What was the worst thing to happen to you during your drivers test?

"Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man" (jordaneer1)
11/30/2014 at 18:20 • Filed to: None

I was reading !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on how he passed his drivers test, and it got me thinking of my drivers test. I almost ran a red light during my drivers test because it changed to red before I thought it would so i had to slam on the brakes. And I almost hit the curb while backing up. so i was wondering what is the worst thing to happen to you during your drivers test? or at least the most memorable?

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (81)

Brian Silvestro > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:24

Some dude in a truck started honking his horn at me while he was parked on the side of the road while I was driving by.

I was deducted points for that, and to this day, I have no idea why.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:24

Didnt happen to me but my uncle failed his road test within 20 seconds! How? He backed out of the parking space too quickly! He mixed up the gas and brake and it cost him his test.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:24

Pulled out into traffic. Dumb person had pulled into oncoming traffic to overtake people and ended up coming straight at me. Both of us stopped nice and early and she rejoined the correct lane. They failed me. Another Ł250 and another test later I passed...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:26

I think the guy said I didn't look both ways before passing through one of the green lights. But yeah that was it.

Coty > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:26

I was the only kid in my class of like 25 kids to get a 0 on my test (it's like golf, lower the better) so it wasn't anything bad. Just was on a back road and you could see the grass was growing up through the pavement, and then you started to notice it was like a natural speedbump, so I had to slow down with a bit more force than I usually like to. No biggie.

Sn210 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:29

a small flock of geese walked out in front of the car as we were leaving the parking lot for my test. I stopped, but the trooper told me to go. I panicked, either I run over some geese or disobey the police officer sitting next to me. Luckily, the driving instructor who was sitting in the backseat let the officer know there were geese there, and he gave me props for stopping. A short drive, a three point turn, and some backing up later, I had my license.

fhrblig > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:32

I took my driver's test WAAAAAY back in 1992, using my stepdad's '84 300ZX (non-turbo, automatic). We set off, I pull out of the parking lot and as I accelerate up the street, the speedometer starts reading 150 mph. I was going maybe 18. Then the gauge went completely dead. I pointed it out to the tester right away hoping it wouldn't screw me over, and he was just like I AIN'T EVEN CARE. Licence acquired.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:33

She docked points from my score, because... MY THREE POINT TURN WAS TOO SHORT.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:34

Well, I wasn't to familiar with the area where I took my test. Usually the speed limit is 40 for most of the town. But the road leading up to the DMV (It's the DPS here for some reason) was 50. No idea why, but I'm not complaining. After going through the neighborhood portion of the test, we went back out to that road. Except I didn't know if that was the 50MPH road or not. I got up to 45 when I realized that. So I just let off the gas because hitting the brakes would've made it obvious I may have been speeding.

That's when the person started to try and look at the speedometer (It was hard to see from the passenger seat). But apparently I wasn't doing anything wrong. I walked out as a licensed driver. But the kid who went before me failed badly. He parallel parked horribly and made quite a few mistakes. Funny since the large Expedition before him aced it.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Brian Silvestro
11/30/2014 at 18:34

that would make me wonder too.

Viggen > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:35

It started raining. I had never needed to use the wipers in the driver's ed cars, so I had no idea how to use them, since there's no universal wiper stalk even within a single manufacturer.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Sn210
11/30/2014 at 18:36

you took your test with a cop? in Idaho you have to take it with a private driving instructor who is qualified by the state to give drivers tests.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > fhrblig
11/30/2014 at 18:37

that would have been funny to not point it out and see if they noticed that it said you were going so fast.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/30/2014 at 18:38

wha? aren't they supposed to not be that big?

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
11/30/2014 at 18:38

not too bad.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
11/30/2014 at 18:39

ooh thats bad, hopefully he got those straightened out.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:39

It took me two tries to pass my driving test. The first time around, I'd had far less practice with parallel parking than I should've had; I failed the test right off the bat when I got my car only halfway into the space after fumbling with the steering wheel like an idiot.

When I actually got to the on-road portion during my second (successful) attempt at the test, there was an Impala that hassled me when I tried to make a lane change - I don't think I was docked points for that. I know for sure that I was docked points for not using my turn signal when I pulled into a parking space in the MVA parking lot at the end of the test.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/30/2014 at 18:40

that makes absolutely no sense, that once happened to my mom though, she was going down a 1 way street and someone was going torwards her the wrong way, luckily there was a nearby side street the person going the wrong way pulled off onto.

Sn210 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:40

yep, in MA you take your test with a state trooper riding shotgun. At least that's what it used to be, I think they've changed it since.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Coty
11/30/2014 at 18:41

sounds like some of the roads where I live.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:41

She was in a pissed mood, and apparently had to dock me for something. But the road was basically 3 lanes wide, which is more than enough to do a u-turn, but we had to do a 3 point turn without going off the road. So it was basically a u-turn at a slight angle, and then reverse to the right just a little bit.

djmt1 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:41

My test started on a negative before I had even started. My weak point leading up to it was roundabouts and the place where I was being tested had a roundabout with 12 exits. So for my last 3 lessons I had been practising roundabouts religiously. I eventually got to a place where I felt confident but that was smashed to pieces went I told my friends where I was taking my test only for both of them to tell me how they failed their tests at the place I was taking mine due to this ridiculous roundabout.

Anyway I arrived at the place and had to wait a while as there was a large queue as my test was originally supposed to be in December but due to bad weather which could influence the test it was pushed back til January. Eventually it was my go and I followed another person taking their test to the Roundabout of Doom. Then it happened. They clearly didn't look and most likely wanted to get it over and done with as soon as possible and just went straight across the lane only to be spun out by a Discovery which had clipped the back trying to avoid a full blown T-Boning. Needless to say I was shaken after that despite the fact that they continued the test as the Land Rover legged it. No trading insurance here.

Anyway again. I sat there for over 5 minutes refusing to go until I was 110% sure I wouldn't have a crash. Now fortunately there was no one behind me and there was a lot of traffic so I wasn't doing anything to gain a minor but I will admit there 7 occasions (Yes I counted) where I could of gone. Eventually my instructor who came along for the ride started lightly kicking my seat signalling that I should get a move on so I went and conquered the Roundabout of Doom.

The rest of the test went really well with me only gaining two minors both of which I dispute. One was a near stall the other for apparently not looking before I turned of a dual carriage way. Trust me I looked, I saw the two lorries thundering along at 50 mph and how can I be punished for a "near stall" I just saw another person on their test crash & fail and still I kept my legs under control (just I admit) and kept the engine turning. Heck I should of got bonus points or something.

fhrblig > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:42

I was too nervous to fuck around, really. Considering my step dad let me out of school in the middle of the week to take it, I wouldn't have wanted to risk it.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/30/2014 at 18:42

in drivers ed, I almost sideswiped a car on the opposite side of the road doing a 3 point turn, that one was slightly too wide.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:45

Here they have quotas. They have to fail a certain number of people every month, certain times of the month you're more likely to pass. Also females have an easier time passing, my gf passed first time despite doing 40mph in a 30 zone (she admitted this herself).

Dsscats > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:46

Got points off for not being close enough to the curb during a right turn. When I got back to the DMV, the lady (who was super unfriendly) said "Well, *sigh* you passed," like she was disappointed that she had to pass me.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Viggen
11/30/2014 at 18:46

My mom drives a ford, and I drive a mercury thats 5 years older, I can not for the life of me figure out how to use the windshield washers, even after doing what it says in the owners maunaul, it doesn't work, its probably because I have a stalk mounted transmisson, and she has a floor mounted transmission. and so its some weird combination of holding a button and whatnot. much agreed.

davedave1111 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:46

I was in stop-start traffic on a busy shopping street, when I stopped at a (cars-have-priority) pedestrian crossing to let an old lady across the road, with maybe a twenty yard gap to the car in front by the time she'd finished crossing. Apparently that was considered a minor fault.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > SonorousSpeedJoe
11/30/2014 at 18:48

I didn't have to parallel park which was good, because I still suck at parallel parking and probably would have failed. i just had to back up 3 car lengths straight on the street

davedave1111 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/30/2014 at 18:49

Here, they define it as a 'turn in the road using both forward and reverse gears' or some such, with the intention of stopping people doing what you did. Apparently at one time it was just 'turn around in the road', so there was a spate of people doing tests in black cabs because they had a tight enough turning circle that you could just pull a U-ie.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
11/30/2014 at 18:50

I drove my moms escape for my test because I wanted something more maneuverable than mine for the test. and to me, some places are crappy for having speed limits marked.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/30/2014 at 18:52

this is in the UK? that's really stupid that they have to fail a certain number of people.

rockingthe2 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:55

Ran a stop sign, did 15 over, still got my license.

Funktheduck > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:55

I forgot what a 3 point turn was and kept trying to do a u-turn. I was so nervous my mind went blank. The lady said "3 point turn, not u-turn." It suddenly clicked and the rest went smoothly.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > djmt1
11/30/2014 at 18:55

where in the world has a roundabout with 12 exits? the most I've seen is 6, and the one closest to me only has 4. I am the same way, i will often sit at intersections until I'm sure I can go.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 18:56

Yep "Under a controversial system, all of Britain's 1,600 driving examiners are monitored to ensure they conform to an average pass rate within their region"

A friend of mine got failed twice for bullshit reasons, despite being a fully competent driver, yet my girlfriend who still cant parallel park after 3 years passed 1st time.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Dsscats
11/30/2014 at 18:58

I understand having to stay on your side of the street on the road, but if there is no one coming, do you really need to stay right next to the curb, i merge out a couple feet down the road that leads to where I live because there is like a 4 ft deep gully that I would rather not drive into.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > davedave1111
11/30/2014 at 18:59

in most places, thats considered being polite.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > rockingthe2
11/30/2014 at 18:59

lol, I'm assuming this is in the USA?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davedave1111
11/30/2014 at 19:00

Well, I did use reverse, but what is the point? If you can take less time and be safer, why not do that?

djmt1 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:03

UK. We have some truly evil roundabouts here.

Kinja'd!!!

Sometimes I think the road builders are screwing with us.

Coty > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:04

It's the freeze/thaw cycle.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:05

There were no speed limit signs beyond that point, the only one was at the start of the road. That Optima was turbocharged and there was quite a bit of lag. The power came on so smooth that you didn't notice you had picked up speed.

How do you like the Escape? My parents are considering getting my sister one as her first car.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:08

Well...

First I accidentally pulled out in front of a truck who had their blinker on to turn but didn't.

Then I didn't come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Complete stop meaning my suspension didn't rebound yet, I guess.

Then after I was done parallel parking I forgot to put the car back in drive. Ended up going backwards instead of forwards out of the spot.

Still passed though. With a better score than my girlfriend.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > djmt1
11/30/2014 at 19:09

lol

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/30/2014 at 19:09

I understand that they need to fail incompetent drivers, but having to fail people just to fail them is ridiculous

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Coty
11/30/2014 at 19:10

ah, northern USA or Canada I presume?

davedave1111 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:10

Here as well. But there was no point in appealing the decision.

Coty > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:11

New Hampshire.

davedave1111 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/30/2014 at 19:12

Because you're supposed to be demonstrating your ability to do a three-point turn. Sounds to me like it would have been reasonable to ask you to do it again, being clearer about what you were expected to do. Marking you down for following instructions is just a dick move.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:15

That's the UK licensing system for you. Made difficult for the purposes of keeping bad drivers off the road. Keeps no bad drivers off the road and resulted in me having to pay around Ł1000 to get my licence.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davedave1111
11/30/2014 at 19:18

I did a three point turn though.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
11/30/2014 at 19:22

my mom has an '05 xlt, so a first gen. its a good car, its pretty zippy. the suspension is a little stiff, and so you feel a lot of the bumps where my 2000 mercury mountaineer soaks up the bumps and is quite a bit more floaty, but the worst thing bar none is the road noise, at 60-70 mph, you have to talk quite loud or sometimes even yell in order to be heard, especially in the back seats up to the front.. The road noise IS TERRIBLE in that thing. it is overall a decent car though. I can't say for the newer ones though. the 3.0 V6 duratec is a decent engine, its also been very reliable, my mom bought it at 36k miles, and now it has 136k on it and has not needed anything at all other than the regular oil changes and fluids changed, although do beware, the brakes wear out extremely fast (new pads and rotors like ever 30-40,000 miles fast, she has had the brakes totally redone 3 times, which is like 600 dollars each time to fix). My only complaint is road noise and suspension, if you want a decent car that will last for awhile with decent gas mileage, I would suggest like a honda accord wagon, thats what my mom had before the escape, she had it for 14 years and it was the only car she bought that has been brand new, the only issue she had was that near the end of when she had it, it started burning oil and needed a new quart of oil every 1000 miles or so.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/30/2014 at 19:27

I had something like the first happen to me about a month ago, I was turning left at a 2 way stop (I was not going the direction where you have to stop), and some idiot in a jeep coming the other way had his blinker on saying he was going to turn right, the way I was going, my mom suggested that I wait until I actaully see taht they are turning before I turn, which I did, otherwise he would have t-boned me, I had enough room if he actually was going to turn to go in front of him, but I waited and probably saved myself from wrecking.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > davedave1111
11/30/2014 at 19:28

I really didn't care how I scored as long as I passed, I actually didn't get to see my scoresheet after I passed.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Coty
11/30/2014 at 19:29

Idaho, some very crappy roads here, because the state won't actaully pay to fix them.

davedave1111 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/30/2014 at 19:29

Well, sort of. If they wanted to see you do it again with more demonstration that you actually could, that sounds reasonable. I get why you did what you did, but it didn't really demonstrate an ability to do a three point turn.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
11/30/2014 at 19:31

ooh, ouch, I'm guessing thats around 1600 USD, I went to a private driving instructor because the public one stupid schedules for when you have to be at the classes, and even then, it was only like 400 USD to get my full license, and if I had done the public driving instructor, it would have been like 150 USD

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davedave1111
11/30/2014 at 19:36

Doesn't matter, still got a 96.

Coty > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:37

So.....New Hampshire? Even kinda the same shape.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:37

I actually spent a fair bit less than Ł1000 thinking about it but it still wasnt cheap. The system here is you have to use private instructors and on average you spend about 30 hours driving with them. I got a package deal so I only spent about Ł16 an hour so that came to about Ł480. Written test was Ł30, practical test was about Ł65 each time plus two hours instructor car rental for each test, that end up about Ł195. Totalled up thats Ł720 or about $1120.

Nibby > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 19:38

Death.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 20:00

I took my test in about three inches of fresh snow, with it still falling. I did a tiny bit of sliding and wheel spinning, but only a very small amount. The only points I lost were for looking in the rear view mirror as I was shifting into reverse before parallel parking... apparently that's a big mistake instead of efficiently getting out of the street. When I got back my exam paper, the examiner wrote "impressive ability to drive normally while still safely accommodating for the loss in traction", or something like that. I think it means I wasn't poking around overcautiously like everyone else who took the test that day, but I'm really not sure.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 20:07

Thanks, I like to hear for the most part it's a good car. We like that option because it's higher up yet it's a smaller car. She might feel a little more confident driving it. The road noise isn't a huge issue, my car is pretty loud to.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > djmt1
11/30/2014 at 20:19

They showed that to us in drivers ed, said nope fuck that shit.

*US resident for reference.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
11/30/2014 at 20:37

good job!

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
11/30/2014 at 20:39

see if there are any cheap mercury mariners, they are essentailly the same mechanically, but I bet the road noise would be less.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 20:50

That's a good idea. I haven't seen one of those in forever though.

rockingthe2 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 21:01

Yeah, it's crazy how easy it is to get one here, should be way harder.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Coty
11/30/2014 at 21:04

Colorado is the same way. You know you're a coloradoan when you can avoid potholes by memory

Coty > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
11/30/2014 at 21:07

I live in New Hampshire, sell cars in Vermont, and a woman got an Escape 4 wheels off the ground on a test drive going over a frost heave.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > rockingthe2
11/30/2014 at 21:07

Almost hitting the curb was scary, it was the only thing I did wrong but I think I should have been ticketed for that. Its way too easy

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 21:08

push the lever in, took me a few tries to get it in my ranger

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
11/30/2014 at 22:18

what part of the country do you live in? I see them at least on a weekly basis up in northern Idaho

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
11/30/2014 at 22:21

does your look like this?

Kinja'd!!!

i've tried pushing it in, even read through the manual, it says something about pushing in for 10 seconds for it to work, and I'v tried doing that, and it didn't work. winshield wipers work fine though.

DocWalt > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 22:30

Failed the first time because I didn't let the suspension settle before pulling away when I stopped at the very first stop sign... Completely idiotic, but now I make sure to come to a complete stop.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/30/2014 at 22:33

Texas, which probably explains it.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
12/01/2014 at 08:16

Not me, but my In-class driving instructor told a story about a girl the ran through a stop sign during her test.

No, not that way.

THROUGH the stop sign.

She knocked over a ******* stop sign.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/01/2014 at 13:42

I performed at disneyland in early October with a jazz band, and I was helping the equipmant guy who had all the instruments move all of them, and as we were leaving our clinic, we went to go get back in the van, and a guy with frontloader type cat with 2 dumpsters ran over a do-not-enter sign, your not allowed to take pictures backstage, so I wasn't able to get a picture of what had happened, but it was really funny. he obviously wasn't supposed to go there, and so then there was a do not enter sign all crinkled up on the ground.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
12/10/2014 at 04:11

i failed my test (end question section) , had to go back next day and redo.

bwp240 > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
12/10/2014 at 12:05

I didn't have too much trouble on my driver license test. However, on my motorcycle license test I almost killed myself on the last "challenge." It was something like accelerate into 3rd gear then take a 125 degree turn. We were going the test in a crappy parking lot and as I entered the turn the back tire kicked a chunk of asphalt which lifted the back of the bike off the ground. I had to straightened out to make sure I didn't kill myself, but I still got in between the lines better than Clarkson. Then I promptly drove to the end of the course and stalled it. Like a boss.

Passed by 1 point.

Kinja'd!!!