How hard is it to pass your driving test again years after the first time?

By Natalie Heath

natalie.heath@essnmedia.co.uk

I'VE DONE IT: Gemma Angell celebrates passing her mock test reks20111102b-032_c
PUT THROUGH HIS PACES: Terry Brownlee takes his test under the watchful eye of instructor Paul Hughes-King
Photo by Kevin Shaw
NERVOUS: Instructor Paul Hughes-King tests Karen Bowles
Photo by Kevin Shaw
TAXING: Gemma Angell studies a tough question on the theory test
Photo by Kevin Shaw

MOST of us are certain to have done it – cursed when stuck behind a learner driver and wondered to ourselves how on Earth they are ever likely to pass their test.

But is learning to drive as easy as some of us like to remember? We challenged reader Terry Brownlee, news editor Karen Bowles and reporter Gemma Angell to retake their tests to find out.

Paul Hughes-King, owner of Countywide Driving School Ltd which has a branch in Crawley, climbed into the passenger seat to put our volunteers through mock tests.

Just to make them a little more uncomfortable, we also made them sit theory tests.

Having been a driving instructor for 18 years, Paul knows it has become harder to pass.

He said: "There are so many different things that have to be done before you pass your test nowadays.

"You have to take a hazard perception test. On the day of the test you have to take an eyesight test and answer vehicle safety questions."

When put through their paces Gemma and Karen passed their tests – but Terry, who has been driving for more than 25 years, failed.

Paul was not surprised as he knows drivers pick up bad habits over the years.

He said: "Things crop up like people only holding the steering wheel with one hand with the other on the gear stick.

"People also don't check their mirrors before braking and rarely check them before indicating.

"Going too fast, getting in the wrong road position and driving too close to others happens a lot too."

Although he only passed two of them, Paul did have good things to say about all our driving guinea pigs – although he added that if Terry wanted to pass he would probably need five to ten hours of driving lessons.

He said: "Gemma maintained good general control of the vehicle and Karen seemed a little nervous in the first half of the drive but once she had overcome her nerves maintained good general control.

"Terry demonstrated a driving ability that mirrors the vast majority of drivers that have been driving for a number of years. But he was more aware than anyone of what he was doing and I put this down to the amount of years he has been driving."

*Countywide Driving School is offering a free driving lesson for all new pupils who mention this article. Call 08000 930 920 for details.