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Community: Real Life

The day of the test


Joe in the driving seat

Joe is 20 years-old and lives in Poole, Dorset. He's decided to let us in on his experience of learning to drive, and promises to tell us exactly what happens when he takes his test; minors, majors and everything.
Entry: 5

Joe is gutted to learn he's failed his first driving test, but what was it for when he only got five minors?

As I parked the car at the end of my practical driving test, I thought it had gone well; I was composed and careful, both manoeuvres were fine and I couldn't think of anything I did drastically wrong. "That's the end of your test, Joe," she said. I took a deep breath and smiled, hoping it might help. "Unfortunately, you haven't passed your driving test." I couldn't believe it. "I'm afraid it was the emergency stop. You didn't brake quickly or hard enough." And that, my friends, is a major (mistake).

It's hard not to feel deflated when the only reason why I didn't pass was essentially because I couldn't pretend that I had to brake in an emergency. I only got five minors, so I've proved that I can drive. The annoying thing is that people pass with 14 or so minors, yet I've failed for something that can be taught in a few minutes - it's not as if there is something fundamentally wrong with my driving. If I fail for something other than the emergency stop next time I will be quite miffed.

The actual driving test itself was a slight anti-climax. I imagined myself sitting in the driver's seat with some Demon Headmaster character shouting at me because I kept stalling on account of my wobbly knees. It wasn't like this at all, in fact, she was a lovely lady and she really helped me remain calm, which I duly thanked her for.

Preparing myself for the test

In the weeks leading up to the test I was really struggling with nerves and was losing all composure and confidence. I sorted this out by having a few last minute lessons and my instructor picked me up an hour before the exam to go over a few things. Pulling up to the test centre I felt a sense of serenity. We sat down in what resembled a doctor's waiting room among various other nervous hopefuls yawning and biting their nails. I went to the toilet, but I didn't even need it, I really only had to pray. I re-seated myself in the room of gloom and my name was called out first.

"I went to the toilet, but I didn't even need it, I really only had to pray. I re-seated myself in the room of gloom and my name was called out first."

It started well (or so I thought). I was asked to perform all my manoeuvres at the start of the test; I did a parallel park, which I had to rescue at the last minute, and a reverse around a corner on a road sloping upwards, with a bus that was rapidly approaching the junction. I dealt with that professionally and drove on. Phew! Then I did the infamous emergency stop, which I conducted in a decidedly incorrect manner. After that it was just driving and I really settled into it. We even chatted about my university course, poetry, love and the meaning of life. OK, maybe not the last three things.

The 'F' word

So you can imagine my surprise when I was told I'd failed. I thought it had gone so well. My initial reaction was obviously going to be of disappointment, but I think I handled it well. I'm over it now, but it took a long while before I felt any peace. I was more confused than anything. I got five minors (you're allowed a maximum of 15) that were tiny things like approach speeds and observations, but it was the major I received for my emergency stop which ultimately amounted to a big fat F.

But I can take a huge positive from this experience. Although technically I can't drive yet, I've proved that I can, if that makes sense? That does a great deal of good for my confidence and it feels as if passing is no longer a case of how, but when. I'll just have to keep doing the test over and over until it's done. I don't feel like I've got anything to prove anymore, which has lifted me psychologically, but at £90 a pop (including tutor fees and extra lessons) I'd quite like to pass, thank you.

Luckily, there was a cancellation for a test in a couple of weeks which I pounced on. The waiting list can sometimes extend to as much as nine weeks, which would have added more salt to my poor, aching wounds. Oh woe is me. Alright, alright, enough self-pity. A sense of humour goes a long way in this life and you'll laugh at this: for an hour prior to my test I drove with my instructor going over each manoeuvre except one. Yep, you guessed it, the emergency stop. My instructor and I laughed all the way home about that. Well, kind of, my fist was actually clenched in my pocket (not really - that would be road rage).

All through learning to drive I've always felt that I couldn't and wasn't ready to drive. Well now I feel I can. Plato said: "For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories." How true. He must have been a good driver.


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