Yesterday I had a mock driving test. I was a bit nervous before I got in the car, but only as nervous as I always am before a driving lesson. But then as soon as my instructor reminded me we were going to have my mock, everything went out of my head. At the traffic lights out of town (on a hill) I rolled backwards, almost into the tractor behind me, then spent so long sorting myself out that I missed the green light.
TWICE.
I’ve done that junction a thousand times, my instructor always thinks it’s funny that I choose to drive out of town that way, rather than the easier flat way and I always say that I’m never going to learn properly doing that. As we pulled away, he said “I haven’t started the mock yet, don’t worry!” And then I was fine, no mistakes, perfect driving. He made me drive to the test centre, took me inside to look around, and from then on pretended he was my examiner. I started fine, a couple of minors that I told him I was aware of. Then I rolled backwards at the lights AGAIN, waited too long at several roundabouts, stalled about ten feet from a junction (I don’t even know HOW!), stopped too far away from the junction for my reverse around the corner, almost pulled out from parking into oncoming traffic (I could tell he was getting annoyed with me by this point, as he reached over and turned my indicator off without saying a word then telling me to turn the engine off!) then forgot how to parallel park. A load of really stupid mistakes and I know that all it was was nerves! I was ready to get into the passenger seat and ask him to take me home, lol!
So I was really, REALLY angry with myself. I felt really weepy and sick when I got home. It’s been really dwelling on my mind, if I’m like that with my instructor, what am I going to be like on the actual day!!?? I tried having a word with myself, I know he’s doing this now so I can see where my weaknesses lie. But I don’t think I’ve ever felt as pathetic as I have been since then. We didn’t have enough time to go over my feedback form, so I don’t even know what my minors or my strengths are.
So we decided the best thing to do would be to postpone my test a bit. He’s got a pupil he wants to bring forward, so he’s ringing me this evening with another date and he’s going to go on the DVLA website and swap both our test dates. It looks like it’s going to be mid July now, I really need to pass it then because we’re supposed to be going on holiday the first week in August and I was really hoping on driving us.
I had an American ask me why us Brits get so nervous before our driving tests, so out of curiosity, I had a look on YouTube to see the difference. Oh my God, our test is a million times more complicated! The American one was on a disused base (by the looks of things) took 9 minutes and involved driving forwards, driving backwards a bit, three point turn and parallel parking, all in a car that just goes when you press the gas! Have a look for yourself and see the difference.
UK driving test: (Most people in the UK drive a manual, so most people learn in one too.)
Utah driving test:
There are so many things in the USA test that would have my instructor jumping up and down, looking out the back window before turning right but not left (why? There are no blind spots behind the car!), not using the wing mirrors at all (I’m constantly checking mine on lessons) dry steering, crossing hands on the wheel, even letting go of the wheel and letting it spring back by itself....it looks REALLY easy to pass, I’d have passed this after about five hours tuition!
Loading comments...