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Sons driving test - no allowances given at all!!!

paulponty

10 years ago I wouldn't have had much of clue about Aspergers/Autism. Son was diagnosed 4/5 years ago. Its been a very tough time for him and the family....

Good news is he's doing OK now. In 6th form doing his A-levels and, after lockdown blips, planning college.

Been learning to drive. He's OK to be honest. Bit slow and hesitant and takes things a little too literally (as with everything)
Failed his test xmas time because he was too hesitant but nearly.

Had another test today. Lasted 9 minutes!!! They got back, Examiner refused to discuss with me. He was so upset, took me a while. They use a sat nav now for the tests. The examiner said to him - "you're not capable of using the sat nav so I'm cancelling the test".

All because he got confused as to what turning the sat nav meant and went straight on instead of turning. Only twice. He's flagged as ASD when I booked the test and they're supposed to make allowances. No allowances given here!

Absolutely fuming to be honest..... NINE MINUTES (and that includes probably 5 of those driving in and out from the test centre).

I know my son - when he passes his test there is 1000% no way he's going to be doing 120mph down the M4 or doing donuts in Tesco car park. All the poor sod wants is to be able to drive to his GFs house.....

I can probably appeal. Might get my £62 back but that's not important. Its 6 month waiting list for next test and, at the moment, his confidence is shot to bits because of this. He might decided he doesn't want to bother any more.

Any employers out there - just remember - we're all different. I was lucky not to be ASD. Despite coming from a poor background I didn't have to face this and could cope with things the "normal" way. Did well at school, college etc.

My son is different, his thinking is slightly off normal. I've come to realise that in some ways, its better the way he thinks about things.

Please give those people in society who are "different" a chance and not expect everyone to be the same....

I'm STILL bomping mad.....

  • in reply to Roy

    Yes it seems the current UK systems is not great...

  • I’ve been having the same issues with my son, 3 tests now and he is getting more nervous each time. Under the current covid rules, once they have failed they go straight back to the test centre to reduce contact. His last test failure was that he went off a roundabout at an incorrect exit. He said the examiner had a very strong foreign accent and was wearing a mask. My son said I kept saying pardon and I couldn’t see his lips with the mask on. We all know the worry whilst you are driving and you can see someone writing in the corner of your eye, you know they are writing down faults.
    In the Netherlands they have a driving test for people with anxiety which is much more informal. My son was so nervous last time that he struggled to even  sign his name.

    perhaps we should adopt a similar test in the uk.

  • in reply to Martin

    yeah there is a 1/4 chance of getting the satnav as part of your test, but it is a requirement to be able to use one.

    Did you specify the satnav when asking for accommodations? If not I suggest doing so next time.

  • in reply to Martin

    Sometimes they use sometimes they don't apparently. BUT being able to use a sat nav is NOT part of the test.

  • in reply to paulponty

     I believe satnav use is now an integral part of the test. 

  • in reply to Martin

    Yeh thats my son. He gets confused a bit sometimes. He said the sat nav was saying turn right in 300 yards - he has no idea. So he though it was the 2nd right and ended up the inside straight on only lane.  OK he did the same thing twice.

    At no point did he try to swerve lanes he just though he was supposed to go straight on and went in the lane to do so.

    I just know in the time they gave him zero slack at all. I just dont understand why they couldn't have just carried on without satnav?

  • I'm autistic, and when I took my driving test I was momentarily confused whether stopping distances were in feet or yards, the examiner allowed me time to sort myself out, and then asked me to estimate the distance to a nearby car, which I correctly estimated, I then passed. I suspect that your son's problem was not that he committed a fault, but that he committed the same fault twice within the test. I think that an immediately dangerous fault would automatically end the test, but a 'venial sin' type fault may get you one more chance, but not two.