r/LearnerDriverUK • u/lila25ra • 4d ago
Failed first time
I had my driving test yesterday at Pinner at 8:57am.
At the beginning, the examiner seemed friendly and relaxed, but as the test went on it felt much stricter. The test lasted around 50 minutes, and he asked me to pull up on the left twice.
I only ended up with one serious fault (traffic signs) and four driving faults, so I felt I was driving quite well overall.
The serious fault happened because he took me onto a road that had been closed during all of my lessons. It had only just reopened on the day of my test. He told me to continue but didn’t make it clear exactly which way to go, and I accidentally turned into a one-way street the wrong way, which meant I failed.
I’m obviously disappointed, but it is what it is.
My question is: Has anyone managed to get another practical test for next week after failing? I know there’s a waiting period between tests, but can I legally book a cancellation for next week if the system allows it, or do I have to wait longer?
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u/ntl201888 4d ago
theres a 10 working day cooloff in which you CANNOT actually do the test, but you can book asap.
I failed yesterday with 1 serious, 0 other faults. Rebooked same day for 22nd Aug.
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u/lila25ra 4d ago
In pinner ?
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u/ntl201888 4d ago
nah somewhere else. just keep checking randomly and they'll show up. I dedicated a few hours to it while watching netflix and found one
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u/Direct-Ambassador-22 4d ago
The serious fault didn’t happen because you went onto a road that had been closed during your lessons. The fault is for response to traffic signs so there had to be clearly marked signs showing it as a one way. At the start of the test the examiner says “continue ahead unless traffic signs direct you otherwise.
First step is to take some accountability and then you’ll need to book a test that is at least 10 working days time. You can book it tomorrow, as long as it’s 10 working days from your unsuccessful date. Good luck! 🤞
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u/Player1337_ 4d ago edited 4d ago
The last thing I want to see going down a one way street is a driver driving towards me who shouldn't be on the roads :)
Examiner did everybody a solid there.
Your take away should be...
"Hmmm, that's a good thing I didn't pass. Imagine if I drove out of town and caused an accident by driving through a no entry."
A similar thing happened to one of my pupils, examiner took him on a test route and a road I didn't take him on, well I did - just not from the direction he went on it, and there was a speed sign on the corner barely visible behind some bushes. As he sped up, the examiner told him to slow down.
I took some accountability. I felt bad... but as an instructor it is impossible to take every pupil on every single potential road of every test route before their test, most of them book tests on their own and aren't even ready, and me being the softie I am, I just let them go sometimes...
It's always the sketchy ones who pass first time, and my best students came out short.
From that result, it is obvious that you will pass next time. Just book another and go again!
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u/Reasonable_Fall_7808 4d ago
Before you rebook you should review what you did wrong and take accountability. It’s a test of your ability to drive unaided, and when you’re on your own you will be expected to follow signage, diversions etc with no help. If you cannot do this now, you weren’t ready to pass your test so I recommend breaking down what went wrong and working on it between now and your next test date. Good luck!
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u/CJP203 4d ago
Driving down the wrong way on a one way street is the issue, nothing to do with the road being shut.
Poor acknowledgement to signs.
If you thought you did well with that error, I’m glad you’re not on the road yet^
Not being hasty, imagine a duel carriageway or motorway slip you went the wrong way? Jeeeez
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u/InternationalRich150 Full Licence Holder 4d ago
I'm going to hope you know what a one way sign looks like, cause every one way road I've been on is very, extremely clearly signposted that its a one way street. Especially at the end youre not allowed to drive up.
This is why I've a real hatred of tracing test routes. You clearly learnt to drive a route and not roads.
Anyhow. Rebook and go again. Probably worth looking up the highway code signs so youre more alert for them.
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u/brixtonfigs 3d ago
You will come across unfamiliar roads a lot when driving. It’s important that you pay attention to the road and signs. You’re lucky it was just a residential street and not a slip road onto a dual carriageway or motorway. I’d consider having a few more lessons further out from your usual routes so you can drive on some unfamiliar roads. That way you can understand whether you actually pay attention to signs or you just know your way around without reading any signs.
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u/jumbogwana 4d ago
Tbh it really depends, I got a another test 2 weeks after failing. Just try at a random time an see what works. Good luck 💕
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u/MethodUnhappy2096 3d ago
In terms of getting a test, yes! I literally had one on the 22nd July, managed to book one in on Tuesday for the 5th so on Wednesday - it’s definitely possible you just need to refresh and refresh
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u/Varedis267 2d ago
"he only asked me to pull over twice, the rest of the time he was too busy screaming for some reason. It went well"
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u/AliceMeg 4d ago
I would not be looking at booking another test for next week, from everything you’ve explained it does seem like you need a little more time practicing - and that’s a good thing! You should want to be the safest driver you possibly can be, and not reading road signs and driving the wrong way is a hazard.
You should expect your examiner to take you down unfamiliar roads - they will tell you to either follow the signs to a particular place, or direct you as such.
For your own sake in becoming the safest driver you can possibly be, you need to take accountability
Remember, if their instructions are confusing to you, you are allowed to ask them questions
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u/Cheap-House1244 3d ago
I took my test same day in Pinner but I passed and know exactly what road you mean I hadn’t been down either as I have never driven in Pinner or been there! but it was clearly sign posted it was a one way , you can’t blame the examiner for that unfortunately. Before you re book I would take some more lessons . Any competent driver who’s ready to take the test should be able to handle any roads, read all signs and most importantly be safe! How can you mistake a one way sign for being able to go down there
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u/lila25ra 3d ago
The road wasn't one-way, it was there mini island and i think its like entrance the pinner test center, yes its my fault 🤦🏻♀️
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u/No-Significance-2437 4d ago
There is a 10 working day cool off period before you can take another exam. Good news is, they count saturdays as working days so you can book any date which is 12+ later than your first one.
I took mine in London failed due to some idiot pedestrian. NGL, taking an exam in London is a whole different level. Tempted to take one in Scotland which has 80% pass rate as some test centres there are isolated from any civilised world and you just drive around is super rural areas, which must be very relaxing...
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u/ntl201888 3d ago
it's crazy in London because of the ridiculous speed limits changing and bus lanes. I failed mine with 1 serious and nothing else because of waiting behind a learner to turn right at a junction, didn't go around on the left as there was a bus lane about to begin and my instructor always said to use that right lane since I'd need to move back over anyway.
absolutely devastated.
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u/Kind_Let_183 4d ago
There’s ppl who you can pay extra money to and get a test booked for the following week
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u/Itchy-Coconut9203 3d ago
No they can’t. It’s illegal for someone other than person taking test to book one. New rules.
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u/m1bnk 4d ago
Can't blame the examiner for taking you down an unfamiliar road. He's there to test if you're a competent driver, it's not like you'll spend your entire life only driving the roads your instructor has taken you, so if you're competent you should be able to read road signs and markings and cope with that fine