Driving & Driving Test Tips: dirivng test, first five minutes, benefit of the doubt

Question
Have you got any advice which you can give me on the do's and dont's on a driving test? I have booked my test and i am fairly ok behind the wheel.  All i want is tips to help me pass.  If you can help me out id be more than grateful.

Answer
Hi there,

Sorry about the delay in responding, I am on vacation away from home and thought I was logged off the site… so I need to keep this brief.

The first thing to consider is that the examiner is only concerned in how you cope with driving, that is how well you can control your car and equally how well you observe and react to what is going on around you.

Try to totally ignore your examiner, he won't get offended; give all your attention to what you are doing. Except for listening to his instructions forget he is there, he will not try to trap or trick you, just direct you to where you are going… plain and simple – that's the plan.

He will cut you some slack for nerves for the first five minutes or so, and give you the benefit of the doubt, but absolutely not for anything dangerous at any time during the test, which is why you need to keep your mind on what you are doing.

You need to show that you can keep control of your car and keep up with traffic, and be ready to cope with any situation that may naturally arise during the test (that's why you are there) the fixed exercises are just to demonstrate that you can control the vehicle properly in manoeuvres that probably won't arise is just driving around.

What he is looking for is simply that you can interface with all that is going on around you and not do anything silly or dangerous.  If it looks to him that you need more practice or experience the only way he can be sure that you get it, is to fail you.

So what it boils down to is, relax as much as possible, do what you can as well as you can, and FORGET all the stupid old tales you heard about examiners and just do it.

Good luck

Phil