My daughter failed her road test
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
January 25, 2012 10:27pm CST
I feel so bad for my daughter. She took her road test today and she failed the parallel parking. In our city there are almost no straight parking spots where anyone can parallel park, so I don’t know why that maneuver is even on the test. Anyway she failed it and she feels so down on herself. She is 42 years old and doesn’t have a drivers license. She did renew her drivers permit. I think her husband is going to try and get her in drivers training school.
I know I can’t teach her to parallel park… I did it to get my license when I was 19 but I haven’t done it since. She feels so bad because kids just teenagers get their license to drive and she didn’t get hers. I know she needs to practice. Her hubby takes her out to drive but they never do any maneuvers.. she just drives to wherever they are going.. she needs to be taught how to do them.
I hope he will get her into a driving course. He is so afraid she will get into an accident that he has been holding her back and it is hurting her. I told him tonight that he needs to put that fear aside and let her learn because she needs to be independent.
Your thoughts Mylotters?
2 people like this
8 responses
@CookingIsMyPassion (653)
• United States
27 Jan 12
Maybe she should go to a driving school. It is only for a short time and since she has the basics down pat they can concentrate on the maneuvers that don't come naturally.
With all the pull in and pull out spots there are very few places that still have parallel parking anymore. This form of parking seems difficult for many because it is not something you do daily.
Wish her luck on her next test drive!
@CookingIsMyPassion (653)
• United States
27 Jan 12
That is great news that he is being so supportive. Way back in the day my Dad taught me how to parallel park. We didn't have long driveways as they so in the south here in the city up north. So, he took two garbage cans and placed a broom (bristles up) in each can. Place the cans next to the curbing far enough apart for the car to fit inside. Then I spent my evenings practicing fitting the car between the barrels. This takes the stress out of the one teaching because there are no other vehicles involved or traffic on the road trying to pass you up as you try and park. Once I was proficient - we still kept it up each evening till my road test was scheduled. I aced the road test. Just an idea to consider.
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
26 Jan 12
It's not unusual for people to not know how to parallel park, I don't do it very well. I rarely find that I need to know how, most times I have the option to park in a regular spot, even if it's further away I will usually opt for this option.
I wish her luck. You should be able to practice in a parking lot up against a curb. If that's the only issue a weekend of practice should accomplish it. I don't know if driving school would help if her driving abilities are fine, they don't concentrate on one thing, it's the overall driving. She would be better served to go out with someone that is patient that could guide her and it would be cheaper.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Jan 12
Hi Beaniefanatic,
Yes, she can drive anywhere and isn't nervous. It's just the maneuvers like parallel parking and 3 point turns... She has had her permit for 6 years now and has never been taught these maneuvers. I hope he will teach her now. She wants to try again in about 3 months.
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
26 Jan 12
I would suggest someone other than a spouse or parent from teaching in most cases, they are the most patient. Your daughter requires someone with patients and positive feedback, someone that will point out the positives and not dwell on the negative, someone that can give criticism in a healthy way. Most times parents and spouses can't do this for a length of time.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Jan 12
The only way she is going to learn is to do it...when I got my license so many years ago I practiced my parell parking and did fine....when I took my test however I couldn't do it but he passed me because he had seen me do it and thought it was just nerves....well I couldn't parell park for many years...until I got this car. Now I can. I don't know what the difference is but the car I have now seriously....I can do it! Hope he lets her get some behind the wheel....that's what she needs to do.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
27 Jan 12
N our city almost all parking spots are slanted. There really isn't any place to practice. The state driver place uses cones for cars. I asked I'd she could practice there and she can't.
@Amanda81587 (3042)
• United States
27 Jan 12
I think with the right practice she will be able to get it. I got my license when I was 16 years old I had to go to drivers school and they taught me where to place my mirrors and what symmetrical angle to cut my wheel at depending on where the cones were. I found it very useful. Hopefully if she gets training she will end up with an awesome trainer like I did and he can show her when to turn the wheel to pass.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
27 Jan 12
Hi Amanda,
I took my driver ed in high school. They don’t offer it anymore in school, which is sad. I’m not sure whether my daughter will get to go to driver school or not. I hope so. Her hubby should teach her how to do this. Not sure he will, but I hope so.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
27 Jan 12
I remember parallel parking from growing up in New York. It was hard to learn! I live in North Carolina now and the kids here don't even have to learn it! I don't think that is right because anytime they go to a major city with street parking they will have to know how. I have been trying to teach her whenever we have the opportunity.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
27 Jan 12
We don’t even have places to parallel park here where we live in Georgia. Almost every single spot to park is diagonal at the curb. There are a few places but not enough to warrant having to learn that. Some places here in GA don’t even make you do it.
@rooftop (110)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 12
Your topic reminded me about my son when he was eighteen some few years ago when he took his driving tests. In my country before getting on the road one need to attend a day's course about driving. After that to take a theory driving test. My son sat for four times. He failed three times. After passing theory he attended driving lessons with a driving school. Then for on the road and parking test he passed only on the second time. Some people are slow in learning but you ought to encourage her until she passes. I had my driving liscence when I was in my thirties. Yes, I wanted to be independent like you mentioned. I drove earlier on but then I sort of quited my driving. I dislike driving in traffic jams and for distant drives I sort of swayed away ... omg I got sleepy. That was kind of dangerous. Anyway I do renew my driving license. Yes it is good to have a driving license standby just in case eh. Give my best regards to your daughter. Try, try again!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
27 Jan 12
I got mine when I was 19. I took driver Ed in high school. They don't have that anymore.
@AmbiePam (93738)
• United States
29 Jan 12
My dad taught me to parallel park. He taught my best friend how to do it too. And if I had to parallel park today, for the life of me I doubt I could do it. But all I had to do was learn for the test. I took driver's ed in school because my parents got money off their insurance if I did. But they (the teacher) didn't teach me to parallel park. Fortunately, I had my dad. My mom taught me to drive (because my dad kept yelling at me), but my dad taught me how to parallel park.
@mauve02 (133)
• Philippines
26 Jan 12
It is ok to fail just practice and practice until she perfects the maneuvering. I understand what your daughter feels. When I was also learning to drive I am also afraid but I have to face those fears I have so that I can drive on my own. Maybe your daughter needs to face her fear so that she can perfect the maneuvering. Every time she drives she must think the opposite of what her hears are, that is what I did when I was a starting to drive.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Jan 12
She just needs to be taught. She isn't afraid. She doesn't know how to do those maneuvers. Her hubby never taught her... so now I hope he will.
