What Memories of Your Driving Test?
Discussion
I took my test in my Mum's Mini Clubman. It had rained very heavily. The examiner and me got wet when walking to the car and the windows quickly steamed up. There was a lot of standing water and I had no idea as to if I was meant to splash through it or go round it, I did a bit of both and each time I approached a big puddle the examiner frantically wound up his window.
I also remember that I had been told to make a point of adjusting your mirror when you get in the car. As I had driven to the test centre it was already in the perfect, in demonstrating my conscientiousness I managed to twist it out of position and having set off decided it was better to put up with limited rear vision than show I had cocked up by having to adjust it again. It did at least have a good ending.
I also remember that I had been told to make a point of adjusting your mirror when you get in the car. As I had driven to the test centre it was already in the perfect, in demonstrating my conscientiousness I managed to twist it out of position and having set off decided it was better to put up with limited rear vision than show I had cocked up by having to adjust it again. It did at least have a good ending.
I didn't know I needed glasses at the time but remembered not being able to see number plates from the requisit distance (I was am thick and didn't make the connection) so I memorised all of the number plates of the cars outside the test centre (there was only a few but I was a bit "rain-man" back in those days).
My dad gave me a tip - He said when you adjust the rear view mirror have it so you have to move your head a little to see out. This way the instructor will notice you are using it.
After about 5 minutes he asked me to pull over when it is safe to do so and switch off the engine. He turn and said 'Would you like to adjust your mirror correctly Mr. Trumpton?'
Thanks Dad! I was a bag of nerves for the rest of the test. I failed (It may have been down to me hitting a kerb when parrallel parking
)
After about 5 minutes he asked me to pull over when it is safe to do so and switch off the engine. He turn and said 'Would you like to adjust your mirror correctly Mr. Trumpton?'
Thanks Dad! I was a bag of nerves for the rest of the test. I failed (It may have been down to me hitting a kerb when parrallel parking
)
..........stupid.......I know !Remember clearly a decision I took that I thought was safe which got me a fail, come round a one way system with 2 lanes, me in the right and traffic in the left. There's a traffic light crossing and the lights had just changed to green, I lifted off, the lorry on the inside had already made it over the crossing, so I continued. Examiner didnt like it because someone could still have walked out infront of the lorry. That one stung a bit.
When I passed my test it had snowed in the morning and was just as rush hour was clearing, the emergency stop was a bit nervy but examiner told me we'd try it and if it couldnt be achieved with the conditions we'd have another go. So my faith was restored a bit
Probably the best memory was just after passing my test, my instructor drove me back and told me to get straight out on a motorway that afternoon and learn to drive properly.
When I passed my test it had snowed in the morning and was just as rush hour was clearing, the emergency stop was a bit nervy but examiner told me we'd try it and if it couldnt be achieved with the conditions we'd have another go. So my faith was restored a bit
Probably the best memory was just after passing my test, my instructor drove me back and told me to get straight out on a motorway that afternoon and learn to drive properly.
I passed my test in a Focus that was less than a day old. Was told to pull over when safe and the examiner informed me that soon after an emergency stop would be required. I pulled away and got into 2nd at about 12mph when he shouted stop. The car damn near stopped dead. New tyres, brakes and on that red painted 'high grip' tarmac I don't think the examiner had quite expected the result and just about launched his clipboard at the window. I really don't see the point in an emergency stop in a modern car with ABS. May be more useful exercise if the ABS was disabled first...
My instructor got a brand new car 3 lessons before my test. As we were pulling out of the first side road the examiner said,
"This is quite nice isn't it."
"Yeah, it's brand new, this is the first test it's ever been on" I replied.
"Well, don't get too excited, it is Malaysian..."
"Hyundai's are Korean"
<awkward silence>
Also doing the turn in the road. He gave me the usual introduction (perform a turn in the road using forward/reverse etc...). I proceeded to complete the manoeuvre and began driving the other way towards the junction. I asked which way I was supposed to turn and he he told me to "hang on, I haven't finished marking that turn yet".
And when I put the air conditioning on he put the window down immediately after. I then turned it off again.
I did pass though
"This is quite nice isn't it."
"Yeah, it's brand new, this is the first test it's ever been on" I replied.
"Well, don't get too excited, it is Malaysian..."
"Hyundai's are Korean"
<awkward silence>
Also doing the turn in the road. He gave me the usual introduction (perform a turn in the road using forward/reverse etc...). I proceeded to complete the manoeuvre and began driving the other way towards the junction. I asked which way I was supposed to turn and he he told me to "hang on, I haven't finished marking that turn yet".
And when I put the air conditioning on he put the window down immediately after. I then turned it off again.
I did pass though
My driving instructor used to drink loads of fizzy drinks from 2 litre bottles.
He left one in the O/S rear foot well before he changed places with the examiner.
When instructed attempted to do the emergency stop and completed it even though a 2 litre Coke bottle had worked it's way under the driver's seat and ended up under the peddles...
Examiner was less than pleased with the instructor and lambasted him when we returned to the test centre...
Still passed though
He left one in the O/S rear foot well before he changed places with the examiner.
When instructed attempted to do the emergency stop and completed it even though a 2 litre Coke bottle had worked it's way under the driver's seat and ended up under the peddles...
Examiner was less than pleased with the instructor and lambasted him when we returned to the test centre...
Still passed though
I can recall driving down a residential street with cars parked all down my side of the road. The road and row of parked cars turns quite sharply to the right leaving me with not much room to see oncoming cars. I slowed more than was necessary to show that I was aware of the situation.
Soon after, a taxi comes tearing down the road at some speed. 'Sheet' methinks, spot a 2 car gap in the parked cars, check my bloody mirrors and pull in. Taxi hardly slowed.
Examiner gave me a minor for 'car control'...my only fault in the entire test. I was gutted!
Also didnt help that, at the start of the test, my examiner told me it was his first week back after a quite serious crash. He was a big unit as well!
This and the instructor ragging the tits of his car on the way back from the test so 'I could relax and de-stress'! I get the impression it was more for him to have a fun drive for a change.
Soon after, a taxi comes tearing down the road at some speed. 'Sheet' methinks, spot a 2 car gap in the parked cars, check my bloody mirrors and pull in. Taxi hardly slowed.
Examiner gave me a minor for 'car control'...my only fault in the entire test. I was gutted!
Also didnt help that, at the start of the test, my examiner told me it was his first week back after a quite serious crash. He was a big unit as well!
This and the instructor ragging the tits of his car on the way back from the test so 'I could relax and de-stress'! I get the impression it was more for him to have a fun drive for a change.
A week before my test it had snowed heavily, and although the main roads where clear some of the side roads still had some ice near the kerbs. My examiner mentioned that during my turn in the road if I skidded slightly then it wouldn't be a fail.
Also it was handy that the route we took the last 10mins we joined up behind 2 other cars on their tests so just followed them back to the test centre keeping to their speed.
Also it was handy that the route we took the last 10mins we joined up behind 2 other cars on their tests so just followed them back to the test centre keeping to their speed.
My driving instructor was certain that I would not be taken on one particular exam route as my test was during rush hour so we concentrated solely on the other two routes so guess which one I was tested on...
As the huge frame of the ex military man well groomed tash and tweed jacket included got into the car he smashed his head on the roof putting him in a worse than all ready legendary foul mood.
At one point I stopped at a cross roads as he hadn’t given any direction to which he turned incandescent with rage screamed at me that he had instructed me to go forward unless otherwise instructed. I felt his rage again a bit later for driving to slowly in heavy traffic when he boomed speed up you inconsiderate cretin people are trying to get to work.
At the end of the test he said ''I really want to fail you but as you have not amassed more than three ticks in any one box I cant so it is with great sadness I have to inform you that you have passed.
God bless him.
As the huge frame of the ex military man well groomed tash and tweed jacket included got into the car he smashed his head on the roof putting him in a worse than all ready legendary foul mood.
At one point I stopped at a cross roads as he hadn’t given any direction to which he turned incandescent with rage screamed at me that he had instructed me to go forward unless otherwise instructed. I felt his rage again a bit later for driving to slowly in heavy traffic when he boomed speed up you inconsiderate cretin people are trying to get to work.
At the end of the test he said ''I really want to fail you but as you have not amassed more than three ticks in any one box I cant so it is with great sadness I have to inform you that you have passed.
God bless him.
Wide road, car parked either side, oncoming car and myself went through the gap in the middle.
Test bloke gave me a minor because the gap "was a bit close and one of us should have given way" - my thought's were 'well it obviously wasn't too close because we both got through with no issue'! Finished the test with 4 minors in the end. meh.
Test bloke gave me a minor because the gap "was a bit close and one of us should have given way" - my thought's were 'well it obviously wasn't too close because we both got through with no issue'! Finished the test with 4 minors in the end. meh.
1973 Vauxhall Viva was the test car. It had seat belts fitted but the law had not come in so I opted not to wear them as I did not want to feel in any way distracted from my usual driving routine. Examiner made a note of it though. Nice clear dry day, everything went fine. Got one test question wrong but realised it and, at the end, asked if I could re-answer and he agreed. Passed. Went off to a coffee bar to celebrate and met my first girlfriend. Perfect day really.
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