Driving Test!

[Feena]

I've just booked it online - it's the 27 October

I've got 2 months to panic!

[supertramp]

Ugh. Horrible thing. I've failed it twice.

Tell you what - on the hazard perception when you see a hazard do NOT click "a few times" no matter what the idiot at the desk tells you, because the computer only counts the last click in the scoring range. See? I know this NOW.

[Feena]

This will be my 1st time I hope it goes okay.

[Feena]

I failed.

I only got 4 minors (you can get up to 15 and still pass) but I got 2 serious faults so it was automatic fail after the 1st one...which was about 3 minutes into the test!

I was going up a narrow street and I should have waited for a lorry coming in the opposite direction to pass me. I hit the kerb in my parallel park so that failed me too.

I was het-up before I even began, so I'm not really surprised, though obviously I'm gutted about it. When I pulled the lever inside the car to open the bonnet on my pre-test check I cut my finger and it wouldn't stop bleeding. I've got blood all over my trousers, the car side window, the floor in the toilets in the examining place (but I did wipe that up!) and pretty much everywhere else I went! They didn't have any plasters there, they're not allowed to in case someone has an allergic reaction, so my instructor went to the corner shop to buy some for me.

Still. it's not the end of the world, I can take it again.

[urnofosiris]

I am sorry to hear that. I got my licence this year at the ripe old age of almost 34. I had to get it for my job so there was a bit of pressure. I still cannot parallel park to save my life, but that is not really a big deal, I´ll just park somewhere were I don´t have to do that. Ahem anyway, when will you retake the test? How does it work in the UK, can you take lessons with anyone or does it have to be a registered qualified instructor?

[Feena]

I'm going to put in for December hopefully. Enough time to practice some more but not too far off. It was a lovely day today, knowing my luck it'll probably snow for my next test!!

You can drive with anyone in the car as long as they're a qualified driver (I think they might have had to be driving a few years) but they don't have to be a proper instructor.

Unfortunatly, because I'm learning in a manual car and my Mum's is automatic, I'm not having any practice drives between lessons. At £19 a lesson it's an expensive business. It'll be another £45 for the test.

I'm 36, I think that's one reason it's taken me longer than most to learn. I think of too many worst case scenarios and I'm a bit too over-perceptive of hazzards!

[LesbianJedi87]

hm does anyone know what the drivers test is like in the states?

[SplbaBlouw85]

Yes Rosey....Poo haha its uber hard...my friends and sisters say that its easy. You just gotta know how to drive...freaking out is the hard part.

[SySnootles]

hm does anyone know what the drivers test is like in the states?

Sure do. It doesn't sound all that different from what it's like in England. Any specific questions?

[LesbianJedi87]

Well I heard that in California they dont make you do parrell parking, are the instrutors mean? How many marks can you get before you fail?

[SySnootles]

I can't help you with any specific questions about California (never been there). Maybe parallel parking isn't an issue because of all the valets? (Just a joke)

But, here in Wisconsin we definitely have to parallel park, and know which way to turn your wheels if you're on an incline/decline, etc.. etc...

I've never heard of a mean tester, but they're individuals, so I'm sure they exist (I was lucky and got a very understanding one). Waaay back when I took my test (1990), we had to take a written exam and the driving exam, all in one day. You could get up to 5 wrong in the written (out of 20), and as for the driving... it was quite relative. I mean, it really depended on the judgement of your tester. Some were more forgiving than others when it came to the little things. If you didn't hit anyone or anything, showed reasonable driving skills, and displayed to the tester that you knew what you were doing (most of them understand that the drivers are nervous), you could pass. Of course there were specific skills that you were being evaluated on, and if you grossly failed any of them (just one), you'd fail your exam. I thankfully passed on my first try, but most of my friends screwed up enough that they had to go back.

[amber 4 prez]

from what I know about the US driving test...they make you do all of the following

a sign like a stop sign, or yield, or something...

2 opposing lefts (might do one, depends on where) opposing lefts are when you have to turn left at an intersection that has a light, but not a turn light...

3 point turn, and parallel parking...

over here we have one person that is well known for failing a lot of kids...we call her big fat black betty...she has a thick jamaican accent so when she says to turn left can't really understand what she's saying. She's failed all of my friends that have taken it with her, and all of my friends have heard of her.

only tips are stay under the speed limit even if traffic is moving faster than you, don't hit anything...don't hit the curb, don't do a 3 point turn into a driveway ummm....whatelse...make sure you change the mirrors before you go, even if they are perfect, just move them back into place, keep both of your hands on the wheel even at a red light, oh, and make sure that you stop count to three and look both ways at every stop sign...

aand that's all I remember....

[Morganlafay]

I just took, and passed, the road test this summer, in New York state.
Here are some hints for all of you who are freakin out about the test:
-Be comfortable doing three point turns and parallel parking. If you didn't take driver's ed, take and hour long private lesson. The instructor will tell you if your're ready for the test.
During the test
-exaggerate all of your movements, even if it feels weird
-Never drive above 30mph
-act polite to the person with the clipboard! make them think you're responsible on and off of the road
-use the car that you feel the most comfortable with. Some of my friends thought that is was silly that I used my mom's minivan- but who cares? it worked!
Also-
-don't sign up for the last slot of the day. Instructors get grumpy and wont be as lenient
-ask around for the best location to take the test. The town I live in is known for its narrow streets and harsh graders. A twenty minute drive to another town was totally worth it!

So, that's my advice. Good Luck!
~Morgan

[SplbaBlouw85]

Im kind of in a bad mood...I know this should go in the bad feelings thread, but.....no comment i dont want to be there right now. Um yea I failed my written test today...but the lady is letting me go back tomarrow. I felt like poopy shit when the computer told me I failed....icky poopy shit.

[Feena]

Failed it again for the third time again - I'm fed up of this. I feel like I'm never going to get there. My manouvres went okay but my gear changes fell apart and I stalled twice.

[Candleshoe]

I feel your pain, Feena, I was a very scared bunny when I took mine! It was a few years ago, but the fear doesn't fade. Just keep practicing; gear changes will suddenly click one day, and you'll wonder why it used to be so hard!

I stalled on my test, and remembered that my instructor had said that it was OK to stall, it was how well you recovered that the testers are looking at. So: hand-brake, deep breath, gear in neutral, deep breath, start the engine and take another deep breath.

I still stall...and now the breathing is accompanied by swearing!

Good luck!

[urnofosiris]

My manouvres went okay but my gear changes fell apart and I stalled twice.

Sorry to hear it. I had to get my licence in a hurry because of my work and to make it easier on myself and because I knew I wanted a car with automatic gear shift anyway, I took my driving lessons and exam in an automatic car. I have a code on my licence which means I am only allowed to drive in an automatic car, but I don´t care. It is a very relaxed way of driving, not having to shift gears manually. Using the my left leg and right arm simultaneously and minding the road is too much of a challenge for my brain anyway. Maybe it is something to consider for you too? You could always get a licence for a manually shifted car later when you have more driving experience.

[kisstheviolets]

i took the entire test with the parking break on and still passed. a friend of mine who i had a terrible crush on took the test later in the day and heard about "some moron who left the parking break on" and proceeded to tell me about it at my birthday party that night. for some reason i felt compelled to disclose that i was "some moron." it's still pretty embarassing some twelve years later.

[cbrymm]

I think in the US the rules for getting your license change state to state. I know in massachusetts you have to take diver's education before you get your learners permit (which means you can drive with an adult over 25 or something like that). In the good ole state of New Hampsire (where I live) you can drive with an adult over 25 once you reach the age of 15.5. At 16, you take driver's ed and have to complete 20 hours of driving time with an adult. Then you get to take the test. The actual test varies from county to county. I had to back into a parking space (completely useless skill) but I didn't have to parallel park. I know other DMVs have made people parallel but not back into a space. As for my tester.. he was a scarey scarey many who yelled at me.
In New Hampshire you can only drive with one other person in your car for the first six months after getting your license.. do other places have laws like that? Also, people under 18 aren't allowed to be out driving after 1 pm.

[Candleshoe]

I know it is bad to laugh at typos, but I wish I lived in Massachusetts. Divers Education sounds like my kind of fun....

[Feena]

[center]I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!



I think I deafened the poor examiner when he told me because I shrieked so loud then I started crying and shaking so much
I could hardly sign the form. The two signatures on it are completely different!

I only got 4 minors (out of an allowable 15) so I drove really well.

It's taken me 2 years and 8 days but...

I'm a Driver!!!

[/center]

[urnofosiris]

Congratulations Feena. You will get spoiled pretty fast when you can just get into a car and drive to where ever you want to go without having to wait for that damned bus or train that is never going to come.