Top 10 Myths of the UK Driving Test

These are the 10 Most Common Myths about a Driving Test in the UK.

Dash Camera Affiliate Links.

Social Media

Amazon Links
#learningpoint #dashcam #education

[langjones]

This was a conversation when I first took my test:-
Instructor: "Why didn't you overtake that milk float?"
Me: "Well, he was going quite fast."

[EinkOLED]

I missed a turn in the GPS, stalled at a junction without inconveniencing other traffic, and left a large gap between the curb during the pararrel reverse parking, but corrected it. After all these mistakes I passed first time with 5 minors.

[xorsyst]

When I took my test, I took the wrong lane to wait in at the very first junction. I noticed, apologised, and safely changed into the correct lane. I'm convinced that dealing with the mistake calmly and safely actually impressed the examiner so much it helped me pass my test.

[Tzephkiel]

I learned the stalling one in my test! I stalled in the first minute of my test, and thought "Oh well I've failed now." In some ways it might have been a good thing, cause I really relaxed and thought I'll get the test experience for next time. I was really surprised when I got back, the stall ended up being my only fault!

[effyleven]

We all have our driving test stories.
On my test (a long time ago now) I had a REAL emergency situation to deal with.
Believe me, it was a classic, like something set up for a RoSPA safety film!

Thing is, it happened on the street at the EXACT point on the test route that my instructor had *forewarned* me I would likely get my test emergency stop occur. So, of course, I was ready for it... no, I was MORE than ready for it!
Details..
My instructor had said previously, "As you pull away from this junction, passing these parked cars, and just as you are busy going up between second and third, the examiner will likely hit the dashboard with his newspaper, right (bang) HERE... so be ready for it."

And so I was, properly primed and absolutely on tenterhooks...
...when.. as I went up that street...
... a big RED BALL bounced,
out between those parked cars, right into my path..
... rapidly followed by a kiddie, a little boy in a striped jersey.

Well, between the ball appearing and the boy appearing, my foot was stamping that brake pedal like it was an emergency STOP... because it WAS an emergency stop, dammit!!
Golly, I thought I bent the floor!

It happens the examiner did not see any of this unfold, because he was writing stuff on his chart thing.
The first he knew about, it he had flown off his seat and was sitting on the FLOOR of the Triumph Herald.. Poor man! He was in some confusion and a bit belligerent. (this was pre-seatbelt, you understand.)

But, when he had climbed back into his seat and could see through the windscreen again, there was the little boy, now holding his ball and looking a bit sheepish.. standing only four feet off our front bumper.

"Ahh, " said the examiner, "Very well, Mr. D****s, " making a mark on his chart. "You can drive on now."

After that, I did not get a "test" emergency stop on the rest of my exam .. and the only comment made by the examiner was to my instructor. As I was being taken home the man who taught me said,
"I understand you had a bit of excitement on your test?"
"Err. Yes."
I suppose dealing with a real emergency on my driving test must have helped me pass first go. but what helped most was it happening WHERE it did..
Hey, emergencies are always unexpected...
... except when they aren't, eh?

Thank you for reading.
Drive with care, folks.

[MrJuke]

I have my driving test in the morning, currently binge watching test videos at 12am because I can’t sleep lol

[neilbarnett]

No. 1 was bang on, my son missed the examiner's instruction to turn left, then realised and just said "We'll have to go straight on, I'm committed" - the examiner was very pleased and said so at the summary ( a rare thing, apparently.)
I enjoyed "...you have to get somewhere and there's a Police car behind you."

[calastyphon]

One thing that I can confirm about driving tests is that the instructor makes you pull up on the left like 5 times in 40 minutes. They are probably testing your blind spot checks and ability to pull off safely.

[gibsonede]

I completely agree with getting an instructor that works to your learning abilities. My first instructor demanded I pay for double lessons every week because "it would be the only way you could pass" - more like he was money grabbing and pressurising me into lessons I didn't work with. My second instructor put me at ease, and never asked for double lessons. He was strict but respectful of my anxiety, and I passed first time with 2 minors. He taught me so well that I went on my test feeling calm because I knew I could drive. Always make sure you're comfortable with your instructor, and that your instructor has the right intentions.

[BrokenFaceComics]

On my bike test I ignored (intentionally) the examiners directions twice as I didn't feel I was well positioned to take the roundabout exits he had specified, he did then direct me through an especially tricky built up residential area (which he clearly did to get his own back), but I suffered no issues due to my ignoring his route on those occasions. As I have mentioned on previous video comments, the weather was terrible, and combined with this his habit of giving late direction instructions this was, to my mind, best handled by taking the exit best fitted to my current position in the road. This particular examiner was well known for tough tests and for making people cry (even people he had passed), but in the end if I took my chosen route safely he had no recourse. He did mention my ignoring his instructions after the test (through gritted teeth), but he also commended me on a great ride while telling me I had passed :)

[janiceNNugs]

I recently passed my test on a Friday so I can confirm this one...
Wanted to thank you Ashley as I think your videos have helped me. Esp. The show me tell me questions videos.
And everyone else once you pass you'll smile at this video as Im sure at least one of the myths passed your minds :)

[lucaluke]

Why am I watching this? I passed my test years ago lol

[robinjones]

As an ex UK driving examiner I fully agree with all your points in your video. The "old wives tales that abound about the test are laughable. Yes, we were monitored on our pass/fail stats, but that was only to ensure fairness and eradicate bias, as for example re. male versus female results. Added to all that, the UK stats for road deaths per 100, 000 are up there with the best in the world. I believe Sweden is ever so slightly better, but then they do not have 60 million population with the attendant number of cars.

[Harrythepot]

Great video. I stalled twice on my driving test and passed. I didn't panic or hold anyone up. My instructors car was a BMW one series with quick start. with regards to learning all the test routes I spent most of my time on my lessons doing the "test routes" and my test was in an area I had never been before.

[shannoncaulee]

Passed my practical test today, thanks, obviously, to my instructor, but also to your advice, especially Locking on, being relaxed & looking properly.
Thank you !

[UKDrivingTest]

Good idea to do this video, need to do one myself soon, so many have these misconceptions on there head based on listen to a friend who has taken one driving test rather than listening to the advice from their instructor who has experience from hundreds of driving tests, and the associated training to become a driving instructor.

[pineapplepenumbra]

#4 A great point!

I've had students who are very nervous, or for whom driving just doesn't come naturally, who have been "dumped" by certain instructors who are keen to keep up their high pass rates, and see such students as a potential threat to said pass rates.

Also some instructors remove the ADI badge when they have someone they are sure will fail. One instructor had a student who had failed his last test dismally, hadn't had any more professional lessons and hadn't done well on the drive over. The instructor had his ADI badge in his pocket and was visible shocked when his student passed!

I've also had students who said that their last instructor just had them go around a quiet housing estate for the last 20 or 30 hours (now, to be fair, there is the occasional person where you have to do this, but they are usually in the minority), they also usually come from the same instructors who you only see very rarely at test centres.

Re my own pass rates, these, of course, vary from year to year, but the last few years I've had a lot of pupils from a nearby private school and, generally, they have access to cars and parents with time to take them out, so have done very well, resulting in very high pass rates and quite a few passing first time with no minors. However, other years I've had more older students, and many more foreign students, some of whom don't have good English skills and, predictably, the results have been worse.

I've taught people from nearly 60 different countries and people from certain countries are definitely harder to teach, for various reasons.

[hadorstapa]

Stalling probably helped me pass.
It was early in my test, I was tense, and I stalled entering a roundabout; I felt like I blew it, and I treated the rest of the test like it was additional driving practice with a different instructor.
I passed.

[taylorcarter]

I passed my test first time in September! All of my friends were taking the micky out of me because it took me so long to do my test, but I was the only one of us who passed first time! It's not about how long it takes, it's about making sure you're confident enough to feel like you're going to pass (but not getting overly confident to the point that you become reckless).

[gaary]

at the start of my test the examiner was very late giving me a right turn direction, I reacted using mirrors, the examiner apologized, but it really set me up as we all make mistakes, great video