lansbury

My wife did better than that when she took her test, albeit some years ago. She got in the family truck and the first time she drove was from the farm to the DMV, about 15 minutes. She passed.

lansbury

Except in places like New York or similar big cities, he is right. The test here in most places is extremely simple. Provided you turn your head to look over your shoulder, keep to the speed limit and stop at stops signs you should be good to go.

Malibu Jen

Thanks for the sympathy

I've booked my third and final test on Friday so lets see what kind of examiner they give me this time! I could not really be more prepared than i am now. I've driven around the area a lot and watched all of the DMV 'Common mistakes' videos on YouTube. I've also read the manual like a hundred times.

It really is crazy how much effort i've had to put in to this, as a lot of people will argue that it's a really easy test to pass. I guess people have to remember that not everyone's experiences will be the same, even if you're in the same area. I drove a rental car all over Northern California, Nevada and Arizona in the Summer last year, and that was without really knowing any of the official rules. Had no issues at all, just like with my driving in the UK. The fact that i failed says more about the test and the examiner than it does about the way i drive.

But hey, i'll give it one more shot on Friday! Hopefully i'll get a nice examiner who doesn't feel like taking out their miserable day on a nice friendly Brit!

materialcontroller

Would it be bad form to say "I told you so".

Aww heck, of course not.

cindyabs

My neighbor in the Netherlands failed HIS driver's test there in the NL for the same reason. He retook the test with an exaggerated turn of the head,

cindyabs

I had to do all of those when I went to take my test in VT when I was 17 and I failed. It was in Jan, there was ice and snow and I was driving a Bug. The hill start was a no go.

GeoffM

It simply means you agree with him. Doesn't mean you're right.

TimberHut

"Failed California Driving Test - Very Confused"

I'm confused about what the confusion is? Some mush behind the counter said you can drive home. Do that and book another test.

Next time waggle your head about a bit more and you'll pass the test.

Malibu Jen

I'm not saying that i know it all. I'm just saying that the test is clearly bollocks and isn't a very good indicator of a good driver. The British test is much better designed and does require a lot of practice and knowledge to pass.

And it's a fact that i do have a lot of experience behind the wheel, i just didn't learn over here. Plus I learned the CA road rules the wrong way: by watching other drivers and actually driving on the roads (shock horror). If i'd learned like the teenagers do then i may have passed first time. That doesn't mean they're safer or better drivers, just that they conformed to the picky standards of the exam and examiners. Within a day of passing they'd be straight to rolling through stop signs and honking at everyone

But on my first test i was totally arrogant enough to think i knew it all. I expected to pass without reading anything about the rules

That's all i'm saying

Nutek

I learnt most of what I know about US roads by watching Columbo on TV. That's how I knew you had to stop for school busses

As for the actual test, it was barely worth the effort to show up with an actual car.

N1cky

Why don't you try a different test centre? I took mine in Winnetka, I drove around the block while the instructor asked me questions about England. We got back to the test centre and he said 'I've really enjoyed our chat, oh, and you've passed.' Then again the same test centre did fail my husband first time

Malibu Jen

Yeah, i thought about a different test centre; Santa Monica appears to be a tricky place. But i've practiced a lot there now, so i'm going to give it one more shot

If they fail me again then i'll definitely go elsewhere!

mikelincs

That's so true for the test, when you've passed the test you really learn to drive, all you are doing in the test is showing that you can control the car and do everything the way they are written, usually suggested that you slightly offset your rear view mirror so that you have to move your head each time you use it, just so the examiner can see the movement. I very much doubt that anyone does that amount of looking over their shoulder once driving after the test has been passed.

ian-mstm

It's not meant to be. You aren't being tested to determine whether or not you're a good driver. You're being tested to determine whether or not you can drive according to the accepted rules.

Ian

Nutek

My driving instructor always told me. "I'm not teaching you how to drive, I'm teaching you how to pass the test".