Test!

Miike

This might sound mad but here goes! :rolleyes:

I'm only doing my EDT now but when it actually comes to the test is there anything that can be done about being really nervous?

I'm a VERY nervous person in general when it comes to being around people I don't know or whatever (ie: tester!) and the added bonus of being tested isn't going to help

Do they take chronic anxiety into account?!

I've asked around and people just saying "AH YOU'LL BE FINE!" which lets be honest, isn't true.

Isolt

Haha I've been wondering the same thing Mike, but I don't think nerves are considered at all. It's an annoying one because having a tester beside you and spending €85 on the test already mounts up pressure on you. I know for me I drive far better when I am very calm. But when something happens on the road that freaks me out I then end up making really stupid mistakes when I really know better. So I too would like tips on staying nice and calm! Any advice appreciated
Earlier on, I was at a really annoying junction in Rathmines, a lovely taxi man let me go (otherwise I'd be waiting for freakin' ages, it's a nightmare) but then a pedestrian ran out right in front of me and I had to jam on. Although, I reacted as well as I could, it messed me up big style. Within 60 seconds a lady had cut in front of me pretty sharply. She apologised but at that stage, I felt terrible and started making ridiculous mistakes, like breaking too much and cutting out. I was too freaked out by both of those things happening within a minute of eachother. A competent driver would obviously handle these things far better than I did. I know if these things happened in my test, I'd likely fail because the anxiety would cause some sloppy mistakes. (a sure sign I am nowhere near test standard yet)

Miike

Isolt wrote: »

Haha I've been wondering the same thing Mike, but I don't think nerves are considered at all. It's an annoying one because having a tester beside you and spending €85 on the test already mounts up pressure on you. I know for me I drive far better when I am very calm. But when something happens on the road that freaks me out I then end up making really stupid mistakes when I really know better. So I too would like tips on staying nice and calm! Any advice appreciated
Earlier on, I was at a really annoying junction in Rathmines, a lovely taxi man let me go (otherwise I'd be waiting for freakin' ages, it's a nightmare) but then a pedestrian ran out right in front of me and I had to jam on. Although, I reacted as well as I could, it messed me up big style. Within 60 seconds a lady had cut in front of me pretty sharply. She apologised but at that stage, I felt terrible and started making ridiculous mistakes, like breaking too much and cutting out. I was too freaked out by both of those things happening within a minute of eachother. A competent driver would obviously handle these things far better than I did. I know if these things happened in my test, I'd likely fail because the anxiety would cause some sloppy mistakes. (a sure sign I am nowhere near test standard yet)

I'm really bad, I refuse to drive with my dad in the car because he's on of >THEM< people. Who knows everything... but it's his way of driving, not the legal way.

Really need to do something about the anxiety thing though, I get the same thing as you do with a mistake. Even when I conk out I get really messy in my driving because "I'm holding other people up" - There has to be a way :o

Motor-Ed

Miike wrote: »

I'm really bad, I refuse to drive with my dad in the car because he's on of >THEM< people. Who knows everything... but it's his way of driving, not the legal way.

Really need to do something about the anxiety thing though, I get the same thing as you do with a mistake. Even when I conk out I get really messy in my driving because "I'm holding other people up" - There has to be a way :o

Ask for some support from your Instructor as dealing with this is all part of driving. Do you only get nervous in Driving situations or elsewhere. Maybe looking into doing some breathing exercises to train yourself to cope when issues arise. Regarding stalling, everyone stalls a car at some stage or other, and if you're driving with L Plates, even more often. Back to basics on this one, better to move off a little slower than not at all.

Del2005

Miike wrote: »

I'm really bad, I refuse to drive with my dad in the car because he's on of >THEM< people. Who knows everything... but it's his way of driving, not the legal way.

Really need to do something about the anxiety thing though, I get the same thing as you do with a mistake. Even when I conk out I get really messy in my driving because "I'm holding other people up" - There has to be a way :o

They don't take nerves into account. I messed up loads of tests due to nerves till my EC instructor told me about Rescue Remedy, you get it health food shops, it calms you down.

Unfortunately the only way to get over nerves is practice and the only real practice for the test is the test, I spent way too much on tests due to nerves but got all the classes passed in the end.

The only thing you have to do is not worry if you make a mistake or start to panic, easier said than done.

areyawell

Some driving lesson companies offer pre-tests where a normal driving instructor will act exactly the same as the driving test instructor for the same price as a driving lesson. Do a couple of these and request a new instructor each time to get rid of the nerves.
At the end of the pre-test they'll obviously go through things with you if you failed, where to improve etc.

ladypip

Im off to do my test at 15:45 today and ive done two pretests already and im doing one for the hour before the test. They cost me 38 euro for an hours pretest but Def worth it I think.. Im ****ting myself now though!!!!!

Del2005

areyawell wrote: »

Some driving lesson companies offer pre-tests where a normal driving instructor will act exactly the same as the driving test instructor for the same price as a driving lesson. Do a couple of these and request a new instructor each time to get rid of the nerves.
At the end of the pre-test they'll obviously go through things with you if you failed, where to improve etc.

Never worked for me, I could drive fine with any instructor in the vehicle with me and would still mess up the test. But no harm in trying it.

Miike

Thanks for the replies

I'm sure I'll figure something out, pre-tests with new instructors sounds like a good idea, kinda eases me into the situation!

ladypip

Id def advise a pretest the hour before the test. Had my test today and a pretest for the hour before. Got me comfortable in the car with a stranger, all the nerves and silly mistakes were worked out before the test and I did really well in the test. If your in the dublin area and you want a good pretest instructor give me a pm and ill give you the number