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