More than annoyed
Discussion
[Pwig I symphonise with you]
I have just failed my driving test for 2 reasons, both utter bullsh!t:
1, Pedestrian (zebra) crossing – apparently I should have stopped. There was a guy walking towards it, not showing any indication to cross, for all I know, and presume, he was just walking past, after going past it was clear he was going to cross. So what if it was, am I meant to be physic? You can’t expect to stop at every crossing just incase someone walking past decides to cross. This is a piss take, it really is.
2, NOT MAKING PROGRESS, anyone not hear that, I WASN’T GOING FAST ENOUGH!!! The fact I couldn’t go any faster had something to do with it. Dual carriage way, I was in the left hand lane, 70mph limit, some numpty 4 cars ahead was going about 50, the right hand lane, no room to overtake, ok, I could have indicated right and wait for someone to let me out. BUT the right hand lane was doing about 5mph more than me, and I wanted to go straight on at the next junction. So apparently 50 on a NSL isn’t good enough, well no its not, I would rather be doing 70 but physically couldn’t.
Oh and 2 points, it was uphill and the fact it’s a 1ltr Toyota yaris doesn’t help.
Appeals, waste of time, it says I could appeal to the magistrates court petty sessions area, but whatever the outcome its still a fail.
And while on the subject pass rates in the UK they don’t half vary, The average tests to pass in one day is 43% average. 2 test centres in Leeds one @ 29% the other at 33%. The highest pass rate was nearly 90% @ the scilly isles but highest mainland was a place called lerwick (or similar) @ 79% And they claim to be just about equal all over England?!
Sorry about the long post, I’m really fcuked off about this.
I have just failed my driving test for 2 reasons, both utter bullsh!t:
1, Pedestrian (zebra) crossing – apparently I should have stopped. There was a guy walking towards it, not showing any indication to cross, for all I know, and presume, he was just walking past, after going past it was clear he was going to cross. So what if it was, am I meant to be physic? You can’t expect to stop at every crossing just incase someone walking past decides to cross. This is a piss take, it really is.
2, NOT MAKING PROGRESS, anyone not hear that, I WASN’T GOING FAST ENOUGH!!! The fact I couldn’t go any faster had something to do with it. Dual carriage way, I was in the left hand lane, 70mph limit, some numpty 4 cars ahead was going about 50, the right hand lane, no room to overtake, ok, I could have indicated right and wait for someone to let me out. BUT the right hand lane was doing about 5mph more than me, and I wanted to go straight on at the next junction. So apparently 50 on a NSL isn’t good enough, well no its not, I would rather be doing 70 but physically couldn’t.
Oh and 2 points, it was uphill and the fact it’s a 1ltr Toyota yaris doesn’t help.
Appeals, waste of time, it says I could appeal to the magistrates court petty sessions area, but whatever the outcome its still a fail.
And while on the subject pass rates in the UK they don’t half vary, The average tests to pass in one day is 43% average. 2 test centres in Leeds one @ 29% the other at 33%. The highest pass rate was nearly 90% @ the scilly isles but highest mainland was a place called lerwick (or similar) @ 79% And they claim to be just about equal all over England?!
Sorry about the long post, I’m really fcuked off about this.
Just put it behind you and book another test. Its very, very common to fail new drivers on the first test - and it seems like its almost Policy to do so - particularly if you are male.
The reasoning goes - "lads a bit young. Might harm himself or someone else. We'll fail him and delay the whole thing by six months or a year to give him time to mature a bit" - or so it seemed to me when I failed my first test!
Don't be disheartened...you'll likely get it next time. Consider this a challenge: Try to pass your Advanced Test first time...
The reasoning goes - "lads a bit young. Might harm himself or someone else. We'll fail him and delay the whole thing by six months or a year to give him time to mature a bit" - or so it seemed to me when I failed my first test!
Don't be disheartened...you'll likely get it next time. Consider this a challenge: Try to pass your Advanced Test first time...
I sympathise. It's very frustrating when there is no realistic course for appeal it's just your opinion against his. They should have an independant adjudicator present in the back seat for each test.
I failed first time because I bumped into a Volvo. I was well pissed off. What's the point of Volvos having big feck off bumpers if I'm penalised for bumping into them !
I also failed bike test first time last year - for making too much progress I think.
S.
I failed first time because I bumped into a Volvo. I was well pissed off. What's the point of Volvos having big feck off bumpers if I'm penalised for bumping into them !
I also failed bike test first time last year - for making too much progress I think.
S.
Sorry to hear this...
The second one sounds just like the one I was talking about on Pwig's thread the other day.
If the examiner was in the driver's seat he/she could have seen why you did what you did.
You are meant to travel at a speed suitable and safe for the conditions. The speed limit is just that (in driving test situations anyway
), not a target.
Good on you for doing the right thing, he/she probably wanted you to put on your foglights and tailgate the g!t until they sped up or pulled over, just to prove that you too are worthy to join the normal numptie populace that infests UK roads.
Better luck next time
Mouse
The second one sounds just like the one I was talking about on Pwig's thread the other day.
If the examiner was in the driver's seat he/she could have seen why you did what you did.
You are meant to travel at a speed suitable and safe for the conditions. The speed limit is just that (in driving test situations anyway
), not a target. Good on you for doing the right thing, he/she probably wanted you to put on your foglights and tailgate the g!t until they sped up or pulled over, just to prove that you too are worthy to join the normal numptie populace that infests UK roads.
Better luck next time
Mouse
sparkey said: They should have an independant adjudicator present in the back seat for each test.
I was allowed my driving instructor in the back seat when I took my test last Feb, perhaps you should try that next time, then at least if the same happens you will have someone who can argue your case for you.
PS, better luck next time
Given that you still feel you "did the right thing" during the test, perhaps there's some justification for doing the "commentary" type thing more usually associated with the IAM?
For instance, if it really wasn't worthwhile going past the slower vehicle, or if it was apparent that the pedestrian wasn't actually at the crossing then your commentary would have explained your observations and explanations. Maybe the examiner just thought you were slow or maybe thought the pedestrian was closer to the crossing than you did. Your commentary would have showed that you'd observed and so on.
For instance, if it really wasn't worthwhile going past the slower vehicle, or if it was apparent that the pedestrian wasn't actually at the crossing then your commentary would have explained your observations and explanations. Maybe the examiner just thought you were slow or maybe thought the pedestrian was closer to the crossing than you did. Your commentary would have showed that you'd observed and so on.
Don said: Its very, very common to fail new drivers on the first test - and it seems like its almost Policy to do so - particularly if you are male.
He does't know it was my first test, he asked 'so is this your first test then' this was right at the begining and not exactly just making conversation. so, I asked him 'Why, does it make a difference' He didnt say anything after that! Infact, maybe thats why I failed, been cheaky of whatever.
I failed my first because the instructor was in no fit state to continue the test!
I had an old 1969 Viva with tip up seats that did not lock in place. It was before it was necessary to use seatbelts (only recomended). The seat belt on his side was trapped under his seat and so he did not put it on. I asked him to and he told me it was his choice and to stop wasting time.
One of the first things they did then was the emergency stop, I again asked him to put his belt on and pointed out that the seats tip up and did not lock in place. He told me he knew what he was doing.
What he did not know was the old viva had servo assisted disks and big fat tyres. The road was dry and I stopped in a very short distance. He did not and hit the windscreen with his head with a big bang. To this day I am amazed he did not break the glass!
After 15 mins sat on a garden wall holding his head in his hands we then had to return to the test centre, I was failed (officially for not looking in the mirror, but how he could tell that as I had only driven about a mile).
I had an old 1969 Viva with tip up seats that did not lock in place. It was before it was necessary to use seatbelts (only recomended). The seat belt on his side was trapped under his seat and so he did not put it on. I asked him to and he told me it was his choice and to stop wasting time.
One of the first things they did then was the emergency stop, I again asked him to put his belt on and pointed out that the seats tip up and did not lock in place. He told me he knew what he was doing.
What he did not know was the old viva had servo assisted disks and big fat tyres. The road was dry and I stopped in a very short distance. He did not and hit the windscreen with his head with a big bang. To this day I am amazed he did not break the glass!
After 15 mins sat on a garden wall holding his head in his hands we then had to return to the test centre, I was failed (officially for not looking in the mirror, but how he could tell that as I had only driven about a mile).
I got 2 minors on my test, one for hesitancy (could have dived out across a busy junction and got done for recklessness instead 
) and the other for driving too slow (same kind of situation as Alan, uphill, in the crawler lane, in a knackered 405 Diesel, thought I'd get done for speeding if I pulled out to overtake the truck). But I passed first time - have they changed the faults system?
The wife got done at a roundabout. She was failed for hesitancy when a guy coming round the roundabout turned off without indicating. The examiner said she failed as soon as they got to the roundabout because it was either hesitancy or observation if she had pulled out. There was, apparantly, no possible solution that would have resulted in a pass.
) and the other for driving too slow (same kind of situation as Alan, uphill, in the crawler lane, in a knackered 405 Diesel, thought I'd get done for speeding if I pulled out to overtake the truck). But I passed first time - have they changed the faults system? The wife got done at a roundabout. She was failed for hesitancy when a guy coming round the roundabout turned off without indicating. The examiner said she failed as soon as they got to the roundabout because it was either hesitancy or observation if she had pulled out. There was, apparantly, no possible solution that would have resulted in a pass.
alan_driver said:He does't know it was my first test, he asked 'so is this your first test then' this was right at the begining and not exactly just making conversation. so, I asked him 'Why, does it make a difference' He didnt say anything after that! Infact, maybe thats why I failed, been cheaky of whatever.
Maybe he was just trying to guage wether you had done a test before so he could explain the process to you first? Not being nasty here but... if I was a driving instructor with years and years of experience and "some kid" was giving it the big I am I'd fail him too. Try some courtesy next time and he might be a bit more willing to let small misdemeanors pass.
You should also consider - as you don't have a license (therefore much real world experience) yet that perhaps you did judge these things wrongly.
I'm sure some of the judgements I made as a learner and in the first few years of getting my license were, with some hindsight, a bit ropey.
Chin up, book another test and don't let it become a cloud over you. Taking baggage like that into a test situation just increases your stress.
>> Edited by alunr on Wednesday 5th March 13:46
I think your right Whatever,
the commentry would show that the driver was seeing and reacting to things the examiner hadn't seen, and give a better chance in situations like that on the dual carriageway.
It is really hard to do to begin with 'cos you feel a bit silly, but after a while, you start to see things you never would have noticed before because it forces you to concentrate so hard. Something a lot of people that have already passed their test (notabley off-duty driving instructors) could learn a thing or two about.
As far as passing the IAM test first time Don, it's rare that a candidate would put in for the test if they were going to sail through it. Observer's pride I guess.
the commentry would show that the driver was seeing and reacting to things the examiner hadn't seen, and give a better chance in situations like that on the dual carriageway.
It is really hard to do to begin with 'cos you feel a bit silly, but after a while, you start to see things you never would have noticed before because it forces you to concentrate so hard. Something a lot of people that have already passed their test (notabley off-duty driving instructors) could learn a thing or two about.
As far as passing the IAM test first time Don, it's rare that a candidate would put in for the test if they were going to sail through it. Observer's pride I guess.
Tests are a lottery. Some examiners are angels but arseholes are common...
I used to sit in on as many tests as possible cos I thought it kept the examiner honest. No way would you argue cos they will only take it out on your next pupil, so don't expect that.
It's amazing how many people fail on progress-more than speeding. Get yer clog in. They want to see realistic driving whilst staying to obvious rules.
Just keep trying
I used to sit in on as many tests as possible cos I thought it kept the examiner honest. No way would you argue cos they will only take it out on your next pupil, so don't expect that.
It's amazing how many people fail on progress-more than speeding. Get yer clog in. They want to see realistic driving whilst staying to obvious rules.
Just keep trying
...but highest mainland was a place called lerwick (or similar) @ 79% And they claim to be just about equal all over England?!
Lerwick is the main town of the Shetlands... I think they might have discovered two lane roads by now, and maybe even traffic lights.
My cousins sat their driving test in Stornoway (Lewis, Western Isles), and there was only one set of traffic lights, and no roundabouts. Still counts as a pass, even though rush hour is when both cars come out at once...
Looks like Whatever's commentary is the best bet.
One of better things about the IAM (and more comprehensive RoSPA) advanced tests is that they're both more common sense. I'm an IAM Observer and, as Danger_mouse said, would hate to put forward a candidate unless I was confident they'd pass. Also, IAM and RoSPA Examiners seem to have more common sense than DSA Examiners. After passing the IAM and RoSPA tests, each time the Examiner sat me down for a cuppa tea and had a half hour informal chat about the drive, what was good and where to improve. Very nice chaps.
As for my experience of DSA Examiners ... AARGH!
Incidentally, I'm learning to ride a bike and finding some of the DSA requirements silly. I was advised not to use "advanced" positioning for bends. My use of signals should also return to being pre-advanced for the test. Erm, what are the DSA thinking? I know they mightn't teach this to learners, but if you already know it ... so much for Safe Driving for Life!
One of better things about the IAM (and more comprehensive RoSPA) advanced tests is that they're both more common sense. I'm an IAM Observer and, as Danger_mouse said, would hate to put forward a candidate unless I was confident they'd pass. Also, IAM and RoSPA Examiners seem to have more common sense than DSA Examiners. After passing the IAM and RoSPA tests, each time the Examiner sat me down for a cuppa tea and had a half hour informal chat about the drive, what was good and where to improve. Very nice chaps.
As for my experience of DSA Examiners ... AARGH!
Incidentally, I'm learning to ride a bike and finding some of the DSA requirements silly. I was advised not to use "advanced" positioning for bends. My use of signals should also return to being pre-advanced for the test. Erm, what are the DSA thinking? I know they mightn't teach this to learners, but if you already know it ... so much for Safe Driving for Life!
danger mouse said: As far as passing the IAM test first time Don, it's rare that a candidate would put in for the test if they were going to sail through it. Observer's pride I guess.
Our group does that the same, too. (I'm and Observer too) But I was trying to give a little encouragement....
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff