Test centre or supermarket carpark, the terror of your first driving test will remain

With Scottish learners set to be the first in the UK to take their driving tests in supermarket car parks, Rebecca Roots remembers her first test and how no matter where you sit your test the stress of the siutation remains.

Everyone dreads the day your instructor arrives to take you to the test centre. Your teeth are chattering, your palms are sweating and no matter how hard you try you can’t stop hyperventilating.

It’s driving test day.

I knew I wasn’t going to pass. Very few pass on their first test, at least that’s what I told myself.

When we arrived at the centre I jumped up to the toilet numerous times. And when this stern old man bounded into the room and called my name I quickly realised there was no way a flutter of the eyelids would gain a pass here.

Next to the car I answered my ‘show me tell me’ questions correctly. How do you know the brakes are working? Where are the fog lights?

Finally I got into the car, seat belt on, mirrors adjusted, ignition on, blind spots checked and away we went.

Well I don’t know how to describe what happened next. Disaster? Nightmare? Most embarrassing moment of my life perhaps?

Ten minutes into the test, just as I had evened out my breathing, stopped the excessive sweating and was telling myself that if I didn’t pass I could always invest in a good set of roller blades, it happened.

We were on a dual carriage way driving at about 50mph. The examiner said “Take the next left.” I panicked. Not only do I have trouble knowing my left and rights, I was in the far lane which meant crossing traffic to take the turn.

Who knows what was going through my mind. I was going too fast. I quickly veered left and despite seeing the cyclist next to me I somehow thought he might move out of my way. Turns out he didn’t. The examiner grabbed the wheel, slammed on the brakes and yelled “Why were you trying to kill him?” The cyclist toppled over, more with the fright I think because I don’t think I actually hit him. Again this is what I tell myself. He was fine, jumped straight back on his bicycle and scooted off.

I on the other hand was not fine. I carried on with the test for the next 40 minutes knowing I had failed. I picked up a few more majors and an extensive range of minors before returning to the centre.

When my instructor walked over and asked how it had gone the examiner replied “Well Richard, have you ever had a student fail for nearly killing a man?”

Looking back I can laugh at the hilarity of the situation. After another fail I finally passed on my third attempt.

Whilst mine remains the most shocking test story among friends and family, there are many who have found it just as terrifying an experience.