Driving & Driving Test Tips: Driving test, driving instructor, driving instructors

Question
Hi Paul,

I have a driving test booked for the 8th April 05 I m clearly not ready to take my test and in fact on my last test I crashed in to the test centre and the test had to be abandoned in the interest of public safety.

But the thing is I do know how to drive and I feel that most driving instructors can be untrustworthy as all they want is you money and to keep your there for as long as possible.

1.   I really want to pass but I feel that my nerves seem to always get the best of me are there any tips which I can use to prepare for the test on the day?

2.   Also what kind of finally preparation should I be taking on my lesson leading up to the test?

3.   What should all by all means avoid doing on the day of the test e.g. running someone over etc?




Many thanks

Deborah Ezeogu  

Answer
Dear Debbie,

I am a little confused, In your first paragraph you say you are clearly not ready but in your second you say you know how to drive. It is impossible for me to say if you are ready or not as I have not seen your driving.

The best person to judge if you are ready is your driving instructor. I know that a lot of people think that their driving instructor is just keeping you for the money, but in 99.9% of cases this is not true.

Who decided that you book your test? If it was your driving instructor then he is confidant that you are good enough. If you booked your test against your instructors advice then you may not be ready and some more tution may actually save you money. If you are not ready, then you are just paying for a test that you will not pass.

On the day of your test you WILL be nervous. When on your test listen to your examinor carefully and don't be affraid to ask if you don't hear or fully understand his/her instructions. Other than this try to ignore the examinor, he or she will not think you are impolite. Do not look at what the examinor is writting as this will firstly take your mind off of your driving and second it will make you think that you are making more mistakes than you are as everytime you look at him he will seem to be writting somthing on his paperwork.  You do not fail a driving test unless the examinor says so. What I mean by this is, Don't give up trying just because YOU think you have failed, You may not have, and if you give up then you probably will fail. Try not to get flustered. If somthing goes wrong and you make a mistake then try to fix the problem the best you can but then forget about it as you cannot change it. If you keep worrying then you will make other mistakes.

On the lesson before the test you should just be driving the vehicle to warm up. You shouldn't be expecting your driving instructor to say a thing as you are now ready to take your test and therefore there is nothing else you need to learn in order to pass the test.

Yes, you should try to avoid running anyone over. This is not consered a good idea amoung good motorists. so avoid running people over at all costs. Although running over the examinor may be consided even worse!

Also try NOT to think about the test the night before. This will just make you more nervous and then you will not get to sleep, leaving you not only nervous on the day but also tired and triedness and driving don't mix.

In conclusion, listen to your instructors advise and be guided by it and if you think that you are getting bad advice then you should consider getting another instructor.


I hope this been of some help to you. If you have further questions please feel free to ask.


Paul