6 Reasons Why Not Passing Your Driving Test First Time Isn’t The End Of The World

There’s a lot of pressure on young drivers to pass the daunting practical test first time. It’s something I didn’t achieve, in my case it was third time lucky. But there’s nothing wrong with not passing first time. It’s not the end of the world at all. In fact, it has its positives.

Many driving lessons may be completed, but that still doesn’t mean you are fully prepared for all situations. During the test itself, you could experience a range of new things not attempted before. While you might not pass that time round, you’ll know what to do in those situations in the future, whether it’s in the next test or on the road as a fully-fledged driver.

2. Pick up small details

While doing more than one driving test isn’t the plan for anyone, it can help young drivers pick up and perfect small details that will make them safer when they do hit the roads for the first time. Whether it’s functions of the car or road etiquette, there’s always room for improvement.

Driving lessons and driving tests are very different things, clearly. While racking up the hours with a driving instructor is important, it’s difficult to really know just what to expect from the test itself and is obviously impossible to predict how it will go. Having to do the test again isn’t necessarily a bad thing and will mean you are better prepared.

4. Fewer nerves

The dreaded driving test is a nerve-racking thing. I remember being so, so anxious before my first attempt, but actually it wasn’t as bad as I thought (despite not passing it). I went into my next tests with much more confidence and fewer nerves, I knew what to expect and had learned what not to do. I felt much calmer and that really helped with my driving.

5. Safer in the long run

Practice makes perfect, is the famous phrase. Not passing your driving test first time doesn’t make you a bad driver. Not at all. And anyone who thinks so is ridiculous. In fact, some feel like it helps them in the long run and makes them a better, safer driver, as they have gone through more situations, gained more experience with instructors and examiners and had more time to know what to do and not what to do.

6. You’ll be even more determined

Failing a driving test is disappointing, but it will mean you are even more fired up and determined to pass next time round. People can go into the tests with too much confidence but after getting knocked down, you get up stronger than ever. It certainly made me concentrate and focus even more than I was before. But don’t forget, once you do pass, there are a few things you need to ‘unlearn‘!

What other thoughts do you have on this? Let us know in the comments!