I passed first time. I think after your 3rd consecutive fail you should have to take more lessons before trying again or something. Wouldnt really be fair to say 3 times MAX as a lot of people i know took 4-8 attempts and 2 years on they are great drivers.
Test Limit? What do you think?
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A limit in a time period but not an overall limit (no more than x many per year). I have known people that passed on their first test who aren't very good drivers, people who have passed on their fifth attempt and are much better. One person I know passed on the second attempt and they are the worst driver I have ever been in a car with (to the extent i don't even speak to them when they are driving as they are scary even when they have their full attention on driving only).
I seem to remember there was a statisitc way back when that said people who passed first time were not the best drivers. However, I can't remember where I heard it and it was a long time ago (way back when I was learning
).
Also where would this leave learners who are put forward too early for their test by their instructor? (I have seen this happen a great deal) Your instructor tells you to apply for your test, you are going to rely on his judgement.
I seem to remember there was a statisitc way back when that said people who passed first time were not the best drivers. However, I can't remember where I heard it and it was a long time ago (way back when I was learning
).Also where would this leave learners who are put forward too early for their test by their instructor? (I have seen this happen a great deal) Your instructor tells you to apply for your test, you are going to rely on his judgement.
Squark said:
Me too
Quite a nervous driver also but i've never had an accident so I can't be that bad
I think i'm 'over careful' at times, though, which can be seen as bad driving I guess.Ah well, we can't all be Michael Shumacher
Muban said:
Exactly. Limiting the allowed attempts would be madness.
RoB- said:
Oh now thats just mean
Tell us a story 
I passed my practical 1st time and my theory sort of my first time.
Theory test got booked (parents paid
) but the credit card statement arrived before the test and it appeared the test fee had been refunded!? Phoned the centre up to be told that yes they still had my booking and to show up as normal.On the day itself? Sorry your test has been cancelled for 'unspecified reasons'
Fan-*******-tastic - wasted an afternoon
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after detecting a certain sense of a superiority complex in this thread from some of those that passed first or second time, it made me wonder.
there are often threads in motors that run along the lines of "i just crashed my car" involving the driver making some type of elementary mistake and promptly bending his car and, on occaision, someone elses in the process.
i'd be willing to bet the lions share of those posting threads like that passed first or second time,thereby undermining the assumption that they are in any way shape or form "better" by default than a driver who took 4 or more attempts.
there are often threads in motors that run along the lines of "i just crashed my car" involving the driver making some type of elementary mistake and promptly bending his car and, on occaision, someone elses in the process.
i'd be willing to bet the lions share of those posting threads like that passed first or second time,thereby undermining the assumption that they are in any way shape or form "better" by default than a driver who took 4 or more attempts.
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why?Garrett said:
if it's possible to conduct a harder test then it's something all learners should go through.the test as it stands has some serious shortcomings and whether you pass first or fifth time it's no indication of your ability or lack of.
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lordrobs said:
Exactly!
I passed 2nd time.
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The number of attempts it takes people to pass really doesn't matter. Anything can go wrong during a test and some people are just unlucky. I know some people that took 3 or 4 attempts to pass and I know for a fact they are better drivers than most of the ones that I know who passed 1st time.
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i know several people that were put in for a test way before they were ready to take one, in an attempt to scaremonger them into panic-buying more lessons that they would've needed had things run their natural course.matthew_o50 said:
Only two people I know I am reallly loath to get in a car with if they're the driver.
They both passed first time.
Passing the 'test' os only a tiny part of being a good driver. If you assume you are a 'driving god' because you passed first time, you are a muppet.
They both passed first time.
Passing the 'test' os only a tiny part of being a good driver. If you assume you are a 'driving god' because you passed first time, you are a muppet.
I don't think there should be a limit, because failing a test does not for me show you are a bad driver period. It could be down to many factors such as nerves, bad luck, or just lack of experience on the roads. I am sure there are loads of drivers who have had a really good drive and past first time, then gone on to crash the next day. While you have someone who has failed a couple of times, but since they have failed so many times they have had more time to learn the roads and gain experience, so when they passed eventually they didn't have any bumps.
I know from personal experience that my brother passed his test first time, and after he passed he nearly had an accident pulling out of the test center and pretty much whenever he drove for the next month or so. Just because he passed first time didn't make him a better driver, and to this day he is still a bad driver. It probably would have done him far more benefit if he had failed a couple of times because then he would have improved more.
I know from personal experience that my brother passed his test first time, and after he passed he nearly had an accident pulling out of the test center
and pretty much whenever he drove for the next month or so. Just because he passed first time didn't make him a better driver, and to this day he is still a bad driver. It probably would have done him far more benefit if he had failed a couple of times because then he would have improved more.Mr.T said:I know from personal experience that my brother passed his test first time, and after he passed he nearly had an accident pulling out of the test center
Instructors shouldn't be letting anyone but himself drive out of the test centre, pass or fail. It's not a law but more of an unwritten rule, used because you are either overjoyed and relieved or unhappy and angry, either way you shouldn't be driving.
If you do the test in your own car, the person you go there with should be driving home.
If you fail a driving test because you collapse and make mistakes under pressure then how in the hell does that make you a good driver?
I don't understand the people who say "I know someone who failed 4 times, but it was only because of the test - they're a good driver really!". What happens when this "good driver" is put into a similar stress situation - e.g. busy motorway or something, won't they just exhibit the same symptoms?
Driving licences seem to be the only thing in the World where people view it as a right rather than a privilege. If you were in the RAF and learning to fly a plane and you just crumbled under pressure every time do you think they'd let you carry on doing it? And yet we dish out licences to drive 1.5 tonne blocks of metal around at killing speeds like they're nothing.
I don't understand the people who say "I know someone who failed 4 times, but it was only because of the test - they're a good driver really!". What happens when this "good driver" is put into a similar stress situation - e.g. busy motorway or something, won't they just exhibit the same symptoms?
Driving licences seem to be the only thing in the World where people view it as a right rather than a privilege. If you were in the RAF and learning to fly a plane and you just crumbled under pressure every time do you think they'd let you carry on doing it? And yet we dish out licences to drive 1.5 tonne blocks of metal around at killing speeds like they're nothing.
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Bike (both parts) one.
Car took three, spread out over 8-10 years, I had my bike licence so wasn't that bothered. Theory test took one, I had to take the theory because of how long before I passed my bike test. And lets be honest if I couldn't pass the theory test after 10+ years of driving bikes I should have been shot
I think the current test procedure is flawed, how to fix it is a much bigger question. At the very least the pass plus should be made complusery, as a lot of new drivers get no real motorway and fast A road experience, and I've met at least one person who had never driven in the dark till after they had passed their test!
Hell, I took the pass plus with over 10 years of bike riding experience because I knew it would be a whole different ballgame driving a car on the motorway to bikes. Oh and lets not forget the insurance bonus for doing it
Car took three, spread out over 8-10 years, I had my bike licence so wasn't that bothered. Theory test took one, I had to take the theory because of how long before I passed my bike test. And lets be honest if I couldn't pass the theory test after 10+ years of driving bikes I should have been shot
I think the current test procedure is flawed, how to fix it is a much bigger question. At the very least the pass plus should be made complusery, as a lot of new drivers get no real motorway and fast A road experience, and I've met at least one person who had never driven in the dark till after they had passed their test!
Hell, I took the pass plus with over 10 years of bike riding experience because I knew it would be a whole different ballgame driving a car on the motorway to bikes. Oh and lets not forget the insurance bonus for doing it
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No-One said:
how thick is he?? I can understand getting a bad batch of questions even a couple of times, but to fail 6 times!!
passed bike first time, 1 minor, car test, failed first one because I was nervous (I'm never nervous, don't know what was happening) didnt get many minors, but touched the curb on my park. second test I got 2 minors and passed, just sat there chatting to the instructor the whole time about cars, and it was over before I knew it!
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Durzel said:
I have to say I completely agree with that. My mother failed her test four times and after 200 lessons. She was a competent driver technically but didn't like the pressure of the test and also didn't like the stress of other traffic, which is abit of a problem in everyday driving. Thanks goodness she gave up trying to pass.
As I posted in another thread recently, I like the Swiss way of doing things that requires you to pass a psycological examiniation if you fail three times in a row before being allowed to take another one.
Having said all that I passed first time after just six weeks of driving and promptly wrote off my first two cars inside a year. The fact that I was confident and technically OK (but thought I was better) meant I was a cocky little so and so and could pass my test but paid the price for being an arrogant **** ultimatey.
I wonder if a system like the pilot's license may work better whereby you should reach a certain standard and be able to handle pressure given a number of specific miles under your belt. My poor old Mum covered thousands in her learning and clearly was never going to be good enough to be allowed on the road.
I passed both car and bike test first time.
I dont think there should be a maximum times, however I agree there should be a 'cool off' period between failing a certain number of times.
I often think some people go in for their tests before they are really ready to take it. My girlfriend took 3 gos. The day before she sat her first test she took me out and I could tell she just wasn't ready. She could do it all, but just didn't have the confidence and conviction in her actions to pass a test. Even on the second go I didn't think she was really ready.
Now, she's a good driver. It just takes a while for the confidence to settle in.
I personally think all drivers should be re tested every 10 years. The number of hopeless drivers on the road who blatantly wouldn't pass a test astounds me.
I dont think there should be a maximum times, however I agree there should be a 'cool off' period between failing a certain number of times.
I often think some people go in for their tests before they are really ready to take it. My girlfriend took 3 gos. The day before she sat her first test she took me out and I could tell she just wasn't ready. She could do it all, but just didn't have the confidence and conviction in her actions to pass a test. Even on the second go I didn't think she was really ready.
Now, she's a good driver. It just takes a while for the confidence to settle in.
I personally think all drivers should be re tested every 10 years. The number of hopeless drivers on the road who blatantly wouldn't pass a test astounds me.