Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

I was never a big driver even in England, having always lived right next to bus stops that got me to wherever I needed to be. Here in Los Angeles my home and office are right next to Gold Line stops so I still pretty much travel everywhere by public transport.

Though I have no problem doing this, and drive around with the wife in the car, it would be nice to get a real driving license. I've passed the written test, twice, with 30/30 scores, but the practical tests have been a nightmare. Both times, the instructor told me to make illegal turns and often grabbed the wheel to steer me in to the wrong lane. On one occassion, slowing to make a turn, he started screaming at me to stop slowing and take it at 40mph!

I read a lot about how easy the test is here, but I've managed to fail it twice and without any real reason being given other than the frankly bizarre I 'check my mirror too often' and I 'don't change lanes enough'.

After the last test, I ran in to a German guy who said he'd been driving on autobahns for 30 years but Pasadena DMV had failed him three times. Has anyone else come across certifiably insane examiners, or is it just me?

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

I was in the same boat - never needed a car as I lived close enough to work/shops/the pub not to really need one (plus I was single). When in Denver I also didn't drive that much, even after taking the piss-easy test (literally drive down the street, turn the corner and park). Public transport in both places was solid.

Never had any strange experiences such as you had though - perhaps the instructor was trying to prepare you for the lunatics that generally pass for US drivers? :p

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

Is this for real?

I have never heard of anybody failing a US Driving Test once, never mind twice.

Guiness Book of Records contender?

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

Ouch...that's going to get you mocked for eternity :D

Perhaps try taking your test at another location...there are some loony people that just don't like passing people, and there's no way to fight them on it.

On my test, I had to reverse for 50 feet in a straight line which was impossible because then I would have failed for crashing into the snow bank, so I followed the line of the bank and I got a tick for a minor error, just the one wasn't enough to fail me, but it did tick me off a bit....that was up in maine, a day after there was a 3 day blizzard that left 6 feet of snow.

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

I failed the new jersey driving licence test twice (and I had been driving in the US for 25 years) and had never failed my tests in Ohio, Texas or Maryland. I failed because I didn't remember the fine for ice flying off the roof of your car and causing an accident, and a couple of alcohol percentage questions. :blink:

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

Looks like it's just you then! :)

Seriously, perhaps you could go to a different location/region to take your test? They can't all be like that.

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

GRUFFBROWN DID:lol:

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

Oh I just couldn't resist it!!!

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

at what point dothey ask you these questions? I am about to take my test in Michigan and I have already passed a written test. Do they ask questions about alcohol during the road test or something? Anyone from michigan have any knowledge on this?

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

We drive on the right side over here! If your steering wheel is closer to the shoulder than the center line, you're on the wrong side!


Are you over the age of 60? Was the turn more than 1/2 mile in front of you when you hit the brakes?



That should tell you something...

In LA? Not possible...



This one is kinid of local LA thing. People in other places are typically happy to cruise along in one lane or the other until they need to change for some reason like to pass a slower vehicle or your exit comes up. This is unnatural to a citizen of LA. In LA people are constantly thinking that the people in the other lane are "onto something" and being in that lane must have some sort of advantage or they wouldn't be there, right? So our LA driver immediately swerves over to find what the fuss is about and get in on the action. Once there he realizes that he actually had the better spot in the lane he just left. So he swerves back. To the uninitiated, this appears silly because both lanes are traveling approximately 15mph and the whole scene resembles a giant vehicular line dance. The way to convince your testor that you know what you're doing in LA is this: As you're driving along count silently to yourself. When you reach ten, yell "TEN!!!" as loud as you can and swerve into the other lane. Repeat this for the duration of the test.

Sounds like the Pasadena DMV doesn't fancy people driving 150mph through the middle of town.

I hope this helps you understand the situation. Good luck!

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

It was part of the written test and I never saw these types of questions in ohio, maryland or texas.

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Don't quote me! I passed first time :p

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Meh! You driving a white Buick or what? :confused:

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

Bloody Yank, that's funny. The examiner's parting words of wisdom were "Only frightened drivers keep looking in their mirrors and frightened drivers are dangerous drivers". A fascinating glimpse into the mind of the native Angeleno driver.

Re: Bad Driving Test Experiences
 

So we are about to take our US driving tests - just wondering - did any Brit license holders take any lessons here before the test - or did you all go cold turkey?