At what age did you pass your driving test? Or why didn't you?

39 years-old, second attempt. Failed the first for going 35 in a 30, two minors. Second, passed with two minors again.

Ridiculous that I waited so long. Love driving.

The M62 can **** off though.

 

I think it was 6 times aged 32. Don't particularly enjoy driving but it is convenient.

 

Don't know if you sill live in Bradford. I lived there for 10 years. I didn't like the M62 much. I'd regularly drive to Bradford through West Bretton and Flockton then straight over the roundabout when the A637 meets the A642, down the B6118 to meet with the A644 just before the Brighouse turn off on the M62. You can then take the M62 East (actually North) just one junction to the M606 or keep on the A644 straight up to Queensbury.

It's a nice drive. I could do that route a fair bit quicker than it takes on the M1/M62 and sticking to 70. I'm not as daft as I was, so I wouldn't drive it as quick now, but it's still better than the motorway route.

 

1988 aged 17…. Passed 1st time and had a Mini 850 as my first car.

 

That’s my way home. Sadly, that way on a morning is a nightmare. So I do the 62 and M1 route. Love the M1. Never once been an issue on there other than its love for speed cameras. It’s a free flowing motorway.

The 62 is hell on earth.

To be fair, I sometimes go through Huddersfield just to mix it up. Or Wakey and Leeds. Depends what mood I’m in.

I never wanted to drive. When we were growing up, I was an outlier. My mates loved cars. Max Power posters on the walls etc. Never interested me.

Shame really. Because I love driving now. Forced into it by the price and unreliability of the trains to be fair. But yeah. I genuinely enjoy driving and have been up and down the country a lot over the last year or so.

 

First time at 17 and 9 months. Had my mock test just before with my instructor and couldn't do anything right, instructor said drive like that you'll fail . Everything went perfect in the proper test with the examiner.

 

Passed 2nd time aged 19 in 76...passed my psv ( full manual single /double decker) first time aged 21
previously aged 19 i had failed due to lady examiner ( who might I add was regarded as an old battle axe by instructors and a proper pain) it all started off badly, attitude wise on her part...I held the door open for her, being polite and she stood there and snapped..Come along now, that won't earn you any favours, I can open doors for myself I don't need anybody to do that for me ...so I walk through it, and said, well bloody open it you self then love, if that's your attitude and shut the door in her face...
I walked down the steps and stood on the pavement next to a small white van which was taller than me...A.few minutes later she comes through the door, with a face like thunder, stands at the top of the steps and asks me to read the number plate of a blue car, parked further up the street, but across the road from were I'm standing...what blue car I replied, I'm stood next....she cut me off mid sentence with Do you need glasses are you fit to drive let alone see....I bounced up the stairs, saying maybe if I stand here, I can see what you are seeing love, I then proceeded to read the number plate of a car parked further up the road to which I was told I had a terrible attitude ....we got in the car, total silence, apart from her barking orders out...she instructed me to go past the grammar school cars parked either side doubled parked ...she claimed I drove too close to parked vehicles and second fail was when a car belonging to the bsm driving school with a learner driver driving , and the same driving schools car I was taking my test in, pulled directly across in front of me to go into Ford garage on Dodworth Road, stalled it and I had to brake sharply to avoid hitting it...she said I didn't show enough awareness of said incidents and failed me on both points, even though it was clearly the fault of the other car
My driving instructor went mental when I told him what had taken place...literally dragged me into the test station stormed into the back office taking me with him and a blazing row took place between him and her, he demanded action be taken against her said he wanted someone else to retest me there and then but to no avail
the out come was I re sat my test 1 month later free of charge and passed

The second test lol the examiner comes out of the back office with his face covered by his clip board shouts my name still covering his face
I shout here and we walk through the same door as previously me holding it open for him...we walk down the steps ...Where's your car parked he asks ..down the side street on the hill I reply...come on let's get into it he replied, all the time talking with the clip board held against his face...we sit in the car and he says ..from behind the clip board...do you know where Victoria crescent is he asks
I think its that street off Victoria Road I reply....take me there then he says adding did your electric go off in Cudworth this morning...No I reply did yours....YES unfortunately he says...of all the bloody mornings I choose to shave off my beard
he answers, dropping the clip board to his lap...I kid you not half a bushy beard adorns his face , anyway we pull up outside his house and in he goes, coming out some 20minutes later, clean shaven, collar and tie and his suit on
He gets in the car asks me to read a number plate further down the street, I comply, he then tells me to reverse into the street behind us ...it was raining at the time and as I set off back, the heavens opened and we had a cloud burst ...I couldnt see a thing and totally made a mess of my reversing....he looked at me and said just drive back round and start again, adding, you are in your rights to ask me to get out of the car and watch you back...lol.but if you do and i get wet, I can guarantee you one thing, it's an instant fail, followed by a little laugh Needless to say I didn't ask him to get out...lol ....second reverse attempt, perfect we then made our way down wilthope up to the hospital around pogmoor and down Dodworth road summer lane and back up to the test center... all the time he was laughing and joking with me...he asked me the highway code questions as we drove round....before he got out of the car , he gave me my pass certificate and added ...no doubt you will tell of today's events for years to come and no doubt to your kids and to your grand kids and a pound to a penny many won't believe you...but we know, its true....lol Enjoy your driving.....and I have done/do....

 

The Newton Heath/Manchester lorry drivers are always moaning about coming here on the M62. Apparently at the moment it keeps getting closed at night, and they get re-routed lol.

 

1992 aged 18 at the 4th attempt. I was pretty hard done by on 2 of the fails. Not had an accident in all those years (touch wood).

 

Oh and I was 18

 

What wait you actually have to pass a test ?

 

18 first time , HGV class 1 23 2nd time

 

3rd June 1975 2nd attempt in a mini JTY 957D which cost 60 quid from Jones garage on Pontefract Road where we used to park on matchdays. It's now a housing estate.

 

Dec 73 at 17. 1st attempt.

 

Age 20, third time, always thought it was a bit of a farce in those days, one guy was known by instructors to be worse at failing more than others ( got him first two) and the pressure was on as it was 12 months plus before you got another shot.
Third time the guy said , I see you have only failed on minor things and different ones each time, I thought bet I’m in here and I was.

 

I moved to London at 20 & never felt the need to learn. I regret it now. Though stroke has battered whatever senses I had left.
It wouldn’t be so bad if we had a proper bus service. If my carbon gets any smaller, I think I would just cease to exist..

 

October 1983, not sure of the date. Third attempt and I was 19.

 

17 years old, first attempt, that's despite my instructor changing the clutch on his car between my last lesson and my test - thanks mate. I class myself as a pretty terrible driver, had several prangs, all at low speeds, most of them my fault for not paying attention or being impatient, hate driving big cars, couldn't imagine the carnage I'd cause in a wagon - watched someone navigate his massive car carrying lorry today down a back alley - think those guys are like astronauts to me.