[Marc]

What are your memories of learning to drive and of taking your driving test? (or tests if you didn't pass first time).

I've been inspired by this thread 'still struggling at almost 100 hours of lessons' and seeing some of the wonderful and supportive replies from community members here. 😍

We're also putting together a guide on 'how to pass your driving test - from novice to pro' - and I thought we could add some of our own memories from when we were learners.

No doubt we have both good and bad memories! 🤣 I def remember stalling a lot, and finding parallel parking to be especially challenging at the start.

[Drivingforfun]

Learning was really good fun for me. Sometimes I wish I could be a learner again as it was great learning skills which were completely novel but that were also to be useful. Maybe that’s a signal that I should find another useful skill and learn that, plumbing or electrics maybe?


I recall my examiner being slightly impressed when I accelerated to 60mph once we got out of town onto a short stretch of NSL road. My guess is a lot of learners are wary of going “fast” on an exam. I simply drove at the maximum legal and safe speed as taught. I also remember my examiner being surprisingly friendly, not stern and clinical as I expected. We talked about the stock markets while I drove around. Maybe that sent them to sleep which is why I passed?

[Marc]

I also remember my examiner being surprisingly friendly, not stern and clinical as I expected

Lucky you @Drivingforfun 😃

I failed my first test. And I'm convinced I was failed before I even started. The examiner took one look at me, and it was a very grim and unhappy look. There and then he decided to fail me, I'm sure of it.
The guy on my second test was much better. He was v laid back, cheery and bubbly.

[Drivingforfun]

Unlucky for you, Marc. 😐 I have a relative who we think failed before even starting; they were asked to read out a number plate 25 yards away, and they read out their own number plate, the examiner probably thought they what a joker!

[Santa]

I took my test in Cardiff in 1956. My father taught me to drive in his Triumph Herald with a three-speed gearbox. The first test was on a Friday afternoon and I got off on the wrong foot when the examiner asked me to read the number plate "of the red car". I read one a lot further aware than the one he was looking at.

Later on, I was asked to turn right. It was going home time at a local factory and there was an unbroken stream of cyclists coming towards me so I sat, blocking traffic, with my indicator flashing. After what seemed ages, some bikes stopped to let me cross. That was part of the reason I failed.

The second test was on a Monday morning. I was in a driving school car (I had an hour before the test) and sailed through with no faults at all.

In 197? I took my HGV1 (Now C+E) test after four days of tuition and passed with no faults again.

[Rolebama]

For my first riding test, back in the 60s, was in the Army. A group of about six or so were taken to a town none of us had ever visited and led around the town centre. We then had to follow the route individually with the examiner following. I failed because I pulled over and told the examiner I had no idea of the rest of the route. Three of us failed for that reason, whilst the others were failed for attempting to turn into an access only road. Passed second time around, and all subsequent tests first time.

[OnlineGuy]

For my third driving test - the one that I passed - after coming out of the test centre at the beginning, I got into the wrong car.

There were a bunch of grey Corsas/Golfs all in a row, all driving school cars for various candidates. I was obviously nervous and I just got in the first one without looking much at it. It must have been left unlocked.

The examiner started walking around the car to take notes, number plate details, etc. I did the eyesight check, then we got in the car, and the key wouldn't go in the ignition slot. Then I realised we were in someone else's car! I thought I'd failed before even starting the engine. Luckily the examiner saw the funny side of it, went back into the centre to get new paperwork, and we got going in the right car.

[Marc]

Hahaha that's brilliant @OnlineGuy 😂
Glad to hear the examiner saw the funny side and didn't fail you for it!

[DDickie]

I spent a year driving my father around in his car, then in 1974 had eight lessons with a driving school, including the test - which I passed first time.

In 1991 I took and passed the motorcycle test.

[Drivingforfun]

Same here, Dickie. I think it was driving my parents around whenever they needed to use the car that got me to pass first time. The test was just another drive.

Lessons taught me some tips on how to pass but nothing more really.

[harsharea]

This isn't my own story but I was listening to a Radio show a few years ago, and people were phoning in about the quickest they ever failed a driving test and somebody said when they were putting on the seat belt they broke their instructors nose by mistake and that was it hahaha.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by harsharea

This isn't my own story but I was listening to a Radio show a few years ago, and people were phoning in about the quickest they ever failed a driving test and somebody said when they were putting on the seat belt they broke their instructors nose by mistake and that was it hahaha.

How have I only just seen this @harsharea 🤣
What a way to start a driving test.... I assume they 100% failed?!

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Marc

How have I only just seen this @harsharea 🤣
What a way to start a driving test.... I assume they 100% failed?!

The test would have been cancelled - no pass or fail.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Beelzebub

The test would have been cancelled - no pass or fail.

Yes I suppose so @Beelzebub but a part of me likes the idea of the instructor and person taking the test both trying to carry on as normal. Blood everywhere, utter fury on the instructor's face, but nothing in the rulebook that states it as a 'fail' so they have to go through the motions.
That would be a classically British and stoic approach!

[harsharea]

@Marc There is self sabotage and there is straight up comedy of errors, like the person below has said, yeah it most likely would have been cancelled lol

[Marc]

Originally Posted by DDickie

I spent a year driving my father around in his car, then in 1974 had eight lessons with a driving school, including the test - which I passed first time.

In 1991 I took and passed the motorcycle test.

I lasted about two months driving my father's car with him in it. He's a great driver.... a terrible passenger. 🤣

[Rolebama]

Talking about this with a friend who told me he passed first attempt because of congestion. On leaving the Centre he was told to take the first left. Because of roadworks on a parallel road a detour had been put in place sending everyone along the road he was on. One side of the road was packed with parked cars from workers at the local industrial estate, where the car park was being resurfaced. He got about thirty yards before he had to stop, confronted with the diverted cars on his side of the road with a small convoy behind him. After being stationary for almost half an hour the examiner had him reverse back to the centre as and when he could. One and a half hours later having driven less than a quarter of a mile, he was told he had passed.

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Talking about this with a friend who told me he passed first attempt because of congestion. On leaving the Centre he was told to take the first left. Because of roadworks on a parallel road a detour had been put in place sending everyone along the road he was on. One side of the road was packed with parked cars from workers at the local industrial estate, where the car park was being resurfaced. He got about thirty yards before he had to stop, confronted with the diverted cars on his side of the road with a small convoy behind him. After being stationary for almost half an hour the examiner had him reverse back to the centre as and when he could. One and a half hours later having driven less than a quarter of a mile, he was told he had passed.

How long ago was this?
Under the current regulations (from 1999, and amended) no result would have been recorded.. There are parts of the test (e.g. manoeuvres, hill start) which can't be omitted.

[Rolebama]

Off the top of my head, I think around early to mid-90s. I will ask and amend if necessary.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

After being stationary for almost half an hour the examiner had him reverse back to the centre as and when he could. One and a half hours later having driven less than a quarter of a mile, he was told he had passed.

Blimey! I failed my first test because I pulled out from a small, side road into a bigger road a little too quickly. I'm sure the instructor was Wrong and I should have passed.
Sometimes I feel they've got a quota of passes and fails to meet. So it's a matter of luck, or depending on how many passed or failed before you that day.

I could be wrong! 🤣

[mm43]

During my driving test, I remember how my examiner seemed mildly surprised when I picked up speed to 60mph on a stretch of national speed limit (NSL) road, once outside the city limits. It appears that many learners hesitate to drive at higher speeds during their test. My approach was to adhere to the highest legal and safe speed, as instructed. The examiner's demeanor was unexpectedly amiable, contrary to my anticipation of a more formal attitude. We engaged in a conversation about the stock markets as I navigated the roads, which perhaps contributed to my passing – maybe the chat was so soothing that it put them at ease.

[mm43]

@mm43 Yeah, and also I remember how difficult it was to book my driving test. I booked my first test for like 5 months in advance. It was a painful waiting time, and I failed in like 5 minutes for a very stupid mistake.