Did you find it easy to pass your driving test?
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
October 8, 2015 6:28pm CST
Some people pass first time and others take several goes before they eventually get their licence.
I was over 30 before I learned to drive. I took the test in Salisbury (Wiltshire), which is quite a hilly city. I had done all the required elements and was heading back to the test centre when I made a complete hash of pulling away from a traffic light which was on a sharp incline. I got the revs all wrong and stalled the engine, having to slam on the brakes as the car started to roll backwards. The lights then changed back to red and I had to start all over again.
I therefore assumed that I must have failed and was astonished when the examiner said I'd passed. He later told me that I would have failed if the incident had happened earlier in the test, but he'd already ticked all the boxes on his forms by that time, so I would have passed whatever happened after the last box had been ticked!
11 people like this
13 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
9 Oct 15
I learned to drive in England, but took my test over here, haha..I was only 16.
It was sort of confusing to get used to this side of the road.
But I passed on the first go.
I learned on stick shift but the car here was automatic.
The parallel parking on a hill was not too easy made me nervous but I managed it.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
9 Oct 15
@indexer Yes it takes some getting used to alright. I prefer a stick too.
@Lushlala (4028)
• Gaborone, Botswana
11 Nov 15
@TiarasOceanView Good job, Ocean! I learnt on manual, but I'll be buying an automatic hehe
1 person likes this
@intal_carl (299)
• Quezon City, Philippines
9 Oct 15
Yes, because I have a hard training with my dad that's why I find it easy during the driving examination.
1 person likes this
@wiLLmaH (8802)
• Singapore, Singapore
9 Oct 15
@intal_carl some of the people in the Philippines knew how to drive and they are driving even with licence. Haha!
@intal_carl (299)
• Quezon City, Philippines
13 Oct 15
@wiLLmaH I agree with that
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
9 Oct 15
I failed my first test because the instructor had his own terminology for everything and I had no idea what he was talking about. "Turn on your backing lights." was one question I had no idea what he meant. No where in the book was there anything about a 'backing light'. I passed my second test because I had a different instructor.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
9 Oct 15
@indexer Yes, that's pretty much what he meant. But I had no idea what he was talking about.
@moffittjc (121775)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Oct 15
Many years ago, when I turned 16 and was eligible to get my license, we had a hurricane bearing down on us where I lived. I had an appointment to take the driving test, and they called me and told me they were cancelling the test due to the impending hurricane. I begged and pleaded for them to let me take the driving test, and one guy agreed to stay and give me the test. Let's just say it was quite harrowing taking a driving test in the middle of a hurricane! But I passed! After that experience, nothing has been able to faze me when it comes to driving!
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
9 Oct 15
I think I would have been pleading the opposite if the test centre had insisted that I turned up!
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
11 Oct 15
I never took it. The TBI I suffered when I was 14 left me (among other things) partially-blind in one eye. (16 is the minimum age at which people here are permitted driver's-licenses).
And--unless I wake-up with full-eyesight miraculously restored--I'm not subjecting the public to my use of the killing-machine.
@Lushlala (4028)
• Gaborone, Botswana
11 Nov 15
You must have done well, considering how hilly where you took the test is! I would probably have failed LOL I failed my theory the first time I took it, passed the second time round, failed my driving test the first time and passed the second time. I then went on for years without driving. I still have my license, but intend to go back to taking a few lessons before I buy a car LOL
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
9 Oct 15
I flunked the first time because I was nervous. I made sure I passed the second time because I didn't want to have to keep repaying to take it.
Frankly I think driving is necessary life skill. I was 21 years old when I learned.
Glad I did.
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
9 Oct 15
Reversing around a corner was my elephant 'on the highway', so failed first time on that, but was knocking on a bit at around 35 
@sallypup (61817)
• Centralia, Washington
9 Oct 15
I am horrid when it comes to tests. And then a guy sitting right next to me staring at my every move. Yikes.
