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I arrived at the test centre and was told to wait for the examiner to appear. I was the tender age of 18. My nerves were on edge but I put on a brave face when the examiner came out with his clipboard, I tried to be friendly and cheerful but he was like a strict headmaster. Walking to the car he asked 'which one was mine' and I pointed and said 'That metal one over there'.

I did my test (2nd) back in 1972. BSM


The test was at Wansted Flats.

My usual car was not available on the day so I had to take the test in an unfamiliar car.

When I arrived at the Test Centre it started to rain.. I turned on the wipers and one of them flew into the road.


Not a good start.. Wansted flats is ..erh .. flat so my Hill Start was in someones drive-way which was steep.


There were 40mph areas and my examiner said I should of been in 4th gear but as I showed to be competent using

the other gears he passed me.


Foutunately it did not rain during the test..


DulwichFox

Pulled away from traffic lights and left the handbrake about one ratchet up, just enough to leave the handbrake symbol lit on the dashboard. I chanced it and ignored it hoping the examiner wouldn't notice.


He spent the entire stretch of road to the next lights staring out of the passenger window. Passed first time. 1989.

BrandNewGuy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I failed the test first time for cutting up a milk

> float while turning back into the test centre.


Thanks BNG, that made me laugh out loud!


I passed first time at the tender age of 17 despite an altercation with a bin lorry and not one but three (separate) incidences of cats deciding to cross the road as I approached. I think I fucked up the parallel parking as well.

My first test i failed within 5 minutes and I had to complete the rest of the test knowing i had failed. I was on the road with another car coming from the opposite direction. My opinion (and still is) that there was plenty of room to safely pass. The examiner didn't agree and slammed on the breaks. Awful continuing knowing I had failed.


During my second test, every time the examiner told me to indicate and take the next left or right, I went in the opposite direction (told to take next left but took the next right). The examiner pointed this out at the end of the test. However, I still passed because I had indicated the correct way I was turning! I'm dyslexic and one of the ways it affects me is that it takes me ages to work out my right from left. He recommended tying osmeribbon on the steering wheel! I was lucky though as a different examiner may have had a different view. Don't want to jinx it but I've never had an accident in my 25 years of driving despite this problem!

I came up to that roundabout in thornton heath, a huge one with several lights and turnings and lanes. I was concentrating so hard on all the street signs I forgot which turning he'd asked me to take. So I told him and said 'so i'll take the next turning' I did and passed. Maybe not funny but memorable

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> numbers Wrote:

>

> > think I @#$%& up the parallel parking as well.

>

> Ah sure that would have been expected, you being a

> woman and all. They must take that into

> account........

>

> *runs for cover*



Parallel parking wasn't part of the test when I took it, back in the dark ages.


Just three point turns and reversing round a corner (I think .....)

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Alan Medic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > numbers Wrote:

> >

> > > think I @#$%& up the parallel parking as

> well.

> >

> > Ah sure that would have been expected, you being

> a

> > woman and all. They must take that into

> > account........

> >

> > *runs for cover*

>

>

> Parallel parking wasn't part of the test when I

> took it, back in the dark ages.

>

> Just three point turns and reversing round a

> corner (I think .....)


Do they still do 'reversing round corners'.. ? would be lethal around E.D.


Foxy.

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> numbers Wrote:

>

> > think I @#$%& up the parallel parking as well.

>

> Ah sure that would have been expected, you being a

> woman and all. They must take that into

> account........

>

> *runs for cover*


heheh its weird though, i only properly learned how to do it in my twenties where I lived you had to park on the street as no dedicated space. You soon learn!

1st test when I was about 20 - Norwood Test centre - 3 blokes got in the car - examiner was being tested. Failed test, Retook it several weeks later in Hither Green- showed the examiner the paper showing why I had failed, he was very surprised and stated that nobody failed on those points. Told him about my extra passengers - he agreed that previous examiner wanted to appear strict in front of his own examiners. We did the parts where I had failed on, an emergency stop, a few questions re Highway Code ( well in was early 1970s) - whole test took 15 minutes compared with over 30 minutes of previous. Passed.

First car test. Came out of the test centre with the examiner but I had forgotten where I had parked the car. We eventually found it so I got in and started checking mirrors, checking seat adjustment, doing seat belt only to discover that the examiner was not in the car ? he was standing in the road tapping on the passenger window. I had forgotten to unlock his door (before the days of central locking).


First motorbike test. Fell off doing a U turn. Went back to the motorbike school for more lessons and the instructor said ?So what did you fall down on then??

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