I Failed, But Next Time I'll Be Better Prepared.
I haven't been active in WA recently, because there has been a lot going on. Been busy with driving school, first of all. I'm already 34, but I'm in driving school, because I need a driving license. When I was younger, I didn't go to driving school, because I didn't need the license when I lived in Helsinki. The public transport was good enough.
But now the situation has changed. I've been living in the countryside for 3 years already, and there's no public transport here. So, I really need to get a driving license now.
I didn't know anything about cars or traffic rules before starting the driving school. I thought "they'll teach me how to drive and then I can drive". Of course, it's not that simple. It's the same as with all learning; you need to be active and work hard to learn new things. The teacher is there to help, but you need to do the work.
Learning how to drive hasn't been easy to me. It's been a struggle, but I've finally started to get better at it. It was time for the driving test.
The driving test made me awfully nervous, and it didn't go well. I made really stupid mistakes that could have been easily avoided, if I hadn't been so nervous. So, I failed the test and need to take it again. Fortunately, I will take 3 more driving lessons before the next test.
I was very disappointed with myself, because I failed the driving test. I did spend one day just crying!
But I got over it. I'm ready to try again. I'll work on my driving skills, so that I'm as good as I can be. I'll also need to figure out how to calm myself during the test, so that I'm not as nervous as last time. I probably would have passed, if I hadn't panicked.
So, any tips for how to get over anxiety before a driving test (or anything you're nervous about) are welcome! I thought I could manage the anxiety, but I didn't. I do yoga, but apparently it didn't help.
I'd love to hear your experiences with taking a driving test as well! Did you pass it the first time? Were you nervous, or were you able to take it easy?
Recent Comments
23
It doesn't matter that you failed. It matters that you are trying again. That's the right attitude. Good luck with the second try.
P.S.
The first time I took my driving test, I backed out of the parking space, and hit (lightly) a car that was parked next to me, because it was parked at a weird angle. The car belonged to the Attorney General of the state. Needless to say, I took the test again...lol...
Hi Kirsti,
Please don't feel disappointed with yourself. Any kind of test can be nerve racking, especially a driving test.
Be proud of yourself for doing the test. I personally failed my first driving test, it just made me more determined and being aware of my previous mistakes helped me the second time.
Wishing you all the best,
Michael
It is not failure but a good, steep learning curve. You may not pass the next time but you will get closer and closer, until you succeed. If you don't there will be driverless car, available sometime in the future.
Believe in Unicorns
Thanks! I wish I'll pass the test next time, though. Personally, I'm suspicious of driverless cars, I wouldn't trust them to be safe enough. But I'll always believe in unicorns. :)
I think, first time, it was big burden, like the first water bucket when you go to bath from the well. But, second bucket is ok, My opinion is not worried about, think very simple, very simple, very simple, no hard, think, upto now, you were passed many exams, achieved many targets, what is this, not like death geeko, no never value about death of geeko. think like the way.
SAM
You didn't fail, you simply succeeded at discovering what you needed to work on, and when you put it into practice the next time, you will pass. I think the same thing applies to our websites here in WA. When you go back, take a deep breath, remain calm--tell yourself that you've got it, and DO!
Jeff
hey there! So I didn’t get my license until I was 21 right before I had my son. My friend let me use her car and we went to the park in my neighborhood as a test drive and during the test drive I completely sucked at reverse parking, I was all over the lines (but this wasn’t the actual test) so I practiced it a couple more times and after I did it on my own a few times I drove over to the MVA and did it there. Since you’ve already taken the test once- you know what they are going to ask of you! Take advantage of that and practice in the areas that you felt weren’t your strong points. Practice makes perfect. It took my best friend Almost 10 attempts, and I passed mine first try, at the end of the day she is definitely a better driver than me so don’t let it make you feel bad if you fail the test again. Some of those driving test people can be harsher than others
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience! Almost 10 attempts, that sounds horrible, though. I would be desperate if i had to try that many times!
See more comments
It's a little hard for me to relate. Here in the US, learning to drive is sort of a family hand me down thing. Parents or older siblings are most often the designated teachers.
Driver's Education is an elective course in High School if needed. It's a big deal for teenagers to get their Driver's Licence when they turn 16.
Yes, we've got automobile glut here in the US, and the associated highway congestion and air pollution that comes with it. Driving in any of our major cities for the first time can be a challenge.
I would think the best thing for you would be to find a friend who drives to give you the hands on experience of driving in a less stressful situation.
The hardest part about getting and maintaining a drivers license here in the US is passing the written test to assure you have mastered the driving safety rules of our streets and highways.
In Finland it can also be done that way; a parent or someone teaches you to drive. It's also cheaper that way. But it is required to have a break on the passenger's side of the car for that. So, my husband can't teach me to drive without the extra break on our car. We would probably have ended up having arguments, anyway, if he would have taught me to drive. :D Going to driving school is the best option to me.
Personally, I think 16 is too young to drive, because you don't think about the risks at that age. In Finland, you need to be at least 18 to get a license.