Indeed, Cha Sa-soon, age 69, estimated that it cost her well over $10,000 to finally pass the South Korea drivers' test. Of course, she took it 960 times before finally passing in 2010 and now holds the world's record for most failed attempts.
The examiner will look to see that you: Make good observations, in all directions, before emerging. Assess the speed of other vehicles accurately. Take advantage of safe gaps as they arise.
While the test may have evolved, data suggests that pass rates have remained rooted in 1935. Reportedly over 50 million have sat the driving test with the first time pass rate remaining consistently around 49%.
While drivers can make up to 15 driving faults, also known as minors, a single dangerous or serious, known as major, fault is an immediate fail and means they'll have to resit the test. Now, figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have revealed which major fault causes the most failures during the test.
So don't sweat it. Nobody wants to fail a test, but when it comes to your driving test, failing is extremely common – and may actually reflect positively on you.
Generally speaking, most examiners will initiate some kind of conversation to put you at ease during your test. It's not intended to be a method of distraction—just a way to help you relax a little and get rid of those test day nerves.
Mid-morning driving tests
Between 9am and 11am is generally a decent time to take a driving test because it's outside of rush hour and avoids the traffic increase in the run-up to lunchtime.
Hitting the kerb (or 'curb' as it's spelt in other areas) during a driving test is a concern for most learner drivers as it can result in a potential driving test failure.
While it's unlikely you'll fail if you roll back a couple of centimetres during a hill start, if the car rolls back significantly – or worse still, you hit a pedestrian or other road user while doing so, it will lead to a fail.
Parallel Parking
It is fine to touch the curb, but don't roll over it. Even if you get points taken off for not successfully parallel parking your car, as long as you don't hit a car or the curb too forcefully, you should still pass your test.
The driving test really is unlike any other test you're likely to take. It has so many potential pitfalls, high stress and nerves with an examiner sitting right next to you.
The youngest group, 17-20 year olds, have seen a 21% decrease in taking up driving in the last nine years and only make up 34% of today's first time drivers. 44% are over the age of 25 and most young adults are not taking to the road until the mature age of 26.
You can expect to be at the test centre for about one hour. Aim to arrive at least 10 minutes early, as you'll have a bit of paperwork to do before the test starts. The actual test takes around 50 minutes, and is broken down into five parts.
In most cars it's operated by pulling a lever located next to the driver's seat, by the gearstick. You use your brake pedal to slow your car down when you're driving, to come gently to a stop, or to perform an emergency stop. Your handbrake should only be used once you've stopped moving.
Many learners assume that hitting the kerb while performing a manoeuvre will result in an instant fail, but again it's not entirely true. While mounting the kerb – or crashing into it hard – will be marked down as a major, a simple touch or clip during a manoeuvre (like turning in the road) is only classed as a minor.
The rotation of the flywheel is transmitted to the transmission via the clutch. So, in a short conclusion, we should always shift to neutral and engage the handbrake while at a stop light.
In fact, it should be reassuring. It means that people taking their tests at different times of day have roughly the same chance of passing (other factors aside). Essentially, taking an 8am driving test will most likely stand you in good stead for a pass.
As your driving test examiner will ask you to carry out one manoeuvre selected at random, it's important that you can effectively and with confidence show all 4 manoeuvres.
You're not allowed to make a single serious fault or dangerous fault. Make one of those and your test is an instant fail. But you can make up to 15 minors and still pass your test. It's incredibly rare to not make a single minor in your test.
Put simply, to pass your Practical Driving Test, you must have 15 or less Driving Test faults and no serious or dangerous faults.
You might be driving slowly to ensure that you pass your test, but this is misguided, since where you drive hesitantly your examiner will see a lack of skill. Believe it or not, slow driving is likely to be marked as a fail-worthy driving fault, in the same category as stalling the engine or mounting the pavement.