Driving & Driving Test Tips: driving test, sports and games, driving instructor

Question
Hi paul could you please give me some tips on how to stay calm and do my best in my driving test I sit it in three weeks and I am really paranoid I wont pass. My driving instructor is great and has a high percentage of students passing first time but I am feeling the pressure and would feel really dissappointed not to pass first time.I am trying to squeeze as many lessons in as possible but its costing a fortune i think that is why i am panicking so much about passing first time as it will cost more money and time to do it again.do u know roughly how many attempts it takes the average person to pass?  

Answer
Dear Gail,

Confidence and Nerves are one of the top reasons for people failing their driving test. The other main reason is that the candidate is simply not ready to take the test.

The examiner is expecting you to be a bit nervous, and will make some allowance for this, although not if you do something serious or dangerous. The best way to make sure that you are not nervous is to be confidant in your own ability.

Although it is harder to say than do, try to forget that the examiner is there. Just listen to his instructions and don't try talking to him. He won't mind. Remember the examiner is just a person doing a job. He is not a God. He does the same things as you. He goes shopping. he reads newspapers, he plays sports and games, just like you. Remember, the examiner is not there to judge you as a person, just your ability to drive your vehicle. He doesn't want you to fail your test, he gets a better reaction when people pass. When he sees a person who needs more practice the only way to make sure they get it is to fail them. He won't try to trick you. He just wants to see your driving skills.

Also don't worry about what you can't change. If you make a mistake then just forget about it and carry on. You will just make more and more mistakes if you are worrying about them. I had a trainee fail his test last month because THE TRAINEE thought he had failed. He made a mistake that the examiner didn't think was bad enough to fail him, but the trainee thought he had failed and he gave up trying and made other mistakes that DID fail him. Don't fall into this trap.

Don't listen to the advice of your friends and family, they mean well but it is your instructor you should listen to. For example, if a friend has just taken a test and advises you that you should drive slowly as he/she was driving normally and failed for going too fast, it is likely that you will drive too slowly and fail for that.

If you feel that you are getting tense during your test take a deep breath slowly and then exhale slowly as this can calm you down a little.

I am not sure what the statistics for the USA are but if you are from the UK the current pass rate is only 43%. (June 2004). The pass rate is even lower for first time candidates. If you are not getting it right without your instructors help you are not ready to take your test.

The top ten reasons for failing driving tests (based on 12 months up to January 2004) are:
1. Observation at junctions - Ineffective observation and judgement
2. Reverse parking - Ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy
3. Use of mirrors - Not checking or not acting on the information
4. Reversing around a corner - Ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy
5. Incorrect use of signals - Not cancelling or giving misleading signals
6. Moving away safely - Ineffective observation
7. Incorrect positioning on the road - At roundabouts or on bends
8. Lack of steering control - Steering too early or leaving it too late
9. Incorrect positioning to turn right - At junctions and in one way streets
10. Inappropriate speed - Travelling too slowly or being hesitant


Listen to your instructor, he has had lots of trainees take tests and if he thinks you are capable of passing then you are.

I hope I have been of some help, and wish you luck in your test

Yours,

Paul