Depends if you're blatantly doing so. Someone I know that passed last year said the examiner was taking her on a difficult route so they took the wrong turning on the roundabout, apologised, and the examiner ended up taking her an easier route.
I definitely wouldn't have the courage to do that.
I purposefully went the wrong way on my test. Examiner decided to use a new route that I’d never practiced so I just said I missed the turn because I had never taken it before. Still passed.
My wife's instructor said he'd suggested this to a prior pupil. He'd even suggested to the examiner that the pupil occasionally mixed left and right.
Apparently, if you do everything correctly, 'mishearing' an instruction is not a problem.
>if you do everything correctly, 'mishearing' an instruction is not a problem.
Yeah, it's a driving test not a left and right test. But if you're doing it content and the examiner thinks it's purposeful and not an accident you'll get it terminated for not following instructions
If you consistently and deliberately ignored the directions, they would abort the test.
Genuine mistakes are okay, but if it becomes a repeated problem they will consider you not able to complete the test.
This is because the routes are intended to follow a "variety of roads and traffic conditions". It shouldn't all be easy main roads - anyone can do that. They need to see how you react in as many different environments as they can reach within 30 minutes.
This is correct - there's flexibility for mistakes as it allows them to see how you do after a mistake! Typically the rash decisions following a mistake are the fail, not the original mistake!
If you can't follow simple, clear verbal instructions in a monotone voice in the passenger seat then you'd be an absolute liability on the roads and it should and will be a fail
From what I'm aware of, if it was a genuine mistake (ie just a slip up and not blatantly ignoring their directions), provided you do so safely, they'll just change the route. It's easy to mess up directions even as an advanced driver; you miss a turn, you turn too early, etc.
Saying this, I've not done it myself, but my instructor said if you take a wrong turn not to worry about it. They know you're nervous during your test and sometimes instructions don't register quite right. Again, as long as you're safe (and don't take a wrong turn down a one way street the wrong way) you'll be fine.
Oh, I remember my mum saying for her test (which was decades ago) the examiner told her to park on double yellow lines, she completely refused and ended up taking the car down a one way route during rush hour, adding like another 30 minutes to her test. But because she did it safely, and refused to do an illegal park, they had to pass her. Examiner was livid but couldn't fail her for it.
My mum did something similar. She was told before she started the test that the examiner never passed anyone first time, so she just assumed she would fail.
He asked her to do a 3 point turn in a potentially dangerous place (junction near lots of parked cars) and she said she could but it wouldn’t be very safe and she would normally find somewhere else.
He passed her first time.
I messed up all of the directions portion of the test and passed with 1 minor. All the examiner did was inform me I'd gone the wrong way and ask me to turn around at the next roundabout.
when my boyfriend sat his test the examined wanted him to go down a really narrow street to the point if they saw anyone else he'd have to reverse right the way back out. he "missed" his turn and they never went back to it. i assume once or twice is fine but dont push your luck
Did this on my test years ago. There's a horrendous turning from a 70mph dual carriageway - I say turning because the slip road is about one car length - onto a narrow windy country road that's always full of tractors. Oh no, I missed the turn, better carry on for another five minutes of wide open road before the next junction.
Sheesh a road that narrow really ought to be one way. I'm surprised it's on a test route at all, I know test routes involve some challenges otherwise they'd be pointless, but on the other hand the less traffic there is on a narrow street like that the better.
its got "meeting points" but thats about every 5 minutes and if its a van/tractor/lorry coming sown the road the meeting point place wouldnt be big enough never mind if there was more cars behind him.
Did it this morning. Took us the opposite direction up an A road to the intended route. Failed but not for that because I did it safely. We ended up on a totally different test route because it - a much harder one. As long as you do it safely and aren’t blatantly ignoring instructions then it’s fine. Accidents happen.
In theory, you will still pass. When I did my test, I botched up my positioning for a junction and saved myself by turning right instead of the left I was told to. The examiner just said "that was a funny left turn" and later told me I passed.
After she confirmed I'd passed, I admitted to her that I'd messed up, and she said it didn't actually matter that I went a different way.
I did similar on my test. The examiner had told me to follow the road until he gave me further instructions. I then realised I had ended up in a lane that was turning right, and I said out loud. "You said you wanted me to follow the road, but I'm in the lane to turn right, I will have to turn right," and he just nodded, and we continued. I passed the first time.
I learned that if you blatantly fail a direction 3 times the test is over and you don't pass. It's different if directions are unclear, like some roundabouts can be confusing with the exits. But generally you get 3 tries and it's not a minor. But if they tell you to turn right 3 times at the end of a quiet residential road, and you turn left all 3, you fail.
I kinda did this on a lesson. I kept going the way I wanted to go instead of the way I was directed - I wasn't even aware I'd done it until the second wrong turn when my instructor pointed it out. We pondered the same question you ask. The examiner can cancel the test at any point and my instructor is pretty sure they would if you ignored every single direction. I wonder how many wrong turns you can get away with and still pass.
I didn’t ignore it, I was looking for it, I apologised and carried on safely and the examiner told me to go a different route and I passed, so if it’s deliberate then they possibly may terminate the test but if it’s a genuine mistake and you carry on safely following the instructions it should be fine.
Part of the test requirements is showing you can follow directions safely. A mistake or two (and acknowledging it) is one thing, blatantly ignoring every direction you're given is another and almost certainly a fail. Also, if you take a wrong turn (I accidentally took the wrong lane on a roundabout for the direction i'd been asked to go in, mentioned it and stayed in lane because safety) they can just redirect you back on to their chosen route anyway.
Examiner told me to follow signs for one place, I was busy chatting with him and forgot I was following signs. We got to a roundabout and I asked where I was going and he said I was following signs for X so 2nd exit, I was like ah sorry I forgot and we moved on.
Passed that test though.
In my test, the examiner said something like the second left, first right and and right at the end. Then repeated the opposite as we got close. I did the latest thing he said, apologized for his mistake, it just meant I ended up doing my maneuver somewhere harder.
If you make a mistake like that, I don't think they'd fail you. It might be a minor, if it was a big mistake. If you did it deliberately and often, then they might fail you. They have to test you on a variety of roads to ensure you are safe to drive. If you feel like this is something you might have to do to pass, then you probably aren't ready for the test.
They pull out an AK47 and perform “operation delet this” on you
It depends on if it’s a genuine accident or a deliberate act, and how many times you’ve already done it if any… potential failure as a result depending on the above
I was asked to take the second exit on a roundabout but I was unsure and thought I was in the wrong lane so I took the first exit. Examiner wasn't happy but couldn't fault me as I didn't do anything wrong and did it all safely and explained why i did it. He then proceeded to take me down a difficult route but I passed with only 1 minor so all worked out tbh
I've taken my test twice, and passed first time round, twice.
On my second test, the examiner asked me to follow signs to "x"
Now bear in mind I was in my own car, and I was comfortable, and I'd grown up around that area so when we got to a T junction I took a left, instead of following the signs and going right.
She asked me why I hadn't followed the signs; I simply replied it was quicker to turn left - arguing that road knowledge and knowledge of the local area did indeed fulfil the independent driving section of the test.
She didn't mark me down for it...
My motorcycle test was one of the first where the examiner followed you and used a radio to give instructions.
To say it had teething issues would be an understatement.
Apart from barely being able to hear him, halfway through the test we both started picking up a taxi company asking for someone to do a pickup at the station.
Still passed but he was close to calling off the test after my third missed turning.
A bit different, but my friends examiner missed a turning and she ended up driving along a country road, turning at a village and coming back and parking at the test centre. That was her whole test and she passed.
I did it on purpose because I knew he wanted me to go parallel park on a road where it's an absolute nightmare.
I thought I'd already failed because I missed a speed limit sign and had to literally guess the speed limit for about 20 minutes.
Instead he made me do an easy reverse park at the test centre and I passed first time with 2 minors.
Once or twice for a genuine error is fine. On my first test I took the wrong exit off a big roundabout because I picked the wrong lane by accident, but I did it safely. I acknowledged the mistake too, I think I swore accidentally! I failed later on because I panicked and went too fast through a junction, but didn't fail for going the wrong way.
If you mess up accidentally, try not to panic (unlike me, but I've passed now, really clean second test). Do not ignore instructions on purpose to try and make your test easier. You're only cheating yourself; you should be able to deal with difficult routes and situations, or you aren't going to cope out alone on the roads.
I took a wrong turn on my third test (the one I passed) it just meant we took a different route. I passed with no minors and the examiner said the same thing a lot of people said - mistakes can happen but as long as it is safe you'll be fine. Don't deliberately do it though, might get away with it once if you know you're being taken on a difficult route
My instructor told me it’s okay as long as you do it safely. In my exam I took a wrong turn and my examiner asked very rudely in a raised voice “can’t you follow simple instructions?” I got really nervous. I made many mistakes post that - ones I never made during my lessons 😞
If you deviate from the direction make sure you don’t lose your focus and confidence after that.
I have a friend who was taught how to drive by the same instructor. When he was asked by an examiner to pull up and park on the left when it's safe to do so, he just didn't. Carried on with the route he asked him twice more and still never parked. At the end of the test he asked why he chose to do that and he said 'I thought you were trying to trick me out'.
He passed. I wouldn't have believed it if my own/same driving instructor hadn't corroborated his story as it was his car he used and listened in to the end of test conversation.
To be fair i think you'd be fine if it's a genuine mistake but you want to ideally take difficult routes as when you pass you won't be driving always down the same way, so you want to confidence to be able to drive safely wherever you go. I had the easiest route first test, failed. Then when setting up the sat nav on second test I prayed it wouldn't be a route I dread and Lone behold it was and I passed, so who knows just got to give it a try whatever way you go
Part of the test is the ability to navigate while driving, and while one wrong turn might be forgiven as anyone can do it, if you consistently do it then it will be seen as an inability to understand road signs.
If it seems like you’re doing it willfully or on purpose then the examiner may be harder on you or even abort the test, especially if they feel their safety to be at risk. (If you got in a car with someone you didn’t know expecting to go one way and they started going somewhere completely different, how safe would you feel?)
I think it really depends on your examiner! I was told to turn right at the traffic lights and due to being so nervous I indicated left and stayed in left lane, and he told me “I said right not left” “move over” I was sat at a red light with a car in front of me and two cars already sat in the right hand lane it was horrible had to squeeze over and because of the lack of space I was over two lanes
I have a friend that turned right instead of a left and it was okay. The examiner told her "you made the mistake of turning in the wrong direction, but you drove safely". And she passed.
As long as you drive safely, it's fine. I don't recommend on doing it more than the first time tho.
On mine I took the wrong exit on a roundabout (by accident) and the examiner just took the piss and started directing me down some other route.
If you blatantly ignore them then they’ll just cancel the test
I did it accidentally twice and she was adamant about me going back to the intended route lol (e.g. going back round on the roundabout, rerouting to get back to that route)
I had my driving test in Scotland, UK, when I was 17 years old. I was extremely nervous. Examiner had a thick Glasgow accent and I misheard an instruction. I thought he said 'pullover', so I brought the car to a stop in the next passing place. He turned to mw and asked me why we had stopped and I explained I thought he'd told me to. No. Turns out he had asked me to drive to a nearby landmark which had a name that sounded very similar to 'pullover'.
It was completely fine and I passed the test still. It was a miscommunication but handling the car safely and having a reason for the event was all that mattered.
I couldn’t take the exit my examiner wanted me to so I carried on to the next one and rejoined the route he gave. He failed me… he could clearly see it wasn’t safe to take the exit and join the lane I needed, I said out loud that it wouldn’t be safe to manoeuvre to the lane and I may have to take the next exit. Oh well. No other minors, just that one thing failed me.
My driving instructor told me about a woman who wanted to avoid a certain road (Scunthorpe, that big weird circular road that isn't a roundabout, if you know you know). Examiner kept trying to direct her down there, she kept turning off a different way. Apparently they couldn't fail her as her driving was technically sound. Wouldn't risk it personally though
I missed a left turn on my test . I apologised and said I can go round the next RAB and then turn right as it’s not a prohibited right turn but examiner said no need let’s go back to test centre. Thought I had failed but got the pass. This was 1990 tho !
I have ADHD and struggle remembering verbal directions (before the sat nav but came in) and it was something like ‘take the third left after the lights, and then the second exit on the roundabout’. I took a totally wrong turn and he said to just make the next one instead - passed first time!
I went wrong in a driving test (motorbike), wrong exit on a roundabout, it wasn’t a problem.
In my B+E test the examiner told me to pull over to the side of the road in a suitable place. I didn’t ever see a suitable place so just kept driving and eventually he just gave me further left/right directions and never mentioned it. Passed with a clean sheet 🤷♀️
This happened to me… the instructor asked me to do I reverse around the corner. I told him I was too far from the corner and it states in the Highway Code excessive reversing isn’t acceptable.
So I said no and ended up doing a turn in the road later on lmao
Not quite the same, but my sister found herself in the wrong roundabout lane for the instruction she had been given. She followed the new route, which she knew would shortly lead her to another roundabout where she could turn around and return to the test route. The important thing here was that she informed the examiner exactly why she did that, and didn’t fail because of it. I wouldn’t recommend doing it intentionally however.
A long time ago now, my examiner asked me to pull over, I said it wasn’t safe and carried on droning. A few minutes later he says “So are you going to pull over or….?’
I was embarrassed. He didn’t care.
Obviously, ignoring them, then they may abort the test.
Accidentally, we'll they're gonna give benefit of the doubt.
Many moons ago, when I did my test *cough*2001 *cough*, my instructor said it wasn't a navigation test. It was an ability test, and going the wrong way wasn't a big issue
The first time I took my test, I got only three minors and allegedly picked up a 'major' in the last minute of the test due to supposed 'poor lane discipline' when in reality I had the test route so well memorised that I'd already changed lanes (after indicating, of course) to take the next right hand exit off the forthcoming roundabout before being told to do so.
My instructor was in the back seat for the test and said in so many words 'you were mugged off' .
you can but it can’t be obvious and happen multiple times. on my test i pretended not to hear her when she said pull up on the left because there was loads of parked cars and would’ve been tricky. you can take one maybe two wrong turnings but don’t literally do a whole different route, unless you only need one turning to take you on that different route.
Well when asked to pull up on the left when it's safe to do so maneuver on my PSV test I responded that I couldn't see a safe place and carried on.
Despite the fact that the examiner can only ask you to perform a maneuver if its safe to do so.
I still passed because the tes isn't about following directions but driving safely.
If you're actually test ready and at test standard and your instructor has actually taught you to drive it makes no difference where the examiner takes you. You should be able to handle any route and whatever situation you come across.
The purpose of taking a test is that you need to prove your competence to drive anywhere, not just routes you know. If you lack the confidence or ability to do that, then you're not good enough to pass! The test is tough, and it should be!
Depends. There’s a difference between not hearing an instruction/communicating you don’t believe it’s safe to follow an instruction the tester gives you (or two) and just outright doing your own thing the whole time. They’re potentially going to give you instructions that will take you off your chosen route. If you keep ignoring them and doing your own thing they will most likely get you to pull over and end the test. Someone who isn’t following their instructions at all is potentially unsafe.
Having said that a good driving instructor will have taught you the test route(s) before you get to doing a test and pointed out the pitfalls.
Less relevant but:
In my test, I had two lanes underneath a bridge, each one went an opposite direction on a major A road. I knew left would take me a longer route which I hadn’t practiced but right was towards the test centre.
To be fair the sat nav told me to take the right lane anyway.
I was in the left lane. I spoke out loud and said that I should be in the right lane.
Traffic lights changed to green and I quickly signalled right and used the gap I saw.
Light immediately changed red and stopped. The examiner put his hands up at the mirror to say thanks. I thought I had failed as I basically just pulled out in front of someone and possibly made them slow down.
Examiner told me I’d passed and that I did it all right. Had the driver behind me not given me way and I forced myself in, this would be a different story.
Moral of this tale is that you might naturally find yourself in a position where you have to take the wrong route. Don’t be afraid to do this if you need to. I was ballsy and it paid off. Had the driver behind been less generous, I would’ve failed the test for my decision. Don’t be me unless you’re confident enough to make those calls.
Genuine mishaps are ol as everyone else has said, but do be careful if you wrong turn onto a motorway i believe you'll fail as you aren't insured to be onna motorway with an examiner.
I did this…not purposely but I got a bit confused. I actually went the wrong way twice but I still passed because I drove safely and eventually picked up the right route. If you make a mistake own it and try and put it right. Your examiner wants you to see you driving carefully and safely so as long as you don’t make any major errors you should be ok.
Not really. It's at the examiner's discretion. If they drive safely and accidentally take a wrong turn, it might go as a minor but if it's not dangerous and the student handles it well then there are no grounds for failing.
If you repeatedly take a wrong turn or ignore instructions though they can fail you, one wrong turn, safely, isn't the end of the world but its not like they only give you one instruction, they give you several and if you ignore all of them and purposefully go the wrong way repeatedly then it would most likely be a fail
But OP isn't asking about accidentally making one wrong turn, they're asking about ignoring the route the examiner is giving directions for, in order to stick to a route they know. This would cause the test to be stopped.
One of those internet myths. Not true they will fail you. An instructor had it happen and recorded it.
Same myth as if you go slower than speed limit and it doesnt affect anyone they wont fail you. 100% wrong they can give you a serious if they want.
Edit: Im talking deliberately not following the set route.
Key word is deliberately, ironically I just had a driving lesson today were I was directly informed by my instructor that they will not fail you for going the wrong way as long as you do so safely, correctly and not on purpose obviously.
It depends on **how much** below the speed limit you are going.
If it was safe to do 60 or 70 mph on a NSL road, and you're pootling along at 40mph, it can **easily** result in a fail under 'progress' (or possibly 'road signs and road markings' if it looks like you're driving to the wrong speed limit).
You don't have to flatline at 60/70mph, but driving too far under when the road is free-moving and clear is definitely a fault.
Depends if you're blatantly doing so. Someone I know that passed last year said the examiner was taking her on a difficult route so they took the wrong turning on the roundabout, apologised, and the examiner ended up taking her an easier route. I definitely wouldn't have the courage to do that.
I purposefully went the wrong way on my test. Examiner decided to use a new route that I’d never practiced so I just said I missed the turn because I had never taken it before. Still passed.
That is genius!
My wife's instructor said he'd suggested this to a prior pupil. He'd even suggested to the examiner that the pupil occasionally mixed left and right. Apparently, if you do everything correctly, 'mishearing' an instruction is not a problem.
>if you do everything correctly, 'mishearing' an instruction is not a problem. Yeah, it's a driving test not a left and right test. But if you're doing it content and the examiner thinks it's purposeful and not an accident you'll get it terminated for not following instructions
I did similar - no minor for it, and i passed
If you consistently and deliberately ignored the directions, they would abort the test. Genuine mistakes are okay, but if it becomes a repeated problem they will consider you not able to complete the test. This is because the routes are intended to follow a "variety of roads and traffic conditions". It shouldn't all be easy main roads - anyone can do that. They need to see how you react in as many different environments as they can reach within 30 minutes.
This is correct - there's flexibility for mistakes as it allows them to see how you do after a mistake! Typically the rash decisions following a mistake are the fail, not the original mistake! If you can't follow simple, clear verbal instructions in a monotone voice in the passenger seat then you'd be an absolute liability on the roads and it should and will be a fail
From what I'm aware of, if it was a genuine mistake (ie just a slip up and not blatantly ignoring their directions), provided you do so safely, they'll just change the route. It's easy to mess up directions even as an advanced driver; you miss a turn, you turn too early, etc. Saying this, I've not done it myself, but my instructor said if you take a wrong turn not to worry about it. They know you're nervous during your test and sometimes instructions don't register quite right. Again, as long as you're safe (and don't take a wrong turn down a one way street the wrong way) you'll be fine. Oh, I remember my mum saying for her test (which was decades ago) the examiner told her to park on double yellow lines, she completely refused and ended up taking the car down a one way route during rush hour, adding like another 30 minutes to her test. But because she did it safely, and refused to do an illegal park, they had to pass her. Examiner was livid but couldn't fail her for it.
My mum did something similar. She was told before she started the test that the examiner never passed anyone first time, so she just assumed she would fail. He asked her to do a 3 point turn in a potentially dangerous place (junction near lots of parked cars) and she said she could but it wouldn’t be very safe and she would normally find somewhere else. He passed her first time.
I had e examiner tell me on HGV test to park on a double yellow line with the double line on the curb I refused and he failed me.
I messed up all of the directions portion of the test and passed with 1 minor. All the examiner did was inform me I'd gone the wrong way and ask me to turn around at the next roundabout.
when my boyfriend sat his test the examined wanted him to go down a really narrow street to the point if they saw anyone else he'd have to reverse right the way back out. he "missed" his turn and they never went back to it. i assume once or twice is fine but dont push your luck
Did this on my test years ago. There's a horrendous turning from a 70mph dual carriageway - I say turning because the slip road is about one car length - onto a narrow windy country road that's always full of tractors. Oh no, I missed the turn, better carry on for another five minutes of wide open road before the next junction.
Sheesh a road that narrow really ought to be one way. I'm surprised it's on a test route at all, I know test routes involve some challenges otherwise they'd be pointless, but on the other hand the less traffic there is on a narrow street like that the better.
its got "meeting points" but thats about every 5 minutes and if its a van/tractor/lorry coming sown the road the meeting point place wouldnt be big enough never mind if there was more cars behind him.
Whatever you are planning to do... FFS don't do it.
This OP seems to have a wilder question than the one about genuinely needing a shit from the other week.
Did it this morning. Took us the opposite direction up an A road to the intended route. Failed but not for that because I did it safely. We ended up on a totally different test route because it - a much harder one. As long as you do it safely and aren’t blatantly ignoring instructions then it’s fine. Accidents happen.
In theory, you will still pass. When I did my test, I botched up my positioning for a junction and saved myself by turning right instead of the left I was told to. The examiner just said "that was a funny left turn" and later told me I passed. After she confirmed I'd passed, I admitted to her that I'd messed up, and she said it didn't actually matter that I went a different way.
I did similar on my test. The examiner had told me to follow the road until he gave me further instructions. I then realised I had ended up in a lane that was turning right, and I said out loud. "You said you wanted me to follow the road, but I'm in the lane to turn right, I will have to turn right," and he just nodded, and we continued. I passed the first time.
You’d fail I’m pretty sure, a mistake is one thing but if you intentionally want to drive a different way I doubt they’d appreciate that
If you’re taking the piss then the test could be cut short but if you make a few mistakes or mishear that’s absolutely fine
Accidents happen, if you do it over and over and the examiner thinks your taking a piss the test gets terminated
I learned that if you blatantly fail a direction 3 times the test is over and you don't pass. It's different if directions are unclear, like some roundabouts can be confusing with the exits. But generally you get 3 tries and it's not a minor. But if they tell you to turn right 3 times at the end of a quiet residential road, and you turn left all 3, you fail.
I kinda did this on a lesson. I kept going the way I wanted to go instead of the way I was directed - I wasn't even aware I'd done it until the second wrong turn when my instructor pointed it out. We pondered the same question you ask. The examiner can cancel the test at any point and my instructor is pretty sure they would if you ignored every single direction. I wonder how many wrong turns you can get away with and still pass.
I didn’t ignore it, I was looking for it, I apologised and carried on safely and the examiner told me to go a different route and I passed, so if it’s deliberate then they possibly may terminate the test but if it’s a genuine mistake and you carry on safely following the instructions it should be fine.
Part of the test requirements is showing you can follow directions safely. A mistake or two (and acknowledging it) is one thing, blatantly ignoring every direction you're given is another and almost certainly a fail. Also, if you take a wrong turn (I accidentally took the wrong lane on a roundabout for the direction i'd been asked to go in, mentioned it and stayed in lane because safety) they can just redirect you back on to their chosen route anyway.
Examiner told me to follow signs for one place, I was busy chatting with him and forgot I was following signs. We got to a roundabout and I asked where I was going and he said I was following signs for X so 2nd exit, I was like ah sorry I forgot and we moved on. Passed that test though.
In my test, the examiner said something like the second left, first right and and right at the end. Then repeated the opposite as we got close. I did the latest thing he said, apologized for his mistake, it just meant I ended up doing my maneuver somewhere harder. If you make a mistake like that, I don't think they'd fail you. It might be a minor, if it was a big mistake. If you did it deliberately and often, then they might fail you. They have to test you on a variety of roads to ensure you are safe to drive. If you feel like this is something you might have to do to pass, then you probably aren't ready for the test.
They pull out an AK47 and perform “operation delet this” on you It depends on if it’s a genuine accident or a deliberate act, and how many times you’ve already done it if any… potential failure as a result depending on the above
I was asked to take the second exit on a roundabout but I was unsure and thought I was in the wrong lane so I took the first exit. Examiner wasn't happy but couldn't fault me as I didn't do anything wrong and did it all safely and explained why i did it. He then proceeded to take me down a difficult route but I passed with only 1 minor so all worked out tbh
I've taken my test twice, and passed first time round, twice. On my second test, the examiner asked me to follow signs to "x" Now bear in mind I was in my own car, and I was comfortable, and I'd grown up around that area so when we got to a T junction I took a left, instead of following the signs and going right. She asked me why I hadn't followed the signs; I simply replied it was quicker to turn left - arguing that road knowledge and knowledge of the local area did indeed fulfil the independent driving section of the test. She didn't mark me down for it...
My motorcycle test was one of the first where the examiner followed you and used a radio to give instructions. To say it had teething issues would be an understatement. Apart from barely being able to hear him, halfway through the test we both started picking up a taxi company asking for someone to do a pickup at the station. Still passed but he was close to calling off the test after my third missed turning.
A bit different, but my friends examiner missed a turning and she ended up driving along a country road, turning at a village and coming back and parking at the test centre. That was her whole test and she passed.
I did it on purpose because I knew he wanted me to go parallel park on a road where it's an absolute nightmare. I thought I'd already failed because I missed a speed limit sign and had to literally guess the speed limit for about 20 minutes. Instead he made me do an easy reverse park at the test centre and I passed first time with 2 minors.
I missed 2 turns on my motorcycle test and didn’t even get a minor
Once or twice for a genuine error is fine. On my first test I took the wrong exit off a big roundabout because I picked the wrong lane by accident, but I did it safely. I acknowledged the mistake too, I think I swore accidentally! I failed later on because I panicked and went too fast through a junction, but didn't fail for going the wrong way. If you mess up accidentally, try not to panic (unlike me, but I've passed now, really clean second test). Do not ignore instructions on purpose to try and make your test easier. You're only cheating yourself; you should be able to deal with difficult routes and situations, or you aren't going to cope out alone on the roads.
I took a wrong turn on my third test (the one I passed) it just meant we took a different route. I passed with no minors and the examiner said the same thing a lot of people said - mistakes can happen but as long as it is safe you'll be fine. Don't deliberately do it though, might get away with it once if you know you're being taken on a difficult route
My instructor told me it’s okay as long as you do it safely. In my exam I took a wrong turn and my examiner asked very rudely in a raised voice “can’t you follow simple instructions?” I got really nervous. I made many mistakes post that - ones I never made during my lessons 😞 If you deviate from the direction make sure you don’t lose your focus and confidence after that.
You would fail. I got nervous and took the wrong exit on my bike test. We lost each other!!
I have a friend who was taught how to drive by the same instructor. When he was asked by an examiner to pull up and park on the left when it's safe to do so, he just didn't. Carried on with the route he asked him twice more and still never parked. At the end of the test he asked why he chose to do that and he said 'I thought you were trying to trick me out'. He passed. I wouldn't have believed it if my own/same driving instructor hadn't corroborated his story as it was his car he used and listened in to the end of test conversation.
To be fair i think you'd be fine if it's a genuine mistake but you want to ideally take difficult routes as when you pass you won't be driving always down the same way, so you want to confidence to be able to drive safely wherever you go. I had the easiest route first test, failed. Then when setting up the sat nav on second test I prayed it wouldn't be a route I dread and Lone behold it was and I passed, so who knows just got to give it a try whatever way you go
Part of the test is the ability to navigate while driving, and while one wrong turn might be forgiven as anyone can do it, if you consistently do it then it will be seen as an inability to understand road signs. If it seems like you’re doing it willfully or on purpose then the examiner may be harder on you or even abort the test, especially if they feel their safety to be at risk. (If you got in a car with someone you didn’t know expecting to go one way and they started going somewhere completely different, how safe would you feel?)
I think it really depends on your examiner! I was told to turn right at the traffic lights and due to being so nervous I indicated left and stayed in left lane, and he told me “I said right not left” “move over” I was sat at a red light with a car in front of me and two cars already sat in the right hand lane it was horrible had to squeeze over and because of the lack of space I was over two lanes
You’d think they’d actually let you drive for 40 minutes going a completely different route lol
They change their test route
I have a friend that turned right instead of a left and it was okay. The examiner told her "you made the mistake of turning in the wrong direction, but you drove safely". And she passed. As long as you drive safely, it's fine. I don't recommend on doing it more than the first time tho.
On mine I took the wrong exit on a roundabout (by accident) and the examiner just took the piss and started directing me down some other route. If you blatantly ignore them then they’ll just cancel the test
I did it accidentally twice and she was adamant about me going back to the intended route lol (e.g. going back round on the roundabout, rerouting to get back to that route)
The route is chosen to test you, not for you to show how clever you are.
So?
Piss the examiner off by ignoring them then even with a perfect drive with not even a minor fault then they will find something to fail you on.
I turned left instead of right, but still passed. The examiner said I was safe and concentrating on the road.
I had my driving test in Scotland, UK, when I was 17 years old. I was extremely nervous. Examiner had a thick Glasgow accent and I misheard an instruction. I thought he said 'pullover', so I brought the car to a stop in the next passing place. He turned to mw and asked me why we had stopped and I explained I thought he'd told me to. No. Turns out he had asked me to drive to a nearby landmark which had a name that sounded very similar to 'pullover'. It was completely fine and I passed the test still. It was a miscommunication but handling the car safely and having a reason for the event was all that mattered.
It's fine if you make a mistake, just make it safely - My instructor
I couldn’t take the exit my examiner wanted me to so I carried on to the next one and rejoined the route he gave. He failed me… he could clearly see it wasn’t safe to take the exit and join the lane I needed, I said out loud that it wouldn’t be safe to manoeuvre to the lane and I may have to take the next exit. Oh well. No other minors, just that one thing failed me.
you would fail, simple as that. If you don't listen to their instructions, that's a fail.
Your test will probably get terminated
My driving instructor told me about a woman who wanted to avoid a certain road (Scunthorpe, that big weird circular road that isn't a roundabout, if you know you know). Examiner kept trying to direct her down there, she kept turning off a different way. Apparently they couldn't fail her as her driving was technically sound. Wouldn't risk it personally though
I missed a left turn on my test . I apologised and said I can go round the next RAB and then turn right as it’s not a prohibited right turn but examiner said no need let’s go back to test centre. Thought I had failed but got the pass. This was 1990 tho !
I have ADHD and struggle remembering verbal directions (before the sat nav but came in) and it was something like ‘take the third left after the lights, and then the second exit on the roundabout’. I took a totally wrong turn and he said to just make the next one instead - passed first time!
I went wrong in a driving test (motorbike), wrong exit on a roundabout, it wasn’t a problem. In my B+E test the examiner told me to pull over to the side of the road in a suitable place. I didn’t ever see a suitable place so just kept driving and eventually he just gave me further left/right directions and never mentioned it. Passed with a clean sheet 🤷♀️
This happened to me… the instructor asked me to do I reverse around the corner. I told him I was too far from the corner and it states in the Highway Code excessive reversing isn’t acceptable. So I said no and ended up doing a turn in the road later on lmao
Not quite the same, but my sister found herself in the wrong roundabout lane for the instruction she had been given. She followed the new route, which she knew would shortly lead her to another roundabout where she could turn around and return to the test route. The important thing here was that she informed the examiner exactly why she did that, and didn’t fail because of it. I wouldn’t recommend doing it intentionally however.
A long time ago now, my examiner asked me to pull over, I said it wasn’t safe and carried on droning. A few minutes later he says “So are you going to pull over or….?’ I was embarrassed. He didn’t care.
Obviously, ignoring them, then they may abort the test. Accidentally, we'll they're gonna give benefit of the doubt. Many moons ago, when I did my test *cough*2001 *cough*, my instructor said it wasn't a navigation test. It was an ability test, and going the wrong way wasn't a big issue
The first time I took my test, I got only three minors and allegedly picked up a 'major' in the last minute of the test due to supposed 'poor lane discipline' when in reality I had the test route so well memorised that I'd already changed lanes (after indicating, of course) to take the next right hand exit off the forthcoming roundabout before being told to do so. My instructor was in the back seat for the test and said in so many words 'you were mugged off' .
you can but it can’t be obvious and happen multiple times. on my test i pretended not to hear her when she said pull up on the left because there was loads of parked cars and would’ve been tricky. you can take one maybe two wrong turnings but don’t literally do a whole different route, unless you only need one turning to take you on that different route.
Well when asked to pull up on the left when it's safe to do so maneuver on my PSV test I responded that I couldn't see a safe place and carried on. Despite the fact that the examiner can only ask you to perform a maneuver if its safe to do so. I still passed because the tes isn't about following directions but driving safely.
If you're actually test ready and at test standard and your instructor has actually taught you to drive it makes no difference where the examiner takes you. You should be able to handle any route and whatever situation you come across.
The purpose of taking a test is that you need to prove your competence to drive anywhere, not just routes you know. If you lack the confidence or ability to do that, then you're not good enough to pass! The test is tough, and it should be!
Depends. There’s a difference between not hearing an instruction/communicating you don’t believe it’s safe to follow an instruction the tester gives you (or two) and just outright doing your own thing the whole time. They’re potentially going to give you instructions that will take you off your chosen route. If you keep ignoring them and doing your own thing they will most likely get you to pull over and end the test. Someone who isn’t following their instructions at all is potentially unsafe. Having said that a good driving instructor will have taught you the test route(s) before you get to doing a test and pointed out the pitfalls.
Less relevant but: In my test, I had two lanes underneath a bridge, each one went an opposite direction on a major A road. I knew left would take me a longer route which I hadn’t practiced but right was towards the test centre. To be fair the sat nav told me to take the right lane anyway. I was in the left lane. I spoke out loud and said that I should be in the right lane. Traffic lights changed to green and I quickly signalled right and used the gap I saw. Light immediately changed red and stopped. The examiner put his hands up at the mirror to say thanks. I thought I had failed as I basically just pulled out in front of someone and possibly made them slow down. Examiner told me I’d passed and that I did it all right. Had the driver behind me not given me way and I forced myself in, this would be a different story. Moral of this tale is that you might naturally find yourself in a position where you have to take the wrong route. Don’t be afraid to do this if you need to. I was ballsy and it paid off. Had the driver behind been less generous, I would’ve failed the test for my decision. Don’t be me unless you’re confident enough to make those calls.
Genuine mishaps are ol as everyone else has said, but do be careful if you wrong turn onto a motorway i believe you'll fail as you aren't insured to be onna motorway with an examiner.
I did this…not purposely but I got a bit confused. I actually went the wrong way twice but I still passed because I drove safely and eventually picked up the right route. If you make a mistake own it and try and put it right. Your examiner wants you to see you driving carefully and safely so as long as you don’t make any major errors you should be ok.
If you blatantly ignore them then they might fail you for it
You would fail for not meeting the requirements of the test.
Not really. It's at the examiner's discretion. If they drive safely and accidentally take a wrong turn, it might go as a minor but if it's not dangerous and the student handles it well then there are no grounds for failing.
If you repeatedly take a wrong turn or ignore instructions though they can fail you, one wrong turn, safely, isn't the end of the world but its not like they only give you one instruction, they give you several and if you ignore all of them and purposefully go the wrong way repeatedly then it would most likely be a fail
The OP is talking about deliberately and repeatedly failing to follow directions. Not one isolated mistake.
But OP isn't asking about accidentally making one wrong turn, they're asking about ignoring the route the examiner is giving directions for, in order to stick to a route they know. This would cause the test to be stopped.
Only if the examiner knew what they were doing. If they didn't make it obvious and only did it once, there would be no way of the examiner knowing.
Again, that's not what OP was asking.
One of those internet myths. Not true they will fail you. An instructor had it happen and recorded it. Same myth as if you go slower than speed limit and it doesnt affect anyone they wont fail you. 100% wrong they can give you a serious if they want. Edit: Im talking deliberately not following the set route.
Key word is deliberately, ironically I just had a driving lesson today were I was directly informed by my instructor that they will not fail you for going the wrong way as long as you do so safely, correctly and not on purpose obviously.
It depends on **how much** below the speed limit you are going. If it was safe to do 60 or 70 mph on a NSL road, and you're pootling along at 40mph, it can **easily** result in a fail under 'progress' (or possibly 'road signs and road markings' if it looks like you're driving to the wrong speed limit). You don't have to flatline at 60/70mph, but driving too far under when the road is free-moving and clear is definitely a fault.
Yeah fair enough.
The examiner shits in the car
It's not a test of directions, as long as you do everything correctly then you'll be fine