Failed practical test

I just got back from practical test and i did fail.   I failed it for one reason and it was the left around the corner manuouver.  I have been practicing it and it was my weak one.  I felt like i was dealt with a bad hand.  My overall driving was good.  6 minors.  When i was told that i failed, i looked at the sheet and the examiner said at one point that i did get a minor for tailgating.  She thought i was too close when we stopped at a light.  i do know the 2 second rule.  She asked me how i thought i should deal with that.  I said 1 mississippi 2 mississipi.  I did kinda challenge that one.  I took it personally because i did not want to be accused of that.  That is why i left my first driving teacher because he insult my driving.

Speaking of my ex driving teacher, he was at the test center today with a student of his.  That was a bad sign for me.  I  am just mad for doing your very best and i just could not deliver on the reverse manouver that was asked.  I got a great driving test route .

If anyone could share some failed test stories, i love to hear them.  Since many people do go on to pass the next time or the third time, what get up motivated in taking lessons or if there was something that you were not good at, how did your driving teacher help you overcome your weakness?

By the way, the lady examiner i had said that i would have passed but i hit the curb and took too long in her opinion to try and fix it.  She did not even get my instructor to come and listen to the debrief.  I was left in the car and she said thanks for coming and she went back inside the test center.  Even my instructor says that there seems to be so much importance on manouvers and i had to do 2.  The second i did was at the end of the exam was a reverse bay park and i did that one great, no problem.  I had been working on that for the past 6 months.

Love to hear some stories from anyone and get some inspiration.  I am back behind the wheel for a lesson on Monday.  I am not going to give up.

Sorry, kfleet. It's good that you aren't going to give up, though. A lot of people fail the first time around but pass the second or third time they try. Good luck for next time. (I don't have any stories to offer, as I am just starting my driving lessons now.)

The first time I took my test I failed in a similar manner.  1 Major and about 5-6 minors.  The major fault was that I entered a roundabout when another car was still there.  I don't even remember the incident, because I am sure it was normal everyday London driving so didn't seem odd to me.  No one hooted or anything.  I am very confident on roundabouts and so I probably did go when I perhaps should have waited a few more seconds.  It really knocked me for six failing the test.  In the 15 years I have been driving, I have never had a speeding ticket or a fender bender. 

Don't worry about it...just take a few more lessons, practice the maneuvers and you will be fine the second time.  I passed the second time, but I went into the test thinking I would fail and I think that helped my nerves. 

Good luck!

Uggh, failing your driving test sucks.  I'm sorry kfleet.  

I passed first time around here in the UK, but I failed at age 16 in Massachusetts and that sucked, but what was worse was having the same Statie 10 days later (minimum amount of time until you can take the test again in the state), re-do my test, knowing he failed me earlier, and giving me the worst possible test. I don't know anyone in Mass. who had to do what I did! Luckily I passed the second time around, but I remember feeling horrible and being a huge loser who actually failed their test.  

You're so close, you'll get 'em second time around!!!  And you may get a different manuever this time around- parallel parking and turn in the road  

Ugh. If you mean the reversing around a corner maneuver, that thing is my nemesis! I canNOT get it...and I used to be a terrific backer-upper. I think reversing seating position has screwed up my spacial perception.

Head down, keep trying. I'm some weeks from my practical, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it takes me a few tries.

I failed my first test for being too close to a cyclist. When the examiner told me, I said...What cyclist? Not a great start.

I did pass my second test with the same examiner....so just book it again!!! Practice that move and get back up on that horse! Don't let it get you down!

Thank you for the great responses.  I really needed that .  Reading your responses will make me try harder.  I think one way, i passed my first time in Alabama 21 years ago.  I will write again to tell you what happens with me.  When i pass, i will be the happiest person in Portsmouth.  I am going to try again in November for my practical.  In the mean time, i will enjoy my 2 week break back in the US.  I will be driving on the right side of the road. 

If it makes you feel any better, one of bf's relatives took the test twice, and failed both times. 

The first she failed on common mistakes.  The second time was near perfect...until she went around a blind curve and ran over some chickens.  D'oh!  The examiner even told her it wasn't her fault, there was nothing she could really have done differently.  But she was a bit traumatized, and hasn't ever tried again, poor thing.

So, remember that the important thing is to keep trying, and that at least you didn't kill anything!

I'm sorry kfleet.  I was rooting for you.

You'll get it next time though!  Hang in there. 

I know a British guy (not DH - lol, but he failed twice before passing) who failed the thing 10 times before he passed! 

You'll do it next time! 

I failed twice before passing (I was a completely new driver - 17 years old) .

My first test was an absolute disaster - I really was not ready for it (I hadn't even done a practice test with my instructor first) and I think I got 15 minors and 3 majors ! I got one major for my parallel park (hit the curb), one for driving too slowly on more than 2 occasions and one for not doing a right turn at a set of traffic lights properly (it's a horrible set of lights and I still hate that turning now).

My second test went better and I was much more confident - I only had 3 minors, but I got 2 majors - one for not coming to a complete stop at a Stop Sign (I failed in the first 5 minutes of the test, but the examiner didn't tell me this until the end) and one at the dreaded traffic lights again (couldn't turn until just before the red light showed because of too much traffic coming the other way, but then I stalled and missed it, but stupidly decided to make the turn anyway when I should have stayed where I was)!

Finally I passed on my third attempt with 6 minors... and it was raining that morning too (that's one of the big worries when you're a new driver - when should you turn on/off the wipers if it is only raining lightly? ).

I'm so sorry you didn't pass! I'm sure the next time will go better--I had a REALLY difficult time with the backing around the corner as well.  I agree with Stoatula...there's something about looking over the "wrong" shoulder that seems to make everything all wonky.

As regards to the too close at the stop, she may have been talking about "tires and tarmac"--where they want you to be able to see the bottom the of tires in front of you AND some tarmac.  It does mean you stop well back from where anyone else does, and much further away than you are used to I'm sure! But it doesn't have necessarily anything to do with the two-second rule.

good luck next time! My driving instructor was super patient with my inconsistent ability to back around a corner.  He eventually had me practice with bits of tape on the rear, passenger-side, window to help me understand where to go through the steps of the manoeuvre.  Somewhere on this site is a link to a great site with a ton of illustrations of the different things you have to do and basic rules of the road--that might help as well.

I failed the first time too - and for a similar reason as your's kfleet.  I had five minors, and one major fault.  The major fault was that my emergency stop was not 'emergency enough' for the examiner.  It is a big blow to the ego, especially after years of trouble-free driving experience in the US.  But as others have said, just get back in there and try again.

As for me, I passed the second time around.  One thing I did find helpful is that although the next practical test was not initially available until six weeks later, I kept checking the test booking site daily until a spot opened up just 10 days after my original test.  This allowed be to get right back in it, with the confidence that I knew I could pass less that one mistake.  It also helped passing the test before I went to the US on holiday and drove on the right for a couple weeks - so there wasn't that re-adjustment upon returning.  I'm not sure when you're going, but something perhaps to think about.

My driving instructor was super patient with my inconsistent ability to back around a corner.  He eventually had me practice with bits of tape on the rear, passenger-side, window to help me understand where to go through the steps of the manoeuvre.  Somewhere on this site is a link to a great site with a ton of illustrations of the different things you have to do and basic rules of the road--that might help as well.

Mine was the same way. I had a huge roadblock about the reverse around the corner. She was like "I don't understand how your parallel parking is perfect, but you can't do a reverse around the corner".  Over and over and over and over and over and over all kinds of tricks. 
I had to do it on my test too. Somehow I survived and did it passable enough though.  Amazingly. Can't do it now "properly" to save my life, but I don't care- I don't ever kill anyone or am unsafe doing it.  Therefore, I don't care if I stay perfectly on the left side of the road within a few feet of the curb the whole time. 

Don't feel too bad on the reverse around the corner- a friend is becoming a driving instructor (British and driving for over 8 years) and he had to really really really learn how to do it and he struggled and doesn't know why it needs to be perfeclty executed- when in the real world, you just need to be safe and in control. 

Somewhere on this site is a link to a great site with a ton of illustrations of the different things you have to do and basic rules of the road--that might help as well.

That would actually be really helpful. Anybody remember enough about it to help me do a search?

My instructor is very laid back -- which is good for my nerves, but he doesn't actually TELL me much. I'd like to have a few rules of thumb.