Driving Test Myths

As I have been a driving instructor for quite a few years now, I have definitely seen a pattern in the pupils views of the driving test. Usually these views have been formed in their own mind, or more often than not have been given to them by other drivers.
I have sat in the back of my car on a great many driving tests as an observer and spoken to many driving test examiners so I hope I can help dispel some of the many myths that seem to be floating around about the driving test.

Pupil: I hope the examiner hasn't reached his quota for passing pupils yet, I've heard it's especially difficult to pass near the end of the month.

Answer: There is no such thing as pass quotas. None at the end of the week, month or even year. If you drive safely and avoid committing any serious or dangerous driving faults and commit 15 driving faults or less you will pass the test.

Pupil: To be able to pass the driving test I have to adjust the mirrors so that I have to really move my head about to check them. This way the examiner will see me checking my mirrors.

Answer: Please please please do not do this. If you do the examiner may even fail you for not setting the mirrors correctly as part of your cockpit drill. Examiners are highly trained professionals and know exactly when you should be checking your mirrors and how often and although you may not see it they do watch your eyes to see if you are checking the mirrors.

Pupil: I've heard that the examiners are really stern and don't say anything to you on the test, only where to go and what to do.

Answer: To me, examiners have a really tough job on this one. If they sit in the car and chat to you a lot it could distract you from what you are doing. If they don't say anything at all it could make you more nervous. Generally though I have found that before the actual driving takes place, when they are walking you to the car they will be very talkative, and during the test the examiners will pick the right moment to ask little things about you like where you are from and what you do, to really try to help put you at ease.

Pupil: When I am slowing down I must change down through every gear.

Answer: Untrue, I think in the past this used to be the case but nowadays we tend to block change going down the gears i.e. 5th to 3rd, 4th to 2nd etc. This way your hands are on the wheel for longer giving you greater control of the car.

Pupil: Manoeuvres are really tough on a test, you only get one shot a doing it right and you can't go back and start from the beginning.

Answer: Yes It's true that you only get one go at the Manoeuvres, so you really want to be comfortable in doing all three before you go for the test, but you can correct a Manoeuvre that is going wrong. So if you think you are going to hit the kerb or go wide on a reverse to the left stop, drive forwards a little and correct the manoeuvre. This is down to the examiners discretion however, but in all the times that I have observed a test the examiner would only ask the pupil to drive on if they have already failed the Manoeuvre i.e. mounted the kerb, or if they show no sign of wanting to correct the manoeuvre i.e. finishing up wide on a reverse park and not bringing it in.

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Driving Test Myths

Pupil: When I go for my driving test I have to use the test centres own car.

Answer: The driving test centre does not have any cars for the driving test. Normally you go for the test in the instructors car that you have been learning to drive in.

Well that’s it for the myths that I have heard so far. I hope that this section has helped put your mind at ease about going for the driving test and if I hear of any more myths going around about the driving test you can find them here.

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