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Myths of the driving test and driving lessons

Over the years that we've been teaching, we've heard many strange and bizarre tales about the driving test and lessons. There's no denying that the driving test is a huge ordeal for many people and sends shivers down the spine of many learners but it really isn't such a bad thing.

Let us look at some of the strange and mysterious things that people say and think about the dreaded driving test...

"There's a limit or quota on how many pupils an examiner can pass in a week"

This is without doubt the one we get asked about the most - is there a pass quota for examiners? The answer is no. If you're good enough you'll pass and if you aren't then you won't. It doesn't matter what time or day you take the test and you won't be failed just because too many other people have passed in that week.

"What car do i do my test in? Examiners have cars at the test centre don't they?"

It's strange how many people think there're special cars for tests. There are no cars at the test centre, you do it in your instructors car.  It has been known for people to turn up at test centres without a car, thinking the examiner will let you use their test cars. There aren't any.

"Can you show me the test route i'll go on?"

Many people think that there's just 1 route that everyone does on the test. There're actually at least 20 pre-planned routes for each centre but they change every day. The examiner is free to take you anywhere you want, there is no rule saying that they have to stick to the same routes. Anywhere within a 10 mile radius of the test center could be on your test. If you can drive then you can drive anywhere, don't try and remember all the roads. A test route is just like a lesson route, we can't plan them because you never know how traffic is going to be or where roadworks/accidents will be. A good instructor/examiner makes up a route as they go.

"My friend passed after 3 lessons"

Even if you get a pupil who is a complete natural and does everything well first time then it will take at least 20 hours to teach them. There is so much to learn and so much to cover that there is no way anyone ever passes these days after 3 or 4 lessons. Years ago in the 60's and 70's this was true but the test was easier then and the roads were nowhere near as busy. 

"The examiners are all mean old men who don't speak and want you to fail"

Examiners are just human like the rest of us. They have good days and bad days but they're generally nice people. The test isn't done in complete silence either, the examiner may often ask you things about yourself or your job to put you at ease. Many people are often surprised at just how nice the examiner was on their test. They aren't all men, women do the job too and examiners ages range from 21 up to late 60's. 

"The test can be cut short by the examiner"

This one is true, if you are driving too dangerously then the examiner has to pull you over and stop the test. This is known in the trade as a "walk back" because the examiner is not insured to drive the car and has to walk back to the test centre, even if they are miles away. This very rarely ever happens but it has been known. It will not make you popular because instructors then have to walk to wherever you are and cancel lessons if they're late, examiners also have to cancel tests because of it.

"If i book a test then the instructor has to take me because I've paid for it."

Wrong. It the responsibility of the person who books the test to provide a car, nobody else's. If an instructor refuses the use of their car for a test because you aren't ready, you booked it without telling them or for any reason, then you are not entitled to a refund and we do not have to take you on test. Your test may cost £56+ but our cars cost £15,000+ and peoples lives are priceless. You can't just turn up and have a go for the sake of it.

"If you go for a test in a car from a big national school then they've already decided to pass you before you get in the car because they can see you've had better lessons"

This is absolute rubbish. It makes no difference what car you go in and the instructors are not better at big schools, in fact you have to be more qualified to run your own school as we do. You don't even need to use a school car. It doesn't matter if you go in a plain, standard car so long as you have L plates on, a mirror for the examiner and appropriate insurance. Even dual controls are not compulsory. The examiners are looking at your driving, they don't care who you learn with. It makes no difference at all which school car, if any, you turn up in.

"It's good to drive as slow as you can to show you're being careful"

Driving too slowly and being too hesitant is the official number 1 reason that people fail tests. Driving slowly gives the impression that you don't know what you're doing and can't handle the car. You don't want to speed and be reckless but driving slowly will only result in you failing. You should drive as you normally do on lessons, don't change anything. If you are constantly stopping at give way lines and letting everyone else go first all the time then it can be dangerous and annoying to everyone around you.

"Once I've passed I'm going to teach people to drive"

This is not only wrong but illegal. You must have been driving on a full licence for 3 years before you can even supervise a learner driver. If you want to give tuition for money then you have to pass an advanced theory test, an advanced driving test and give two driving lessons to a senior examiner as well as having a criminal record check and a clean licence and you must have been driving for at least 4 years. Several people in the UK have been arrested and jailed since 2006 for giving illegal tuition and there are many others out there yet to be caught.

"Once i've passed that proves i'm an expert driver and i know everything"

Although the L test is not easy, it is only an extremely basic test. Passing it is not the end of learning but the beginning. 1 in 5 new drivers are killed within 12 months of passing their test and it's sometimes down to over confidence and showing off. Passing the L test is a huge achievement and we're not making light of it but it does not make you a great driver. Only time, experience and correct practice can do that. 

"They're putting the minimum age of driving up to 18 or 21 soon" 

This is a popular rumour that does the rounds every year at colleges and universities. It's not true and there are currently no plans at all to increase the minimum age of learners. It's often started by big schools that feed out false information to panic people into booking lessons before the age goes up.

"You have to do the test on your own"

This isn't true, you can take your instructor with you if you like. We're always happy to sit in the back if you want us to and sometimes this can make the test seem a lot less daunting. 

If there are any other stories or rumours you've heard then email us with them and we'll add them on here if they're appropriate.

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