Am I the only one who didn’t have to take a driving test? I got my license with just a written test, since I’d taken a 3 day, 6 hour “behind the wheel” class.
I failed the first time.
I went to a rather small high school and while we had the Driver’s Ed course with books and tests, the school did not offer actual driving practice with the Driver’s Ed course. The closest we got to a car for the whole class was learning to change a tire.
The driving test here consists of a left-hand turn out of the parking lot, four right hand turns and a left hand turn back into the parking lot. No parking other than pulling straight ahead and stopping.
And I failed.
Of course, I had only been behind the wheel of a car four times in my entire life at that point…(I actually didn’t have the first inklings of a clue as to where the switch for the headlights might be located, how to turn the lights on bright, how to release the emergency brake…)
Failed twice. Pittsburgh, PA on the course at the State Police Barracks.
I learned to drive on my Dad’s '74 Cougar, but took the test in my Grandfather’s '83 Celebrity. On the first straightaway it started to rain. I couldn’t find the wipers until the first stop sign as it was the first time I drove the car. When I parallel parked I couldn’t get it within the 1 foot as I had been used to driveing a car that was 4 foot wider. I said to the guy: “Is that close enough?” He opened the door and said: “Does that look close enough?” He punched a hole in my permit. Strike one.
My dad took me driving again after this and gave me some advice. He said that I went too fast on the first straight away and should slow down. He also said that I was stopping too far back from the stop signs and should stop closer to the intersection.
During the second test the guy said as I stopped at the last stop sign on the course: “You know, that was the first stop sign that you actually stopped behind. And you went a little slow and looked tentative on that first straight away.” Strike two.
On the third try the lights at the fake railroad crossing weren’t working and I went through without stopping. At the end they guy said: “What should you do when you come to a stop light that isn’t working?” Without thinking I blurted: “You just go through it.” And then I suddenly had a moment of clarity and quickly corrected myself: “You treat it like a stop sign.” He said that he would have failed me if I’d have given the wrong answer.
I had 3 accidents the first 2 years I drove, all of them weather related. I haven’t had an accident since. 10 years and counting.
Don’t deel bad about failing your driver’s test.
Another story:
A friend of mine took his test at the same place using his dad’s '72 Impala (And yes, he completed the 3 point turn in 3 points). He is a little short.
When the State Trooper got in the car which had a bench seat pulled up far because he’s a little short, the tall cop had his knees up to his chest against the dash. “Forget this!” He said and got out of the car.
A woman gave him the test. The first thing she said to him was: “You have the most beautiful blue eyes.”
He passed.
I passed the first time. But this was when PA still did their tests in parking lots. It’s hard to fail when there’s no other traffic and you don’t have to parallel park. My sister failed hers (in New York) because her examiner made her use hand signals in the rain (despite the perfectly functioning indicators) which did nothing but confuse the other motorists.
Friend of mine went to school with a guy who failed his first time because after he went through what he thought was his test and went to get his card signed and stamped he and the police officers discovered that his test had actually been administered by a convict who escaped from the prison down the road. (Why an escaped convict would hang out at driver’s license place is beyond me).
He of course had to retake the test and was so freaked out that he failed.
I failed my first time too.
I took the test in this weird parking lot that was set up as a road course as well. Things were going good. I was nervous but not to flustered when I approached this one stop sign to make a left turn. There was a large bush partially obstructing my view of the road. I craned my neck to see as well as I could and started to pull out. Suddenly, out of bloodly nowhere, this white car comes screaming down the road way too fast! I hit the brakes hard so as not to get my passenger side smashed in and the white car zooms by. The DMV lady fails me for “improperly checking for right of way” or something like that, as well as “hitting the brakes too hard.” Ungrateful bitch. If I hadn’t hit the brakes, she would’ve been in the hospital.
Needless to say I was pissed! I marched back into the office and demanded to know when I could take the test again. The man said, “Tomorrow.” and so I did! I passed with flying colors too.
I also passed my driver’s test on the first try.
I don’t really know how I managed to pass though. I guess it was just because I am really cute. I didn’t have to parallel park. I never had to back out of a parking space, I just drove straight through because there wasn’t a car parked in front of me. I really thought I failed it when I didn’t notice a stop sign and almost made a left hand turn into a fire truck. But, the tester gave me an almost perfect score and I got my license that day.
I was a horrible driver when I first got my license. The first day I ran over a dog. Luckily the dog was okay because I was only going about 10 miles an hour. I was in 6 accidents in the first year and a half. Most of them were fender benders but one involved 4 cars. None of the accidents were my fault, but if I had been a better driver I might have been able to avoid them.
I have been accident free for 8 years and counting. I guess I am getting better.
I feel like I should point out that there is a reason why the driving test examiners are tough - in fact, they might need to be a little tougher on occasion. Earlier this month, two students at the high school where I teach were killed in an accident near the school - the driver was going too fast in a rainstorm. Two weeks later, last Thursday, two more were killed and three injured when another inexperienced driver misjudged the distance and speed of an oncoming gravel truck. Drugs and alcohol were not involved in either case - the first ones were returning home after studying for an algebra test, and the ones last week were on their way to school. I don’t think that I can adequately express the feelings of grief, anger, and sorrow that the people at my school feel right now.
Please be careful, kids.
I passed on the first try. 100% written, 100% behind the wheel. Dad used to let be drive alot when I was young, and since it was a old 76 Chevy pick-up with power nothing, driving the Taurus I tested in was a piece of cake. Not to mention my Drivers Ed teacher was a friend of the family so I got some extra driving practice in HS while I drove him around to do his errands (and miss my classes :)).
In other words, it can be done, and typically people fail cause they are nervous, not because its hard. Advice, just relax and pay attention.
I passed this time!!! It wasn’t hard at all. I don’t even know how I managed to screw it up so bad the first time. I guess I’m just talented. But I have it now, so I’m happy.
This means it’s time for a…
Road Trip!
Congrats, Hypergirl!
::wild applause::
Congratulations, hypergirl! 
Yay hypergirl!!! claps We knew you could do it! Hell, if I could pass, anybody could…really.
[slight hijack]
My mom got her license in Connecticut in 1969 and they had the weirdest requirement – you weren’t allowed on the freeways at all until you HAD your license. How on earth were people supposed to LEARN to drive on a freeway, huh? Can anybody explain to me why this was thought of as a good idea?
[/slight hijack]
CONGRATS!!!
Now you can drive me around places;)
'Grats, hypergirl!
Well, I passed it, but in light of Medea’s Child’s tale, perhaps I cheated - I took the test in a car with no radio.
Parallel parking was a much bemoaned part of the test when I took it, but you could flub it in toto and not fail the test. My driver’s ed instructor taught me the following method, which works for me to this day, in spite of the intervening 33 years of automotive evolution.
Pull up next to the car ahead of the space you’re aiming at until your taillights are even with that car’s, with about 18" between vehicles. Backup while cranking the wheel to the right until you are even with the other car’s taillights. At that point, start cranking the wheel to the left until you find yourself nicely deposited in the space you desired.
Or, don’t park there.
I failed it THREE TIMES!!! That’s right. Didn’t get it until the fourth, and just barely. I HATE driving.
I almost ran over people in the parking lot. Twice. I’m amazed I have a license at all.
<slinks away in shame>
I passed my written with an 86%, first time.
When I took my driven, I had either a 30" long truck, a manual Metro, or a friggin’ minivan to choose from. Wasn’t any good at driving a stick at the time, so I chose the van.
Drove around town, the tester checking stuff off, mumbling, scribbling and scratching.
As we pulled into the parking lot to do parallel, the tester leans over and says “Let’s not even bother with parallel.”
Dejectedly, I got out of the car, as he hands me the paper.
86%
–Tim
I didn’t have to parallel park. Neener neener!
I passed the written & driving test the first time, even though I could barely hear the instructor…
I did have to take drivers education twice. The first time it would have been an ‘A’ but the teacher decided that my attitude sucked & wiped any record of me ever taking the class. sigh
Here’s a hot tip. Think like your mother. Wear her hat and gloves and peer over her reading glasses.
What? It works for her, doesn’t it?
Wouldn’t that be hard to fit in??