Did I not update this when I failed? Not been connected to the net much so totally out of the loop.
Argh, I have totally not prepared this but I guess whatever is meant to happen, happens.
I started my lessons in London. I had done a good 20 hours (and 3 lessons a week) so I could pass sooner before I moved, but I ran out of cash so I stopped. I shouldn't have, but I can't think like that.
I then moved to a different area. Couldn't find a instructor for ages, eventually did and wasted money as she wasn't teaching me.
Then took me time to find another instructor. So, I have had too many gaps. I found this instructor good.
I took a test and failed. I was so ready for this test. I felt like I was such a good driver, confident and careful. My instructor was feeling sad it was the last time I would be with her. No way hosay.
The roads and routes are very different to where I was learning in London. I grew up in London so was way more comfortable there. With the new area, I wasn't stuck in one city/area, it was constantly driving to different areas and this happened in the test too. I never knew where I was.
Anyway I failed towards the last part (not the very end) of the test... or so I thought. When the examiner said I had 3 serious or whatever they're called, I was gobsmacked. I thought it was one only. I had no minors. He said it was a shame as I was a very good driver, block changing gears, clutch control at the end of the road etc. I was so angry and upset as I couldn't believe it when he said 3. I thought it was 1 only. Because he used the brake. What happened was I was at another big roundabout (the test was constantly dual carriageways to the next area and massive roundabouts). I was hesitant to go, but then I kept remembering my instructors tone (she's nice but one kinds sounds sort of patronizing when she used to say 'go! you can go! with a slight question mark exclamation mark at the end in her tone of voice) so I went. Examiner had to slam his breaks as a car approached. I guess it didn't help that it was a 50mph road and was going downhill too and I guess never done a roundabout like that.
But then he said I failed on a traffic light too, which was in the first 20 minutes, so all that time I was working and not realising I had already failed. What happened was I was going uphill a steep hill (these hills, I always complaing about them I am so not used to them even walking). There's traffic lights at the top of the hill so you can't really see the road ahead. Okay the traffic lights were on green so I should anticipate them going red and yes as always when I get there they are changing to red so I stop. So I fail probably because the car behind didn't get enough notice it should have. There's more to it too but no point getting into it as I don't think I was in a dangerous place, I just stopped rather than went, but I couldn't have gone as I wouldn't have reached the other side in time since it was so far away and the cars from the left and right were coming straight away.
Now I get paranoid when I see green lights and think should I slow down because they might turn amber/red. But in my lessons here in London again, they never do. So why does it happen in my test lol.
Goodness what was the 3rd one now. It could have been that I didn't look before changing lanes on a approach to the roundabout. Oh yes I did but it wasn't obvious enough I guess.
So one test failed and yes I did make mistakes but I think I took it really badly. I thought okay I won't let that knock me down so I booked another test for one and a half weeks later and I failed again.
This time what happened was I probably got a hesitation major. This was a total knock on effect from the first test probably because of the roundabout and traffic lights. I was taking much longer to get up to the junctions and so on. Another thing was that this test was different from the first. It was more normal roads rather than dual carriageways.
I also found that in my first test, the examiner was more helpful during the independent driving. I once asked confirmation for which left turn I needed (was it the 5th left?) but rather than saying yes he started counting them for me too as we went past. In the second test, it was a no help situation I guess. Anyway it was a two part independent drive. First part was done. Second part, the end of it was to get to the end of the road and turn right. I always thought they would be very clear with the independent drive instructions. I suppose I thought this one would be more clearer than it was. The end of the road in this case didn't mean a literal end of the road and not even that close to the end of the road. So it was this long gloomy road that continues to bend to the left. I was looking for the end of the road or a turn right option and I didn't find one until I look up whilst going on this long bendy road towards the end and seeing a one way sign to the left. I had obviously missed the last right and I am no sure which sign I should have seen that indicated there would be no right turn after that as the road wasn't wide so it's not like I had to look too far to the left or right, just ahead vision was poor. Anyway so I cancel my signal as I obviously couldn't turn right anymore then notice it is a dual carriageway I have to join.
So me already being hesitant throughout my test, I am thinking goodness what more could I get? Still, I thought I have already messed up my independent drive but it is okay as I always thought as long as you correct your mistake properly it is okay. So I am looking to the right to make sure I can go because obviously me being so freaked out driving after failing once, I am going to be extra careful. There is a massive gap so I go.
Btw when I had realised I couldn't go right anymore and adjusted to the situation, the examiner said, now you have missed your right so you will have to go left.
Anyway so at the end of the test when he reviews he mentions me missing the right and having to join the dual carriageway. So he says I didn't look before I joined, I just went. Are you kidding me?! Me, the over cautious, who managed to get over roundabouts during normal lessons but would always be cautious when joining a dual carriageway due to high speed vehicles, would really join a dual carriageway without looking?! Well this really upset me as I was pretty obvious I looked right before I joined. I found that both examiners seemed to miss really big head turns when I was the most obvious. I also found them inconsistent with their own selves. E.g. he gives me a major for one thing which wasn't even wrong and yet when he tells me to turn to the right lane during a different part of the test and shouts RIGHT I SAID RIGHT (I think I had misunderstood his accent which is why I didn't go to the right lane on a slip road when he asked me to), and because he was shouting it so loudly I just moved over and I didn't look as he was so loud, but he didn't fail me for that, or even mention it.
So the other major was the same thing happening at the roundabout and me thinking really? I did this again? I was simply too nervous. What happened was I was at a roundabout and to the right a big lorry is coming but looks like they are taking the exit (big roundabout so far away). Then I think my instructor would be like LOOK,LOOK AT THEIR WHEELS, YOU CAN GO CAN'T YOU? So I go, but then the lorry turns a bit and they're in my face. So examiner slams the brakes.And I'm thinking, how stupid am I? Argh.
So I didn't book a test after that as I thought I was throwing money away and failing. Can't afford it either. Instructor says she will book a test in January but in between that it snows and everything. So since then till last month I have had a 6 month break in driving as my instructor didn't get back to me and she said have a go in London.
So I came back and travelling back every week. My first lessons I was doing the hesitating when approaching junctions things but that is gone now. However I had a mock test the other day and want to discuss what my instructor found. I will make a new post for that but as this is my diary thought I would write the above even if no one reads. I did make silly mistakes and it was so stupid, and it has made me nervous but I will get advice from here after my next post I am sure.