My journey to passing my driving test
Author: Syera Faelron, December 2018
and
how to make it overly complicated.
For many of you it is a fairly simple, but nerve wracking, experience.
A few pass the test on the first try, some on the second or third.
I managed to rack up six tests, one being a pass [I won’t tell you which].
It all started around March 2014 when I decided to undertake the process of getting me on the road without running over dear little old ladies.
My instructor was a pleasant calm bloke ... well he had to be, as Itarted the driving lessons late in life around 40/41. As is the norm I started off in a manual car. My first lesson I mounted a corner and my hands were shaking like hell. Lessons progressed, my instructor was amusing and patient with me.
After a while we arranged my mock test. I went to drive into the wrong lane and into oncoming traffic. …Oh dear... I cried and felt like a useless teapot [think chocolate]. I went on to fail my first test right, just after my instructor went on to become an examiner.
Fast forward to instructor number two, well not much I can say here. He was as useless as my ability in driving. I felt so unsure and a mess. Yes I went on to fail a second test. The examiner was a grump as well.
After a few weeks curled up on my bed I came to the decision I should learn in an automatic. A light bulb of relief shone above me, no more evil clutch stalling and panic. That clutch was my nemesis. Really if it wasn’t for that ... well…
So I started my automatic lessons, my tutor was a nice chatty woman, sometimes a bit to chatty. Which was awkward as I ramble on when nervous. After retaking my theory test [Highway Code and hazard perception test] I went on towards test number three.
By then test nerves were a norm, but that feeling of sitting in a doctors-like waiting room with people much younger than me taking their test was unbalancing on my mind to say the least.
Went on to turn left, pull over, move on, and three point turn. All went well, then I got confused over a turn right and the lay out of the road was...arggh. Ended up with two serious faults and six minors. I was cursing myself for a good while.
I went on to take another test, but then cancelled it because I wasn’t feeling ready or in the right state of mind. Hence my year off, which prolonged a bit longer.
My comeback started off in a manual. Nope that went so awfully for my inner panic monitor so I decided to go back to the good old automatic engine. My instructor was a pleasant man called David and he was patient, calm, and made sure I was road worthy …again. It felt like taking lessons again almost after a break.
Fast forward to yet another test , which was planned with a three week break in between. That didn’t help my mindset of not running over little old ladies or swerving cyclists. I failed again with 11 minors and some serious gubbins.
I was determined to get this. In a week of getting a bad cold/cough I went back to the test centre. I thought well if all the bad drivers on the road can pass, so can I. I didn’t take that many calming precautions like last time. Just went on with my usual morning of a coffee break and shopping. Then came back to clean up and sit for an hour waiting.
That afternoon was fated to be a great ending to a week of coughing my guts up trying to sleep and so forth. I finally passed with seven minors and my examiner saying "It wasn’t perfect, but you passed." I went to hug the man, he was straight as a rod and looked terrified. I giggled and mentioned "just another Friday for you huh." He actually smiled.
Now I have to get a car and drive around like Mr Bean. Wish me luck, actually wish the other people on the road luck!
