After working with learner drivers over the past 30 years, I have come to understand that even after putting in the right preparation and the hard work (120 hours of it!), the fear of the driving test can still undermine your faith in your ability. It is also a predictable fact that your driving performance on test day will drop by 10%, based on driving test scoring, simply because of nerves.
I will let you in on a little secret...when we put you under 'test conditions' and take you for a practice driving test, we are marking you to the point where we factor in this variable to ensure you have the best opportunity to pass first go.
Most of the time it works, but sometimes that demon known as 'fear and doubt' will still creep into your head and things fall apart. We can't blame you considering the pressure we put you under by posting countless photos of happy people passing first go. Or your parents sighing every time they have to take you out for another drive, or drop you at sport or school or at work.
But it's not just us. You also put added pressure on yourself by booking your driving test on the day of your 17th birthday, or deciding to tell absolutely everyone that you are going for your driving test so that failure is no longer an option because to fail is humiliating and the worst thing that can ever happen to you.
Or is it??
So, what is the worst thing that can happen if you fail the driving test? You do it again. Consider it simply the dress rehearsal. The opportunity to find out how it works so that next time it will be easy and you probably picked up a few extra bits of experience that may save your life one day. It's all part of your journey, so don't be so hard on yourself. Relax.
Ultimately, if you have put in the preparation and you can make your OWN decisions in complex driving situations (this means that your driving instructor or home tutor is not constantly reminding you to indicate or change lanes or check over your shoulder or watch out for that other crazy driver), and you can both quietly enjoy the drive then you've got this.
If you're still not convinced, then contact me. I am happy to chat, alleviate your fears (slay that demon), work out the best strategy to get you ready for the driving test and then celebrate your achievement. It's all part of the Dalton service.