First test failed

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 09:36:03

Well i took my test in Blackpool and was doing fine up to the last 10 minutes of the test. I pulled out of a junction going left and my car stalled, as i was restarting it a boy racer came past and near enough banged into us, at this point i was that scared that my nerve went. So that was my 2 serious only had 6 minors. But i am gutted.

I did a residential course due to work commitments, i have had 40 hours previously a few years back and I did 40 hours on this course. I fully understand why i failed, i wasnt good enough! I have booked 10 hours with a local instructor to get over my fear of roundabouts, theres a particular one in Blackpool which just confuses me, though i got it right on test day ( Bispham roundabout). I have also asked for a further 10 hours back in blackpool just to give me further practice.

My instructor told me i drive very well but the moment something goes wrong i lose my bottle, he thinks that doing 10 hours with another instructor will help get my confidence up.

So thats me test one 2s 6m next test booked for 03/10/2013 but im checking daily for cancelations for Sept. I am 44 if that makes difference.

If any of you could give me some tips on how to get over my roundabout fear id be very grateful. Thanks x

AdBot · Thursday 22nd August 2013 09:36:03

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 09:37:25

Just to clarify i was already in the road when it stalled, just after i turned into it!

Evan · Thursday 22nd August 2013 09:56:55

Were you in the correct gear when you stalled, it's very easy to select the wrong gear when your nerves kick in or was it a case of trying to get away too quick and stalling?

The fear of roundabouts is a worry, had you have passed you would still be scared of them. Most people who are learning or recently passed can find them a bit overwhelming, its worth getting plenty of practice with them on as many different ones as possible.

Good luck with your next test.

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 10:22:44

Thats exactly what happened i pulled off in 2nd instead of first and panicked.

My problem with the roundabout i mentioned is its two roundabouts, theres road markings and 2 lanes so as you come off one you go onto anther and when under stress i forget which lane. My instructor tells me i read the road correctly and emerge well, its just i get stressed coming off one roundabout to enter the other. Mini and normal roundabouts i dont have a problem. I think a lot of it is as my instructor rightly said is i drive well until the slightest thing goes wrong and then i fall to pieces!
The annoying thing is in my mock the day before i got only 5 minors. I am not going to give up, hopefully these extra 20 hours ive booked will give me my confidence back. I was also i was also in a serious car accident ( passenger of a taxi) on a roundabout a few years back, i then stopped my lessons altogether so it does make sense why i panic on them, just gotta get that omg which lane should i be in out of my head, when i stay calm i can do them no problem!
Thanks for your advice.

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 12:00:56

Hi, yeah it was a very tight closed junction and i was that nervous ( or stupid) i didnt drop to first when i stopped and then drove out in second. Totally stupid mistake, once i was in the road i tried ( and failed ) to keep calm and restart, did the final shoulder check, nothing there even the examiner said i was safe to go and then a boy racer came zooming past and well i lost my bottle. Just gotta put it down to experience and learn from it i suppose!

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 12:52:57

Yeah id changed from third to second and then stopped but didnt go back into first, never, ever done this on lessons before, always changed into first at approaching the give way sign or where it would be. !!!!!!!! nerves need to get myself calmed down for the next try. Ive only myself to blame and will keep that rollong first saying in my head thanks

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 13:05:04

Just got a cancellation for the 23rd September 12:33 is this a good time to do the test? But excited now. Got 20 more lessons booked!

Lewinpeter1 · Thursday 22nd August 2013 13:42:48

Hi
My questions are; are you nervous about driving in general or just the test?
Do you lack self confidence in general or just with driving?
Peter

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 16:34:05

No not at all nervous with driving but i had a bad accident on a roundabout ( compressed spine injury) with a car just zooming out and hitting the car i was a passenger in, this is why i feel scared of roundabouts, im scared of it happening again. I have booked myself in for ten hours with an instructor local to me who specialises in nervous drivers. 99.9% my driving is good and i have no problem reading traffic to enter a roundabout its just this roundabout ( single ones im fine with, mini ones im fine with) is a double one which confuses me, its the Bispham roundabout at Blackpool. My instructor has told me, my driving is at test standard but my confidence just needs working on when it comes to certain roundabouts. Hard to explain, unless somebody could put a photo of the roundabout im talking about up. Its that 1% i need to work on and get confidence in.
Thank you all x

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 16:36:07

Forgot to say i am very confident in life as general. I am a registered nurse and deal on a day to day basis with patients getting acutely ill. Maybe its with being a nurse i over analyse things??

RobC · Thursday 22nd August 2013 16:48:49

Maisiejayne wrote:

If any of you could give me some tips on how to get over my roundabout fear id be very grateful. Thanks x

Roundabouts need a great deal of practise to become competent because most full licence holders position and signal incorrectly if they signal at all!

Tips
1/ Early observations, Look at the information sign or road marking for position on approach
2/ Approach at the correct speed for the visibility/traffic and be in the correct gear before emerging
3/ You are giving way to the right - look for danger and opportunity to decide whether to stop, pause or go
4/ Look both ways several times as you would at any junction, you are better able to judge vehicles speed, position and whether it is safe to emerge than simply staring at traffic coming from your right
5/ Look for vehicle position, speed and the ways vehicle tyres are pointing. a vehicle has to go in the direction of its wheels, but signalling can often be incorrect or non existent.
6/ Find a busy roundabout and get out of your car and watch how vehicles deal with them.
7/ Practise, practise and more practise makes perfect

Last edited by RobC (Thursday 22nd August 2013 16:52:28)

RobC · Thursday 22nd August 2013 16:57:06

Maisiejayne wrote:

Hard to explain, unless somebody could put a photo of the roundabout im talking about up. Thank you all x

This one?

Bispham Roundabout

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 18:59:45

Thats the one! My problem isnt getting onto them, its panicking once ive got on them as in staying in lane and passing other drivers waiting to get on. I just panic thinking they wont give way and drive into me, if that makes sence.

I see them as another junction but with with one way traffic ( which is what they are basically) getting on them no problem at all if im turning left it doesnt bother me but straight on or right and i get nervous. On this roundabout you have to come off one so youd go straight on and then you have to deal with another roundabout, its when i go right from here that i think OMG!!!

Maisiejayne · Thursday 22nd August 2013 19:04:44

Also the road markings confuse me http://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v … play%253D1

Lewinpeter1 · Thursday 22nd August 2013 22:24:12

Hi
Plan your exit , in your head, before you enter the r/about system.
Dont panic, plan!
Dont change lanes (ever) without checking its safe 1st (appropriate mirrors).
Keep your speed as low as is safe. (Dont rush)
Look well ahead so you can plan your positioning in advance.
BREATHE.
My only concern; you didnt fail on this, or any other, r/about!
JUST DRIVE.
Peter

Maisiejayne · Friday 23rd August 2013 00:12:11

Thank you so much Peter, i will beat my fear. What a lovely supportive forum this is. No thats true it wasnt roundabouts and i went over this one twice in my test, one a left hand turn and the other a right which i did panic but i dont think it was noticed! Such a silly fear, when i look at it, its not the worst roundabout and it looks straight forward. I actually did a running commentry to myself whilst doing it, my examiner must have thought i was nuts lol! Maybe i should continue talking myself through it. Thank you for you help and support. X

markwilson_100 · Monday 30th March 2015 09:24:25

I failed mine after not applying the hand brake at a stop sign - such a stupid mistake to make!

Lewinpeter1 · Monday 30th March 2015 10:40:33

Hi
That is not even a fault!
Peter

ratty · Monday 30th March 2015 16:23:19

markwilson_100 wrote:

I failed mine after not applying the hand brake at a stop sign - such a stupid mistake to make!

Do you mean that you failed because you did not stop at a Stop sign?

markwilson_100 · Wednesday 1st April 2015 08:37:22

No - only applied the footbrake when stopping. Did not apply the handbrake.

Lewinpeter1 · Wednesday 1st April 2015 10:46:38

Hi
Like I said,that is NOT a fault!
If you actually stopped you have complied with the sign,end of!
The wheels must stop turning but you dont need the handbrake for that.
Peter

Zipper · Wednesday 1st April 2015 11:13:47

It's the same down here Peter, our pupils are advised to apply the handbrake to make sure they have actually come to a full stop, to reduce the chance of arguments between the driver and examiners/police officers.
However they misconstrue it to mean that you MUST ALWAYS apply the handbrake, whereas it it advice only.
(I also get students who get a bit over-eager and yank the handbrake on before we've actually stopped.

Obviously our road rules are similar to the UK in this regard e.g. "the wheels must stop turning".
I tell my students that if they can do without the handbrake that's fine, but I want to feel the car settle back on its suspension for a moment before moving off again.

We also have a technique called "repositioning", where the stop line is deliberately set back from the new road for pedestrian safety, once the driver has stopped and "complied with rules" (see Peter's post below) the driver is free to creep forward and stop again if necessary for a better view.
I assume it's the same in the UK.

Fulton · Thursday 9th April 2015 19:35:52

markwilson_100 wrote:

No - only applied the footbrake when stopping. Did not apply the handbrake.

Did you completely Stop before the Stop line then move forward ?

kaf · Thursday 9th April 2015 20:20:40

Common problem, you think you have stopped, but you haven't.

Stop means STOP. Completely stationary, not moving at all. Not even a millimetre.

Unless you had your foot pressing the brake as firmly as possible for a couple of seconds, then you cannot be positive that you have stopped.

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#1 Thursday 22nd August 2013 09:36:03

First test failed

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