How many times have you failed your driving test?

sashafierce · 09-12-2009 12:41pm #1

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Tony H · 09-12-2009 12:50pm

Well Sashafierce , I think the main problem is that you think you are a good driver , my wife thought she was a great driver , and she failed the test 3 times ,
Before the fourth test I begged her to take a few driving lessons and she passed the fourth time ,
Take lessons from a good driving instructor , it will cost you money but it is well worth it in the long run ,
My son took 14 lessons from a great driving instructor and passed first time .

sashafierce · 09-12-2009 1:57pm

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Pdfile · 09-12-2009 2:35pm

whats the manditory amount of lessons that are required ??

ive had none just got in and started driving with the prov and had no issues... will be getting the test just before crimbo. :eek:

sashafierce · 09-12-2009 2:39pm

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Permabear · 09-12-2009 2:45pm

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CR 7 · 09-12-2009 2:45pm

:rolleyes:

Well if that's the case, why not just tell your tester next time that you're good enough to pass and should get your licence without having to do the test, and that they need to go take all 'boy racers" licences off them.

Or you could admit that failing 3 times probably means you're not a good enough driver and need more lessons. The quantity of lessons makes no difference. Some people can pass after one, or none. Some may need 150.

sashafierce · 09-12-2009 5:11pm

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CR 7 · 09-12-2009 5:46pm

Clearly, since i have a full licence, and that's the only way of qualifying for it. It's a massive conspiracy against those without a safe level of driving ability.

Hope that made you feel better about not meeting requirements.

sashafierce · 09-12-2009 6:37pm

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Alanstrainor · 09-12-2009 6:42pm

In fairness now, i think you're contradicting yourself there just a little bit. Now see this:

button? You can use this to report a post you feel is out of line and any of the motoring mods can deal with it.

Irish_wolf · 09-12-2009 6:45pm

I'm not a boy racer but its obvious why boy racers pass their test usually on the first go.

They're confident on the roads and in general
They have a lot of driving exerience without a liscened driver, usually from driving their mates around the place, so they are less nervous with the tester
They try and drive well most of the time to impress people.

I mean just cause they drive fast and have loud cars doesnt mean they are bad drivers.

Also I failed my test only once, but their was a supervisor in the back for that one and it made me way more nervous than I should have been but oh well.

:rolleyes:

sashafierce · 09-12-2009 6:50pm

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Alanstrainor · 09-12-2009 7:38pm

Warning given. Attack the post, not the poster. Your OP says that you think you are a good driver, posters are just suggesting that perhaps you need to identify your faults and practice more rather than trying over and over again until you get it.

Pdfile · 10-12-2009 9:42am

ive got a 250 quid bet with my oul lad ( if i lose i lose not only half me wages but the bangers tax money... high stakes or what ?! ) that i walk it first time, never studied for my prov and got 40/40 so here we go.

Permabear · 10-12-2009 9:47am

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Pdfile · 10-12-2009 9:57am

like i take on anything.

1) a midget

2) a camel

3) tub of vasoline

as when they read this list and get freake out/.laugh i copy teh answers

OT: driving for a year nearly now, ii am a tiny bit nearvous, but its the good kinda nearvous.... like waiting for your birthday the day before, or winning a prize and waiting to receive it....

the prize being 50 quid off my insurence and not being worried about the gardi knicking me :pac:

YbFocus · 10-12-2009 1:07pm

I am a modified car owner and so are two of my friends, we passed first time! Our cars are not loud, they only have kits on them and a set of wheels. Yet we are given the same looks and insults that the other lads who crash and roar around towns do! I also want to point out that I have never got a single penalty point! I came on here to see if I could lend a hand to a few people and the person who started this thread immeadiately hit out at 'Boy racers'! I am fed up of people against us and saying we always crash and go fast, i don't do either!

Now I'm finished my rant and I do hope that this person shall never pass there test!

YbFocus, Modified car owner, full licence holder since 18, 0 convictions/ penalty points.

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 1:24pm

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sashafierce · 10-12-2009 1:28pm

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YbFocus · 10-12-2009 1:43pm

No but we are always painted with the same brush, I do regret saying that to you now because you don't seem that bad and I do wish you sucess this time.

I work in a local garage where everyone knows me and trusts me completely to work on there cars. They will chat me while they are getting something done or if I am in the company van everyone will wave.
If I'm in my own car they will look the other way! They all know I own it so it's not that they don't know me! It's this alienation and this Generalised 'Boy Racer' thing that boils me!

When the whole world hates you because your car has a few bits of coloured plastic on it, (sounds ridiculous to hate someone for that doesn't it) it's just stupid.

But I don't have anything wrong with the fact your a provisional driver and you could be a great driver, I know I too suffered with nerves in my test but got a very nice tester.

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 1:49pm

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YbFocus · 10-12-2009 1:55pm

Ahh we should be sticking together then not fighting

Genuinely sorry now for getting carried away... Hope you do pass!

Where you doing your test? Please don't say Portlaoise!

Pdfile · 10-12-2009 1:56pm

i agree 110%

dont agree with the looks of boyracer/ricer cars but meh, You can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink ( but you can break its front legs and drown it.... or dont. )

Highway10 · 10-12-2009 1:58pm

Failed test 4 times - 5th time lucky.
Been driving for 2 years and got it after 1 year so 5 tests in 1 year.
First 3 tests I got 1 lesson, just thought I could blag it.
Got a load of faults.
Then got really good instructor who was excellent.
did 4th test - failed at last corner going to test centre - followed a bus through an amber light - i had enough time to see it and stop.
The tester was so dissapointed for me - man that took me a while to get over that.
Passed 5th attempt.
What a nice feeling - moral of my story is to get good training.
But you need luck also.

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 2:00pm

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Seth Brundle · 10-12-2009 2:00pm

"Boy Racer" is a pretty much meaningless term unless you are a politician and want to make a media friendly sound bite!

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 2:01pm

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smokingman · 10-12-2009 2:08pm

Not meaningless to the masses of people that have to put up with goons meeting up in their souped up micras trying to break some loudness or donut making record. Happens all the time in the countryside and nothing is ever done.

Back on topic though, never failed the driving test meself. Just make sure you're seen by your tester to be aware of everything around you. That and learn how to drive properly of course.

YbFocus · 10-12-2009 2:14pm

Maybe your not very familiar with the town but you have a better chance of passing in tullamore at the minute, there were too many people on the list and they opened a private place for the test, these boys are a little more leniant I would think as the pass rate is much higher there. I don't know anyone in Portlaoise but in Tullamore Michael Davis is your man if you want to go down that road, he has over a 90% pass rate!

It's worth thinking about!

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 2:19pm

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YbFocus · 10-12-2009 2:25pm

Yeah you see I live in Clonaslee so Tul is way closer! To be honest I drive both and Port is a harder town to drive in!!

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 2:28pm

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iguy · 10-12-2009 2:30pm

Wrong, studies show that boyracers can be the safest drivers around because they spend so much on their cars and they do not want to damage them.They also are some of the most skilled drivers around.

YbFocus · 10-12-2009 2:34pm

Thats it and the fact that it's always busier than tullamore!

YbFocus · 10-12-2009 2:36pm

You see thats true, I have to pick my routes and everything, I always go slow, afraid of finding a pothole somewhere! I know its stupid to have a car like that!

Queen-Mise · 10-12-2009 2:52pm

Failed 3 times then passed test. Stupid things failed on.

merc998 · 10-12-2009 2:59pm

Failed it 0 times passed it in 1 go peice of p**s with 1 pre test.Its easy seriously!!!!

YbFocus · 10-12-2009 3:01pm

Ahh now, come on it's not that easy, I passed first time too but it ain't that easy!

CR 7 · 10-12-2009 3:22pm

Well i got my test in a different town than i applied for, with only 3 weeks noticed, and having done all lessons in my local town. The thing is, you should be able to transfer the skills you learn in a lesson to any town, not practice the routes over and over til you're just doing everything automatically in the test. If anything it's an advantage, stops you getting too comfortable, and makes you think more about what you're doing.

daveharnett · 10-12-2009 10:21pm

Whenever I hear this

, particularly from inexperienced drivers, I tend to think of this. Being more confident than some, or even most of the muppets on the road does not equal a 'good driver'.

The few really good drivers I know (and i'm not one of them!) would't consider themselves to be great drivers at all - they constantly evaluate their actions and find room for improvement.

Being able to maintain your standard of driving despite pressure is one of the only useful skills which is really assessed by our driving test imo. The test is not the only time when you will have to drive under pressure - being stressed, in a hurry, or even just p*ssed off will all tend to affect the way you drive, and it is important to recognize these factors and compensate for them.

I don't mean to discourage you OP, I'm just suggesting that you should adjust your attitude - concentrate on really improving your driving, and the licence will come.

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 10:32pm

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CR 7 · 10-12-2009 10:43pm

Well in the quote above you said 'good'.

Why come here asking for an opinion if you're just gonna throw your cats out of the buggy when you get one you disagree with?

sashafierce · 10-12-2009 10:45pm

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The Big Red Button · 10-12-2009 11:01pm

The first time round when I did my driving test, I considered myself to be a "good" driver. :rolleyes: That was pretty naive of me! I mean, I'd had LOTS of practice - maybe fifteen paid lessons and about five times that amount of time practising with my boyfriend or father in the car with me.

I did the test, thought it went pretty well, failed by one Grade Two fault too many.

I was devastated, but you know what? I didn't think, "This is so unfair, it's clearly them in the wrong." Instead, I completely re-evaluated my driving. I paid for a LOT more lessons, specifically focussing on where I'd gotten faults in the first test. I went to a couple of different recommended instructors, even though I was happy with the first one I had - it was good to get insight from different viewpoints, and it really helped.

My driving confidence was completely shot after failing, but you know what, it was the best thing that could have happened. Looking back, I was an OK driver at the time - but after the amount of preparation and hard work I put in second time around, I can say that I am a much better, safer driver now. (I passed easily the second time, by the way.) I'm still learning, all the time - I mean, I've only been driving about five years - but I'm definitely in a much better position now.

But the thing is, anyone could just keep repeating the test til they eventually get lucky and pass. But instead of bitchin and moaning about how the tester was an a-hole / boy racers have such an easy time of it / I'm a good driver no matter what anyone thinks ... etc ... it might make more sense to try to figure out where you are going wrong in all of this. Going out on the road is probably the biggest risk you take every day; it's up to you to minimise the risk that you pose to yourself and to every other driver and road user, by making sure that you are as safe a driver as you can be.

I'm not trying to get at you in particular OP, I'm just sharing my own experience. Looking back, failing first time was the best thing that could have happened really. I am a much better driver as a result.

sashafierce · 11-12-2009 12:50am

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Varyn · 11-12-2009 12:55am

I passed my test last week first time

However, I drove into Dublin city for the first time today and all I can say is thank god I had my mother in the car with me :eek::eek::eek:. Will definitely be practising a bit more around the city with an experienced driver before I attempt it alone. Driving takes YEARS of practice to become good at, and even then I suppose you're always learning. You may have all the skills but being able to apply them to every situation you come across is the real trick. My dad was always telling me this, but was only today I fully realised what he meant!

ballsymchugh · 11-12-2009 1:04am

passed at the 7th attempt!! never mind op, i thought i was good the first time, and the second...
in the end i went to a different test centre, handier for college, had a new instructor who was extremely easy going and only gave me 2 lessons (as opposed to having at least 10 before all the other tests) so didn't have any nerves going into the test.

tudlytops · 11-12-2009 1:09am

Passed 1st time

Gosh was i happy not to have to do it again

Failing in many cases as nothing to do with being a good or bad driver, some people just get so nervous then keep making mistakes they wouldn't normally do.

Next time you go for your test, think of it as less important, a bit like " well if i fail what's the worse that can happen, i stay the way I am" , that way it won't be such a big deal.

Changing where you do your test can help to, as now you already have an idea of where they are going to bring you and what they are going to ask you and when, so prior mistakes will pop into your head, a new test area may help.

And if you do make simple mistakes, like leting the car die, etc, don't get nervous, just restart, look in the mirrors and go.

Good luck next time.

gabria · 11-12-2009 1:35am

Don't worry, sasha. I'm with you on this one. Don't let anyone knock you down. If it makes you feel better, you've still got a few years on me. I'm nearly 29, and all my friends and my younger brother have passed. I'm going to alienate everyone if I continue to bum lifts. So my New Years resolution is to knuckle down and do I everything I can to pass at the 5th attempt (buy a car and get ****loads of lessons) But i get really nervous waiting for the driving instructor to pick me up and where I live I'll be struggling to find licensed drivers to take me out.

The Big Red Button · 11-12-2009 4:59am

What was the actual question? How many times have you failed your driving test? Pretty much anyone who's replied has answered that question!

No one is "having a go" at you. If you start a thread like this, you are leaving yourself open for peoples' comments, and yes, for peoples' criticisms also, but if you just try to have an open mind about it you will realise that it's mostly constructive criticism which people are only giving you in an attempt to help you.

I'm not sure what you want to hear really ... I mean, we can't exactly go agreeing with you and say that yes, you clearly are a good driver, it's those testers who are in the wrong - it may be true, for all I know, but we only have your word to take for that!

You also have to keep in mind that anyone who answers this has to share the road with you. I know that the test is fairly harsh, but personally I'd rather see the occasional good driver have to repeat it than to see the occasional bad driver pass it and be let loose on the roads with what's basically a weapon, when in the wrong hands. And of course this does happen, too, all the time.

Driving is a privilege and a huge responsibility - it's not an automatic right that is just going to be handed to you - and rightly so.

How many times have you failed your driving test?

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