are the consequences?

    4.       Preparing for the test.  What things are you in control of, and what things are you not in control of before you take the driving test?  What are some of the typical signs from other drivers when they are actually affected by your driving?  In a nutshell, regardless of the driving test, what must you be able to demonstrate to show you can drive on public roads?

    5.       The test.  Are the results of the driving tests so far, in any way different to what you have experienced on your driving lessons?  If you are confused about how you are still failing driving tests, what options do you have available to get some clarity on that?

It is very common in these situations of continually failing tests, to withdraw, close up shop, put the shutters down, and retreat somewhere quiet.  When in fact, this is the time right now, to do exactly the opposite.  It is NOT the time to book another test, not at all.  Instead, analyse why this is happening.  You can’t resolve this by throwing money at it with repeated driving tests, it requires a different solution than that, it needs you to analyse where is your weakness.  There are professionals like myself, who actually like this kind of work, have experience in turning these situations around, and actually enjoy the challenge.  You do not necessarily need to be paying for their services, but if you are not getting your issue resolved, think differently about it, don’t just book up another driving test, as that is a recipe for you to keep failing driving tests!

P.S.  Quick question.  Did you print off the last blog?  The answer to that question will be a measure of how prepared YOU are to resolve this problem that you are in.  It was a small request.... "I want to help you, and to start that process I need you to take the first step".  Although a small request, it was definite enough to be a measure of how prepared YOU are to help yourself.  All the best!

Big Tom Driving School   Intensive driving course in Peterborough, Grantham, Sleaford, Spalding, Stamford and Boston 0800 689 4174

I hate driving tests

I hate driving tests.  Any kind of test really stinks.  I remember very well that feeling of loneliness and complete despair when I would read a question in a school exam and not have a clue what the answer was – that really is a horrible place to be.  But this driving test business is something else.  Why do they make people go through this process?  Doesn’t seem right to me.  I don’t even like these make believe tests they do at work, all those faces watching me, or listening in to my calls with customers, it is so intimidating.  Is this all designed to be “character building”?  “Character demolishing” more like.

I did a few mock tests with my driving instructor – boy he takes it so seriously, “get a life you saddo!”.  I’m pretty sure he just loves sitting there watching me mess up.  And I pay him to do that!  How stupid am I?  I never felt brilliant after the mocks, there was always something that he would have to nit pick about – where I was looking on one of those stupid manoover things (is that how you spell it?), or leaving my signal on, or my speed, it was never ever completely right.  But I got fed up with them in the end.  I’d rather pay the money and do the real test, even if I fail right?  I did think about changing instructor again, but I couldn’t be asked to have to listen to yet another one’s endless life story, I’m fed up with driving instructors.

So, I didn’t sleep well last night.  Just like the night before my other driving tests…. my heart is going so fast, I can’t fall asleep.  All I’m thinking about is what the examiner is going to be like.  When I do finally fall asleep the alarm goes off.  I didn’t know what to wear this morning (again).  Every time I’ve gone down there, I see some of them are wearing really scruffy stuff, and that’s just the instructors! LOL! It’s difficult to know what to wear really.  My friend said she wore something revealing to please the examiner, and ended up with a female examiner!  Whoops!

Couldn’t eat breakfast.  Texted my best friend, she’s the only one who knows about this one.  Told my work I’ve got a dentist appointment.  My instructor texted me to remind me to bring both bits of the driving licence, yea, like I’m gonna forget that aren’t I?

And then it was the same old stuff again.  Instructor turns up, I’m embarrassed because my fingers are shaking, even my left leg wobbles, why does it do that?!  I pay him (again), what a rip off.  I then try and drive, but keep stalling, or I forget to put the clutch down when I change gear, and the stupid thing wont go in gear (he keeps telling me not to do automatics, but I think it would be so much easier).  This stupid lady this morning even bibbed me from behind because I didn’t turn left quick enough for her.  I hate it when they do that, everyone is so impatient these days, they have no respect for us learners.

I made sure I had a smoke this time though, outside the test place.  I think it did actually help my nerves, but I forgot to put the mints in my bag…. embarrassing.

Could not believe how quiet it was today.  I was really lucky, I think the mid-morning test is a good time, or I might just have been lucky.  Had a lady this time, she was really nice, kept saying “my lovely”, she sounded like my Mum!  But she still failed me.  I made someone slow down too much because I didn’t know I was in a 50.  Is that my fault?  Council should put more stupid signs up.  She didn’t mention about my stall, I knew I’d failed it after that stall.

I’m not sure I can do this much longer.  It doesn’t do my health any good, sometimes my heart goes so fast when I’m driving, I feel a bit dizzy.  That can’t be right can it?  So I suppose I’ve got to fork out another £100 now for another go…. it’s too expensive, I can’t afford to keep on failing.  I haven’t cried so much this time.  I never do in front of my instructor, but I haven’t cried that much at home this time either – I’m feeling more lonely and sad than want to cry.  I don’t know.  I think this testing business is stupid, my Mum said she passed first time after 8 lessons……WHAT?!

I see all these photos on Facebook with people holding up there pass, and it just makes me feel inadequate.  What is it about me that means I can’t pass the test?  Is it because whenever I take it, they need to have more fails to even up the pass rate?  The whole thing is just so unfair.  My best friend has told me to just book up another test as soon as they will let me – that’s another thing that annoys me, why can’t I just re-book a test straight away?  Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!  The whole thing is stupid! 

I hate driving tests.

Anon

BIG TOM Driving School   Intensive Driving Courses in Peterborough, Stamford, Spalding, Boston, Sleaford, and Grantham.

How To Find Time For Driving Lessons

These are busy times for everyone.  Wondering how to find time for driving lessons can be tricky, this blog will give you some practical tips to think about.

If you are wanting to learn to drive, let's say as a complete beginner, then the DVSA have stated that on average it will take 40 odd hours of driving lessons with a Driving Instructor and 20 odd hours of driving lessons with friends/family.  At an hour a week, that would be coming on for 10 months worth of driving lessons, and it would probably be more realistic to add some more if you don't have the opportunity to practise with parents/friends in between lessons with a Driving Instructor.

It would also probably be wise to take into account events that crop up that are another drain on your time, and I am sure there will be many... school/college exams, holidays, special events, and work commitments. Things simply crop up, that will have more priority than your 1 hour driving lesson per week.  Not to mention of course, sudden illness, or an injury that prevents you from driving.  In the winter months we have less daylight hours of course, and whilst some night time driving practise is recommended, like everything in life, you will need to balance it.  As such, it is very easy for that 10 month period to realistically be a year.  

The BIG TOM 5 day intensive driving course offers an alternative to deal with this problem of time.  In fact, if budget allows, it is normally possible to fit in any amount of hours over a given period so as to take into account your own learning preferences and time pressures in any given times of the week or month.  Customers from across the UK in London, St. Neots, Oakham, Huntingdon and Nottingham are making use of the flexible service offered by Big Tom Driving School in finding a solution that fits their needs.  

Contact us here for more information on how to get your driving licence faster