So today I failed my driving test.

tom once dead · #1 11-03-2009, 05:53 AM

I had a feeling I would, I can drive really well, can do all the manouvers without thinking. I had everything perfect, untill I came to the reverse parallel park, which once again, did perfectly; BUT I was failed because I used my mirrors and didn't physically turn around to see, which would make me see less.

I'm pretty pissed, going again on monday, I can't wait untill I have my P's.

ehque · #2 11-03-2009, 06:02 AM

Celebrate that the system works! It's the driving test that keeps many people off the streets. Although it clearly doesn't catch everyone.

This is coming from someone who failed 3 times before he passed.

I was cited once for not turning around to park, the next test, i made sure i turned around when parking, but i was cited again for not coming to a complete halt before looking around.

tom once dead · #3 11-03-2009, 06:05 AM

I just hope I get it before school finishes, so I can do the traditional seniors drive around the school thing.

René_Julien · #4 11-03-2009, 06:23 AM

(sorry)

I failed my first time too. A very stupid mistake that in the real world isn't a mistake but common sense, but in the textbook of the examinator wasn't allowed.

That sucks man. For not looking around you before the manouvre.
For parallel parking initially I don't look behind me too. Just mirrors. (Unless in a Mercedes... I don't know why Mercedes still bothers to put side mirrors on their cars,... to small those things.)
Only at the end to judge how far I am from the car behind me.

Good luck on monday.

The most important thing is to stay calm.
My drivers test for truck and motorcycle I passed first time around by being confident and not getting nervous.
You're not doing anything you haven't done before.

Deluge Of Sound · #5 11-03-2009, 06:42 AM

The other thing to remember is that the DMV/BMV/waiting room of hell method of driving is a way no one drives in real life. You might be a terrible driver and pass your first time, or you might be a fine driver who takes the exam three or four times. I've met both, and I'm sure everyone else has too.

Steve · #6 11-03-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom once dead

BUT I was failed because I used my mirrors

Take the test here. You're supposed to use the mirrors.

What the heck are you supposed to do if you're driving a windowless van or a truck with a topper?

Bruce Lindfield · #7 11-03-2009, 08:31 AM

I passed first time on the test in Britain - and I remember my instructor telling me to look in the direction I was driving - so when reversing, look through the rear window!

But ever since I passed, I have always just done it on mirrors!!

MadMan118 · #8 11-03-2009, 09:19 AM

You got a test again next Monday? Wow in California you'd have to wait up to another month.

Jefenator · #9 11-03-2009, 09:37 AM

They failed me the first time, too. I think they do it just to make a new driver less cocky. (Probably not a bad idea, though I didn't appreciate it at the time.)

I'd love to make so many clowns out there on the road right now redo the test.

(But not me.

)

ADbassman · #10 11-03-2009, 10:05 AM

I failed two times and barely passed on the third. I have yet to cause a wreck, so I guess I'm doing something right.

ThunderLizard · #11 11-03-2009, 10:13 AM

Tom- Welcome to the Failed First Time Club. I'm a member.
The Inspector will be looking for a 'checkist' of things, but they'll also sense how comfortable you are driving. That's the real key.
Relax, get some additional wheel experience, and take your time. Don't rush it and don't take the test again until any doubts you might have are gone.

**Rune Bivrin** · #12 11-03-2009, 10:56 AM

I remember clearly how my inspector just said "Just pull over". I had missed a stop sign, and was promptly failed. Which was just as well, because I wasn't really a very good driver (still isn't, but that's another issue...).

I think most of the time unless you do a truly bad mistake like that, they fail you not because of a single thing but because you are just not quite ready, for whatever reason. They just have to find something concrete to point to, because the phrase "You just suck a little too much" wouldn't go down terribly well either.

The next time I took the test I was much calmer, and simply because of that a much more secure driver. In contrast to the poor woman who rode with me that day. That was her 16th try, and she failed miserably again. Mainly because she didn't trust her ability so she had dug herself into a hole from the get-go.

The inspector had the decency to send her off before he handed me my license.

PasdaBeer · #13 11-03-2009, 11:56 AM

My first driving test.

Instructor told me to turn, as I was passing the street. She failed me.

Once we got back to the DMV, told my mom what happened, she ended up cussing out 1/2 the DMV, including the supervisor.

Ended up walking out with my licence and an apology.

Joe Gress · #14 11-03-2009, 12:02 PM

Went out to the DMV in a little town in the middle of nowhere to take my test. The biggest obstacle was not hitting the wild turkeys.

Pilgrim · #15 11-03-2009, 01:50 PM

In a passenger car, in addition to using your mirrors you ALWAYS turn to look over your shoulder before changing lanes, and when parking. Now that you know that you can avoid the same mistake next time.

MakiSupaStar · #16 11-03-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Gress

Went out to the DMV in a little town in the middle of nowhere to take my test. The biggest obstacle was not hitting the wild turkeys.

Do the wild turkeys turn into delicious splashes of bourbon when you hit them? If so, then that's not really fair because you'd always be charged with drunk driving. Just another case of the man beating you down.

**Staccato** · #17 11-03-2009, 02:17 PM

You got hit with a 'safety' item. Hopefully, you'll be certified within a month!

It's interesting how so many people change in the years following their driver test. The turn signal is not used, tailgating, swerving in front of other drivers, traffic is blocked in two or three lanes so someone can do their thing, speeding, drinking & driving, cellphone in one ear. And, your error seems to pale in comparison to this stuff happenin' on busy streets.

tplyons · #18 11-03-2009, 02:19 PM

I passed because I got someone who came in on their day off. I didn't even have to parallel park on mine because the guy simply didn't care.

Granted, I COULD parallel park, and now I do it almost every day. The test isn't everything that makes you a good driver... common sense is.

Simo98 · #19 11-03-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom once dead

I had a feeling I would, I can drive really well, can do all the manouvers without thinking. I had everything perfect, untill I came to the reverse parallel park, which once again, did perfectly; BUT I was failed because I used my mirrors and didn't physically turn around to see, which would make me see less.

I'm pretty pissed, going again on monday, I can't wait untill I have my P's.

Its not the driving they worry about, its checking your mirrors and indicating (for some reason)

A friend of mine can barely drive, missed the reverse parellel park, did about 5 points on the 3 point turn, and stalled twice.

He still passed on the first go, all you have to do it make sure you move your head as much as possible so it looks like you are checking your mirrors, look over your shoulder whenever you do just about anything where something could possibly be behind you, and indicate as much as possible.

I passed my first try

But i think that was a bit of luck because i had a really lazy examiner who only let the test go for about 15 minutes

StyleOverShow · #20 11-03-2009, 02:57 PM

I had four years experience driving when I took my test at 16 (my father owned a trucking company and we were always moving trucks and trailers around). I failed it too.

We were driving back into the parking lot and the inspector was telling me what a fine job I had done, filling out the form, just as the car passed over the steep driveway into the parking lot and his pencil jumped across the page, and I failed.

Sometimes its just not your day. What's this about the senior drive?