pass my driving test

I realised the other day that it’s been 5 years since I got my provisional license. I haven’t actually been learning to drive for all that time (mainly because I go through long periods where I just get sick of it and take a step back to focus on the rest of my life), but even so, I never thought that I would still be a learner 5 years later.

It’s now been over a year since I last got behind the wheel of a car, and if I don’t pass my test before May then I’ll have to do the theory test again. I really don’t want to do that.

My boyfriend has just bought his first car and insured me on it. He’s going to take me out practising in it and then I’m going to find an instructor so I can do the test.

I really, really hope that I won’t be stuck with this goal much longer.

So frustrating! The first half an hour of the test was nearly perfect. My general driving was fine (only four minors), my parallel parking was good (one minor), and then ten minutes before the end of the test I went up on the pavement when reversing around a corner and failed.

I’m moving back to my University city soon, so I guess I’m looking at the Christmas holidays before I can do another test, unless I can get a last-minute cancellation.

I’m so fed up of this!

Now four days to go until my test. I had a lesson yesterday, another today, I’ve got one tomorrow and one on Saturday too.

Yesterday’s lesson went very badly and I messed up loads of things. I felt pretty disheartened by the end of it, but today’s was the exact opposite! I’m still making a few mistakes but they’re pretty minor ones. In terms of maneuvers, I’m fine with turn in the road (that’s always been my best), and I’m now feeling confident about reversing around corners now. I’m very pleased about that, because when I took lessons years ago it was always the one that I had real trouble with.

My bay parking definitely still needs some practise but I think I’ll be ready in time. As for parallel parking, I haven’t done any in three years(!) but I didn’t have too much trouble with that one first time round so hopefully I’ll get back into it pretty easily.

With any luck, my next entry here will be an ecstatic one rejoicing about my new license… :)

I booked a test a few weeks ago and it’s in a couple of weeks time. The only thing is though, I haven’t had a driving lesson in weeks. My instructor is on maternity leave at the moment. She said she’d have two or three weeks off of work and text me to let me know when she was going to begin teaching again. Three weeks have now passed and I’ve still heard nothing. I’m going to have to contact her soon because I’m going to need another 5 or 6 six lessons before my test and if she doesn’t get back to teaching soon then I’ll have to cancel my test, and then I’ll be going back to University so I won’t get another one for months.

I just had my first lesson in nearly 3 years. At first things didn’t go well – I forgot everything and really struggled with clutch control, even though it used to be something that I was quite good at.

But I was surprised at how quickly it came back to me, and also at how much came back. I didn’t need to consciously think about what mirrors to check, it just came naturally, as if I’d never stopped.

I was a bit rougher around the edges on some other things, like controlling my speed and gears, and I was more hesitant at junctions than I normally am, but all in all it was better than I thought it would be. I feel confident that I’ll be ready to take another test by the end of the summer.

I took driving lessons three years ago, passed my theory test but then failed my practical test several times, mainly due to nerves on the day. I got disheartened and I haven’t been behind the wheel of a car since.

Since then I’ve started University and been through some tough things, all of which have given me more confidence in myself, so I’m ready to give this one another shot. I redid my theory test last week (my previous certificate had expired) and did very well in it, and I have arranged my first driving lesson in years for Tuesday. My aim is to do another practical test by the end of the summer.