so i did me theory, hazard perception, cpc part 2 with out a issue with a lot of reading and practising on drivingtheory4all.co.uk and also a lot of reading on here before registering. Started training with mts training ( mtsdrivertrainingservices.co.uk ) in wolverhampton, currently training for my class 2 and they use a semi automatic scania which i really enjoy driving, before test nerves kicked in and ian (trainer) was great calming then but felt relaxed after doing the reverse exercise. I kept my eye on examiner and was doing well (couple minors for not using adequate speed via roadworks doing 20 in a 30) until the final round about which was m6 (10a) > m54 first exit waited at the roundabout for it to clear to go right, once it was (couldn’t see nothing at all coming altho its kind of a blind roundabout ) i pulled out and out of no where a car came racing round and beeped, my natural reaction was to move left to avoid them hitting me (although i should of been in right hand land) and that was it nerves just got better of me after, got 2 serious for this. As soon as i was home i was back on phone to mts to get me rebooked i aint giving up.
any one have any good tips on keeping nerves calm?
i can’t wait for my next test i will maybe try interact with examiner a lil more as i never really spoke to him just ok, will do, more like spoke when spoken to.
On my CE in Feb,i was on fire. Everything was going fine and the examiner told me it was ’ independent driving time '.
Got to a particular junction and I was so busy looking at the road sign to make sure I was in the correct lane,i forgot about the length of the artic and left about 10 foot of my trailer in a yellow hatched box.
I immediately said out loud " Well done ■■■■■■■■ ". In my mind it was my way of saying to the examiner, " I know what ive done ".
Must have worked,after the test he told me that I had only partially obstructed the area and had ’ shown ’ (lol) that I knew I had made a mistake.
Passed 1st time with just a few minors.(That was one of them). So it can work to ’ talk ’ to them.
Yes it can certainly help to have a more ‘chatty’ examiner - well assuming you can hold a conversation and talk at the same time
Have to admit that during the first 5 mins of my test, that wasn’t a given.
Once I got into my stride things were much better.
The point I wanted to make, however, was you know how it is sometimes a little difficult to get the conversation going?
Well my secret tactic (and OK I’ll admit to realizing how well this worked only after the event) was to make the cab as cold as humanly possible.
8am start, no heater and the window open soon prompted my female examiner to ‘suggest’ that it might be nice to have some form of warmth before she froze to death.
Cue me reacting quickly and being all apologetic, impressing her with my in-depth knowledge of the operation of the cab heating systems
Once buttons had been pressed and dials turned, I was able to segway into a ‘funny’ story of back in the day when I was a ski instructor. It didn’t take long for people to work out that my class of kids were always the last off the hill if it got too cold. That probably explains why they looked like geishas as I took them in for a warm-up hot chocolate - but was primarily down to the fact that I have no sense at all as to whether it’s getting particularly cold or not. I’m much more of an igloo man, than a beach hut type you see.
Anyways, point being - try freezing your examiner to death to get a conversation going that just might allow you to relax and express, as E’Beaver mentions, regret at any bell-end driving you may just have demonstrated.
Better luck for next time. Perhaps try getting your instructor to give you more independent driving time and just correct you where you’re going wrong, should help immensely.
eagerbeaver:
Game of chance the roundabout challenge.
Yep. The amount of people who fail at roundabouts is high. Its your Donald Duck how it goes on test day.
Where I took my C and C+E tests in Glasgow,I got lucky as the roundabouts are not too bad. Tricky,but no where near what you would call difficult. Although I failed my first C+E at a roundabout but that was because I put the trailer wheels on the kerb at a previous corner and was so focused at getting them off the verge that I forgot I was entering the roundabout till I was on top of the white line! A quick check at right exit and car was turning left. Though Id got away with it till I was halfway round and realised I hadnt looked for traffic all ready coming round the roundabout. Mirror check revealed a car and two vans sitting with “what the hell are you doin ya ■■■■■■■■” looks on their faces
Go for the test again and im sure you’ll be fine. All the best drivers fail first time anyway!
Hi 9970, wherever you take your training, your instructor should take you on most, or all of the roads used in the test. Then your ready for everything. On the morning before my test, we drove down a section I’d not been on before, and a specific roundabout you have to straddle both lanes, so cars don’t get up your inside giving yourself the space.
And on the test funnily enough the examiner took me down that road and I knew exactly what to do coz it was still fresh in the mind
Failing a test or two adds immensely to your experience (I should know - only passed at my 3rd Attempt for the “C” category). All manner of things can affect you on the day from nerves to weather, whether the examiner is having a good day, roundabouts, suicidal cyclists or Kamakazi van drivers (I’ve had em all ). At least you know what to expect next time and I found that my route knowledge around Norwich had improved dramatically by test three so I could anticipate the know trouble spots & plan accordingly. Still going to be a turkey shoot on the day but good luck for next time…
My brother in law failed his test in Norwich, clipped a roundabout with the back wheel. Having no knowledge of the area. He lives in Holland on sea btw so why he didn’t go with a closer trainer I have no idea
). At least you know what to expect next time and I found that my route knowledge around Norwich had improved dramatically by test three so I could anticipate the know trouble spots & plan accordingly. Still going to be a turkey shoot on the day but good luck for next time…