Need to Get My Uk License Fast - I Think??

"Maureen,

He probably doesn't care anything about Ireland, he just wants to see if you are checking the mirrors for hazards while talking.  My instructor warned me about that."


Jim,

I wish that were true but he was not the most brilliant of people so it seemed!!!   He proceeded to tell me I didn't have an American accent like he's ever heard.. And then he was like well maybe you have relatives that are from Ireland.   And he wouldn't stop talking the entire test I'm not just talking about occasional chit chat I'm talking non-stop crap! And at one point he started going about how British security forces are so much better then American (that I think was purposely done to unerve me but the orginal Ireland question was asked in earnest!).

I'm just hoping I don't get him again today!!!

Oh well I'm leaving in 15 minutes.. I'lll let you guys know the outcome good or bad..

Thanks for all the good luck wishes!!

Maureen

PS: Thank you Sariann!!! I remember my first test as well (back in the states)  and it was a breeze compared to this!

Jim:

Ya know, I know what you mean - apart from these forums, only one person knows when I'm going to take my test, and that's my husband.  I did this so that in the event that I DO fail, people won't be calling, emailing, or stopping over to ask how I did only for me to have to tell them between sobs that even though I have been driving for 15 years on a manual transmission back home, and I've never been involved in a car accident, I'm not a good enough driver over here.  Nope - I'm not telling anyone else.  The reason I'm sharing it here on the forums is cause I feel like what you said, we are all in this together - and the 'Strength in Numbers' comforts me.  

Me, a Drama Queen?  Nah...  

By the way, there is nothing to be ashamed about if you do fail - you just need to pick yourself back up and try again (which is what I intend to do if I do fail starting the day after).   I have no doubt that we are all good drivers and we'll all get there - and when we do - the feeling will be the best!  

- Sari

GOOD LUCK MAUREEN!  I'll be there with you in spirit

Good luck today Maureen...sounds like you could use a wonderful little victory!  Best of luck to to everyone else as well - big hurdle, but it feels great when you've passed.

Well I failed again!  :\\\'(  This time I got 5 minor faults and I failed over taking a bus which I would very much like to contest if I could because the bus was not taking off and it was sat there with a left signal on.
Perhaps it will be 3rd time lucky for me I now take my new test October 8 at 8:40am. This time my instructor will be sitting in back with me.

I will go and drown my sorrows now.

Maureen

It's hard enough when you understand what you did wrong, but this case baffles me.  Maybe the grader saw the bus driver checking his mirror ready to pull out?  I don't know.

Tough break for you Maureen.  I quit drinking a long time ago, but I know how you feel.

Jim

Thanks Jim.. I'm not actually going to drink, feel like it though.  I probably would though if it weren't my first day back to work tomorrow from about 7 day holiday.  So I think I'll be saving my drinking for the weekend maybe!

I don't know I got the same guy who failed me the last time perhaps he just doesn't like me?   Who knows?  But my instructor wants to ride in the back the next time.

Thanks again!!!

Good luck to everyone!!!

Maureen

 :\\\'( I'm sorry Maureen, I'm gutted for you as I know I would feel the same way.  Here's hoping that 3rd time is lucky!  I know you feel bad today, and you are allowed to.   Just try to keep things positive for the 8th of October!  Chin up babe, you'll do it!  

- Sari

See I really am a bit nervous!!!  Never mind it will all be over in about 3 hours either way!!!

How did you do, Maureen?! I hope you're too busy celebrating to be checking UKY posts right now!

I failed  :\\\'( I got the same examiner who failed the last time and he failed me this time for overtaking a stopped bus.  At the end he said "In this country we do not overtake buses."  So roll on October 8, hey 3rd time a charm right?

this time my instructor is riding in the back!   Oh well!!!

I failed  :\\\'( I got the same examiner who failed the last time and he failed me this time for overtaking a stopped bus.  At the end he said "In this country we do not overtake buses."  So roll on October 8, hey 3rd time a charm right?

Aw, so sorry to hear that. But best of luck on October 8th. It's great you were able to book again so soon!! Down here there's about a 2+ month wait!!

I failed  :\\\'( I got the same examiner who failed the last time and he failed me this time for overtaking a stopped bus.  At the end he said "In this country we do not overtake buses."  So roll on October 8, hey 3rd time a charm right?

this time my instructor is riding in the back!   Oh well!!!

Aw, Maureen!   

DH failed 3 times before passing, so did two of my work colleagues. 

I think if I had a penny for everytime someone overtook a bus in the UK, I'd easily be a millionaire!  That examiner was talking out of his ass!  Sorry to hear about it.

Speaking of having to take the test in another country, last time I was in the States in May I went to the Virginia DMV because my Virginia license expired and I thought it'd be a good idea to renew it in case I ever moved back.  They told me that you can't renew a Virginia driver's license if you no longer have a residency in VA.  So I no longer have any American license and would have to take the test again if I moved back to the States!

Matt

At the end he said "In this country we do not overtake buses." 

Huh?    It's perfectly legal to overtake a bus so long as you can do so in safety.  And yes, that includes school buses.

The examiner was talking utter garbage.  It might be worth a letter to the test center complaining about this.

(Yeah, Paul takes on the bureaucrats again...... )

I haven't been able to get Maureen's test result out of my head.  My wife, who has had a UK license for 37 years, wonders if Maureen's car may have crossed the center line during the move.  That is, the bus was not in a pull-off lane or a lane of its own, and to get by it Maureen literally had to overtake, by which I mean using part of the oncoming traffic's lane.  My wife also suggests there may have been those long broken white lines indicating a hazardous stretch at that spot.  That would make overtaking the bus (or anything) a hazard.

If that's not it, I don't know.
Jim