How long did it take you to pass your driver's test? (I bet less than 23 years!)
By shywolf
@shywolf (4514)
United States
January 22, 2007 4:53pm CST
This discussion came to mind as I was reading a news story about a woman from Devon who apparently took 23 years to finally pass her test and receive her driver's liscence. The article says that she has been through ten driving instructors, and over 250 lessons! Isn't that crazy? Even though she finally passed, I think that I would feel nervous if I knew that I were on the roads with her! *laugh*
What do you think about this story? Did it take you more than one try to pass the test? Feel free to share any thoughts! ^_^
More here:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2168653.html?menu=
13 people like this
82 responses
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
22 Jan 07
well im 45 and have never passed it, largly i pressume because ive never taken it. Why oh why people still want to drive defeats me every time, reorganise your life it really isnt necessary
4 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Oh Eskarena, I sympathize with what you're saying. I'm 31 and I don't yet drive, either, to be honest. And frankly, I'm scared to. *laugh* But it just isn't very easy to live in a big city like my family does, and not drive.. someday I'm going to have to, when I get past my shyness, take my driver's test before my parents get too old to drive. I'm not looking forward to it. I would much rather not drive.
2 people like this
@MakDomMom (1474)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I passed my drivers test on the very first try! YAHOOOOO!!! That day it was very icey and the schools were delayed for 2 hours. I took my test durning those two hours and did just fine. The only points that I lost were for not looking for cars coming out of driveways! I thought that was crazy.
4 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I don't envy you having to take your driver's test on such an icy day! Wow. I'm sorry too about the points that you lost for not looking towards the driveways to see if anyone was coming out of them. That does seem a bit harsh. Thanks for your reply! ^_^
2 people like this
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
22 Jan 07
I guess I am one of the lucky ones as there were no driving tests in Ireland, when I applied for my licence...a long, long time ago. If I had to do a driving test now, I doubt if I would pass it, as I do not know what some of the new road signs mean. Even people here who have recently passed their test don't know what the half of them mean. Maybe they are just grafitti.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I had to take my written test twice. The first time, I obviously wasn't that ready for it. The second time, I recieved and easier test and passed that. I did however pass my driving test on the first time even though the woman wanted to fail me pretty much. Apparently, I drove too close to the yellow line..when in fact, because she thought I was too close to the yellow line, drove on the white line so much it was crazy..but I was still too close to the yellow line..she told me I wouldn't be driving much longer anyway because I was going to get hit head on. It's been four years and well here I am.
3 people like this
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
22 Jan 07
curremtly learning, i hope i will pass sooner than this woman, i was aiming to pass by the summer but maybe i should change my aim to summer 2030
1 person likes this
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I was able to pass my driving test on the first try. I was able to do everything pretty well and my instructor was very impressed. I still hate parallel parking though. I am amazed that it took this person that long to pass the test. I am sure other people out there have had similar problems with passing the test or maneuvering around corners. Glad that she passed but I think I would be nervous too since she had so much trouble.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 07
Wow I don't think I would have stuck it out that long goodness it must have cost her a Fortune to be honest I don't think I would like to be on the road with her either
I have never heard of someone taing that long to pass her/his test it must be the World Record
@teenal (1400)
• Dublin, Ireland
22 Jan 07
A lady who works with me has failed her test 16 times. She even got in the national paper.If it was me id be hiding the fact- not broadcasting it in the media. What amazes me is they keep giving her a provisional licence even though she is quite a bad driver.
@tyfriend (63)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
i live in canada and we have a graduated licensing system. i got my g1 not long after my first birthday, which is in december. the required time until we can apply for the next level, g2, is 8 months following graduating from a drivers ed class. passed that, and waited a year til i allowed to applied for my g. first time i was really nervous, dont know why, usually am very confident, but i think i was nervous because it was soon after i came home from university where i did not have a car and did not drive for about 8 months, hence the old homage, practice makes perfect is true here. but the instructor was a tough cookie and expected a very high level of driving anyways i applied again for the g a couple of weeks later and had the same instructor but this time passed with flying colors. dont have to take another test for a while now.
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
23 Jan 07
It took me 4 permits, but one test to finally get my drivers license at the age of 35! I had a phobia of driving for personal reasons, and it took me so long to finaly face my fear and deal with it. I cried on the instructor giving me the test, when he said I passed. My husband was standing back and couldn't hear what was going on. His heart was breaking for me when he seen me crying, he thought I failed. Then he pushed me when I told him, no I passed!
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Sunshinecup, I totally feel for you with your driving phobia. I know that I don't have it for the same reasons as you, because I honestly don't know why I have it, but I feel that I too may have a phobia about driving. I know that I get nervous just riding in the car sometimes, and I never used to when I was younger. The thought of actually getting behind the wheel is kind of terrifying to me. Kudos to you for finally getting your liscence! I hope that I can face my fears as well, once I also get past some of my shyness, which is also keeping me from taking anything like a driving test! ^_^
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
23 Jan 07
yeah me too. Give me warning if she is on the road. LOL I passed my test the first time. I was so nervious though it is a wonder I passed. I know a young man who took 17 tried to pass his learners.
1 person likes this
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Well I have never heard of driving dyslexia before but I guess...I think some of the drivers here has the same problem but unfortunatly they still got their liscense. I was a one timer
@missybal (4490)
• United States
22 Jan 07
That is going to be me soon enough. I am 24 years old and I can't drive. I've had so many people try to teach me but it hasn't worked out. I haven't even tried to take the drivers test because I know I can't pass it. We just bought a smaller car so hopefully I will be able to get it right. My brother took about 4 trys to pass. My mom is a terrible driver and my grandmother has never been able to get her licese and I'm starting to think it is genetic.
1 person likes this
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Omg I passed it the first time at 16 years old and 6 months pregnant. And I had never taken any courses or even looked at the book. How crazy, I would of given up by then, lol.
@GustavoAlmeida (301)
• Portugal
22 Jan 07
I passed at first, almost five years ago. I was 18 at the time. :D
1 person likes this
@costadinov (259)
• Portugal
23 Jan 07
For me and i am in Portugal it took me less then one year to pass my driver´s test and i did it on the first time.
@Catkin (480)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I have yet to take mine, and first I must go renew my permit! I'm 20, but very happy to use public transportation (and my parents are often very obliging). I've decided I need to get my license before May, however, so I'll have to face the driving test soon! As a side note: my name is Devon. :D
@angelashupe (343)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh whew! That's crazy! She must have been REALLY bad...
It only took one test, but everything that could go wrong did. My drivers side window busted, and my car was overheating. All while still in the parking lot doing all the parking tests. I could not parallel park to save my life, either. Still can't.
