I'm 21 and I'm finally taking my road test this Thursday. I'm a bit nervous because I really really want my license now and I'm really going to be devastated if I fail. Yeah, I know it won't be the end of the world but I just don't feel like going back and taking it again!

So, any advice on how to prepare or what will happen (especially if you live in Wisconsin because that's where I'll be taking it- where I live).

Thanks! :)

I didn't have to take a road test! Yay! But anyway, just stay calm. You're more apt to make silly mistakes if you're all worried and tense. Just sort of pretend the tester isn't there. And Good Luck!!

I didn't have to take a road test! Yay! But anyway, just stay calm. You're more apt to make silly mistakes if you're all worried and tense. Just sort of pretend the tester isn't there. And Good Luck!!

How'd you get out of that?? Thought it was mandatory!!

I went in with my Pro Driver's class. I was the only one from our "car" of four students that passed that day. (But the other's were HORRIBLE - one guy actually drove up on someone's front lawn and stopped two inches from an oak tree!) :lol: I've heard that they have to fail one in every five people (why I don't know and it may be different in your area).

I agree though - go in as calm and confident as you can. It'll show the tester that you should know your stuff and your chances are better. As it turned out I wasn't asked to do half the things I thought I would. If you are using your own car, back it in when you park it - I did that and the guy said, "Oh, I guess I don't need to test you on backing into spaces"!! One less thing to worry about!

Good luck! :D

Hands at 10 and 2.

That's all I remember.

;)

Don't take an open beer with you or smoke anything. No matter how much other drivers annoy you, do not give them the finger and scream out the window at them. Don't blare the radio and make the tester's ears bleed.

Do not, under any circumstance, tell the guy that you can go from 0 to 100 in less than a minute and leave massive amounts of rubber. If you're bringing the car, don't show up with it on empty. Running out of gas makes a bad impression.

Above all, if you mess up, don't offer the guy a bribe to look the other way. They frown upon that.

If you find yourself driving behind a slow moving school bus, don't get impatient and say, "I'm going around this sucker. I don't have all day here."

Kidding of course. You'll be fine. Staying calm is the most important thing to do. Being confident in the rules of the road is very important too. If you're prepared, you do great.

Good luck and let us know how you make out. :)

Pedestrians aren't bonus points.

Pedestrians aren't bonus points.
:lol: Yeah - I wouldn't play any video games like Crazy Taxi for a few days ahead!!

How'd you get out of that?? Thought it was mandatory!!



Here, they only give (or at least this is the way it was in 1995) the driving test a few days a month (which they kept hush hush), so I avoided the rumored days. If you hadn't taken driver's ed, then you would have had to no matter what.

Here, they only give (or at least this is the way it was in 1995) the driving test a few days a month (which they kept hush hush), so I avoided the rumored days. If you hadn't taken driver's ed, then you would have had to no matter what.

Oh I see. I guess it cuts down on expenses, but geez, the three that were with me took the two month course (in and out of classroom) and there's NO WAY I'd want to be on the road when they were! Honestly, it was like something out of I Love Lucy! I would actually lie down in the backseat when they were at the wheel so no one would see me with them it was that bad - plus I felt I was safer doing it that way! :lol:

I know even in '77 when I took mine, we were told not to go near the end of the month in case they needed to fill their quota of "failures".

I don't know anything about it, but Good luck!

Just stay calm, and pretend that you're the only one in the car. Don't worry about too much.

I'M TAKING MY ROAD TEST ON THURSDAY TOO! :grr:

I'M TAKING MY ROAD TEST ON THURSDAY TOO! :grr:
Also, don't smash into Sarah.

Also, don't smash into Sarah.


And if you do - it'll all be Bush's fault!!! :mad: :eek: :lol:

Pedestrians aren't bonus points.

How did you know about my driving test?

As TJL said, keep both hands on the wheel. They look for that.
Check the side and rearview mirrors often while driving.

Do not, under any circumstance, tell the guy that you can go from 0 to 100 in less than a minute and leave massive amounts of rubber.
Do you mean like this? :D

Do you mean like this? :D


OMG - does that bring back memories of driving up a steep hill with the car fully loaded and just gunning it!!! Ah the good old crazy reckless days! It was the same car too - just a gross beige thing! We even got away from the cops in it!! :lol:


Good advice btw! Yeah - check those mirrors all the time! Especially when you're first pulling away. Look right and left before proceeding through an intersection too (even though the light's green, there can be idiots running the red or the sign). And flip your indicator on well enough before a turn, but not if there's a driveway or other street before the one you're turning on.

You'll do fine! ;)

I took mine back in the Fall and finally passed(3rd time).

The main things are STAY CALM and TAKE YOUR TIME. If you get in a hurry, your going to mess up. Don't go over the speed limit but don't go slow either because it drives the instructor nuts. Don't slam on the brakes for anything either.

Don't drive in the other lane.

I took mine back in the Fall and finally passed(3rd time).

The main things are STAY CALM and TAKE YOUR TIME. If you get in a hurry, your going to mess up. Don't go over the speed limit but don't go slow either because it drives the instructor nuts. Don't slam on the brakes for anything either.

Also - going too slow is just as bad as going too fast - you can even be ticketed for that so yeah, keep as close to the speed limit as you can. Remember your distances too from the car ahead of you.

A few things.
1. Do not hit a cow under any circumstances (I swear this happened to someone in my driver's ed class, they didn't get their license until later.)
2. While merging onto the interstate, don't through it into park. (Again, this happened to somebody.)
3. Don't hit the curb.

try to keep at least three wheels on the pavement at all times.

the examiner guy that tested me was a real jerk - when I was putting on my seatbelt and fiddling with the mirrors he turned on the radio and started changing the stations - when I gave him a dirty/confused look, he said something like "do you mind? - it relaxes me"

then about 3/4's of the way through the test, I was stopped at a very long red light and the guy FELL ASLEEP! I was so stunned that I was just staring at him dumbfounded, until the light went green and the guy behind me tapped the horn. This woke the jerk up, he looked around all confused for a second, and then picked up his clipboard and GAVE ME 10 demerits! :cuss:

OMG - does that bring back memories of driving up a steep hill with the car fully loaded and just gunning it!!! Ah the good old crazy reckless days! It was the same car too - just a gross beige thing! We even got away from the cops in it!! :lol:

Amazingly, I, and one of my car friends who drove like that even more than I did, never got pulled over by the cops. (BTW, the friend was driving that '74 Cadillac in the picture; I took the photos.)

try to keep at least three wheels on the pavement at all times.

Awww... that's no fun! ;)

STAY OFF THE SIDE WALK
they frown down on that

Go as the place is starting to close up! I had to go back and forth to the DMV because I needed all these stupid documents and such. Anyways, by the time I was actually able to drive, it was POURING and there was an accident at the intersection, not to mention the place closed in 30 min. So he gave me a quickie on a backroad. He said I drove to fast and I totally crashed into the curve backing up, but I passed :D

thanks for all this advice! I think I'm more nervous about who my instructor will be or how he will be like than the actual test. I have to read the motorist's handbook to review stuff before I take it.

I Can't even get to the road test. I've failed my Written test twice this month. :lol:

I Can't even get to the road test. I've failed my Written test twice this month. :lol:

:eek:

I didn't have any trouble with the written test... I was done in 5 minutes and passed the 1st time. :p

thanks for all this advice! I think I'm more nervous about who my instructor will be or how he will be like than the actual test. I have to read the motorist's handbook to review stuff before I take it.

I was EXTREMELY nervous about my instructors too... they ended up not being as bad as I expected. Two of them just kept quiet and pointed out mistakes after we were done.

My road test was VERY short... about 5-6 minutes. Didn't get on the highway even. :lol:

The 3-point turn sucks. The instructor had me do it on a narrow road and that was the reason I failed. I just barely got it done when I passed(he was actually a little lenint with me then). It was HARD.

I didn't have to take the road test either. I passed it with my driver's ed teacher and didn't have to take it at the DMV.

let us know how it goes

I didn't have to take the road test either. I passed it with my driver's ed teacher and didn't have to take it at the DMV.

Same here. I made sure to get Coach Marks, because he was the easiest.

I was EXTREMELY nervous about my instructors too... they ended up not being as bad as I expected. Two of them just kept quiet and pointed out mistakes after we were done.

My road test was VERY short... about 5-6 minutes. Didn't get on the highway even. :lol:

The 3-point turn sucks. The instructor had me do it on a narrow road and that was the reason I failed. I just barely got it done when I passed(he was actually a little lenint with me then). It was HARD.

speaking of that, what the heck is a 3 point turn? I have never even heard of it. Is that the same thing as a Y-turn? because in my book it talks about a Y-turn but nothing about a 3 point turn.

Um... yea I guess a 3 point turn could be called a Y turn... i've never heard of it called that before, but it makes since

I just looked it up on google and it IS the same as a Y-turn!

That's what we call it in Wisconsin- the Y-turn. Good thing I know it's the same thing because if my instructor says "do a 3 point turn" I won't say "what's that?" and feel stupid!

Actually, I beg to disagree that a three-point turn is the same as a U-turn. A U-turn is made when there are enough lanes to do so in one continuous motion - hence, the "U" - that exactly what you do.

In the case of a three-point turn, there isn't enough room (usually a one or two-way street), therefore, the turn cannot be completed in one motion. I wish I could draw it for you - its easier that way. But basically you turn to the left as far as you can go to the shoulder. You then must backup slightly and angle the car in the opposite direction you had been traveling (that's the second "point"). Then you complete the "third point" by putting it back into drive and continuing straight. Hope that explains it as clearer as I could for you.

I just looked it up on google and it IS the same as a Y-turn!

That's what we call it in Wisconsin- the Y-turn. Good thing I know it's the same thing because if my instructor says "do a 3 point turn" I won't say "what's that?" and feel stupid!


I've never heard that term before either, but yes - you more or less "draw" a "Y" with your car when making this turn (same as a "3-point turn").

A "U" turn is different though - no putting the car in reverse - just turn around.

I've never heard that term before either, but yes - you more or less "draw" a "Y" with your car when making this turn (same as a "3-point turn").

A "U" turn is different though - no putting the car in reverse - just turn around.

I never said a 3 point turn was the same as a U-turn! I don't know where you got that from. I said it was the same as a Y-turn. :)

Yeah, a U-turn is totally different and a lot easier than a 3 point/Y-turn!

I never said a 3 point turn was the same as a U-turn! I don't know where you got that from. I said it was the same as a Y-turn. :)

Yeah, a U-turn is totally different and a lot easier than a 3 point/Y-turn!


Oh o.k. - sorry - my misread - I thought your google llokup reference was to somebody mentioning a "U" turn.

As Emily Litilla would say...."never mind"........:blush:

I just looked it up on google and it IS the same as a Y-turn!

That's what we call it in Wisconsin- the Y-turn. Good thing I know it's the same thing because if my instructor says "do a 3 point turn" I won't say "what's that?" and feel stupid!

Strange... guess it's a regional thing. Down here NO ONE calls a Y-Turn. It wasn't even in the book I studied before the written test that way.

The actual event is not hard, it's just the road was so narrow it was almost impossible to do. If you can't do it the first time, go back to the same spot and practice or make sure the road is the same width.

UPDATE!!!

Well, I didn't pass........ but I didn't FAIL either because I couldn't even take the test. I went and when they were checking the car the back left brake light was burnt out! I checked it before I left and it was working. I was kind of bummed, but the good thing is I already have another appt. resheduled for Monday, so I only have to wait a few days. Now my mom is taking the car to the shop to get the light fixed.

Now, I know before I go for the test, make SURE everything is working on the car! At least now I have a few more days to practice a little more before I take it on Monday.

Bummer! Well, at least as you said, you didn't fail - and a Monday is good!! Practice the things we mentioned and pretend whoever's in the car with you is a jerk of an instructor!! :lol: ;) You'll be prepared for everything!

mine was postponed for the fifth time because my dad has a dentist appointment today. i'm so sick of these obstacles. god just doesn't want me to drive. we're planning on i taking it tomorrow but i know something will come up and i won't be able to.

mine was postponed for the fifth time because my dad has a dentist appointment today. i'm so sick of these obstacles. god just doesn't want me to drive. we're planning on i taking it tomorrow but i know something will come up and i won't be able to.
that sucks

I took it today finally and I PASSED! :)

I JUST made it by 2 points. -26 is failing and I got -24. My dad totally didn't think I would pass since I never took at drivers ed class at all and I had no professional training, but this shows I can still pass without taking the classes!

I took it today finally and I PASSED! :)

I JUST made it by 2 points. -26 is failing and I got -24. My dad totally didn't think I would pass since I never took at drivers ed class at all and I had no professional training, but this shows I can still pass without taking the classes!

Congrats!

good job!!

good luck payin for gas!

but seriously, congrats!

Congrats!! One of those cool rites of passage for every teen!! :clap:

Congrats!! One of those cool rites of passage for every teen!! :clap:

thanks! (and everyone else). Except I'm not a teen! lol- I'm 21.

thanks! (and everyone else). Except I'm not a teen! lol- I'm 21.

Wow, really? I thought that when I got my license at 17 that I was considered older than most. Oh well, congrats anyway.