Questions from pupils
So we often get asked by our pupils all sorts of questions and many are “urban myths” that do the rounds on social media on at school etc. Here is a selection and hopefully we can give you the correct information as well.
1. Will I fail my driving test if I stall the car?
Most people will probably stall their car from time to time. An examiner will look at a range of factors to determine if any fault has been committed and how severe it may be. These include how quickly you regain control of the vehicle and what effect the stall has on other road users. So the answer is not a definite yes and will often be no.
2. What happens if I go the wrong way on my test?
Going the wrong way on your driving test will not lead to a fail as long as it is safe and legal. The pressure and anxiety of a driving test can often lead to directions being misheard or misunderstood. You can ask the examiner to clarify directions and if they can help they will. Problems occur when a pupil suddenly realises they are going the incorrect way and moves position suddenly. This would probably be unsafe and may well be a serious fault.
3. Will the examiner talk to me
All examiners are professionals and have a job to do. They are trained to test at the same standards.
Examiners will do there best to put you at ease as they know you will be nervous. They will talk to you but they will not want to distract you from the task of driving safely. As such any talking tends to be “small talk” unless a common interest is found .
4. Am I allowed to straighten up or adjust the car whilst doing my manoeuvre?
The simple answer to this is YES. As long as you adjust the position of the car in a safe and controlled way then you may do this. Repeated adjustments with no real improvement may result in the examiner having to tell you to stop and then drive on. There is no time limit as such but the examiner needs to manage the time to get you back to the test centre.
5. A related question Does the driving test end after 40 minutes?
The average length of a driving test is about 40 minutes. However if you go the incorrect way or hit traffic jams through roadworks or even an accident then the test will go on as long as necessary.
6. Driving examiners have a quota and pass/fail a certain amount each day/week
This is untrue. If you are good enough you will pass your driving test . It is true that examiners own personal pass rate percentage is monitored against past performance and the test centre average but they assess each candidate the same.
7. Do I have to pay to instructor extra on test day for things like insurance and the dual controls
This is a question I get asked very often. The simple answer is read the terms and conditions that your instructor gave you when you started lessons. If there are non then that should make you question their business practises. Car insurance and dual controls will need to be in place for all driving lessons so there should be no need for extra charges. The exception being if it is made clear in the original terms and conditions. We usually charge a straight hourly rate i.e. 1 hour before then 1 hour for test and getting home afterwards.
8. People that pass 2nd time are better drivers
This is untrue. Passing your driving test be it 1st time 2nd time or more , only means you have a basic understanding of how to control a car and be safe. Once you pass learning and experience will continue the more that you drive.