Silly driving test

Gee, after having moved here recently I have just found out that the driver's test is quite a pain in the @$$ here in England! Let me get this straight, they want you to do a "theory" test then a normal test which you seem to be able to fail on nearly everything, even the way you turn the wheel!

How stupid is that? Back home I just went around the block and then came out with my license And the cars, don't get me started on the cars, I didn't even know they made cars that small! I have had some lessons with a "driving instructor" (after 12 years driving back home ) and we are bumping elbows in it!

They have this stoopid rule where you need to check your mirrors before you do ANYTHING! Can you believe that? How the heck is what's behind you going to affect you going forwards? Then you have to do all sorts of other crazy things like checking "blind spots" I think they call them when doing their equally crazy maneuvers!

I have observed drivers here and not one of them drives like they want you to in the test! Why have such a crazy test and why shuffle the steering wheel in that crazy fashion if people drop all of this stuff and rightly so afterwards? And don't get me started on the price of the tests AND learning! I drive like everyone else here and I'm fine so why does the test have these crazy rules? This countries government is really odd, I tell you fellow Americans

Back home I just went around the block and then came out with my license

I'm not sure that's a very good thing! 

Attn. everyone:  Picture Cait's signature and move on.

I can't really complain about the costs involved with obtaining a UK licence. Afterall it's good until I'm 70!

Oh and BTW they're called "blind spots" in the US also. I had to check them when taking my drivers test back in the olden days.

As for the other stuff Neil mentioned ...well I'm afraid you're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. 

I passed my test a few years ago now....you can get a CD Rom by the DVLA for your computer on practice Theory Tests and Hazard Perception...That will make things much easier for you.

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/SearchResultsAcrossCategories.aspx?gq=driving+test

As for not being aware of other users on the road or pedestrians by not checking your blind spots or mirrors..well thats just frightening no matter what country you come from!!! 

Stupid rule of checking your mirrors?

Please let me know before you ever come to Glasgow.  I want to make sure I don't leave my house that day.

Seriously, is your post a joke or what?  Obviously, no one likes the amount we had to pay to learn/take the test, but complaining about checking your blind spot..

Several Americans that I've spoken to and described the nature of the UK driving test to have told me they wished the US driving test was similar - perhaps then, driving in the US wouldn't be so dangerous and there would be fewer accidents.

They have this stoopid rule where you need to check your mirrors before you do ANYTHING! Can you believe that? How the heck is what's behind you going to affect you going forwards? Then you have to do all sorts of other crazy things like checking "blind spots" I think they call them when doing their equally crazy maneuvers!

The point of checking the mirrors to see what's behind you before you do something in the car is to make sure that you're not gonna cause someone to crash into you from behind if you were to suddenly stop or slow down to turn. It's just as much your responsibility to prevent the person behind from crashing into you as it is for the person behind to make sure they don't crash into you in front. Plus, checking your blind spot is pretty important (and like someone else said, it's something you have to do in the US too - I had to take an online 'Defensive Driving Course' when I got to the US in January), it's kind of dangerous to pull out into the road without checking that there are no cars driving in the area that you can't see in your mirror - after all, you wouldn't cross the street without checking nothing's coming in any direction first!

Few people if any are that cautious when driving.  The rules are there to discourage driving and for the govt to make money.

Few people if any are that cautious when driving.  The rules are there to discourage driving and for the govt to make money.

Honestly, if you can't check your mirrors then you shouldn't be driving.  How hard is it really?

The government is out to make money and discourage driving by ensuring you check your mirrors and blindspots during the exam?  I've heard some conspiracy theories in my time, but that takes the cake!

ETA: The only thing that discourages me from driving is the price of petrol!!

They OP must be taking the p!ss. 

I see it as a right of passage.  It has made me a better driver and that can only be a good thing.

It was stressful at the time, but doable. 

Okay yes blind spots are fair enough, but it's just other stuff that is crazy. Shuffling the steering like Mister Bean? Sitting bolt upright? Checking mirrors like some sort of paranoid hitman? That's just no the American way If there is no one infront then why would you have to slow down or stop? It's as though they think driving is as dangerous as using guns or something, I guess the crazy Brit government doesn't allow it's citizens to be exposed to any real danger because of their "health and safety" crap so they just try to scare and price people out of driving. nc73 seems to have it right, nice one there buddy

Okay yes blind spots are fair enough, but it's just other stuff that is crazy. Shuffling the steering like Mister Bean? Sitting bolt upright? Checking mirrors like some sort of paranoid hitman? That's just no the American way If there is no one infront then why would you have to slow down or stop? It's as though they think driving is as dangerous as using guns or something, I guess the crazy Brit government doesn't allow it's citizens to be exposed to any real danger because of their "health and safety" crap so they just try to scare and price people out of driving. nc73 seems to have it right, nice one there buddy

I hate to break it to you but you aren't in the States so you have to adapt to the UK way of doing things or go back to the States where you can drive the way you are used to driving thats just my opinion.  

PEDESTRIANS!! and YOU! and YES it is as bad as having a gun...you are driving a lethal weapon if used incorrectly!

Think you should watch these as to why we slow down..............

If there is no one infront then why would you have to slow down or stop? It's as though they think driving is as dangerous as using guns or something, I guess the crazy Brit government doesn't allow it's citizens to be exposed to any real danger because of their "health and safety" crap so they just try to scare and price people out of driving. nc73 seems to have it right, nice one there buddy

I hate to break it to you but you aren't in the States so you have to adapt to the UK way of doing things or go back to the States where you can drive the way you are used to driving thats just my opinion.  

The irony is, shugga, no one drives like that here anyway

The irony is, shugga, no one drives like that here anyway

Well it seems from most of the posts on here they disagree with your attitude about driving here in the UK.