What did your driving test involve?

[Ianno87]

My test was in 2008 with:

-Theoey test in a test centre in Coventry (done via an online-style thing)
-Hazard perception (fairly new at the time)
-Practical, done around Bury (Gtr Manchester)

In Bury you had to watch out for the timed bus lanes, which you had to drive in if it was their non-operational hours, otherwise a fail! (Still diligent about this today, as most other drivers seem scared of driving in bus lanes at permitted times).

Missed having to do the world's most almighty hill start in Ramsbottom (my instructor took me there on a couple of lessons as practice).

But did get an emergency stop in my test (seems fairly rare having talked to friends). Sounds good, but it's the easiest one to **** up! Thankfully I didn't, and passed first time

 

[306024]

1977, forty minutes, mostly in a traffic jam in Barking, East London. Eyesight, hill start, emergency stop, 3 point turn and reverse around corner, then a few Highway Code questions when we got back. Can’t recall doing more than 30 mph. All seemed too easy compared to today.

 

[arbeia]

Sat driving test in July 1979 in a Bristol Lodekka. Only had a provisional licence before that, so never had a car test. I understand you cannot take that route these days.

 

[Ploughman]

Took my test in 1975 on the last day of hand signals.
I had failed first test due to not making normal progress.

2nd test went ok, very erratic reverse round a corner, brake jammed on at the hill start, but examiner said I exhibited confidence and passed e me.

Southport was another problem location for hill starts, railway bridges and 1 road to Rotten Row being the only hills for miles around.

My most recent test though was the shortest.
Track forward 10 metres, 90 degree slew right Track forward 5 metres, 90 degree slew left track forward 5 metres then reverse back the same way.
That gave me my Tracked Vehicle licence to go with my Roller and HGV Licences.

 

[cactustwirly]

For clarification, the current (practical) driving test involves:

Roughly 40 minutes from the signing of the marking sheet by the candidate to the switching off of the engine, the vast majority of which is spent driving (obviously).

There are 5 parts to the modern test:

1 - An eyesight test, candidates are required to read a number plate from at least 20m away, if you fail this three times then the test is terminated and you won't be allowed to drive.

2 - 'Show me/tell me' questions, candidates will be asked 2 vehicle safety questions during the test, a 'tell me' question (for example, 'can you tell me how you would check the braking system is working before a journey?' or 'can you tell me how you would fill up the oil' (you would have to open the bonnet and point to the correct component), this is asked at the start of the test before you leave the test centre. As well as this, a 'show me' questions is asked (for example, 'can you show me how you would operate the horn/window/wipers/demisters') and this is asked whilst driving.

3 - General driving ability, candidates will be assessed on whether they can drive safely in various road and traffic conditions (urban, rural, dual carriageway, streets etc.) and will also be assessed on whether they can stop and pull away the vehicle safely. This part of the test includes being asked to pull over and restart the vehicle multiple times, including at least one example of:

(taken from DVSA Website https://www.gov.uk/driving-test/what-happens-during-test)

Candidates may also be asked to perform an emergency stop (happens 1 in every 3 tests).

4 - Reversing ability, candidates will be asked to perform one of three possible maneuvers, either to drive into a parking bay and reverse out (or reverse in and drive out), to perform a parallel park or to reverse along the right hand side of the road for 2 car lengths. These are equally split and randomly chosen on each test and, whilst fairness is supposed to be achieved in every test, I do think some are easier than others!

5 - Independent driving, candidates will have to demonstrate they can follow directions from either a satnav (4/5 tests) or road signs (1/5 tests) and they will be asked to do this for roughly half the test (20 minutes). You do not get penalised for going the wrong route, but you do get penalised for driving dangerously to correct mistakes or in taking that wrong route.

Normally, a test would be carried through the whole way without discussion of the result, and this would be revealed by the examiner at the end. During coronavirus, however, if a candidate fails they are instructed to drive back to the test centre immediately and the test is finished early. Whether or not this is permanent I'm not completely sure.

What were the past requirements for driving tests and were they of similar length/difficulty?

I was one of the last people to take the previous driving test.

1 and 2 were the same, 3 didn't have so much emphasis on pulling out or hill starts.
4 had different manoeuvres, which were the turn in the road (ie 3 point turn), reverse around a corner, reverse bay park or a parallel park.

Thankfully I had the reverse around the corner!

No 5 was the same but without the satnav, the examiner would say follow signs to x.

 

[PeterY]

I took my test in Berkhamsted, around 1976. There was only 1 roundabout there, so you were guaranteed to go around it. Plenty of hill starts though. I did a 3 point turn, reversed around a corner and a emergency stop.
It took me 2 attempts to pass.

Could I pass the test today.......I doubt it very much.

It's a shame drivers can't do hand signals, they don't use indicators anymore.

 

[MotCO]

I have some friends who have an overseas driving licence and wanted to have a UK licence, hence they had to take the test.

Friend 1 - Failed due to 'inappropriate use of the handbrake'. 'What do you mean - I didn't use the handbrake!'

Friend 2 (had an international licence) - Failed the test, then drove herself home on the international licence!

 

[Bobdogs]

Saudi Arabian driving test.
Had to take"test" despite having UK and international licenses.
This involved following the local Saudi 'gofer" (go for this go for that) around numerous government offices with a folder full of documents that had to be signed, after which you were conducted to a less than clean looking clinic where you had to give a pint of blood before finally getting your licence. This was 1979

 

[Cowley]

after which you were conducted to a less than clean looking clinic where you had to give a pint of blood before finally getting your licence. This was 1979

What was the pint of blood for?

 

[Bobdogs]

What was the pint of blood for?

Just to top up their blood bank, I presume. Can't think of any other reason. It wasn't tested and didn't affect whether or not you received your licence. No blood transfusion service out there at the time.

 

[Cowley]

Just to top up their blood bank, I presume. Can't think of any other reason. It wasn't tested and didn't affect whether or not you received your licence. No blood transfusion service out there at the time.

Ah ok. Thanks Bobdogs.

 

[flymo]

19 Jan 1984, 17½ years old and passed first time. Mark III Ford Escort which was a dream to drive, my dad had a Chrysler Alpine at the time and I cannot think of a worse car before or since. They say the Alpine broke the mould, I hope the mould was smashed, ground up and burned. Horrible motor.
Passed easily in the Ford, even though I stalled on an uphill left turn from Holmesdale Rd into Stamfordham Road near Cowgate in Newcastle. Got grandfather rights for driving buses also as I worked for a bus company (now lapsed since I turned 45 some months years ago) but still fun.

Had to take a full bus test (Franchised bus) test here in HK which was a joke. Had lines on the ground and a mark on the door. "Full left lock when the lines meet up" Could not miss parking into a bay unless the door fell off. Barking mad.

 

[PeterC]

1977, forty minutes, mostly in a traffic jam in Barking, East London. Eyesight, hill start, emergency stop, 3 point turn and reverse around corner, then a few Highway Code questions when we got back. Can’t recall doing more than 30 mph. All seemed too easy compared to today.

I forgot about the hill start but there was nothing steep enough to worry about on the test route. It was all in a built up area so doing much over 30 would have been a fail.

 

[Butts]

I passed my Test in Reading in 1980, failed the first time a few months earlier at the same venue.

Luckily my employer paid for the whole shebang. I was a Service Station Manager at the time and they didn't like you conveying the takings to the Bank on a Motorbike !!

On my second test it was the same examiner and he remembered me. Personally I thought I drove better on the first one, but hey ho. Do you still have to look over your shoulder before you pull away?

My Cousin took his Test in Inveraray, Argyll, around the same time. No traffic lights , no roundabouts and hardly any traffic. Do those rural (part time) centres still exist ? I think they used to make them reverse around corners both ways to make up for it, and obviously drive to the 60mph limit on the open roads.

 

[johntea]

Normally, a test would be carried through the whole way without discussion of the result, and this would be revealed by the examiner at the end. During coronavirus, however, if a candidate fails they are instructed to drive back to the test centre immediately and the test is finished early. Whether or not this is permanent I'm not completely sure.

I get why they've put this in place (apart from the spending as least time together as possible I suspect the test centres have a rather large backlog so any time savings are appreciated) but if feels a bit tight for a learner driver having shelled out £62 for the test that they may not even now get 40 minutes! (I would compare it to a job interview, in that sometimes you go to one and know partway through you aren't getting the job but might as well carry on just to build up some experience)

 

[Dibuzz]

Passed mine first time, our nearest test centre was Widnes and there was a 9 month waiting list so the instructor gave me the form on my first lesson. Had to fill it in and send through the post with a cheque or postal order.
I still remember my legs were shaking so much I could barely use the pedals.
We didn't have a theory test, just 3 questions at the end.
I was surprised how much I didn't know when I was teaching my kids to drive and helping them revise for the theory part.

 

[Ianno87]

I get why they've put this in place (apart from the spending as least time together as possible I suspect the test centres have a rather large backlog so any time savings are appreciated) but if feels a bit tight for a learner driver having shelled out £62 for the test that they may not even now get 40 minutes! (I would compare it to a job interview, in that sometimes you go to one and know partway through you aren't getting the job but might as well carry on just to build up some experience)

Normally, tests can be terminated early "in the public interest" in exceptional circumstances (i.e. if you're outright dangerous)

Otherwise, doing the full test is still useful to get a full list of fails so you know where to focus on for your next attempt.

 

[Bayum]

I did my test well before the SatNav was introduced, but was told to follow signs for ‘x’. At various points it was Take the next left’ or ‘take the second right and find a safe place to pull over’. I had to parallel park on a steep hill, (and I mean steep!) which just happened to have the bump from a speed bump where I would be parking. I had to complete and emergency stop, and he made me reverse around a corner too. The test route had a range of different bits and pieces involved: roundabouts on hills, bus lanes, heavily pedestrianised areas, national speed limit dual carriageway, sharp turns etc. I say this, as I know some of my friends had practised hill starts close to their home with their instruction as the area the test centre was in had very little in the way of hills!

 

[nlogax]

Passed first time in the early 90s after having been 17 for only just a couple of months. Did the reversing around the corner thing too..uphill!

I'm sure many of us here can vividly recall what it was like to drive a BSM Mini Metro?

 

[johntea]

Normally, tests can be terminated early "in the public interest" in exceptional circumstances (i.e. if you're outright dangerous)

Otherwise, doing the full test is still useful to get a full list of fails so you know where to focus on for your next attempt.

Oh I know that too well, my test was abandoned as I was considered too unsafe to continue and my instructor had to walk back to the car! (At that moment I just wanted the world to swallow me up...)

I must have been really bad as we weren’t that far away from the test centre so I reckon the examiner had decided and was trying to route me back to the test centre but I couldn’t even manage to do that!

Needless to say, I’ve stuck with public transport ever since (I did try lessons again a few years ago but it wasn’t working for me)

 

[EveningStar]

January 1981, lesson before my test. Join main road from house and head towards T-junction, to suddenly find a car with L-plates heading my way on my side of the road. Stop just in time to avoid learner swerving to their side of road before heading away at an indecent rate. My instructor, who habitually spent lessons looking at the ceiling, practically leapt out of his seat to see what was happening and to tell me that driver of other car was on their test with the local chief examiner. Decided after seeing that there was no way I could do any worse, so thoroughly relaxed and had a blinder of a test with only two minor errors. Meanwhile, back at the test centre, chief examiner chatting to my instructor, asking how I took the incident and that he had to stop the test soon afterwards when examinee had an accident.

 

[Skutter]

I passed my test first time, thanks mostly to a great driving instructor. Doing the real test with a stranger in the passenger seat was easier than the mock test with my instructor who knew all my weak points. We did an ermergency stop about 5 minutes in, across a busy crossroads - it wasn't planned, someone just pulled across in front of us! Later on the examiner pointed out the nice quiet stretch where he normally did the emergency stops.

 

[Geezertronic]

I took my test in 1993 so three years before the written test came out. My license allows me to drive considerably more than others who passed their test after 1996 (I think that is when it changed). For example I can tow using my van (VW Transporter) whereas some of my friends who passed later cannot. Heck I can drive a "Vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus driver, with trailer over 750kg" as long as it is not for hire or reward

 

[Cowley]

I took my test in 1993 so three years before the written test came out. My license allows me to drive considerably more than others who passed their test after 1996 (I think that is when it changed). For example I can tow using my van (VW Transporter) whereas some of my friends who passed later cannot. Heck I can drive a "Vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus driver, with trailer over 750kg" as long as it is not for hire or reward

I owned a fire engine for a while which I was able to drive on my license and I’ve also driven my friends single decker bus (without passengers) legally...

 

[Butts]

I owned a fire engine for a while which I was able to drive on my license and I’ve also driven my friends single decker bus (without passengers) legally...

Did you put the sirens on in the event of a Traffic Jam ?

I passed mine in 1980, does that mean I can also drive the above ?

Just an afterthought did anyone take a test in an Automatic when there was a separate test just for them ? - believe you could not drive a manual if you did and passed.

 

[jfollows]

Did you put the sirens on in the event of a Traffic Jam ?

I passed mine in 1980, does that mean I can also drive the above ?

Just an afterthought did anyone take a test in an Automatic when there was a separate test just for them ? - believe you could not drive a manual if you did and passed.

I passed my test on 27 February 1980 and there are lot of things I (and you) can drive which aren't allowed for more recent test passes, the categories are shown on the reverse of the photo licence if you've graduated to one of these. Loads of them. D1, for example, being the vehicle up to 16 passenger seats ..." (https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories)

My partner passed his test in 2014 in a car with automatic transmission so his driving license is limited to automatic transmission vehicles only. Mine says "B" whereas his will say "B auto".

EDIT: Rear of my driving license attached, a lot of these categories won't apply to newer drivers. I can't say that I've used many of them, I may have driving a minibus once and perhaps a large van once.

 

[jfollows]

I did also take two driving tests in America, in Colorado in 1989 and North Carolina in 1998, both times because I was living and working there for an extended period. In the former, at least, there was a multiple choice test and some sight testing a little more sophisticated than the UK numberplate reading test. However I recall (I probably exaggerate a little, but not very much) the multiple choice test was along the lines of:

If you are driving and find yourself approaching a cyclist going in the same direction do you
(a) honk your horn and flash your headlights
(b) wind down the window and shout at the cyclist as you are passing
or
(c) ensure that you leave plenty of room when you pass the cyclist

It made me laugh, and I didn't have much difficulty in passing either that or the actual driving test - as long as the examiner didn't have a grudge against foreigners it was reasonably obvious that I already knew how to drive at the start.

 

[nlogax]

It made me laugh, and I didn't have much difficulty in passing either that or the actual driving test - as long as the examiner didn't have a grudge against foreigners it was reasonably obvious that I already knew how to drive at the start.

My NJ driving test was a multiple-guess question paper and an eye test. No sitting behind the wheel, no being shown roadsigns, nothing else. Absolutely bonkers.

 

[PeterC]

Did you put the sirens on in the event of a Traffic Jam ?

I passed mine in 1980, does that mean I can also drive the above ?

Just an afterthought did anyone take a test in an Automatic when there was a separate test just for them ? - believe you could not drive a manual if you did and passed.

My mother-in-law took her test in an automatic after several attempts with a manual. I don't know how she passed even so as she was incapable of reversing in a straight line. We lived in the T at the end of a cul-de-sac and she always insisted that I turn the car round. Once when the road was empty I refused as all she had to do was reverse in a straight line acriss the head of the T and drive out forwards. 10 minutes later the car was still outside at right angles to the kerb!

 

[IanD]

Passed first time in 1989. Spent half my test driving behind a milk float returning to the dairy in heavy oncoming traffic so no chance to overtake. Did my three point turn in one of the widest side roads in Northampton, could have done a u-turn in a double-decker bus it was that wide. Emergency stop on the way back to the centre. A couple of easy questions then one not from the Highway code: "What does it mean if a pedestrian is using a white stick with red stripes?". Fortunately, that had come up as a question in the local quiz league a few weeks before