My first driving lesson

[SpookyFrank]

It took me 3 years, but more critically a month off driving after failing test 2. In that time instructor switched from a Focus - which I couldn’t get the hang of at all, especially the gears, to a Mini, which I picked up straight away.

I went on to pass my third test after 5 hours in the Mini with only 4 or 5 minors. It must have been a lucky car as earlier that day someone had passed with 0 minors, apparently only the third time in 20 years my instructor had that happen.

My first test, the instructor's car had been pranged the day before so I did it in a courtesy car. The gearstick was an inch and a half to the left of where my hand expected it to be, and it completely threw me off.

That's my excuse for failing anyway.

 

[hash tag]

Just relax, nice smooth, gentle drive. Nothing dangerous, don't break the law. Sorted

 

[scalyboy]

Thanks all for your good wishes

I just did a mock test with the sarky instructor; 1 serious fault and 16 minors.
The serious fault was for doing a reverse manoeuvre in 5th gear (my car and the other instructor's car has reverse gear on the right, but with today's car it's on the left). So I would've failed if it had been the real thing, but a improvement on a previous mock test a fortnight ago, where I made 5 major faults...

The minor faults today were nearly all due to nerves, undue hesitation at junctions, stalling at hill starts (I'd more or less got the hang of these until today) and so on. For some reason I was double-nervous today, maybe because it was the sarky man. I'll see if I can get the laid-back chilled-out instructor to give me a mock test...

 

[scalyboy]

My first test, the instructor's car had been pranged the day before so I did it in a courtesy car. The gearstick was an inch and a half to the left of where my hand expected it to be, and it completely threw me off.

That's my excuse for failing anyway.

That would totally throw me as well!
Muscle memory does seem to be a factor, as I learned today when reversing in 5th gear (see post above)
Oddly enough I kept the car at a nice slow 1mph pace...

 

[scalyboy]

So I failed due to one serious fault; approaching an amber light on a dual carriageway and hesitating, then deciding to try going through it after all examiner sharply applied the brakes
Apart from that, he said at the end that I had done pretty good (3 minors), and seemed kind of apologetic to have to fail me! (I would have failed me too though - I'm clearly not yet safe to drive on 50 or 60mph roads).
Don't know WTF I was thinking, rush of blood to the head maybe as I'd just gone through an amber safely* on this same dual carriageway a mile or so before.
* when it would have been dangerous to brake abruptly

The odd thing is, I'd been told more than once by different instructors that due to Covid precautions, if you make a serious (failing) error, the examiner will tell you to head back to the test centre straight away, to minimise their contact time with people. But this happened about 20 minutes in and I still got to complete the entire 40 minutes (which was nice).

 

[dessiato]

Sorry you failed. These things happen. Sounds as if you are basically ready to drive. Next time.

 

[hash tag]

Shit happens - you won't do that again! Better luck for next time.

 

[Elpenor]

3 minors is good - 1 Major and say 10 minors would have been a problem.

 

[scalyboy]

3 minors is good - 1 Major and say 10 minors would have been a problem.

Thanks - certainly an improvement on two recent mock tests (5 majors, 14 minors; 1 major, 16 minors!!)
The examiner said all three minors today came shortly after the AmberFail, so that had clearly messed with me head.

 

[hash tag]

Thanks - certainly an improvement on two recent mock tests (5 majors, 14 minors; 1 major, 16 minors!!)
The examiner said all three minors today came shortly after the AmberFail, so that had clearly messed with me head.

Getting closer then. Putting in for a cancellation?

 

[scalyboy]

Getting closer then. Putting in for a cancellation?

I would if I could! None available at all, due to the Covid backlog... can't book further ahead than 20 weeks aargh

 

[scalyboy]

Getting closer then. Putting in for a cancellation?

Actually I did manage to book a test earlier today - end of November, at Folkestone (I live in north London)
Not as daft as it sounds though, cos now I have a booking, I can start checking the cancellation apps for a date closer to home (and hopefully nearer than November)