Wow, I've finally booked it!

[Ellie]

5 lessons with my new instructor and I've already booked my driving test!! About time to!! (my last instructor was ripping me off)

I won't say exactly when but it's in approx 7 weeks time and I'm looking forward to it because I've finally got something to aim for!!

Horay for me!! :box:

[John]

Good Luck! I lurveee driving. :) How was your last instructor ripping you off?

[Ellie]

Everytime I would be doing a mock test 'next week'... always 'next week' that we'd be doing something. I'd had around 30-40 lessons with him and kept asking when I could take my test and he kept saying I wasn't ready for it. Despite the fact that everyone else I drove with said I was more than capable of passing my test. Eventually I became frustrated and quit learning with him.

Says something though when I hadn't driven for 5 months yet in 5 lessons I'm ready to book my test!!

[Riz]

Nice one Ellie, good luck :)

My friend sat his driving test today, and failed because of one thing. I thought you were allowed to make about 3 mistakes!

[Ellie]

Depends, did he run over someone? (I'm kidding)

I think you can only make one major error but you can make a few minor ones

[John]

Tsssk, that sucks. I bet there are many out there who try that old badger on clients.:chicken:

[Riz]

Haha no, he drove through an unmarked crossing.

I didnt think that was particularly major, but my mum says it is.

[Ellie]

Counts as one unfortunetly. The examiners are pedantic. If you do it in your test they assume you'll do it for the rest of your life.

[John]

Depends, did he run over someone? (I'm kidding)

I think you can only make one major error but you can make a few minor ones

Correct, he must of had a major = Instant fail. (Although of course, they don't tell you until you stop and turn off the ignition). I think you're allowed up to 15 minors. Points don't make prizes in this case.

[Ailsa]

Good luck with the test Ellie! I failed first time for not giving way to a bus and pulling out on a wagon on a 50MPH road (oops!) but passed 2nd time with 3 minors. took me 47 hours of learning with an instructor to pass by the way. I wouldn't drive hubby's car coz it hasn't got dual controls!

[Ellie]

I'm not too bothered if I pass or not, I'm just glad I finally have something to aim for!!

I do hope I pass though, at £48.50 a time I can't afford that too often!!

[Nic]

good luck ellie! i'm sure you'll be fine :)

[Ellie]

Thank you Nic :)

[a3mart]

good luck i took my test quite a wile ago now lol

[Ellie]

I thought I better get on with it though when I saw people who were in the year below me at school driving around!!

[Q]

Good luck Ellie. Just take it easy, relax and try your best :)

[Blinkie]

Good Luck Ellie!

[postie]

I really need to learn to drive

[Terrier]

Good luck learning to drive, it's one of the best things I ever did.

Now if only my car didn't suck ;)

also for postie, I saw this the other day 5 driving lessons for £25 on a limited time offer if you're interested in starting.

http://www.surepassdrivingschool.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=40

[postie]

Good luck learning to drive, it's one of the best things I ever did.

Now if only my car didn't suck ;)

also for postie, I saw this the other day 5 driving lessons for £25 on a limited time offer if you're interested in starting.

http://www.surepassdrivingschool.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=40

thanks terrier i will have a look into that

[Ailsa]

I thought I better get on with it though when I saw people who were in the year below me at school driving around!!

Imagine how I felt when my niece started learning to drive before me and she's 11 years younger!!

[Ellie]

lol, my brother started learning a couple of weeks ago with the intent of passing before me... not guna happen I think!

[Aimee]

good luck Ellie! :)
im still doing my lessons and loving it, my instructor wants me to do my test by october, i cant wait, i dont know why i didnt do it when i was 17! lol

[Chongster]

Good Luck Ellie, learning to drive was one of the best things I ever did, I really can't live without a car now. Even though I'm in London with the tube, just driving to Tesco or something is just the most useful thing I think to me.

You'll love it too I'm sure!

[xrebecca]

I'm need to apply for my provisional now that I'm 17 so that I can learn to drive. I'm hoping to pass before my brother who is 20 however hasn't had a single lesson yet. Good luck Ellie with your test!

[Ailsa]

good luck Ellie! :)
im still doing my lessons and loving it, my instructor wants me to do my test by october, i cant wait, i dont know why i didnt do it when i was 17! lol

Ditto! Took me 10 years to get around to doing it and now I wish I had those 10 years experience because I'm too scared to go on a motorway or dual carriageway and I've been driving for 6 months!

[Riz]

Thats ok Ailsa, my mum has been driving for just over 9 years and she's just getting to grips with the motorway. Not with me in the car, no chance.

[Nic]

my mum's been driving for years and she still won't drive on motorways.

[Ailsa]

Glad I'm not the only one then!

[Harry_Bullocks]

Good luck with that when the time comes Ellie.

However

I've finally got something to aim for!!

Avoid aiming for anything with wheels and you'll get on fine ;)

[Ellie]

Are chavs ok?

[Nic]

you get bonus points for chavs...

[Jono]

I'm too lazy to start driving, and I'm 19. But it seems my parents are going to force me to start. Just what I need, more ways to get rid of money quickly...

[Aimee]

do it lol, i waited untill now cus i couldnt be bothered and i wish i'd done it 4 years ago when i was 17. i hate gettin the bus and relying on it and my parents all the time.
Believe me once you start you'll love it )

[bbb]

the only thing i drive is a moped/scooter and u dont need to do nay tests to drive them all u need is ur provail linces i dont use it much tho i perfere to take the buss to wrok or walk mostly cause my bus fare is always half pice than a nromal aldults thiank yo a nice ittle useful card i have that gives me cheep tairn and bus fare any were in northren ireland^^ thats and on the buss i have more time to read while yea driveing anything has a bit of a thrill to it gd luck and i hop u pass

[Aimee]

my bus is £5 a day and it does add up, plus if i need lifts from my parents say like after 12pm if i need a lift home from a night out, they charge me about a tenner, which is fair cus a taxi from town to my house is around £35.
I cant wait till i pass my test then i can go wherever whenever, its crap on sundays cus there is no bus service so if my parents aren't going anywhere im not haha but my friends are good, they'll pick me up and drop me off and stuff but i want my own car! lol (a silver mini cooper if my parents let me tak a loan out haha cant wait :icon_biggrin:)
so good luck ellie i hope you pass :)

[Console]

the only thing i drive is a moped/scooter and u dont need to do nay tests to drive them all u need is ur provail linces

In Northern Island it is true that you don't need to pass any test, but in the rest of GB you need to pass the CBT before being legally allowed to ride your moped/scooter on the road.

Not that it's a particularly difficult test to pass of course, and it you can't pass it then you really wouldn't want to be going on the road anyway.

[bbb]

yup its ture u dont need to u jst need ur provialnl one but there is a test to get ur full one so that u can drive in it in the rest of gb^_^ taxis agter a night out are geting dear over here as well there used to be a bus that would drop me of almost at my dorr it ran from 10pm -2am but they seem to have stoped that tho it did go other routes as well

[Ellie]

Jono,

2 years ago I did not want to drive. I hated the thought of it, I just didn't want to do it. A few weeks before I was 18 I had an argument with my parents and it was a '**** this I'm outta here as soon as I can'. Hence I figured if I can drive then I can go away, go see mates at uni, go into town to see a film and just get away from my home without wondering how the hell I'm getting home.

To say that view changed alot is a fair distinction. During the spell with my first driving instructor I hated it. Every lesson was torture, I couldn't see the point in it, I kept just wanting to quit. He did my head in to be fair. Then I had an operation and I couldn't drive for a couple of months, it gave me a break from it all (thank god) and I started again with my new instructor and I love it, it's great. We have such a laugh and I'm finally in for my test. I honestly can't wait to pass. I'll finally have some freedom and I'll be able to get to the football away matches without having to get up in the 5th hour of the day! I can go see my mates at uni, I can stay out later at night (now that I'm completely sober!) I really cannot wait to pass my test!

[Ali]

My bus is soo expensive! £1,60 return. For just under three miles. At child rates. Im just outside the cut off for free bus :( But im not going into that. £2.10 for an unlimited child ticket to go anywhere in North Devon, it's the only good thing...

[Ellie]

Hehe..... 19 years old and I still get a child ticket.... £.145 for a return bus trip to the mighty hereford!

[postie]

Hehe..... 19 years old and I still get a child ticket.... £.145 for a return bus trip to the mighty hereford!
Wow thats expensive lol :sword:

[Ellie]

D'oh, damn stupid typos! I blame these stubby fingers... they've got it in for me!!

£1.45 - christ it took me 3 attempts to type that right this time!!

[postie]

lol i thought so

[bbb]

lol to u my bus fare is nrom 65pence to belfst city hall and to going to ards or bangor its £1
both those are singles only and thats due to my half fare smart pass form the drd my train fare to lisbrun is £1:50 still half pirce with translink thers is two buss types in belfats ones called metro there redish pink buses and only run in blefast then there ulster bus the blue buses that run to all of northren ireland the trains are also run by traslink on days that i dont use my moped or a bus or my push bike i walk bering in mind thats its a lot of miles from my house it takes me to be up at 3 am if im going to walk to wrok withch is y i perfare the bus as i can read on my way to wrok and it wroks out cheaper for me ^)^

[Aimee]

i got really annoyed on the bus tonight, i got on and paid my fare, and 2 lads got on after me and asked the driver (who's a right arse) for 2 childs to where i live. the bus driver asked how old they were cus they looked over 16 and they were like 'no we're 15' which was bull cus i recognised them from school, and the bus driver continued to question there ags an the lads finally admitted the were 18 and the bus driver was like 'i'll let it pass this time two child tickets are £3.50 plase'......i was like wtf?!!! tey admitted they were 18 and he lets them off and charges them child prices. i was fuming cus i paid my full fare, god i cant wait to pass lol

[Ellie]

Sorry to bump old thread but...

3 days! ARGGHHHH!!!!!

I'm very slightly nervous!!!!!

[Aimee]

awww you'll be fine! good luck hun you'll be driving legally in no time! :D

[Ellie]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll pass it unless I intentionally run people off bikes who don't wear helmets cus that really annoys me lol

[Kate]

Good luck with your test. I should really apply for mine soon I suppose, but because I can drive around quite legally on just my provisional licence I don't really have any sense of urgency about doing it. I think I'll wait a while yet whilst I get more practice in and therefore hopefully improve my chances of passing first time around. My friend has just passed on her second attempt and she's been driving for about 4 years now, so I once I pass within the next 3 years then I'll still beat her.

[Blinkie]

Good luck, you'll be fine. Let us know how you get on. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x

[Ellie]

I will certainly let you know how I get on :)

[Kate]

Even if you fail? All the people I know who've taken their test haven't told a soul before they did it. I'll be doing the same when my turn comes because then if you pass you can tell everyone the good news, but if you fail then nobody is any the wiser.

[postie]

Good Luck Ellie ;)

[Ellie]

Even if you fail? All the people I know who've taken their test haven't told a soul before they did it. I'll be doing the same when my turn comes because then if you pass you can tell everyone the good news, but if you fail then nobody is any the wiser.

Yeah I was going to do the thing where I didn't tell anyone but me being me I just can't keep my mouth shut so pretty much everyone knows when it is. It doesn't really bother me, if I fail then I fail, it's not going to make a difference if people know I've failed or not.

I'm not entirely sure why people feel the compulsion to keep it quiet. Maybe embaressment incase they fail? I don't know. I wouldn't feel embaressed, I'm confident I can pass if I pay attention but if I fail I'm not going to be too bummed about it because I enjoy my driving lessons so much!! Nobody is putting pressure on me to pass, only my mum really but cus she's fed up of taking me places!!

[Blinkie]

2 days to go.... aaahhh wishing you the best of luck!

[Ellie]

After a not-so-good driving lesson today I'm not feeling entirely confident about Thursday now! lol

I'm the type of person who has absolutely no self confidence in what I do so I should be alright. If some of the people I've driven with in the past could pass their test I'm sure I'm more than capable of passing it!!

[Ellie]

Failed. I went too wide on a reverse around a corner. Everything else I did really well on, only 4 minors.

Not really gutted about it, coming into it today I had no expectations to pass at all. Wasn't feeling as confident as previously done. Unfortunate though, I'd not done this particular corner before and it went uphill alot and it was difficult to judge my road position.

Ahh well, I'll just try again. I know I can drive.

[postie]

never mind keep trying as the motto i swear by "if at first you don't succeed then try and try again"

[Ellie]

Indeed it does Mr Postie. I've just rebooked for about a months time and should do better next time.... Bloody corners lol

[Jimmy_Lemon]

unlucky :( Reverse round a corner is a rubbish test anyway. I have never reversed around a corner since I passed my test! It's a completely pointless manouver :(

[Ellie]

same as turn in the road..... no-one does that.... I always say 'Can't I do what normal people do and find a roundabout' lol

[Console]

I've done all of the maneuvers since my test, and fairly regularly too. The one I do the least is parallel parking, but reversing around a corner, and the 'turn in the road' I do on a weekly basis.

[Ellie]

pffft, just find a roundabout ;)

[Chongster]

Sorry to hear you failed Ellie, I'm sure you'll do well next time. You did well only getting 4 minors without what happened with the corner. I had 10! Oops! But I'm a good driver, I swear!

[gbm]

Awww Ellie I'm sorry to hear this, I'm sure you will pass next time, its giving you extra practice for life, just think of it like that :D

[Ali]

I'm good on gokarts and dodgems.

[Ellie]

good luck passing your test then ;) lol

[gbm]

I'm good on gokarts and dodgems.

Thats excellent news ali!!!!11, they are exactly like Cars really, the only main differences are
Traffic lights
Roundabouts
Motorways
Gears
Petrol
Tax
Insurance
Windows
Road laws
Other vehicles
Real road rage
Highway code
Maneuvers

Hmmm, on second thoughts maybe they arent the same ;)

[Ellie]

And they don't start by some kid pressing a button and telling you to keep your hands clear ;)

[Aimee]

aww well at least your well prepared for it and its good experiance :) this has reminded me i need to book my theory, should have done i ages ago lol.

[Ellie]

Theory is real easy, I came out of it and the woman said to me 'I've never seen anyone do that so quickly and pass!' lol