Driving test advice

orourkeda1

I'm 48. I've only recently started learning to drive and have my test in two weeks. The driving itself is ok when it's good but I have a slight issue,

I find it a little difficult to fully relax while driving and was looking for any practical advice.

freshpopcorn

Is there a reason why you can't relax?

Fear of the tester, having an accdient, making a mistake, road rage from others, etc?

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058419821/driving-test-advice

My advice is just drive more, fear surrounding driving comes from lack of knowledge and experience, put yourself in positions that will improve your driving, navigate that roundabout you always avoid when making your journey, drive around at rush hour when roads are busy, interact with other cars on the road.

It will be difficult and a little scary, you might get beeped at, you might cut someone off, don't be afraid to make mistakes but actively learn from them and think to yourself what could I have done to improve.

It may be too early to do your test if you only recently started driving, dont be discouraged by a fail.

There will be a day when you sit into the car, and your muscle memory just takes over and you wonder how you consciously got to your destination as you will need very little brain power to drive safely, at the start it requires a lot of brain power to be aware while having to use some for the correct maneuvers and movements changing gears checking mirrors etc.

colm reilly

Dont mean to be hard on you ,but maybe you are just not ready for the test ..

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123643517#Comment_123643517

Don’t be so negative.. most people find it hard to relax when learning to drive. I was a nervous wreck and still passed my test first time

horse7

If you're totally relaxed it means your not paying attention to your surroundings and your not focusing on your driving . You should try breathing slowly.

zg3409

Lots and lots of lessons in the run up to the test. Arrive for the test plenty early. Reverse into parking spot so you can drive straight out. Everyone is stressed for a test. It's about a 50% pass/fail rate and many/most are not that ready at their first test. Don't worry about tester writing on their paperwork.

Buffman

'Fully relax' is not something to aim for OP, presumably your end goal is not to be like one of those idiots driving along while watching videos on the phones or the like. As a driver you always have to be fully alert and attentive.

Gain more confidence and get more comfortable with driving is probably a better description.

I've been sponsoring a few people the last while and the only thing that will help is gaining experience and km under your belt. If you have an accompanying driver available, spend as much time practicing as possible.

If not, additional lessons/practice beyond the 12 EDTs with your ADI is an option. If you've any particular areas of concern, make sure to tell your ADI/sponsor so you can work on them.

Presumably you've lined up some pre-tests for your test centre with your ADI.

Best of luck anyway.👍🏻

orourkeda1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123643517#Comment_123643517

You may very well be right but there's only one way to know for sure.

orourkeda1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123643467#Comment_123643467

It's a mixture. It's a general tension. It's probably not as bad as I'm making it out but it's just tension.

JIdontknow

just follow the processes and procedures and also get in some practice on the route / routes or specific parts of it like where they test the reverse around corner,3 point turn etc. be familiar with or observe any quirky road markings to roundabouts (for example left lane left turn only etc). But practice and just follow the processes and you’ll settle into it once you get going.

New Scottman

When practising, try and drive around the route - the known tricky areas. Pick a busy time and ask for honest feedback from whoever is accompanying you.

orourkeda1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123653285#Comment_123653285

I've done 5 or 6 of the 10 and have done the most difficult one a few times.

OmegaGene

it is perfectly normal to be nervous, driving may seem easy for those with experience but for new drivers there is so much to think about and you need your head on a swivel watching for other road users, if you were totally relaxed then chances are you would fail the test.Best thing to do is crack on with the test and do your best and see what happens, worst case scenario you will learn from the test.

HazeDoll

Driving is something you should really learn while you're young and stupid. I left it quite late myself and found it very difficult, and a few people I know who left it even later found it even more difficult. I'm full of admiration for people who decide to tackle it at our age.

If you're not relaxed it's because you're not young and stupid. You're older and more aware of how easily things can go wrong and how high the stakes are. That's not a bad thing.

Don't focus on not being nervous, focus on not letting nerves affect your driving during the test. I have found in the past, in job interviews or other nerve-wracking situations, it's strangely helpful to admit to your nerves out loud. At the start of the test say to the examiner, "I'm very nervous," or "I didn't expect to be this nervous." The examiner isn't supposed to be chatty so you might get very little back in the way of comfort or sympathy but you'll find you have taken some of the pressure out of the nervousness.

How are you on left and right? It's surprising how many people aren't confident about this and for some reason think it's shameful to admit it. You can tell the examiner that you're not good at left and right and they'll either point or give directions some other way. You can't fail the test for not knowing left and right but if you hesitate or make a silly mistake because of it you might fail.

Also, it's probably no harm to go into this thinking of it as your first attempt. Lots of people who have been driving confidently for years don't pass the test first time.

orourkeda1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123654665#Comment_123654665

It's passable. Not great or not absolutely awful. There'll be mistakes for sure but nothing horrible I think.

alias no.9

The total driving time for the test is 20 to 30 minutes, much shorter than your typical driving lesson. Everyone makes some small mistakes on the test so don't get hung up if you do something minor. Busy traffic can be a good thing as it will limit the total distance you can cover.

orourkeda1

I did a pre test this morning. Cluster f**k of the century. I left feeling two feet tall. I would have failed for the mirror alone. Unbridled disaster.

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666792#Comment_123666792

You're being very hard on yourself, nobody can perfect a new skill shortly after learning it.

thegame983

Don't let mistakes on the day get to you. I forgot to turn the indicator off after exiting the test centre for about 100 meters. Still passed.

thegame983

Try to 100% the theory, engine & hand signals part. It's only a minor part of the test, but it shows the tester you're taking it seriously.

thegame983

I found this YouTube channel very helpful. He goes over a few test routes.

https://www.youtube.com/@admdrivingschool5033/featured

colm reilly

Op ,forget about the lessons for bit .You need an experienced driver with you, while you practice putting all the lessons you have being taught to make you a safe ,considerate,confidence driver .That my friend takes time .

extra-ordinary_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666837#Comment_123666837

When I did my driving test, I was certainly nervous of making a mistake, but once you know you're capable of doing whatever is asked of you then you should be good. I did a few lessons and then a few pre/mock test lessons days before the test. The instructor was a great help. Like everything else, it's practice, practice, practice.

No such thing as a clusterfuck, now you know what needs more practice.

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667215#Comment_123667215

Some say that is a way to pick up bad habits, I had all my lessons in the U.K. and past a test second time around