Keep failing my driving tests.. any advice?

[LuluJeanne]

Helloo all! I'm lulu, and a newbie to this site

To cut a VERY long story short, i have failed two driving tests in a manual car so far for the following reasons..

FIRST TEST: Got a Major because i went too fast around bends on country roads outside of the town i'm taking my test in.

This REALLY anoyyed me as my driving instructor hadn't taken me on these roads in over two months, so i felt really inexperienced on these roads. They were national speed limit, so i presumed the examiner would want me to go to 60mph.

However i couldn't judge the distance and severity of the bends, so the car wanted to go on the other side of the road

I got 9 minors for this test. Mainly because of gear changes. But my manuovers and general driving around town was okay.


SECOND TEST: I got a Dangerous and Serious driving fault for this test.

The dangerous - i was coming off a roundabout into a small road which had cars parked on either side. I had a car coming towards me. I thought i would need to give way to this car, as i thought there wasn't enough space for the both of us.

So i went to tuck in behind a parked car, but the examiner (prob right) saw i could get through the gap, so presumed i was actually going to crash into the back of this parked car, so slammed on the dual brake. THAT confused the hell out of me! But it shows how poor my spacial awareness can be

The serious - I had just completed the parallel park maneuver, however i was too close to the car i was parking behind. (he didn't fail me for that tho). So because i had to full lock the steering to get out from behind the car, i didn't see an oncoming approaching car, which caused the road user to slow down.

Every damn test i get my vechile checks right, manuvers right etc. Its just my spacial awareness of gaps and when to give way, and my planning that lets me down

Can anyone let me know any tips that have worked for you in terms of getting over spacial awareness problems when giving way to other vehicles?

Also what techniques do you use to plan ahead of situations? I find i just dive into situations, and panic when i get there (i almost feel like 'closing my eyes' !)

Which usually results in me slamming on the brakes rather than slowing down gradually and reacting to the situation in good time. As my instructor says "your eyes are never beyond the end of the bonnet"

Thanks in advance

[Magic_Lemur]

I've been driving 10 years & finally have a car that I haven't crashed in 2 years/ 50,000 miles (*touch wood*).

I wrote off a car doing 5 mph before I'd even done my test.
I then passed first time BUT (literally the day after) crashed & wrote off another car.
Strangely the premiums were actually less on my next car & I didn't write it off, but shunted someone for good measure.
I then went to uni & didn't have to drive (Thank God!)
When I came back from uni, I ran my brother's landrover into a Car park pillar (at 1 mph, moving out of a parking spot).
I then blew-up the engine on it causing a 5 minute fog-bank on the M1.

In my last car I rear ended someone then, 3 days later, wrote the car off (& got attacked by an angry mother I'd run into).
In my present car, my Brother has counted 8 dents.

All in all, I've had 10 crashes, 3 write-offs & cost the insurance companies nearly £4000 in new cars. And my insurance is *still* only £700 a year - go figure!

***

In other words, you seem a good driver. Patience & a lot of practice are my advice. Ironically, I've found that I've had far less accidents (*touch wood again*) since I've been driving 50 miles a day - it's when you get out of practice that you get bad.

And don't despair - I've considered doing the worst when my finances have been ruined by having to buy new cars, but really bad driving is not the end of the World...

[Liz944]

Try not to run the test examiner over!

[Shadwell]

the main things to keep you on the straight and narrow, are practice, and if in doubt stop. those are the main 2 pieces of advice.

apart from that is about 50 feet away from a parked car to be in 2nd gear, and doing about 5-10 mph, and checking the road to see if it is safe to pass the car on your side of the road, and positioned close to the white line. if the vehicle is on the other side of the road, then 30 mph, but ready to stop, and braking sharply if needs be.

but as for cornering speed, it is only practice, and learning that you can find a compromise between speed, and safety, but that will take a lifetime to truely master, and even then you might not. so it is more about finding the right speed for each corner, but don't expect to master that during your driving lessons. the best you can hope for is a general rule, like this corner 5 mph, this corner 20 mph, and this corner 45mph. this corner needs extra attention because of a junction the other side of it. or the road narrowens. so I need to be prepared to stop.

as a general rule though, the speeds you need to be looking at is 5, 20, 30, 40, 45, and 60. but as a learner, it will be very rare that you get up to the 60 mph. as for speed then it depends on the road, and how sharp a corner is. and it is only by practice. so always err. on the side of caution, but don't let the examiner hear you. as it is easier to accelerate around a corner than to be braking.

same with over-taking a parked vehicle, or obstruction, and learning whether a car is going to stop if the obstruction is on their side of the road, so slow down, and prepare to stop if anything is passing anything on their side, and 2nd gear, and ready to stop about 50 feet away (1 lampost) if it is on your side.

the reason why I say 50 feet, is it will allow you to access the road without you needing to watch your speed, and stuff close to you for a second.

you also need to remember to treat a car like it is a part of you, like walking, or an arm or something. when you can feel like your in control of the car, then that is what the examiner is looking for. is that you are in control of the car, not the other way around, and only looking as far as the bonnet, then the car is in control of you. so learn to slow down a bit until you are comfortable with the speed that you can look further ahead. think of it as a sunday drive, you are going somewhere, what time you get there doesn't matter. but you get there without upsetting people, as you are still making progress.

[Magic_Lemur]

think of it as a sunday drive, you are going somewhere, what time you get there doesn't matter. but you get there without upsetting people, as you are still making progress.

Good advice (all of what you said ).

Apparently those Fire Walkers that you see walking barefoot over burning coals have a trick to prevent themselves panicking.

It's called "Cool Moss"-
They simply imagine that (instead of walking over hot, hot coals), they are walking barefoot on cool, wet moss after a rainstorm & that every step they take makes their feet cooler... and cooler... and cooler.

This way they kid the brain into relaxing, so that they can do the trick with ease.

In other words, what Shadwell is saying is spot-on - think of it in the right frame of mind & it'll be easy as pie...

[LuluJeanne]

Thank you all for your replies

I like the part about thinking of the car as a arm or a leg, thats a really good idea actually. I do tend to think that the car's in control of me lol

I've decided the best methods may be the following,

= Not taking karms or rescue remedy, as i believe this slows down my reactions, (i've taken these before both tests)
Gonna need to find another way of dealing with my nerves

= Also gonna run a commentry in my head so i can show the examiner i can plan
(ie: i'll say in head; approaching junction, check mirrors, slow down, get into second gear etccc)

What do you think?

[Alex]

i did a test and smacked the kerb got a dangerous fault perosonally you say your going to do commentry in your head say it out loud the exminers lovew it it shows your concentrating and know when your checking mirriors etc hope this helps

[LuluJeanne]

*to the poster above*

I thought about this.. but my instructor told me this actually shows that i'm not confident to the examiner oooh i dunno what to do! I guess i'l just give it a go and hope for the best.

my next test is in two days!!! wish me luck

[Alex]

well ur instuctor knows best i suppose gd luck

[Alex]

Lulu how long have u been learning to drive for my spcial awereness is bad on narrow roads just take a deep breath and think i will and can do this and iam sure u will do fine if you dont mind me asking how old are you?
Alex

[LuluJeanne]

Hiya Alex, i'm 18 years old, turning 19 in a few weeks. So it's taken me two years to get to this point.

My spacial awareness is crap down normal roads that have cars parked down both sides, i can't seem to judge who has right of way or judge if i can fit through a gap of cars.

The only way i seem to be able to get through it is to plan and think more. i think half the problem is my concentration, its so terrible sometimes, and it means that i leave my planning till last minute. Hence the feeling of going into situations blind!

Anyway test's tomorrow.. i feel positive actually. I feel i deserve this bloody licence! All i need to do is wear my tinted glasses and plan everything i do beforehand! Hope this works for me.

Good luck to anyone taking their test soon

[Alex]

its taken me 4 driving instuctors and 4 companies iam 21 aqnd got my test in september gd luck for 2morrow advice 4 parked cars down either side of the road take it nice and easy

[Alex]

also i have left u a private messege

[Lizzi]

I failed my driving test 3 times and managed to pass by the 4th. The first I nearly past, the second I was very confident but a driving instructer in another car flashed me through then moved round me as I was moving so I then failed. My 3rd i was a nervous wreck and I got 5 majors..............

My mum really helped me get through my 4th and made me repeat 'I will pass I will pass' frequently. I thought she was stupid but hey I passed. A bit of optimism goes a long way. I know how it feels to fail, I was bloody gutted and I hope you pass this one, infact 'YOU WILL PASS' keep repeating this! Wishing you all the best and if you fail - it will happen for a reason and whatever fault you make will keep you safe in future, I learnt a few lessons by failing and I have now achieved a 5 years no claims xxxxxxx

[LuluJeanne]

Hey everyone just to update you all.. i PASSED!! yay!
i had 4 minors - two for gears, one for speed and one for control (hillstart)

Thank you for all your advice - it helped me get through it. particually the advice about treating the car as if it is a arm or a leg, like its connected to me. I felt as though i was in control of the car.

TBH - i think the only way to pass is to have luck on the day. The town i took my test in on wednesday was stuck in total gridlock. So i spent my entire test on country roads! and did the easiest manovers for me - reverse round a corner and 3 point turn.

Thanks for all of your support