bishop auckland driving test centre...

[mr cat]

I've got my driving test (again!) - this Wednesdayââ'¬Â¦hmmââ'¬Â¦

I was convinced that I'd passed the last one, but I think I may have had a new examiner as with the one coming up - as I rang for a cancellation and the lady on the phone said that all day was available to book a test and that the probable reason was due to a new examiner..? This could well, be a good thing, or a bad thingââ'¬Â¦

Anway, I checked the DSA website as I'd heard that the bishop auckland test centre has a real high failure rate, and because of this, drivers tend to book their tests in neighbouring test centres, i.e. durham and hexham - but as a result, if I was to book a test at any of them, I could expect to have a test next feb / marchââ'¬Â¦what a total f*ck upââ'¬Â¦presently I only have to wait 2 months..

The guy on my last test was a total tit, for starters, he wrote down the wrong kind of car (not a good start!), then when in the car I pointed to the extra interior mirror (I used my girlfrieds car and had just fitted it in about an hour before hand) and said that you may have to adjust it, just being friendly and all that! He thought I was pointing to the left wing mirror and barked back - "that's for your use, not mine!" to which I informed him that I wasn't pointing to that mirror, but he still told me "not to worry about thatââ'¬Â¦"

And! When I had to read out a number plate (before we got in the car) - he thought I squinted, and he actually drew a box on the friggin' test form so that he could mark it down as a minor! That is either a fail, or a pass...

I e-mailed the DSA (still haven't heard anything back) asking for some statistics - as they mention that they don't operate using quotas, but the pass rate in the UK is as follows -
2000 - 44%
2001 - 43%
2003 - 43%

Now, if you ask me, if they didn't operate a quota scheme, then surely there would be some kind of variation on these marks..??? I mean, if people passed tests on their own merits then the pass rate would be different each yearââ'¬Â¦

Any comments please!

p.s. does anyone know of any good links..?

 

[MO!]

I've heard about them having a target pass/fail rate many times. Could just be because they failed and are pissed off, but i've heard this from many different people, many times.

 

[Bill Phabb]

if you fail then you have to pay again therefore they get more money

wankers i tell ya

 

[Graham C]

I think it stinks that you can't book multiple tests at one time, so you have to waste more time/money on lessons while you wait for the next available. In this age of computers, any pre-booked after you pass one should be automatically cancelled. Nowadays it seems to take years to get a licence [especially for us people who've got better things to waste our time on...]

 

[mr cat]

yeah, their calling system is a total farce too - if you ring them up for a booking and can't get through, instead of putting you on hold, a message says that you can't get through and that you have to ring again...normally takes about 5 calls before you get through!
luckily I'm able to ring from work to get a cancellation...

 

[amazingtrade]

I started having lessons in 1999 stopped in 2001 for finanicla reasons started again in 2002 for 4 weeks booked in a practical test then realised that it would cost me £100 just to fail it. So until I have a spare few hundered pounds I won't bother taking any tests. I've done driven for more than a year now but thats not realyl a problem.

I simply don't like driving I find it to stressful. I would also simply rather spend my money on going out, music, hifi computers etc.

 

[Hex Spurt]

It's about 18 years since I passed (at my 2nd attempt), and from what I remember the test route has a big influence on the pass rate for a particular test centre.

My first test was in Manchester. Driving through the city centre on unfamiliar roads was a nightmare. It scared the cack out of me too.

Second test was in the suburbs. Quieter roads and less complicated route. Passed easily.

 

[Rory]

so how did Mr. Cat get on?