If you were asked to resit your driving test tomorrow what would you fail on?

Posted by LemursCanSing@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 250 comments

I'd 100% fail if they asked me to reverse park. I never do it, and would probably take about 8 attempts to get into a space between cars.

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FlimsyEnthusiasm8153@reddit

Yep I go in frontwards all the time. You've got to reverse one way so why not do it the way where you've got space and not the way where you've got no margin for error. Especially given car parks today seem to be designed to give you about 2 inches to open your door in.

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ReplicatedSun@reddit

I honestly find it easier to reverse park into parking spaces, not sure why.

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Slapedd1953@reddit

Because it’s best and safest, no idea why some people will not. I keep telling folks as they go in forward and do the 36 point shuffle “that model doesn’t have rear wheel steering “

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ReplicatedSun@reddit

The amount of people I see reversing out of their driveways onto main roads and stuff too is incredible, take an extra 10seconds on your journey home and just reverse into the drive, it's so much safer.

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Slapedd1953@reddit

I was taught this by my dad 50years ago (incidentally I learned for more from him than the driving instructor) Never reverse into a busy road. Our own driveway entrance was completely blind, we had to back in, yet you regularly see people reversing into the traffic expecting someone to stop and let them in, even on A roads.

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Molly_Hatchett@reddit

I was taught that you use less fuel doing manoeuvres when the engine is hot, so reverse in and then pull out forwards when you leave (assuming you've been where you are long enough for the engine to be cold).

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Hot_Cod_4@reddit

It's because of where the pivot point on the car is; reversing in gives you more control over the path of the car (it also reduces visibility problems when trying to get out of a space if you're going forwards).

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ravenouscartoon@reddit

Because it’s safer to drive out than reverse out as you have a better field of view. It’s also easier to reverse in than out, because in effect you are driving a rear wheel steering vehicle when reverse parking. There are some cases where driving in has more benefits (supermarkets and access to the boot being one imo) but standard parking in multi story car parks etc should be reversed into

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TheGoober87@reddit

I've never understood why people seem to avoid reverse parking. It's so much easier than driving in.

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azlan121@reddit

I find it way easier to reverse into a space, especially if its tight, and really hate having to reverse out if I can avoid it because of the restricted view

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ClevelandWomble@reddit

I honestly think that I would pass. I did an advanced driver course at work a while ago and the tutor complimented all of us who did it. I know the rules AND now I have the experience to deal with the crazy drivers that forgot everything they learnt once they got their licence

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JavaRuby2000@reddit

Parallel park. I live in a part of the UK that doesn't really have much on street parking and haven't had to do it for about 15 years.

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Non-Combatant@reddit

I don't want to sound cocky, I'm not a perfect driver but I honestly don't think I'd fail it. I'd even be confident doing the theory test again because I've recently done my motorcycle one and passed no bother.

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ReplicatedSun@reddit

Same, I'm a better driver now than I was when I did my test which I passed, so I'd be pretty confident in passing again.

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JohnnyBobLUFC@reddit

I posted basically the same, people should be better drivers not worse after passing. If you'd fail now you probably shouldn't have passed in the first place. I got two minors and passed first time, it isn't hard.

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55percent_Unicorn@reddit

The thing is the driving test doesn't just test your ability to drive well. It tests things that realistically don't make you any better. Do you still feed the wheel? Some roundabouts where I am, you're supposed to always come off in the left lane even if you've turned right to get there, which I'd argue is worse. Even if you're actively checking mirrors, you need to be seen to be checking them by turning your head rather than just looking with your eyes.

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ReplicatedSun@reddit

Feeding the wheel isn’t a requirement anymore.

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55percent_Unicorn@reddit

Across the country? Point is that there are things *like* that that you might not know about that you'd therefore get marked down for doing or not doing, but that don't impact being a good driver in reality.

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ReplicatedSun@reddit

I'd assume so? Pretty sure it's standardised testing, so would be weird if only one area allowed you to do something that nowhere else did.

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55percent_Unicorn@reddit

Fair enough. If anything, that just reinforces the idea that being a good driver isn't necessarily enough to pass the test because you also need to know about things like that.

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Steppy20@reddit

Yep, as long as you don't cross your arms because if there's a crash you're more likely to suffer an injury if you do.

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JohnnyBobLUFC@reddit

You don't need to turn your head on a test I didn't and I got no minors you just make sure it's clear you're checking them, I do still feed my steering wheel it's a habit i never stopped. I always follow what the instructions for the roundabout states and I check at each one.

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55percent_Unicorn@reddit

Sounds like you had an unusually reasonable test centre. I'm in East Kilbride. We have a lot of roundabouts. Many of them are unmarked. They work well and people know how to drive on them, but that doesn't mean the DSA examiners agree with what that means.

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JohnnyBobLUFC@reddit

Guy I got was one of the lowest pass percentages in the country at the time.

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wholesomechunk@reddit

Yep, as it should be, anyone unable to pass the simple test should retrain.

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UnicornReality@reddit

Lol

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mp4_12c@reddit

There's no way you check mirrors enough to pass a test

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Non-Combatant@reddit

My head is on a swivel mate!

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The_Bravinator@reddit

I actually have evidence to this effect. I passed my test here at 8. Then I moved to the US and didn't bother to convert my license for years because I lived in a city, so I had to take a test again and passed (this one was much easier, but still involved manoeuvres like parallel parking and reverse parking). Then I moved to Germany and USUALLY American licences convert to German ones, but not from the state I lived in! So I had to get tested all over again. This was fairly on par with the UK test (but the theory was brutal). So I know for a fact that I'm a decent enough driver and I have three passed tests to prove it. 😅

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Dont_believe_me__@reddit

Look at show off here passing their driving test at 8!

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The_Bravinator@reddit

I have absolutely no idea why I wrote that. 🤣

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thesteelmaker@reddit

You see a pedestrian with a dog wearing a yellow or burgundy coat. What does this indicate?

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melnificent@reddit

Blind pedestrian?

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Non-Combatant@reddit

A well dressed dog.

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Gone_For_Lunch@reddit

Trick question, dogs don’t have indicators!

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thesteelmaker@reddit

If only it was a trick question. Last month I, I have to do a speed awareness course. I thought I knew my Highway Code, so I did some online tests. WTF, there were some odd ball questions, but it seems lots of things have been added, that are not about actual driving.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

was the motorcycle one much different?

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Non-Combatant@reddit

It's largely the same but there is a fair bit of motorcycle specific stuff that to be honest is 90% common sense.

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incrediblesolv@reddit

Where do you get the study material?

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Non-Combatant@reddit

I used the official DVSA stuff https://www.safedrivingforlife.info/shop/official-dvsa-theory-test-kit-motorcyclists-elearning/ And I'd recomend it over any bulshit app or whatver.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

Cool. Only been riding a few months but if it's mostly the same knowledge, and least I won't have to swot up from scratch.

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Non-Combatant@reddit

Aye I just made an edit there mate, I'd deffo study before doing the test but if you have done the car test it's not mega different. Some of it is pure noddy stuff like if you saw an oil spill on the road what would you do a)speed up B)slow down C) avoid it if safe to do so Other bits I honestly wouldn't have known if I didn't look them up.

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DrunkenBandit1@reddit

Well of course the answer is A

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BobDobbsHobNobs@reddit

D - wheelie so only one wheel gets covered in oil

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herdo1@reddit

Yeh the theory test in general is pretty much common sense. Even the stop times in driving conditions are easy enough to guess. I had to obviously learn some of then but alot of them were the cautious answer. Colour of cats eyes on motorways were a pain in the arse, apart from white, I'd gey the others mixed up.

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spaceshipcommander@reddit

I would say it is much more difficult. I feel like the standard they expect is higher. For example, you can fail for not riding in bus lanes if you should. You can fail for not making progress by overtaking slow cars. I feel like they are conscious that the consequences of the kind of minor accident a lot of new drivers have would be very serious on a bike. You can't have, "a bit of a bump" on a bike. If you come off you're in a world of hurt.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

Yeah, driving a car feels a lot more aggressive. Haven't filtered yet on my bike (only been riding 3 months and not found myself in a situation where it's needed), but I know how to in theory. No bus lanes in my town, but that's something I'll definitely need to keep my eye on in other places.

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spaceshipcommander@reddit

Filtering is often a much safer option. I did it on my first test and was expecting something said about it but he was happy with it. You tend to be invisible on a bike so sitting in traffic is very vulnerable. I know 2 people who have been run over whilst stationary on their bikes. One was in a car park. The other was at a junction where a woman changed her mind about going straight on and just turned left, running over him as he was sat waiting for his lane to go.

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Ambitious-Check8584@reddit

You fail the car test for those reasons aswell so not much different

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BuildingArmor@reddit

There's definitelyp bike specific questions, and others referring to riding rather than driving, but broadly the same.

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BuildingArmor@reddit

There's definitelyp bike specific questions, and others referring to riding rather than driving, but broadly the same.

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monkeyfant@reddit

Same. I know how to observe, how to steer and how to drive well. I don't tend to do it and would probably fail in a secret hidden camera test, but in a test situation, I'd know how to pass

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PozzieMozzie@reddit

Same here, i alao consider myself a good driver... definately not perfect, but the drivers in Sussex are so bad its easy to say your a good driver when you compare yourself with drivers in Sussex... I did an online theory and hazard awareness test a couple weeks ago for shits and giggles and passed with 91%... I think i would pass a practical test first time if i had to take it tomorrow... probably get a couple of minors (i had 3 when i did my real test) but no majors.

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2023mustgo@reddit

I think I'm a pretty good driver, if parallel parking was in the olympics I'd stand a chance at a medal I reckon, but I'm sure I'd fail on something that's not actually necessary in normal life driving but was vital for the test. Like moving your head really obviously every 5 seconds to show you were checking your mirrors!

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DoctorOctagonapus@reddit

Oh man yeah the reverse parallel park would be the killer for me as well. Beyond that I'd have to concentrate really hard but I think I could probably just about scrape a pass.

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adreddit298@reddit

Theory test. Hands down. In general, I'm good at practical stuff, good at application of knowledge, crap at remembering information. It'd be something stupid and irrelevant like stopping distances in fog with a washing machine strapped to your roof, or something.

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MarcsEscapades@reddit

I think I'd pass fine tbh but would need to get familiar with whatever car I was taking the test in for a bit first. Trouble is with a lot of newer cars (my current one included) is they do a lot of stuff for you (handbrake, hill holds etc) and have nice perks like reversing cams and you get used to them and lazy. If you put me in a random instructor's car after years of being a lazy git I reckon I'd fail like a mofo.

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Apidium@reddit

This thread is exactly why we need to have regular retesting. A lot of folks just shouldn't be driving and it's not all old folks.

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Strange-Mushroom2653@reddit

Accidently putting the car in neutral before stopping at a junction...

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IcyNeedleworker0@reddit

Theres a reason I call myself the speed demon...

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PartTimeLegend@reddit

I can’t drive with two hands on the wheel. I used to justify it by having to change gear but now I drive an automatic. So my right hand steers and my left hand does nothing. I can’t parallel park. Well I can in my current car but I’d rather not. I’m fairly good at speed management. There is a steep hill near me that’s got a 20mph limit on it. That’s a bit of a struggle.

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MrsCDM@reddit

This would be my downfall as well. I always have my left hand either resting on the gear stick or on my lap. I've recently also found myself absent mindedly driving along with my left hand resting on my chest, in a pearl clutching type pose - no idea what that's all about.

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bigwillyman7@reddit

I like to hold the gear knob with my left

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PartTimeLegend@reddit

That’s meant to be really bad for your gears. My car has a multidirectional switch for shifting between P D N and R. So there’s nothing to hold onto.

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TemporarySprinkles2@reddit

Speeding, not having both hands on the wheel, patience.

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gigglesmcsdinosaur@reddit

Calling other road users cunts

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AbsurdlyLowBar@reddit

I screamed "FUCK!" on mine and passed.

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LDNLibero@reddit

Actually passed my test last year and did this. Examiner agreed with my assessment after he told me I passed

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dinobug77@reddit

The real truth.

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5norkleh3r0@reddit

Passed with no faults the first time and I’m pretty sure I’d do the same now

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Dry_Action1734@reddit

Parallel parking. Tried to once in the real world after the test and gave up. I just don’t park on the street. Car parks ftw.

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itsjustmefortoday@reddit

I can and do parallel park. But I didn't for years after passing and still won't if it's somewhere busy. I'm fine if I don't feel like there's loads of people watching.

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SupervillainIndiana@reddit

This is one where real world experience has made me cocky about the idea of getting it on a resit. Because I'd nail it. You only have to park behind one car and there isn't a car immediately behind you? Piece of piss compared to having to get between two cars on my road (I am in a flat) when the road is only wide enough to fit one car going down it at a time and there's cars parked on the other side as well. Reverse round a corner though? I'd definitely fuck that one up because on the rare occasion I have do it I'm pretty sure I do all the stuff you're not supposed to do (such as reversing out one into a bigger road - my local area is a grid system and sometimes you have no choice if there's a van blocking the route you wanted to go down!)

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Positive_Film1269@reddit

Reverse around a corner isn't on the test anymore! The manoeuvres are - parallel park ('reverse park on the road'), reverse bay park, forward bay park, and a right reverse (reverse along a kerb two car lengths on the right hand side of the road).

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Dry_Action1734@reddit

Tbh I had forgotten the test doesn’t do it between two cars. Also, that’s interesting because I loved reverse around a corner. I was quite lucky in all my test attempts I got it all but one time. The other was reversing into a parking space.

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i_hate_pigeons@reddit

I don't think you'd fail if you can't parallel park unless you do something dangerous, plus in the test they only give you an easy one, i.e. park behind this car where there's a straight curb and no other cars

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JoeyJoeC@reddit

Touching the kerb is a fail which I wouldn't say is dangerous.

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i_hate_pigeons@reddit

afaik is not when you are parking, it is a fail if you clip the curb while driving or making a turn

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JoeyJoeC@reddit

Just looked it up. My instructor was wrong, and it's only a minor when doing a a maneuver.

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i_hate_pigeons@reddit

yes this matches what my instructor told me

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JohnnyBobLUFC@reddit

On mine I had to parallel park between two parked cars 50 feet from a busy junction, apparently the instructor I got had one of the lowest pass rates in the country and was known for being a bit of a twat, I got two minors.

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Ambitious-Check8584@reddit

In other words you can't perform a basic maneuver and shouldn't have a licence

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FuzzyPalpitation-16@reddit

Yeah I still fail sometimes with parallel parking and gtfo cause im taking too long 😂

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azlan121@reddit

round me thats just not an option! gotta learn to paralell park to park anywhere, and most folks don't have any off street parking at home either

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MovieMore4352@reddit

Probably mirrors as I use my eyes and not my head. Also possible speeding, not doing 40 everywhere, just creeping over realising that you are speeding and slowing down (I’m surprised more people haven’t said it tbh). Oh and swearing.

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Chilton_Squid@reddit

I believe in the new test there's a bit you have to follow the sat nav. I'd get annoyed at it constantly redirecting me, decide I knew a better route, shout at it to fuck off and throw it in the back seat before going my own way.

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VictorAnichebend@reddit

I didn’t get a Sat-Nav driving portion in mine and I only passed a couple of month ago. Had to follow road signs instead.

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PurpleInevitable2103@reddit

I was told 2/5 have to follow sat nav, 3/5 have to follow road signs. I took 2 tests 5 years ago and thankfully had to do sat nav on both as I much prefer that to road signs

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Positive_Film1269@reddit

It depends on the centre and the availability of traffic signs. Some test centres are in areas where there's really crap signage so there's only like 1 or 2 viable options for signs routes.

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VictorAnichebend@reddit

I was fine with the road signs because it was an area I knew well anyway. I was asked to follow the signs to the town centre and stuff and could have driven there without them

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Chilton_Squid@reddit

Did you tell any road signs to fuck off?

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VictorAnichebend@reddit

Yeah but I got a minor for showing one the middle finger. Apparently the v-sign is standard

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Chilton_Squid@reddit

Oh yeah if you didn't know that then you weren't ready for your test

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Jlaw118@reddit

I do this on a daily basis, then realise my “better route,” is full of congestion and realise I unnecessarily got angry at the satnav for trying to help me avoid such congestion 😅

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GavUK@reddit

Our SatNav (we call her 'Cathy') likes to take us on 'interesting' back road routes. There have been occasions I've just turned her off and gone back to find a more major route, because there's no way that, on a tight twisty road where I'm doing an average of less than 40mph (between the villages and blind hills and bends), it's going to be the quickest route over following the road signs, even when we are in the far north of Scotland or other rural areas.

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made-of-questions@reddit

If we're talking about Google Maps or Waze, it depends if they have enough real use data from that road for them to compute the real speed average or they use the default is 60mph. For my village they predict the fastest option on the back roads with just 1 minute error margin. Even so, I might still prefer to take the main road because driving on a winding lane at night is good damn stressful.

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GavUK@reddit

No, this is TomTom. Years ago they used to be good, but at some point they changed their algorithm and, despite selecting 'Fastest' for calculation, it regularly decides some little country roads are quicker than the main road to that destination, and while I drive faster than my girlfriend says she would on this little twisty roads, I'm not averaging anywhere near the speed it must have assumed I would be going at.

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TomSurman@reddit

Mine is a bit sketchy, because it only knows about congestion on motorways. So if there's a traffic jam on the motorway, it'll direct me to the side roads, which are often even worse. A few years back, I spent 10 hours driving from Plymouth to Bristol because of an incident on the M5, and followed my satnav's instructions to use side roads which were even more congested. Turns out if I'd just stuck to the motorway, I'd have been through in a couple of hours. I know this because colleagues who departed at the same time as me did that.

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JoeyJoeC@reddit

You won't fail on that. As long as you don't make any safety errors.

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b0neappleteeth@reddit

I did the ‘new’ test when it first came out and wasn’t given a sat nav as only 4/5 tests use them. i’d practiced both so it wasn’t an issue for me

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FuzzyPalpitation-16@reddit

Omg I dreaded practicing this part with my instructor, I kept thinking I would crash it and can’t multitask (I did my test 2018). Although on test day, I was told to follow traffic signs instead and apparently that’s the minority now.

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SpaceMonkeyAttack@reddit

You won't fail for not following the directions, so long as you continue to drive safely. If you go in completely the wrong direction, that might be a problem as the examiner needs to get back to the centre before their next test. But if you get to the same destination by a different route, that wouldn't be a fail.

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sparklybeast@reddit

God yes this! I loathe SatNavs.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

It's either sat-nav OR, 'follow the directions to the train station'. You don't know until the examiner walks out, so you have to practice both.

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ComplexOccam@reddit

It’s all the bad habits you pick up that would fail you, a lot of people are confident drivers, doesn’t mean they drive to test standard is the problem. For me it’s probably be breaking distances, as in, I’ll only use the pedal if I have to 😂

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Sad_Reason788@reddit

Quite honestly i would probably fail, there are so mnay stupid things you have to do in a test that you would not do otherwise like the unnatural head movements to check mirrors or checking mirrors every time you speed up/slow down, maybe mototrways just because that was not a thing when i was testing and not sure the test rules on that. Parallel parking I wouldn't be able to do that in the real world where every car is bumper to bumper parked up so I usually iust take car parks or a lot of space next to curb.

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Coconutpieplates@reddit

Both hands on wheel if that's still a rule and coasting, I definitely coast too much. I might not leave a full car length in traffic by accident too. But I am acing the show me tell me question on how to front and rear windscreens.

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Nine_Eye_Ron@reddit

Probably on leaving the assessment centre. I got a licence now, I’m just glad I don’t need to take another test.

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DontEatTheBats@reddit

Parallel parking without a doubt

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TheFugitiveSock@reddit

Pretty much everything as I haven’t driven in aeons.

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thegamesender1@reddit

I drive a lorry so I don't use the rearview mirror when driving, I'd probably get some minors for observation but I doubt I'd fail it.

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_alextech_@reddit

Calling people cunts. That fucking prick in a white Audi who's further up my bum than a proctologist, for example, is one such cunt. They're everywhere in Wales since the speed limits changed

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Hairy_Al@reddit

Parallel parking. I didn't have to do that in 1988, and I'm, at best, 50/50 with my attempts. I get in eventually, but it's not pretty

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SpaceMonkeyAttack@reddit

You can have all the attempts you like to actually get parked. You'll fail if you touch the kerb, or if you don't look around every time you move forward or reverse.

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cmdrxander@reddit

If the instructor thinks you’re getting nowhere with all your attempts they can stop you and move on

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painful_butterflies@reddit

Feed steering. I can remember how to be a learner in the other aspects of overly cautious, but I tried to demonstrate feed steering to my teenager recently and could not coordinate the hands fast enough to make a simple turn. One handed spinny palm is so much easier.

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cmdrxander@reddit

As long as you’re in full control of the car they wouldn’t have a problem with how you turn the steering wheel

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JohnnyBobLUFC@reddit

I still feed the wheel many years after passing because my instructor told me off every single time, can still hear her telling me off if I even think about not feeding.

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Zennyzenny81@reddit

Driving long distances with only one hand on the wheel.

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Slapedd1953@reddit

Definitely me too, been driving one handed for 50 years! If geriatrics ever get tested (which I’m in favour of) I’d fail totally.

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cmdrxander@reddit

As long as they deem you to be in full control of the car you wouldn’t have any issues

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JoeyJoeC@reddit

There's a YouTuber that does car videos. He did a rant on a podcast about people that drive with one hand on the steering wheel saying how stupid it us and how people do it to "look cool". I notice him doing it in every single video l since.

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TheSpyTurtle@reddit

Palming it round roundabouts so I can change gear the second I'm off and boot it away

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Molly_Hatchett@reddit

Same 😬

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m1keeey@reddit

Bad language

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melnificent@reddit

Hazard perception, I'd take so many attempts to get it right. Because after 25+ years of driving I've learnt that everything can be a hazard... pedestrians dart from between ANY parked cars, cars pull out without looking, etc. I over estimate the amount of hazards in the test because in reality there are far more hazards than what the person setting it has put.

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al_in_8@reddit

OP. You don't reverse park, but reverse out. Reversing out is way more dangerous than driving out. Properly adjusted mirrors and practice in an empty parking lot. Park or have someone park and then, from the driver's seat, look at the edges of your car with mirrors and shoulder checks. Use vehicle ridges, edges of windows etc as reference points. I use the side mirrors looking forward and can stop so the front bumper is just on the stop line.

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Dangerous_Dac@reddit

I've literally never reversed around a corner maintaining a 1 ft distance from the Curb since passing my test in 2007.

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Hmmmm13242@reddit

Swearing at the other drivers, tailgating slow drivers in the fast lane, driving with one hand on the steering wheel, grabbing my instructor's hand (wife) and putting it on my dick, farting with gay abandon, not yielding at a yellow light, sitting 5 kms over the speed limit because I know the speedometer reeds high, ogling women in lululemon pants, having the stereo up to 11, beeping the horn at shit drivers, flashing my lights at shit drivers, not slowing down at a red light because I can tell it's about to change to green, getting up to speed too fast, putting it in cruise control and taking my feet completely off the pedals, looking for things in my teeth in the rear vision mirror, randomly saying cunt (because I can't say that word enough anymore now that have a two young kids).

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ahoneybadger3@reddit

I'd pass. Just sat my class 2 licence earlier last year and picked up 1 minor on it. That was 20 years since my last test. Also had to sit the hgv theory test twice thanks to covid pushing my test date passed the 2 years the first one was eligible for, passed that first time both times.

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Scragglymonk@reddit

recall it was physically driving and no multiple choice, so possibly the questions and bad habits picked up

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druscarlet@reddit

I would pass.

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mycatiscalledFrodo@reddit

Theory test and reversing around a corner

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NagromNitsuj@reddit

I’d fail the hazard perception test. The others no problem.

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BobDobbsHobNobs@reddit

I’m going to fail on the ‘identify the parts of the engine’ question. Have they updated that for EVs yet?

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i_hate_pigeons@reddit

I think you only get a minor if you fail at those

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Tao626@reddit

I'm not seeing anybody say they would fail with properly using indicators and roundabouts. I drive enough to know at least half of you aren't telling the whole truth.

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i_hate_pigeons@reddit

I'm taking lessons atm and 90% of the time my instructor is shouting at other drivers

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Single-Aardvark9330@reddit

Not checking the mirrors. I do check them, but only with my eyes and not my whole head the way you have to in an exam.

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JoeyJoeC@reddit

You don't have to turn your head. The examiner will watch your eyes with their mirror. Spoke to a supervising examiner about this.

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FuzzyPalpitation-16@reddit

😅😂 I was so anal about the mirror checks cause my instructor drilled that into my head and the neck acrobatics I did were hilarious. I remember driving my mum after I passed and she was like damn you don’t have to turn your head that much!

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VadimH@reddit

And here I am, practically breaking my neck checking my blind spots every time I change lanes, 10 years later

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GavUK@reddit

One of my main issue with modern cars is that, due to my seat position (because of long legs), the thicker car frame (probably for crash protection) usually blocks me from getting a good view of the blind spot when looking over my shoulder.

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incrediblesolv@reddit

Get four blind spot mirrors and attach to the outside edge of both outer mirrors, one for the rear wheel and one for the next lane.

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Relevant-Criticism42@reddit

I’m a glasses wearer and my instructor always told me to move my whole head so that the examiner could see. It’s a very unnatural movement.

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JohnnyBobLUFC@reddit

Just a slight movement of your head is enough for them to see you're checking them, I barely moved my head when checking my mirrors in my test and didn't even get a single minor.

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cowplum@reddit

I failed on not checking mirrors before slowing down. I'd still fail on that now. When slowing down its so unnatural to stop looking at how much space there is in front of you.

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ravenouscartoon@reddit

This would be me. I had to do a mini bus requalification fairly recently and the examiner commented that he wasn’t sure if I was checking my mirrors. I was, and told him the 3 cars behind me and the one that had just turned off (make and model and colour of each car), but I think if it was a driving test they’d just fail me for not checking. Driving lessons really don’t teach you to drive, they teach you to pass the test.

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birdy888@reddit

This thread is a prime example of 80% of drivers thinking they are above average.

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jazzmagg@reddit

Blowing the examiner. (because 80% of today's drivers, must've blown the examiner to pass the test)

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Happy_Boy_29@reddit

Absolute gospel.

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Happy_Boy_29@reddit

I probably would not fail on anything. About ten years ago I spent 7 months struggling to get up to the Institute of Advanced Driving Test First level and since then I landed a joab driving tranplant response vehicles so have been blue light tested every year since. Though not an official Ministry of Transport driving test, no blues and two's in that, and no written test for blues and two's either. Every time there is a new edition of the highway code I make a point of going out to get a copy and making sure I am uptodate with the latest additions. I am also familiar with the latest edition of the Police Road Craft hand book as pertaining to blue light driving. Now I have recently retired I shall rejoin the Institute of Advanced Motorists again and see how long it takes to get back to masters standard. I am not a perfect driver by any means but I know so long as I do not let these standards drop I stand a far better chance of minimising the risks associated with driving for myself and possibly more importantly everybody else. As for driving backwards practice makes perfect. Find an empty car park and spend a day driving around it backwards safely and you should be able to crack it. First thing I taught a girl friend many eons ago. We still laugh about it now.

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Far_Carpenter6156@reddit

I'm sure I'd be done in for speeding (because I'm not a hypocrite and everybody who drives regularly speeds because half the time the limit makes no sense) and for not turning my head to look at every mirror and every corner of the car (because I have this thing called peripheral vision and spacial awareness).

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Maidwell@reddit

Every person on here would fail on mirror usage alone, no matter how good a driver you think you are. Source : ex driving instructor who's seen it all.

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chrisjee92@reddit

I'd be surprised if I fail. I'm a hyper aware driver due to being a biker as well. But I suppose it can be seen as a negative as it makes me a bit anxious.

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WildHaggis92@reddit

Furiously undertaking fast lane sitters

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KaidsCousin@reddit

Not feeding the wheel. I very rarely ever have both hands on the wheel at the same time.

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everyoneelsehasadog@reddit

Forward bay parking. I can't do it. I can't park forwards at all. I can reverse park into tiny spots. But not forwards. Unless it's like 3 cars long.

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Straightoutthe90s@reddit

Shouting fuck off to drivers around me

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itsheadfelloff@reddit

An accumulation of minors along with speed.

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Ambitious-Check8584@reddit

So many clowns in this sub just shouldn't have a licence, openly admitting they can't fucking drive whilst being allowed on the road is actually very worrying.

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Deformedpye@reddit

If I remember correctly everything they taught me is basically null and void. Driving for 18 years and they would fail me for my driving. Never had an accident in that time. You are not learning how to drive. You are learning how to pass a test.

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bopeepsheep@reddit

Having a valid provisional licence. If they let me try anyway, I'm fairly sure I'd get picked up on speed - when I had lessons I was always too fast, now I'd be driving at 10mph, trying to peer at things and making sure I didn't need to brake quickly.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

You can fail for being too slow now too. I know of someone who failed for not going above 27 in the 30 zones.

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Ambitious-Check8584@reddit

Getting failed for driving too slow isn't new ffs

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

Alright, calm down. I could see failing for going 30 on a dual carriageway or 15 in a 30, but going 27 in a 30 seems dumb, so I figured it was a newer thing.

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bopeepsheep@reddit

Yes. That's why I said "speed", not "speeding", and mentioned "10mph". I know it's a failing issue (it was 35 years ago, too).

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undercovergloss@reddit

Tight parallel parking and space awareness. I always panic thinking I’m too close to other vehicles, even if there is tons of room.

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TheMotherCarrot@reddit

Possibly theory but I think my driving has improved. Modern cars make so much of it much easier. Powered steering wasn't common when I took mine and reversing cameras were non-existent. Due to a disability now, I'd have to take it in an automatic as I can no longer manage a manual.

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dibblah@reddit

I did my test (and learnt to drive) in a car that had hill assist. Was a big shock when I passed and bought a tin can with pretty much no mod cons. I feel like people should learn to drive in cars without modern things as what new driver can afford a fancy car?

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Ambitious-Check8584@reddit

These modern cars are why there are so many shite drivers on the road, far to reliant on technology and then completely brain dead when it doesn't work.

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2023mustgo@reddit

My first car didn't even have a passenger wing mirror. I know I'm getting old because I hate the new fangled stuff on cars and try to avoid it. Power steering is an improvement, but I resent a car that thinks it knows how to drive better than I do!

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TheMotherCarrot@reddit

Oh, goodness yes! I think it can be dangerous, getting used to a car telling you if something is wrong, rather than knowing your car yourself. Central locking was the first 'extra' I ever had and thought I was the bee's knees. Reversing cameras are great, but make sure you can still park without them for the day they pack up.

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GavUK@reddit

Yeah, my instructors car had power steering, my first car did not. Turning around was certainly a lot more work with that car. I've never had a car with hill assist though, but because of the area I live in it wasn't something I've had a lot of experience doing manually, so I'm pretty sure I've given drivers behind me some palpitations when trying to pull away from standing uphill.

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irving_braxiatel@reddit

This definitely happened when I passed. Went from using the instructor’s all-bells-and-whistles car to my dad’s knackered old shitbox.

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1308lee@reddit

I think shouting "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING YOU ABSOLUTE FUCKING LEMON" would be up there. Not sure if one hand on the wheel is a fail or just ill advised.

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Fit_Manufacturer4568@reddit

Not letting people cross side roads before I turned in.

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FuzzyPalpitation-16@reddit

Probably reverse park as well. But I did pass on my first try - though everything was perfect till the end when the guy wanted me to put half of the car parked on the curb (?) honestly I didn’t understand what he wanted me to do and then he got frustrated and tried to take the wheel and do it and well it was bumpy lol. I don’t think that was part of the test but he looked so irritated I was preparing myself for a fail lol

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Ambitious-Check8584@reddit

I wouldnt fail because I take pride in being a good fucking driver and not an oxygen thief that can't do the basics or repeatable actions of driving, not only would I pass my car one, I would also pass the class 2 and class 1 again just as easily as the car.

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I_am_Reddit_Tom@reddit

One handed driving

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L0rdLuk3n@reddit

Probably speeding. I don't drive crazy, but often my speed can creep up.

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Background-Factor817@reddit

Shouting “FUCKING GO THEN” behind a car doing 15 on a straight road or losing my shit at some guy cutting me up/not indicating/tailgating me/just being a nob.

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Frizzmond@reddit

No way I’m doing 20min throughout Wales

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michaelwnkr@reddit

Ten to two. I drive with one hand on the wheel, and let it run through my hand coming out of corners.

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NorthantsBlokeUK@reddit

I'd still be able to nail the handbrake turn, the J turn and the wheelspin in McDonald's car park. (pretty sure I remember these being on there?!) Might struggle keeping it under 120mph on the dual carriageway, though.

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Molly_Hatchett@reddit

Don't forget you'll get a minor if you use your indicators!

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Solid_Bake4577@reddit

Should I slide a Jimmy Savile joke in here?

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spaceshipcommander@reddit

I wouldn't fail. I know exactly how to drive to pass the test. I've taken various other categories since taking my car test and passed them. Play the game and you'll pass. You know what the pass criteria is.

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iamdarthvin@reddit

Indicators on sideroads.

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RawrMeansFuckYou@reddit

Probably fail my theory as I only revised the night before when I passed it and got lucky that the mock exams I did had like 50% of the questions I actually had. Some signs I see and just think wtf is that. My practical I'd pass, I'd just have to be wary about actually snapping my neck to look at mirrors.

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Soomroz@reddit

I'd fail on road rage. 15 years of driving on congested roads has taken a toll on my mental health.

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becca413g@reddit

Sight test, fortunately I know that and don't drive anymore. Also fortunately I'm loving riding my bike and being able to take short cuts.

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AbramKedge@reddit

I've passed my driving test the first time in the UK, Canada, and California (by far the easiest). But now I'm back in the UK, I have no inclination whatsoever to drive over here. I'd fail for lack of gung-ho spirit while driving on a two-way street with cars parked on both sides, where the road was designed to be wide enough for two handcarts to pass with no parked vehicles.

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Clunk234@reddit

I’d probably fail on uneconomical driving. My car makes good noises when you give it a boot full.

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WerewolfNo890@reddit

Probably starting it. Never driven a car before so I would probably fuck something up straight away.

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eltegs@reddit

Nothing, because I'd indicate to whoever was asking, that they can go sit in a broken bottle.

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FuntCaseKid@reddit

My test was quite easy and my hardest part was pulling over on the opposite side of the road and reversing back two car spaces. If she had of asked me to reverse bay park or do parralel parking I 100% would of failed it. I even practices both of those things before my test and kept fucking it up. It’s now three years later and I still cannot parallel park for the life of me so I would 100% fail on that even now. Everything else I think I would find easier now and wouldn’t be as nervous or worried about the outcome.

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Admirable-Act-9342@reddit

Holding the steering wheel wrong, also being able to eat an extra value meal

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jsf1982@reddit

Probably drink driving

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JohnnyBobLUFC@reddit

Nothing, i might get a minor or two for my speed but I'd likely be keeping an eye on it. You should be a better driver now and pass with ease not a worse driver that would fail.

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aarontbarratt@reddit

Parallel parking probably, and forgetting to check blind spots when moving in after going around parked cars When on the motorcycle I do checks every time, but it is easy to get lazy in the car

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Dramoriga@reddit

Not feeding the wheel, and probably always having my left hand on the gearstick instead of on the wheel

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ra246@reddit

Depends how anal they would be. If they fail me for the shit like holding the wheel at 10 and 2, then that. Otherwise I'm confident I'd pass. I passed my advanced motorcycling qualification just over a year ago with the highest grade so that could be a good barometer

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Army-Status@reddit

I have a bad habit of holding the wheel with just one finger

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TravisInLondon@reddit

Nothing. I would pass with 0 minors just like I did the first time.

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fsckit@reddit

Sight.

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ChillCommissar@reddit

Honestly don't think I'd fail anything or probably 1 or 2 minors depending on the examiner. I do consider myself a careful driver, especially when the kids are in the car.

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chunykmcpot@reddit

Passed my 7.5t test first time 6 months ago, and the same with me C+E class 1 6 weeks ago, so i should hopefully pass a driving test if i had to have another. I dunno if palming the steering wheel while reversing is allowed on a car test, so could fail there.

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stwa81@reddit

Giving someone the fingers for not acknowledging that I allowed them into my lane.

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trewdgrsg@reddit

Honestly little things you let slip but which also make no sense, putting on handbrake every time you’re stationary so twice during a 3 point turn. Also use of mirrors, I use them but not in a ridiculously noticeable way like you are taught

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LostRisk2446@reddit

Hands at 10/2 and being in second gear all the time.

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MelodicAd2213@reddit

I had an assessment - for medical licence last year and all was fine.

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MMH1111@reddit

Me too. Wasn't in the driving test when I passed about 100 years ago.

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Dahnhilla@reddit

One hand on the wheel most of the time and coasting but that's to use regen, don't know how they mark that sort of thing in a test.

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No-Photograph3463@reddit

I'd fail on forward parking, as I never do it as 9.5/10 it's always better to reverse park into a bay and then drive out.

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GavUK@reddit

If parallel parking is still part of the test, that's what I'd fail on. I was never great at it and I still remember when I worked somewhere with no parking spaces and we had to park along a nearby street. I tried to parallel park in a space with my Peugeot 306, and after some back and forth I just couldn't get the car tucked in, so drove up the road to find another space, only to see in my rear mirror one of my colleagues in his Volvo Estate pull up and reverse into the space I'd just given up on...

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Human-Call@reddit

Parallel parking. If that is part of the test. Can’t remember.

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TheRealVinosity@reddit

I have to do this, though in another country as my UK licence is not valid here. I'm dreading it, to be honest. Even though I've been driving for 35 years.

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Benreh@reddit

Being able to pay for it

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throwawayjim887479@reddit

I don't know if it's still on the test but reversing around a corner, I only passed because the maneuver that came up on mine was parallel park which I can just about pull off.

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BishBeesley@reddit

Hope I’d pass the practical as I drive every day and most days have to do awkward parking. But as I’ve never had to do theory as there was no theory test then, I have no idea what the past or current Highway Code rules are except by observation of other drivers.

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i_hate_pigeons@reddit

The maneuvers aren't a key part of the test, it's mostly doing stuff in a non dangerous way, eg you might clip a curb when parking and get a minor but fail if you don't check your blind spots before moving

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BishBeesley@reddit

I suspect I’d be fine then.

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chartupdate@reddit

I don't have the skills of deliberately accelerating towards danger so I can lean aggressively on the horn and get some awesome dash cam footage for YouTube. I believe this is now compulsory to have.

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Molly_Hatchett@reddit

Or swerve aggressively round without breaking at all when someone pulls out on you, even when you could see it coming a mile off. I don't know how to break check people so that'd be me screwed

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Organic_Chemist9678@reddit

You press the brake pedal.

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JeffSergeant@reddit

Probably the theory tbh, not brushed up on my road signs and I struggled with a few that I never see in real life when I last did it. Actually driving, I think I'd be fine.

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Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit

Not holding the steering wheel with both hands, and looking at the mirror in good time.

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probablynotreallife@reddit

Anyone who would fail any part of the practical driving test really shouldn't be driving. I don't know what the theory test is like these days but if it's anything like it was when I took it then that too. It's literally designed to lessen chances of drivers killing others.

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TraditionalAide9751@reddit

I'd be fooked if they asked me to parallel park. I can reverse bay park fine, I have to at work. I'm not confident forward bay parking in between two cars though, I find it difficult to judge where the front corners of my car are. I avoid parallel parking at all costs unless the space is massive though.

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Adorable_Week7181@reddit

Can you fail for calling someone a “fucking bellend” for indicating right while in the left hand lane of a roundabout?

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MooMooMills001@reddit

parallel parking 100%!

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Giralia@reddit

Shouting at people to stop driving like twats

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Geknock@reddit

Passing distance. If I can physically fit my vehicle through a space I will, even if I have to fold my wing mirrors in.

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Slapedd1953@reddit

Well, this has sort of answered my question on why so many people can’t parallel park…

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Molly_Hatchett@reddit

I can bay-park like a champion as long as there's cars on either side. If the car park is empty, it's gonna take me like three attempts to get in haha. For me it would either be the sat nav portion, or that new rule about letting people cross at roundabouts. I do it at T junctions because it makes sense, but the rule at roundabouts is so badly thought out, badly written, badly rolled out. I'd never know whether to do it or not

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bobbyv137@reddit

Not the eyesight test, that’s for sure. I’ve had my diving license for years and would pass no problem.

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kiwitafff@reddit

If I see a mate walking down the street, a give a quick beep of the horn Coincidently i did this in my test and failed And I'd fail again.

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LeafyLustere@reddit

You are allowed to take multiple attempts it would just be one minor so long as you show your checking mirrors.and checking it's safe each time I'd probably pass as I did so recently with 0 minors

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Mental-Jellyfish9061@reddit

I often (short periods of time) see whether i can drive similar to how you have to when taking your test (33 years ago!). I'd say the main area i would fail is being too confident - that gap between cars is "easily ok for me to pull out into". Now, whether an instructor would fail me or not - i'm not sure. For the most part, it's not too bad what i do - but knowing there's 1 in 100 chance of stalling the car or getting the wrong gear, it does allow you to get on with things a little more.

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Figgzyvan@reddit

Swearing.

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ClassicGUYFUN@reddit

Probably fail on aggressive driving. I got a need for speed and everyone but me is a cunt

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TheTjalian@reddit

Probably parallel parking. I reverse park at home and at work but haven't needed to parallel park anywhere in a good couple of years.

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bladefiddler@reddit

Not meaning to sound too smug, but I think I'd have a decent chance of passing. After 25 years driving I did my motorbike test and got that licence this spring. The tests seem quite similar but the stakes are quite a bit higher when riding (any fuckup is more likely to cost you limbs or your life, rather than just time & money), so it makes you kind of hyper-aware and I noticed this transfer into driving the car. To answer the question though, it would probably be some stupid habit, like only putting on my seat belt when I'm half way down the street and the car starts beeping at me.

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broken-runner-26@reddit

Like to think I would pass. As an instructor explained to me, if you can't concentrate for the short duration of the test, you're setting yourself up to fail

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sparklybeast@reddit

Realistically nerves. I’m a decent, safe driver. No accidents in 25 years of driving. No speeding tickets. No reason for me to fail but I know how nervous I would be and would inevitably do something stupid like going through a red light.

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PostLine3202@reddit

I wouldn’t fail. A friend is an examiner, he took me on a mock test last year and I passed.

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blackthornjohn@reddit

Not wearing a seat belt, crossing my hands and probably going from 2nd to 6th gear.

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Spike-and-Daisy@reddit

Swearing.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

I'm taking mine for the first time next month... so hopefully nothing. Speed creep and hesitation will potentially be my downfall though.

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