American Reacts to British Driving Test

[@felixcomms]

Your INSTRUCTOR meets up prior to the test. NOT the examiner.

[@hypsyzygy506]

Your instructor is the person who has been teaching you how to drive, and is obviously on your side.

[@MarkPMus]

Yes, I thought he was muddling up the instructors with the examiner. I just had an hour’s lesson with my normal instructor and it took nearly that long to get to the centre from where I lived.

[@BedsitBob]

I took mine in my father's car, with my brother in the passenger seat, on the way to the test centre.

[@evelynwilson1566]

@@hypsyzygy506Yes. They usually meet the student before the test, give them a practise lesson and take them to the test centre. The student will generally use the instructor's car for the test. The instructor will wait at the test centre, while the examiner tests the student in the instructor's car. So the instructor isn't actually involved in the test. Of course you don't have to use a driving instructor's car for the test, but I suspect most people do.

[@TestGearJunkie.]

@@evelynwilson1566 I used my father's car, as it's what I took most of my lessons in. Once the instructor could tell he wasn't going to need the dual controls, we swapped to that car from his, as it was going to be the car I'd be using until I could afford my own.

[@philsmith7716]

In the UK if you pass your test in an automatic, you are only allowed to drive and automatic. If you pass in a manual gearbox car you can drive either.

[@Wandafulofit]

Same in Australia

[@BlackMoth1971]

It is very smart.

[@ironsword7]

@@Wandafulofit Not sure if Australia wide, but in Victoria that's only true during the probationary period. Once you're on your full licence, you can drive manual or automatic.

[@CaptainSpock1701]

Same in South Africa.

[@Bullbotha]

Same in South Africa. We also have categories for light vehicles, code B which you can tow a small trailer, and EB which you can tow a caravan.

[@BedsitBob]

When I took my test, you had to do a reverse round a corner, a turn between kerbs (aka a three point turn), a hill start, and an emergency stop.

[@jasonalldridge5784]

Yes that's what I was thinking it looks like they have dumbed down the test since then

[@worthington3637]

I had to do all the same in a double-decker bus, with clash gearbox (double-de-clutch up and down the gears). It was easy. At the time I was a student in my 20s and drove part-time to help me through college driving Leyland National buses (11.6m/38ft) around the narrow Brighton streets. I'm a retired professional now and a volunteer driver at Amberley Museum in a Dennis Dart. A diminutive 9.8m (32ft) and it's still easy. Lately it's been a 1937 Leylamd Cub. Back to no power steering and cdouble de-clutching. There are 5 hairpin bends to negotiate so my arms and shoulders are get mighty fine.

[@joyceward8767]

Thats what I had to do in 1965.

[@carolyn2463]

I had to do that too

[@leahkeyworth]

Lol me too.

[@sandradring6265]

We in England do NOT beep learner drivers Joel! We are respectful knowing we were all there once . Beeping doesn’t doesn’t help the driver at all...

[@pineapplepenumbra]

I was at a test centre once and an instructor turned up in a car with a sticker, "You hoot, I stall" on the back. One of the examiners said to him, "I was behind you yesterday, and was very tempted to put that to the test." To be fair, most people are accommodating with learner drivers, but some can be right dicks (especially the rare one who turns right at a roundabout without indicating and then has the gall to hoot at the learner who has pulled, out, expecting them to go straight ahead). Ashley Neal has a few videos on the subject of how people treat learners.

[@ashhabimran239]

For the most part. It still doesn't stop some impatient drivers

[@helenwood8482]

In the UK, beeping for no good reason is an offence.

[@grahvis]

One person got a bit impatient waiting for the examiner outside the test centre. They beeped their horn, the examiner came out and failed them for sounding their horn while stationary.

[@Mr4dspecs]

Rightly so!

[@philiprowney]

'When stationary it is an offense to sound your horn unless to warn a still moving driver of an imminent collision'

[@maxthecat14]

Yes it is, but some idiots do it anyway.

[@thefiestaguy8831]

@@grahvis Meanwhile the 17 year old that went back to sixth form after his test told alll his mates he failed because of a "Jerk" driving examiner.

[@deballen7031]

I was told "you only REALLY learn to drive after you've passed your test" and I found it was definitely a learning curve! 😂

[@Phiyedough]

Yes, I found it took several months after passing before driving became second nature.

[@frankgibson1335]

@@Phiyedough The expression I use is, "You learn to pass a test then you learn to drive ."

[@JaneAustenAteMyCat]

It's true. I've been driving for 17 years now and I'm still learning (in large part thanks to Ashley Neal's channel - he's brilliant)

[@craigavonvideo]

Yes, I was the same. Within 3 weeks of passing, I went on a driving holiday in Scotland and even drove and parked in the centre of Edinburgh! Have had the odd knock here and there, but the first time I ever felt confident driving a car was on my driving test as no one was telling me how to do it!

[@MoJo-dj8qb]

My Dad used to tell me that all the time. I never understood what he meant till after I passed (on the 4th try).

[@laurieryoung]

The instructor and the examiner are two different people. The instructor is the one who’s been teaching you, and the examiner will assess your fitness to drive. You meet your instructor 1 hour before the test, but not the examiner

[@pineapplepenumbra]

Not in China, apparently. One woman I taught said that they were taught off road, the fastest she had driven was 40 km per hour (so not even 30 mph) and that most brought "presents" for their instructor/examiner in order to pass.

[@doctorf1144]

In the UK we don’t beep learner drivers ( who have L plates displayed) as we were all one once….

[@scaz5000]

Agreed, I don't mind waiting for a learner, the last thing they want is someone peeping at them

[@sopcannon]

unwritten rule people follow

[@bowlingbill9633]

Not always true . I had an idiot in a 4x4 (we all know some think they own the road ) come up behind me in a country lane it was raining hard and he kept pressing his horn my instructor told me to just ignore him / her and carry on driving to the conditions. Got the W sign when he/her got past on the main road. 😊

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Driving schools here in the states display a student driver sign on the rear of the car.

[@DarkHelixia]

Which village do you live in? I've seen all kinds of w*nkers treat learners like second-class road users ...

[@hopsail]

I did smile at how quietly FURIOUS you still are about that five second thing!

[@Phiyedough]

Stop signs do exist but are very rare in UK where it is usually a give way sign. If there is no traffic you don't have to stop.

[@louiselucilla4019]

We have patience with new or learner drivers. We give them a bit more consideration, otherwise they will be more nervous. Nobody likes to be driving behind a learner driver though.

[@asilver2889]

The rule is that the vehicle must stop. Completely. The best way to ensure this is to apply the handbrake (parking brake) at the stop line. Then you can release the handbrake and, if necessary, then creep forwards whilst still onserving. Go when safe. There are no time rules. If you properly stop, it may only take 1-2 seconds for an adept driver. If you don't actually stop, but creep slowly thinking you've stopped, you will fail.

[@mr8ball1st]

@@Phiyedough You do need to stop for a stop sign. Give Way (which will be the Yield in US) if you can see it's clear, you can go without stopping.

[@Phiyedough]

@@mr8ball1st Yes, I know, I was talking about the give way sign. I suppose in UK they only choose a stop sign for junctions with poor visibility, the default is a give way sign.

[@hudders11]

It's definitely a really high standard over here in Britain. Makes you wonder how half the full license holders we have on our roads have gotten as bad as they are since passing 🙄

[@Dippy7520]

Because the drivers you’re referring to probably haven’t passed their test, because someone else did it for them. There been a few prosecutions for this. One girl in particular had done it for more than 100 people. I kid you not.

[@hudders11]

@@Dippy7520 yeah I've heard of that. what makes me laugh is imagining over confident license holders turning up to do that and failing cos their standards have slowly declined over the years. It's a difficult one isn't it cos the examiners are under pressure to zoom through tests due to the backlog and they get a very tiny amount of time to establish the correct person is driving the test

[@sushi513]

Some of these people might be fairly old and test standards have changed since they did theirs

[@hudders11]

@@sushi513 I see your point. I think definitely sometimes the tests can be harsher than they need to be and people fail for run of the mill things that you see from license holders on the roads left and right every day. Also, a lot of people are capable of driving safely when they have to for a test and it tells you nothing about how they will behave when they get off on their own. Had it today and happens all the time. Someone pulled out on me from a junction, watched the driver, they weren't even looking in my direction at any point as they forced me to brake quite a bit to make it a non-event.

[@justm9892]

There's a LOT of bad drivers on the roads here and personally I think anyone who is done for drunk driving or dangerous driving should have their licence taken for life!all these idiots going court and getting a fine and a few points oh and a ban for a few months etc is disgusting!courts are too soft on bad drivers imo.

[@PaulineLongley-sp8kf]

During my driving test I had to do a three point turn , a hill stop and start , reverse parking and kerb park .

[@angelapuricelli-fenlon1190]

JPS I travelled to America in 1971 when I was 21, I had never driven in the UK. I was told on arrival I would need to drive. I was given a book to learn the rules of the Road, took the test within days. Then a policeman gave me about 10 lessons over two weeks. After three weeks of arrival in America I was taken to take my test. The instructor sat in the car and told be to drive forward, immediately he realized I was English he was constantly asking questions about my English heritage. As we approached a railway crossing the lights were flashing, he told me to catty on as the train wasn’t due for 2 minutes. Needless to say he passed me. I couldn’t believe it. When I returned to England a year later I bought a car which was a gear shift, I was allowed to drive on my American license for 6 months. I failed my first test in England and passed the second time. 😅

[@andyblogger1]

This Brit has just returned from a holiday driving over 800 miles through California. My verdict on American drivers? They're bleedin' awful!

[@TestGearJunkie.]

The thing that scared the crap out of me the first time I drove in the US..? Getting onto the freeway and having to cross 6 lanes of fast moving traffic to take the exit a quarter of a mile further on that was on the *_other_* side of the carriageway 😵‍💫

[@2001perseus.]

My problem with learning to drive a car was the years I had spent riding a motorcycle before that. It took me months to stop leaning sideways for the corners in the car.

[@wordsmith52]

When I took my test, hand signals for part of the route were required, together with a "hill start" test.

[@DevonRex116]

Me too. We might be showing our age! 😂

[@wordsmith52]

@@DevonRex116 Definitely! ... but at least there was no man with a red flag walking in front ...lol!

[@DevonRex116]

@@wordsmith52 🤣

[@noefillon1749]

Hand signals ? What are these ?

[@wordsmith52]

@@noefillon1749 Many cyclists use them these days ... haven't you ever seen or heard of bikes?!

[@petretepner8027]

It's considered very mean to beep at a car with "L"-plates (indicating it's being driven by a learner).

[@robynlindsay3288]

Yeah, UK driving tests are hard, I failed my test 4 times. I failed once because the sun was in my eyes whilst I was trying to park. I also spent £3640 on lessons with my instructor. Now I have my driving my licence, I will never take it for granted. Driving here is a privilege not a necessity.

[@hayleywright2966]

Wish more people viewed it that way! The roads would be much safer

[@pplor25]

my driving instructor was an absolute legend, met me 2 hours before my test, bought me a coffee and a cake and helped me relax by gossiping about his wife as we drove to the centre 😭🤣

[@EartwisterTV]

In the UK you have to complete a theory test to show you understand all road signs and road markings, and what you're supposed to do in certain situations. This also includes a hazard awareness aspect. Here, you watch a video taken from the drivers perspective, where you're asked to press a button ever time you see a potential hazard. This could be children preparing to cross a rd, cyclists, a wide load such as a tractor or similar approaching from the opposite direction and so on. The practical test takes around 45 minutes, but is set to get longer, to incorporate a longer independent driving section. Compared to many other countries, the UK driving test is very thorough, with many failing first time. Remember, that a minor fault may be as simple as not looking in your mirror every few seconds. They can rack up very quickly. I recently had the displeasure of being driven by an American friend who had passed their US test 3 years ago. They're driving scared me sh#tless, and without doubt they would have failed the UK test within 2 minutes of getting behind the wheel. I drove home.😱🤣

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

This is done online in the USA as a means to get your what we call a learner's permit. Sort of a temporary license that requires you to be accompanied by a licensed driver whenever you are operating a vehicle until you pass your driving test.

[@nicksykes4575]

As a former driver of wide loads, I can confirm that very few qualified drivers take any notice of them, even with a police escort! I once had a police motorcyclist pull onto a roundabout to stop traffic as I approached it, only to have two cars pass in front and behind him. He turned and looked at me with disappointment written all over his face, and I could practically hear his thoughts "am I fricking invisible here or what?!" Another time I was over to the right at a set of lights waiting to swing a wide left, when an old boy in a car overtook the police car behind me, swung across in front of him and came up the inside of me.

[@eirebhoy132]

⁠@@scrambler69-xk3kv in the uk you just need to apply for a provisional license to be able to drive no test needed at all tho you need to be accompanied by someone older than 21 I think it is with at least 3 years driving experience, most people will hire instructors rather than learn from family so they’ll teach you signs and markings as you’re driving but having to pass it before being able to drive sounds sensible, our theory tests only last 2 years too so if you don’t pass your test in those 2 years you have to redo the theory test.

[@mihohobaba]

Regarding stop signs - in the UK there is no specific minimum time that you must wait. When stopping at a stop sign or stop line you need to come to a complete stop at or before the stop line, look and then give way to vehicles and/or pedestrians.

[@amandag5072]

And 5 seconds is not long at all.

[@davebox588]

​@@amandag5072I agree. I was surprised he was so critical. Shorter times tempt you to use peripheral vision which is a recipe for disaster.

[@superted6960]

When I was taught to drive I was told to apply the handbrake at a stop sign. There could be no doubt then that you had brought the vehicle to a halt. No minimum time; you drove off when safe to do so.

[@craigavonvideo]

Yes, you basically stop and then move off again when safe to do so. There's no time limit.

[@stevieinselby]

@@davebox588 A big difference is that in the US, they often use STOP signs at junctions where the UK would use Give Way (Yield), and where you can clearly see approaching traffic. In the UK, STOP is *only* used at junctions where there is restricted visibility and so you can't see if the road is clear until you are actually at the line - and even then, it usually needs evidence that drivers were treating the junction dangerously. Where there is just a Give Way, you don't need to come to a complete stop if you can see that it is clear to pull out ... at that kind of junction, stopping for 5 seconds is overkill even for a learner driver.

[@taffman1]

About 20 years ago a friend moved to Seattle, had a couple of lessons to get used to the driving on 'other side' went to take the exam, the examiner asked where a coupe of questions, took him and passed him within 15 minutes, and said he liked examining Brit's has they had so much more road sense then Americans.

[@ElunedLaine]

Not only is the test more extensive, the cars have to be tested for roadworthiness every year. I think in my test I had to do a 3 point turn, an emergency stop and reverse around a corner but that was a long time ago, before the theory test became a thing

[@JamesLMason]

When I did mine, it was a turn in the road. The 3 point turn was no longer a thing.

[@davebox588]

Yes, same here.

[@Peter-gv6vf]

Yes i did all those 40 years ago

[@chrisbauer1925]

In Massachusetts, I have to get my vehicle inspected every year too. Though I have gone many months over the expiration many times and have never gotten pulled over for it, so the enforcement seems to be quite lax. THough that may have been because I was up in Maine with a MA inspection sticker.

[@BedsitBob]

They only stopped requiring the man with the red flag, the year before I took my test. 😊

[@nicksykes4575]

Glad to see you've put the stop sign incident behind you Joel, and you don't harbour any resentment! When I started driving there was no theory test, but you had two additional maneuvers, a 3 point turn and reversing round a corner.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

Unless you want to be limited in what vehicles you may drive, tests in Europe (inc UK) require you taking them in standard gear cars. Back in my day, tests also incl. reversing around a junction into a minor road, hill starts, and even hand signals (incase the electronics failed!). As I was very unsure, I didn't tell my mum that I was even taking lessons. I just showed up with my pass certificate two days after my 17th birthday. The car took another three years. 😅

[@thefiestaguy8831]

Nowadays "hand signals" means a very different thing entirely.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Being a minor, were you not required to acquire your parent's signature on documents?

[@thefiestaguy8831]

@@scrambler69-xk3kv Why would you be? You can legally have sex in the UK from 16... and don't need parent's consent. At 17 you can drive a car and sign documents... the age of criminal responsibility is 10 after all.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

@@scrambler69-xk3kv Yes, but as my grandfather was a legal guardian (my father having died), he did everything for me on the sly.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

@@thefiestaguy8831 The guy was correct to ask me this. Back in 1967, when I took my test, the age when one could do almost anything legally without a parent's or guardian's consent was 18. The "age of majority" was 21.

[@Jill-mh2wn]

I really don`t understand the American uncertainty about what they call `a narrow road `. If there is room for cars to pass ,with a couple of feet extra on either side ,which there usually is ,then unless one car swerves out of it`s lane, then surely that is enough . Of course ,there are times when this is not enough but safe driving is always dependent on the driver`s judgement.

[@sopcannon]

narrow in the US is any road 2 snow plows cant pass on one side of the road.

[@antonycharnock2993]

You would also be marked down for hesitancy if there is sufficient room to pass. I'm sure there are narrow roads in the older parts of the US like New England.

[@ThornyLittleFlower]

It's not the widths of our roads that are the problem. It's all the cars parked on the side, especially in the villages. The 'find the nearest gap rule' is essential to UK driving...and woe betide anyone who doesn't do the obligatory wave of thanks. 😅

[@Jill-mh2wn]

@@ThornyLittleFlower I have seen videos of drivers and they are indeed alarmed when in ordinary 2-way streets and roads .

[@Cleow33]

Nerves are a bigger thing here because learning to drive costs so much money. £20+ per lesson, so a fail means you are in for hundreds of pounds of continued lessons. You can learn with a parent but most people take lessons because it is hard to pass with an amateur instructor.

[@jpatpat9360]

In South Africa we have a similar test to the UK. In addition to highway driving, parallel park, and parking, 3 point turn in a narrow road, and we also have to do a hill start using the handbrake without jerking or rolling back. The examiner will also be watching to see if you're using your rear view and wing mirrors, and obey road signs and traffic lights.

[@davebox588]

In my experience, SA drivers are failed if they drive at LESS than 140kph round blind bends and over hill brows. 'Taxi' drivers in Gauteng get failed if the DO observe any of the driving regulations. :D PS I did like the yellow mini 'passing lanes' though. For non-Saffers, these are narrow lanes you move into to allow others to pass on single carriageways, a bit like those in Ireland. Typical overtaking speed is around Mach 0.95.

[@jpatpat9360]

@@davebox588 ha ha ha!! I was talking about licenced drivers and the actual driving test - I qualified 50 yrs ago. As 1/3 of SA drivers on the road today 'bought' their licences its insane, and you take your life in your hands just going to the shops never mind the freeway!!

[@Thorium_Th]

Sat nav during a test? When I did my test (Germany, not Britain) I had to follow the instructions of the examiner. When she said "please turn right on the next possible occasion" that could be tricky because the next street to the right might be for residents only and the street after that might be for busses only. So the only POSSIBLE OCASSION to turn right would have been the third street and that's how they make sure if you pay attention to signs.

[@royhardy407]

I took my ADVANCED Driving Test - 10 lessons of 1 hour in a classroom, 10 lessons with an Advanced driver each for 1 hour, a 3 hour test with, giving a continuous commentary (as like the Police ) an Advanced Police driving instructor - worth the work - I passed !

[@shelleyjackson8793]

I’ve been driving for 37 years and I still can’t parallel park! 😂

[@pathopewell1814]

Ditto!

[@alimar0604]

Me too Shelley! I also struggle to reverse park tidily 🇬🇧

[@sharonbunn2363]

5 seconds will give you time to check for cars coming and even motorcycles which get overlooked by people rushing at stop signs. Look both ways then look again FOR BIKES!

[@MarkPMus]

Sounds like someone’s watched Conquer Driving in the last day or so. Their last video was about exactly that, bikes. I’d rather wait 5 secs in this life than be 40 years early for my next life!

[@sharonbunn2363]

@@MarkPMus No, just 60 years old and passed my test at 17 (first time!). I clearly remember the "Think once, think twice, think bike" adverts!!! xxx

[@MarkPMus]

@@sharonbunn2363 Oh crikey, so do I. I remember the bit where the bloke in the ad said, “Think BIKE!” whilst karate chopping the table. I did that in the Wimpy aged about 9, and managed to knock a glass of Coke flying!

[@donnagreen7386]

Hey Joel I was an instructor for over 10 years. That is a pretty good overview of the test. The minor faults are things that could have affected another road user given a different situation, a serious would impact another road user and/or causes someone to change speed or direction because of your actions. A dangerous is something that would have been an accident and is usually something that makes the examiner get involved. For instance you forget to check one of your mirrors but there is nobody about. It’s a quiet area and isn’t likely to have any major impact on the road around you. You’ve likely checked another mirror (ie checked rear view but not door or vice versa). This would be a serious if a road user was approaching and you slow them down or otherwise inconvenience them but it’s not a huge deal. It becomes a serious when there is a real possibility of a collision. I hope that makes sense. The vast majority of tests that are fails would complete the route and you are told at the end. There is an exception to this. If the examiner feels that your driving is sufficiently dangerous they can terminate the test. They would ask the person to pull over and ask for the car keys. They would then walk back to the test centre and the instructor would have to go and retrieve the car and pupil. Thankfully I never had any of those! Some pupils do completely fall apart though, usually the ones you think are going to smash it. As for your stop sign, I’d have been p*$$ed!!! The basic rule here is that as long as the car has come to a complete stop under full control and you have made sufficient observations that is fine. So it could be a second or two. It could be a minute or two. I feel you were robbed! I failed first time too for going too slowly. I still get the mick took out of me to this day by anyone who has seen me drive. My dad used to call me billy wiz 🤣🤣🤣 If you have any questions about the process for learning to drive over here let me know here or on patreon. D :)

[@mrskgiggles]

At least we don’t have as many stops signs either! Thank goodness for roundabouts. I couldn’t imagine how much 1st gear that would involve. Some cars have such a short range between gears and it would drive me crackers keep stopping 🤪

[@donnagreen7386]

@@mrskgiggles haha yea stop signs are pretty rare. Roundabouts are great in most situations but some are just there for the sake of it and cause more issues than they solve. Or maybe that’s an adi perspective 🤣🤣🤣. I no longer teach due to medical issues but some days I wish I could pull people over and educate them lol

[@peterfhere9461]

10:38 - the driver didn't feed the steering wheel through her hands but nearly crossed arms. That certainly used to be a fail......

[@dauntless1248]

You can drive however you want now (keeping 2 hands on the wheel) as long as you're in full control of the vehicle

[@antonycharnock2993]

I dont think its a thing anymore since power steering is on all cars now. It was to stop you breaking your wrists if the steering wheel jerked. The ten to two hands isn't a thing any more because of airbags. They now recommend holding the wheel in the middle.

[@rosincox9799]

My Brother failed his test because he did that .

[@DerekGM6]

There is a very good reason why the hands at ten to two is a good steering position. It means that in an emergency you can instantly yank the wheel left or right to get out of trouble and be in full control. I freak out when as a passenger the driver is casually steering with one hand or with arms crossed: in that position he has NO control over the wheel in an emergency. Call me old fashioned if you like but I have been driving for over fifty years, I drive as I was taught, and I have never had an accident.

[@mistakenot...4012]

@@DerekGM6hands at ten to two is no longer advised in any vehicle with a steering wheel airbag.

[@kathylye378]

You meet the instructor not the examiner an hour before 😊

[@george-ev1dq]

What instructor?

[@ladyenfamouz]

@@george-ev1dqAn instructor is the person who has been giving you lessons and teaching you to drive. Usually, you use the car you’ve been practicing in i.e. the instructor’s car (because many people don’t have their own) and therefore, your instructor is with you before your test and a little bit after. They’ll wait for you during your test.

[@george-ev1dq]

@@ladyenfamouz The point I was making is that driving lessons or an instructor are not required, only learner motorcyclists must undertake mandatory instruction (CBT)

[@leehallam9365]

Joel is not bitter about his test. 😂

[@keith6400]

Nooooooo

[@steviekeane]

Most of the parking spaces arnt wide enough either for moden cars .

[@barrysteven5964]

They’re big enough for my car but not for these big SUVs which are becoming popular. They take space, block views for others and are a pain. Getting sick of sharing the road with Sherman tanks.

[@cliffordwaterton3543]

Had to do an emergency stop for real when I took my test when a little boy ran into the road after a ball - thankfully no harm done and I passed. 😊 The kid must be in his 50s by now.

[@neil5877]

That's why we don't buy big trucks in the UK. Only people with small willy's buy them over here 😂

[@petermillwater6905]

Willy's what? You mean willies!

[@Mr4dspecs]

@@petermillwater6905 apostrophe’s s’uck

[@kennethbowry1521]

speak for yourself,

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

We buy them because we use them over here. I guess that is the equivalent to riding a scooter in the states. You are considered gay if you ride one.

[@marc87supra]

Going to assume you live in a city? Where I live up here in North Yorkshire, most who have trucks actually use them, from the farmers using them to ferry something across their land to those who just require the off road capabilities. An old friend of mine has a driveway that’s a badly surfaced 1/4 of mile and likely be a real struggle unless you are in a truck or decent SUV.

[@enemde3025]

You will need to have passed your THEORY TEST before being allowed to take the PRACTICAL TEST. Most people use their driving instructors car to take the test in. It's the INSTRUCTOR that meets you beforehand NOT the EXAMINER. INSTRUCTOR = teaches you to drive. EXAMINER = tests you on your driving and passes or fails you. This video is vastly different from when I passed my test in the 90s. There was no " independent " part using SATNAV, or " show me , tell me" questions. We just had a book of road signs to say what each one meant. The " turn in the road" used to be called a "3 point turn". You had to turn the car around in 3 moves without hitting the kerb at any time. We HAD to be able to reverse around a corner. We HAD to do the " emergency stop " . In the UK we are allowed to park on either side of the road , facing in either direction. I notice that some of the drivers in the video are " crossing " their hands on the wheel and not keeping them at 10 to 2 ! That would be a FAIL.

[@raindancer6111]

The turn in the road didn't have to be a three point turn. It was a turn in the road using forward and reverse gears. As long as you didn't hit the kerbs and kept up good observations you could make more moves.

[@binkybuns462]

Actually, if your car is to be parked during the night, you are required to park your car pointing in the correct direction for the side of the road you are parked on, in other words 'with the flow of traffic' except when in a marked parking bay. If on a one way road then you can park either side. Also remember that if your car is parked on the road in fog/weather reduced visibility or on a road of 40 mph or over then you must leave either your side or parking lights on. If your car is hit and you have not followed these rules then your insurance may be called into question.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Parents are for the most part the instructor over here.

[@LordWalsallian]

When i did my test in 2011 i had to do two manoeuvres AND there was no Sat Nav for the “Independent Driving”. I had to follow the road signs.

[@amandag5072]

Same here.

[@thefiestaguy8831]

Likewise but mine was Jan 2013. A mate of mine did his 3 months later and was due to go on the dual carriageway but it was closed at the junction they planned to join from, so the examiner made him do all 4 manouvers instead.

[@davidjones332]

Nowadays people need satnav because there's no money left to cut back the hedges so we can see the roadsigns.

[@thefiestaguy8831]

@@davidjones332 Bollocks. People need a sat nav now because they're the next generation of people who can't drive properly, navigate themselves and blindly follow what a satnav tells them. I passed in January 2013 when the "following a satnav" wasn't a thing. I drove following road signs for around 20 minutes perfectly fine in a very narrow, busy town centre at rush hour. These sat navs nowadays just remove any ability to look out for road signs to tell you where you're going, the road signs that will also warn you of a change of speed limit, a road narrowing up ahead, a dual carriageway suddenly ending.... yet people miss these signs because they're blindly starting at an LCD display. People now just have no ability and can't think for themselves... "I drove down the ramp and into the sea because the satnav said it was this way"....

[@davidjones332]

@@thefiestaguy8831 I don't disagree; I have had a PSV licence since 1976, I haven't a satnav and don't ever want one, but you cannot deny that highway maintenance has deteriorated when even motorway signs are often obscured by trees or years of algae accumulation.

[@sallytazerout8357]

My brother in law took his test in American when he lived there and said it was a doddle. Nothing like England.

[@thefiestaguy8831]

The US test is a "joke" by comparison to the british one. It varies from state to state but it's still piss easy apparently.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

It is not universal. Varies by state.

[@Phiyedough]

I've heard that before, do they not accept UK licences?

[@michaelmelbourne6688]

My son and his family moved to Sarasota for 5 years when he took an American "test" the guy just asked him had he driven in England and passed him.

[@thefiestaguy8831]

@@michaelmelbourne6688 Shows you the standards of driving in the USA. On the floor.... with all respect I wouldn't trust an American driver as far as I could throw them.

[@AledPritchard]

Joel, you’ve cracked me up here. 5 seconds. 5 SECONDS. FIVE SECONDS. FIVE. SECONDSSSS. 😂

[@henryt169]

Emergency braking is actually a good test because it lets you know how hard and quickly your car could stop. I've seen too many occasions where people couldn't brake in time when they clearly had about 5 business days come to a halt.

[@davidmalarkey1302]

A lot higher standards here in the UK.Unlke in America where there aren't any.

[@kencraig8715]

I got my first license in the UK and then years later retested in the US in California. The California test was MUCH easier. In the UK we had to complete a three point turn on a cambered road, reverse around a corner maintaining a safe distance from the kerb (curb in America), and we had to park on a hill, then pull away without rolling back at all. The test is definitely harder in the UK, but in both locations the real challenge is once passed many bad habits form which don't reflect the original learning and skills :)

[@kevinturner3997]

The driving test is quite stringent, both written and practical. Unfortunately for some drivers, most of it is ignored once they've passed

[@Lily-Bravo]

I took my test many many years ago. I started off from the Test Centre and there was a roundabout. It was morning rush hour, so quite busy and I waited a while, then there was a gap and I nipped out into it and immediately regretted it as it would be a fail. Later, for the emergency stop the car skidded round to face the kerb. Long story short, hs asked me a the end who had priority on a roundabout, so I said the vehicles on the roundabout, and he said, to just make sure I practised that in the future, you have passed! I always thought it was because I had my school uniform on!

[@timkelly9930]

One of the other manoeuvres in the UK is reversing around a corner, that's probably the most difficult one. Back in the day, we had to parallel park, reverse around a corner, do the emergency stop and do a turn in the road. I believe it's one of the 3 plus the emergency stop now rather than all of them but those taking their test now have to pass a theoretical test before even contemplating the actual driving, something us older drivers didn't have to do. I Germany, I understand they have 3 tests, day driving, night driving and high speed (motorway / autobahn) driving. It's tough!

[@TraceUK]

They tell you if you’ve failed or passed, at the end. Otherwise you then have to drive back to the test centre, having failed….

[@anglosaxon5874]

Ha ha. When I did mine at 17 in 1978, we finished and he [examiner] asked me if I passed. I said: "I don't know, you're the examiner". He said: "Well how do you think you did?" [he was writing on a small A5 paper]. I said: "I think I did ok". He said: "Yes you did really well. When we write on a smaller piece of paper [which he hands to you after] means you passed as opposed to the larger one where the faults are crossed on." My friend did it at the same time and he 'won the pools' - got 10 X's so failed.

[@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey]

Not if you have a serious fault then you are asked to return to the test centre.

[@anglosaxon5874]

@@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey Maybe now darling BUT NOT when I did the test. Probably before you were born!

[@dasy2k1]

It depends on what you fail with. Any dangerous fault and it will stop immediately and the examiner will drive you back (or more likely your instructor if they are sitting in the back) If its just for totting up minor faults then I think the test carries on to the end

[@XMan-tu4iu]

It was 1977 and my parents didn’t have a car so my older brother gifted an old Singer Chamois to them. My mother wanted to learn to drive and I did too (at 18). I drove the car once and applied for my test as there was around a three month waiting list. My mother took the car out next and something went wrong with the gearbox. Long story but I didn’t have and paid for driving lessons and a long story, but I didn’t get the car fixed until 10.30pm on the night before my driving test. I drove to work in the morning with my step dad in the passenger seat, then drove to the test centre at lunch time - about an hour in all. I just felt that the test would be a good learning experience and I’d learn to drive afterwards. I took the test and did a couple of little errors and one major and I thought I’d failed. We got back to the test centre and I answered right questions on the Highway Code - and unbelievably I passed!!! Exactly a week later I moved to London and was driving around the busiest roads in the UK - my palms were sweating! I’ve driven for 47 years and only had one speeding fine for driving 37mph in a 30mph limit and I had one accident with a woman from Boston who had just arrived in the UK and didn’t know how to drive around a roundabout. The police charged her with “driving without due care and attention” and even although she was 100% in the wrong she took it to court. I was there as the witness for the police and this woman lied about every aspect of the accident. I was flabbergasted! Luckily I had taken pictures of the crash scene immediately after the crash (within 1 minute) before we moved to the side of the roundabout. One of the pics totally contradicted what she said and when I pointed it out to the police lawyer she was scuppered! She got points on her licence, a big fine, and had to pay the police costs and my costs for attending court.

[@richardjones1167]

That was Bury St Edmunds. Probably not the worst place to do a test.

[@DawnDee]

*Edmunds 😘

[@fulhamdave1217]

I like how that 5 second rule still grates on you ! I have the same 40 years on. I came out of the test centre and there were cars parked either side of the exit so I could not see what was coming. I had to slowly move out to view what was coming and as I did so a big truck zoomed past. I still don't see what I could have done differently. I've driven in America and I hated it. We are wired to drive on the left so it felt so wrong to be on the other side.

[@redwarpy]

Australian here, in my area you were pretty much expected to fail your first driving test exam that is why it is required for your instructor to book two. I failed due to passing a cyclist, as there were multiple cars ahead of me who did the same and quite a few cars trailing behind me on a very busy one lane road. Inspector told me at the end that if I had not done so I would have passed. Next time no issue and passed.

[@zaphodbeeblebrox6627]

Hi Joel, I passed on my second test WAYYYYYYY back in the late 1970's. Just Bear( corrected) in mind, that if you intend to rent a car at any point in any of your next visits to the UK, your licence must allow you to drive manual vehicles, or you will have to pay a premium for an automatic rental car ( they tend to be bigger cars rather than a compact car you would normally rent.) and they can be expensive. Having said that, if it's an electric car, they'd be automatic as long as you're not bothered with distance anxiety issues or worried about where you can charge the bloody thing.😆

[@brigidsingleton1596]

*bear* in mind ...

[@zaphodbeeblebrox6627]

@@brigidsingleton1596 I stand corrected. I looks wrong, but what do I know.😆

[@brigidsingleton1596]

@@zaphodbeeblebrox6627 At the risk of causing totally (I promise) unintended offence ... A friend of mine has a cat named Zaphod. 🐈❤️🖖

[@gavvo-7640]

I remember my driving test, about 20 minutes in, I stalled the car at a roundabout. I then panicked, restarted the engine and tried to pull away without having it in gear! I said to the examiner "I think i've broken the car!!" After that I thought i had failed so all my nerves left me and I carried on with the test. Imagine my shock when at the end they said "Congratulations, you have passed"! Couldn't believe it!!! That was on Christmas Eve 2000.

[@trevorcoultart]

I did something similar: when reversing round a corner I misjudged and my nearside rear tyre came into contact with the kerb. I was sure that touching the kerb would have meant an immediate fail, but somehow I had the confidence to turn to the examiner and say "I'm just going to pull forward so that I can straighten up". I started to pull forward and he said, that's fine I won't ask you to repeat that", which made me even more convinced I'd failed. In fact, I think it was that confidence to correct my error that got me through, and I passed first time.

[@gavvo-7640]

@@trevorcoultart Congrats mate! Sounds like a very similar situation to me. I'm glad you passed first time too. A little mistake actually makes the nerves go if you think you've failed.

[@annamack5823]

I stalled on a roundabout and failed. The next time, I also stalled(!) and was convinced that I'd failed again but carried on. I was extremely surprised to have the examiner tell that I'd passed.

[@dave24-73]

At a stop sign you only need to come to a complete stop where does the 5 seconds come in. Usually You aren’t told you failed until after the test.

[@davebox588]

Joel was referring to his own test in the US where they obviously require the 5 seconds. They should do that here. Might stop all those distracted folk who pull out in front of you.

[@dave24-73]

@@davebox588 I appreciate that but could find no reference to this other than in California where they mention 3 seconds not 5 (so not so obvious). “The duration of the stop isn't determined in many state laws, including California. It is, however, a common notion that drivers should stop at a stop sign for at least three seconds before proceeding. A rolling stop can be considered as running a stop sign.”

[@petersp63]

Oh and Joel in the words of the song Let it Go!!!! lol

[@TheDagda1000]

The crossing over of hands on the steering wheel would have been an immediate fail a few years ago.

[@jeffknott1975]

The guy in the car was an examiner, he examines not instructs! An instructor is what you use when learning. Our test is hard, one serious mistake and it's all over, a few minor mistakes and it's all over, took me 3 times to pass!

[@thefiestaguy8831]

Not convinced. Examiners usually wear a high viz... He looked like an instructor doing a "mock test". I note he didn't have any real paperwork that he completed at the end so it is probably just that, a mock test with the instructor.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Sad thing here in the states is that most young drivers are taught by their parents. I have been driving for 55 years, and at one time driving schools were quite prevalent in the US, but sadly they for whatever reason are fading away. We also at one time had in our high schools a class called drivers ed. But many schools for cost reasons have done away with it. The sad thing is that took place many years ago, and now enough generations have passed without all of this that most parents do not know what they do not know. Safe following distance defensive driving all gone making our roads much less safe. Today I HATE driving on US roads.

[@antonycharnock2993]

I have terrible nerves when taking any exam. I passed on my 3rd. With the chief examiner with what is called a P & B (Boll****ing) I failed my 2nd because the indicator had cancelled turning right and I'd not realised. This was in 2005. I'd been stop/starting with learning to drive since 1991 due to the cost.

[@jeffknott1975]

​@@antonycharnock2993 no way me too, I have clinical anxiety and I think it was nerves why I failed the first two times, by the third time I was put on meds (propranolol) and they are a god-send my anxiety is very low and defo helped me pass!

[@robcrossgrove7927]

What you never see in these videos is that they go through some of the road signs with you, asking you what they mean, and of course, in the UK, you also have to do a theoretical test.

[@MrSinclairn]

Yes,the old-style tests knew to do the practical road signs element with the examiner at the end of the main driving test,but that was got rid of,when the intro. the computerised theory section.

[@TerenceDixon-l6b]

Don't forget that we don't have Climate destroying huge gas guzzling cars in the UK generally and are more skilled drivers, that's why we have such a much lower rate of car accidents and road casualties, including deaths, than in the US. Per billion miles driven, deaths in UK = 5, USA =12.6

[@foodandstuff2724]

In the UK you can do a advanced driving course aswell

[@leetaylor13]

I used to work with a guy who taught advanced driving and taught aspects of pursuit driving to the police. If he had no front seat passengers, he kept a raw egg on the passenger seat. His logic was that if he ever broke the egg, his driving had been bad and he could think about what he had done wrong whilst cleaning up the mess. It was always worth checking the seat to avoid sitting on an egg before becoming his passenger.

[@dddaddy]

I remember they made it clear to us before the test that I wasn't expected to do the tasks perfectly. Just demonstrate that I understand the task and do them at a reasonable level. Of course it's trivial, but it calmed my nerves. When they tell you you failed: it depends, because if it's an immediate fail there's no point in continuing, but you might have already failed just by the number of small mistakes and you won't typically know until the end.

[@MrSinclairn]

Yep,failed one on my birthday,within a few minutes;the test examiner walked back to the test centre,told me to sit still,not touch or do anything,for which I then had to wait,while my instructor came down,to drive me and the car back ! 🙄

[@malcolmross8427]

My brother failed his test in less than a minute. The examiner said “I am stopping this test in the interest of public safety” because he thought that my brother had done something dangerous. The examiner & the instructor then spent five minutes arguing about how safe a driver my brother was!

[@fraserjackson]

I did hear of a driving test where the candidate messed up the emergency stop, and would have failed, except that 10 minutes later there was a genuine reason for an emergency stop which they achieved successfully.

[@richardhargrave6082]

In the real world no one would have beeped. We don't do that to learners or anyone at all, unless the beeper is a dick. Passed first time

[@oocares]

Stop at a Stop Sign and send a text in the UK and you will be fined for dangerous driving. 😂

[@navysealuk8755]

Yes in the UK you dont know if you have passed or failed until the end of the test, unless its a major fault then you can be asked to stop, you will then be told you have failed and need to wait for instructor to come and drive you back, once you have passed you are no longer allowed to drive the car as the insurance is only valid for instructor and learners.

[@andirutherford2615]

Unless your in your own car

[@andirutherford2615]

Also depends on the instructors insurance, and why would you need to they wouldn't just leave you, they'd take you home, I was in own car and left the instructor…. Well, her husband was there with their car anyway

[@navysealuk8755]

@@andirutherford2615 all instructors cars are only insured for them and learners, once passed the instructor drives and takes you home, and yes different if you use your own car and insurance.

[@edwardwoodstock]

Really glad tp see you're not still bitter about your 3 second stop sign fail Joel 😂😂😂😂 made me smile thanks

[@TeamGB-Diving]

I think you should do a video on the American Driving test JPS. The UK driving test can seem a bit daunting. My last 3 cars have had auto reverse and parallel parking function. Simples! hahahaha Also JPS didn't mention how we drive on the correct side of the road. When you take into consideration the types of roads we have, the speed limts can range from 20mph to 50mph, even 70mph in some cases. We also have to concentrate on the gears, clutch, indicators (not blinkers), mirrors, oncoming traffic, the width of the road, pedestrians who try to cross the road, looking out for pot holes and craters. Driving in the uk can be very taxing on the brain especially when it can take upto 2hrs to drive 10miles. That used to happen to me when I used to drive from Birmingham to Wednesbury here in the UK. One accident on the M6 or Aston Villa FC had a home match midweek evening kick off, that was it all over. Finish work 5pm and get home from 7pm to 7:30pm. Happy days! Hahahaha My first test in Wednesbury at the Test Centre was a failure, An idiot in an Opel Manta cut me up and I failed; my second test I drove up the road, round the Island and back to the test centre and it was congratulations you have passed. All good drivers pass second time.

[@craigavonvideo]

I remember when I took my driving test back in 1996 you had to do 2 out of 3 manoeuvres, either 3 point turn, reversing round a corner or parallel parking. As I was useless at parallel parking, I was glad that I got the other two! Passed the test with just 5 minor faults and have never looked back since (and have driven over half a million miles during that time!)

[@joshcrawford4076]

Those 15 minor faults can creep up on you quite easily if you're not concentrating. I passed my test on my 2nd attempt with only 2 minors, first attempt I got a major which was hesitating to go at a spiral roundabout which I thought was a little unfair.

[@foodandstuff2724]

The UK test is about 45 minutes

[@joshtitford1791]

Congratulations on 100K 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@amberdreams_0]

We had to do reversing round a corner, parallel park and a three point turn on our test - it's changed a bit if you only have to do one manoeuvre now.

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Joel. I passed on my second test date, but on my first test. The original date got canceled for heavy snow. It was Bradford, so no surprise.

[@seanmc1351]

some one mentioned back in the day, it was the same for me, reverse round corner, 3 point turn and hill start, also, i was taught to do all these without mirrors, was anyone else taught like that, i had to use the company sticker in the back window and the quarter lights, because back then, the examiner would block your view to the mirror with his clip board, incase you had your mirror angled down to see the curb easily, my test was 3 minutes drive, 3 highway code questions, i got a stopping distance, which was standard, box junction and traffic merges from the left

[@eleanorrichardson5262]

15 isn't necessarily a lot of minors, a minor can be not checking all the mirrors, you're on the road a while so missing one mirror can happen very easily. You can also get a minor for not having your hands in the right place on the steering wheel etc. It's very very minor things you get minor points for

[@marktubeie07]

Nearly 100,000 subs bud - well done !!

[@catherinewilkins2760]

When I took my test, my instructor told me, of the examiners, one of whom rarely passed people. I got him! So I thought, that's it I've failed. No panic, thought just a trial run for next test. I was so shocked that he passed me. I was unable to drive home in the instructor's car. Couldn't believe it. Must have been perfect, on the day. This is the basic test, there is also advanced driving test, some occupations require this!

[@thefiestaguy8831]

The advanced "test" you reference isn't a mandatory driving test to be allowed to drive on UK roads it's simply a higher level of competency, bit like how RoSPA do "Gold" certifications for their members who have been assessed and have achieved the highest driving standards consistently. IAM Advanced I believe is the one you're thinking of, a lot of which is based on "Roadcraft" which is taught to emergency services drivers like myself.

[@sushi513]

I love that this specific driving video was done in my local town, Bury St Edmunds. It's actually quite pretty, especially Abbey Gardens.

[@TerenceDixon-l6b]

Parallel parking and reversing to change direction are intended to demonstrate a good level of ability to control the vehicle. That is not a wide road, it is a very narrow road, even for England. You have been watching the wrong videos, which overemphasise the very narrowest of our roads, which are used by relatively little traffic. We have a lot of much wider roads such as our motorways which have up to 5 lanes in each direction with a median. Also, our dual carriageways, which are very common, have at least two lanes in each direction, again with a median.

[@GrafindeKlevemark]

When we moved from Kenya to Scotland, my mother had to retake her driving test (this was in 1960). The examiner asked her to make an emergency stop (this was in the days before seat belts). She was very nervous and stopped very gently and the examiner said this would not do. So she had to redo the emergency stop again and this time put her whole heart into it : result the examiner hit his head on the windscreen.....he was not happy but my mother said "what the hell do you want me to do ?". She passed her test !!!!

[@kungfutuber]

11:52 That tablet computer the examiner is holding there looks awesome. Almost looks like he's holding a REAL clipboard with paper!

[@isuckatguitar6252]

I had the emergency stop & the parallel parking in my test. No one would beep that car parked on the road, it looks like it's parked outside someone's home, it's probably their regular parking spot.

[@keithwarrington2430]

that IS NOT a very wide road for Great britain

[@bconn3652]

Can't believe how easy the test is compared to when I did it many years ago we had to do many more manoeuvres, reversing round a corner, three point turn, hill start, turning right and giving way at a cross road.

[@kategray9]

Me, too. Had to do all that.

[@annamack5823]

They tell you that you've failed at the end - unless you've done something so incredibly dangerous that they need to stop the test.

[@eeva671]

If you're curious about what kind of things count as minor/major faults for a driving test in the UK, I'd highly recommend watching a video where a learner does a mock exam. I especially like the Clearview Driving channel for this because their edits explain any faults very well.

[@PeterChristopher-ub5my]

Hi Joel i passed my test back in the 60s tests were so different then along with hand signals, hill start without rolling backwards, three point turns, do not crossover your hands on steering wheel , that was a instant fail, then highway code questions, reverseing around corner ( IF YOU STARTED 12" OF KIRB YOU HAD TO BE 12" OFF KIRB WHEN COMPLETED) TESTS THESE DAYS ARE SO EASY. I DID PASS FIRST TIME.

[@rogerrabbit3524]

In England it is known that the examiner has to fail a certain amount of drivers due to over capacity on the roads, they will fail you on the smallest of things where normally they would pass you. I failed my first time due to a small error I made although passed on my second try which was all that more satisfying.

[@bence42]

When I was learn for the lincence in Hungary the driving test (you can do it after minimum 30 hours of driving with instructor) started with walk around and check the car - tires, mirrors, all lights etc. - then check the seat position and the mirrors from the seat. Then pull an exam route from a hat :-) break check after the start. The car was the special learner car (extra pedals and mirrors for the instructor) not your own car, my instructor sit next to me, the examiner was on the rear-right. I must did 2 parking maneuvers 90 degree forward or backward (mostly backward) and parallel (not at the starting point and maximum 2 corrections allowed), 1 turnaround maneuver in one move (if I see/find/have enough space) or Y on a simple two lane road, go on city traffic (what I pull from the hat and/or where the instructor or the examiner said), turn left from one way road, turn left and right at traffic lights, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings etc. etc. And the max. was 3 mistake/fault or 1 big, dangerous error to fail the test. And that was a simpler version. In the older times there were a mechanical exam (before the dark times when only the brand service can change a light with special tools) with tire change etc. and there were 2 driving test. The first was on the learning course/site/place for different maneuvers and drive control skills then if you passed it the 2nd one was the driving in traffic exam.

[@angelmagickcosplay4162]

I live in the countryside, so imagine the roads HALF the size of that first road 😂 Also we had to do reverse around a corner and three point turns, when I did mine 😂

[@teddybearhead87]

I had to do a three point turn

[@lynnw7155]

Parallel parking is required on the test in Pennsylvania. And a K turn, backing, and some kind of 'emergency' thing where you pull over and put your flashers on (it's been a while; I forget what else).

[@britbazza3568]

Hi Joel I actually became a qualified ADI or Approved Driving instructor and as such one has to pass a advanced driving test which is to the same level as a police driving test. During this test i had to drive a number of roads as stated on the video they ranged from urban roads in town to motorway driving including dual carriageway and Single track roads too. . The manouvre i had was to turn a 15 ft long saloon car around in a road about 20 ft wide without catching a kerb using forward and reverse gears yes the car was manual too. I did that successfully. Then i was asked to drive a rural country lane single track with oncoming traffic too and at 60 mph or national speed limits again this was done successfully. Then i was asked to peeform an emergency stop of which i actually locked up the wheels so effectively lost control for a shoert while. I then released the brake pedal and re aplied the brakes which then broght the car to a stop. At which point i thought ive failed the test so was wondering whether to drive like Bo Duke for the rest of the test for a laugh. But resisted that idea and continued to drive to test standard. When i got back to the test centre i was told i had successfully passed with no faults. When i asked the examiner about the skidding in the emergency stop. He said that i did everything correctly by taking my foot off the brake and re applying the brake pedal thus bringing the car to a perfect stop. It was at that point the examiner made his mind up that i would pass were his words so im glad i didnt drive like bo duke after all lol

[@robcrossgrove7927]

You do know that not all roads in the UK were built for the horse and cart? We do have up to date, modern roads big enough for 2 cars to pass easily. Some of them even have tarmac on them!

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Wow just Wow. Who would have thought?

[@superted6960]

With potholes

[@ThornyLittleFlower]

In the UK, the minimum lane width is 2.7m. In the US, it's 3.7m. Even their dirt tracks are wider than most UK B roads.

[@rahmij]

He came across as very condescending with that comment.

[@stevieinselby]

I think you're getting mixed up between the instructor and the examiner. The instructor is the person who has taught you to drive (it is much more common to have at least some paid driving lessons in the UK rather than just being taught by your parents, which seems to be the norm in the US), and so you will usually take the test in their car. They settle your nerves _before_ the test, and then they go off to have a coffee while you're _taking_ the test with the examiner silently making marks on a clipboard... Minor faults would be things like going marginally over the speed limit, being excessively cautious or hesitant, not checking your mirrors enough, not holding the steering wheel properly especially when turning, not indicating in good time. I'm sure that your example of not waiting at a STOP 🛑 sign for 5 seconds would be counted as a minor fault (although I'm not aware of any stipulation in the UK driving test that you would be expected to wait for 5 seconds!). In the UK, you can only drive a manual car if you passed your test in a manual car - there are people who take their test in automatics and so can only drive automatics, traditionally that has been uncommon but with more new cars being electric or hybrid and so not having a manual option it's likely to become more common over time.

[@aphextwin5712]

The channel Clearview Driving has a lot of mock tests, where the instructor plays the role of the examiner overlays on the video any errors made during the mock test.

[@silikon2]

I got my license in rural Tennessees and we weren't tested on parallel parking. There was probably not even a place to parallel park in the county. Later when I traveled (to San Francisco of all places) I had to learn how to do it on the spot and with no training at all. With both the hills and crowded nature of the city, this was challenging indeed.