Passing your Driving Test

Hi, Not sure I can offer any concrete advice, but I also struggled to learn how to drive- I was quite anxious and that made me overcautious and stressed etc. What really helped me is that where I am from you are allowed to drive with a select person once you have taken a certain number of lessons. In my case that meant that I was able to drive with my Mum to practice before I took the test- That really helped me as my Mum knows me very well, I trust her and she knew how to get me going. It helped to practice with someone I felt comfortable with. Plus that way I could get more practice without having to pay for lots of lessons. I am not sure what the rules in the UK are regarding this and whether you could possibly practice with someone that you trust? But the main thing really is practice. You will get there.

It has been my experience whilst driving that, it takes an immense amount of energy to focus on more than one thing, perhaps I could sufficiently expose myself over time. However I don’t believe that it is right, to endanger other road users, in my pursuit of a skill that does not come naturally to me.
I feel that the language of the road, will only ever be a second language to me, and that’s not good enough.

I ran this by my other half (driving instructor, taught me, and I passed on 2nd test) and here's what he's said:

Rebekah said:

Big problem with driving tests is that I get very stressed/nervous and then my brain takes even longer to process things and boths times I failed my test, I have done something stupid (never have done it on lessons or anything) and then fail the test on a serious fail. For example last time examiner said to go straight ahead on a double mini roundabout without stating the destination writen on the sign (bath, bristol, etc), this roundabout has a two exits in the roughly straight direction, one slightly to the left and one slightly to the right, as he had given me no clue as to the destination I hesitated, couldn't work out which way to go, paniced and picked the right hand one but I forgot to signal right so he failed me (apparently the one to the left was straight one and I wouldn't have needed to signal as it was straight on).

This isn't slow processing, but more like over-thinking once you've started to enter a panic state, the fix for this is lowering your base level anxiety before the test and trying to remain as calm as you can for the duration.

Rebekah said:

I have now been taking lessons for just over one year and I have taking the test twice and failed both times. I am driving an automatic as I have enough things to worry about can't deal with a clutch and gearbox as well.
My instructor is lovely and really patient with me but he says he now cant teach my anything else and doesn't really get why I didn't pass last time, because I screwed it up. 

The fix for this is getting more lessons and working on the road anxiety by making sure a pupil feels they know most of the likely test routes and is fully confident with the controls.

I'm sure this is related to what I had to go through, I actually had to learn a breathing technique that wouldn't make me go lightheaded, because very often once panic set in I'd spiral, bringing my breathing and heart rate back down so I could keep concentrating was a very big thing in my second test. The other thing is this is mostly performance pressure on the day, so after you pass and drive around for a while after passing, that driving anxiety  usually gos away completely. Just keep at it. Ask for confidence building lessons to work on your biggest over thinking areas so they become like clockwork and you don't need to think so much, also whilst you are waiting for your next test date.
Good luck.

Keep practicing, the more comfortable you feel in your lessons then you’ll find it easier to concentrate in the tests. I failed my first test because my leg was shaking with nerves and my foot slipped off the clutch and stalled the car when I was approaching a roundabout. Failing your second test sounds like it’s partly the examiners fault for not being specific if there were two exits ahead but they probably wouldn’t have failed you if you went the wrong way but indicated and positioned correctly. Could your instructor take you to the roundabout and give you a debrief and some more practice at it? My instructor took me to practice a hill I had issues with later on in my failed test that I’d never been up before

You'll get there in the end. Stay positive and don't give up on yourself, you can do it!

Keep persevering! I passed on my 5th attempt in the end. I can't offer much advise other than that I'm afraid but if I got there in the end then so can you.