I'm Legal Now...

Well after 22 months of living in the UK I finally got my UK driver's license.  Technically I think we are supposed to have it within 12 months of moving here for insurance purposes, but last year didn't work out so well since I was about 8 months pregnant.  Back in March I took my theory test which was a 50 question multiple choice test that I studied several evenings for.  Also there was a hazard perception test which was a driving simulation that you had to click a button every time you saw a potential hazard and based on when you click it you get a certain number of points.  I failed ever one of my practice tests so was quit surprised when I did so well on the actual exam.  Next I had to prepare for my driving exam.  I didn't get to take it until June because I had to find time to leave my kids with someone so I could get driving lessons and take the actual exam plus there is about a 6 week waiting time in order to take your driving test in Peterborough.  You essentially have to drive around for 40 minutes and do two of four backing procedures.  The two I had the toughest time with at first were the backing into a parking bay and backing around a corner, but since I practiced them so much to figure them out they were the easiest to do.  The no brainer ones were turning in the road (3 point turn but since the roads are so flipping narrow here you get as many turns as you need as long as you don't hit the curb) and parallel parking. 

Well the day of my driving exam I wasn't too nervous, but left myself plenty of time to get to the testing facility.   It was a good thing too because I needed it.  Before I left I attached my L-plates (learner plates...to the common lay person - Loser plates).  I had problems with them flying off so I taped them on as well.  I drove off an about a mile down the road as I picked up speed the front one went flying off the car.  My mouth dropped and I about died because you NEED to have these on your car or you can't take the test and they are not very forgiving if you aren't ready.  I drove until I could find a little field gate to turn around at which I guess gave me really good practice for my turn in the road.   I drove back looking all over the road for it but I couldn't see anything and this really wasn't a road that you can pull over on to took around.  I went back down to the round about and came back and still couldn't find it.  I had 25 minutes to get to the testing facility and it took about 15 minutes to get there from where I was at...how in the heck was I going to get another L plate.  So I preceeded to break every driving rule and I sped to the Werrington Tesco, physically ran into the store, found where they sold the plates, through down my money at the till and ran out.  I sped all the way to the testing facility with one plate on the back praying I wouldn't get stopped because I was technically illegal to be driving at the time.  I got the the testing facility at 12:27 and my test was at 12:38.  I stopped just outside so I could double tape on this plate and when I got there....I was the first person to get in the office.  I was so nerved up and out of sorts but tried laughing it all off with another lady getting ready to take the test with me.  As I waited about 5 other people showed up to take their test but they all had people who came with them since on a provisional license (what you get when you pass your theory exam) you need to have fully licensed driver with you.  I felt kind of odd not having anyone with me.  Then precisely at 12:38 a door opens and all these grumpy looking men with clipboards come out calling names.  I kept praying that none of them would call my name, then finally a lady walks out and says my name.  My nerves go down but I worked so hard to "brown nose" this lady because I was bound and determined to pass this test.  I was thinking that maybe if I did screw up a few times that she wouldn't mark them as bad if I killed her with kindness.

At the start you get asked two safety questions....so the night before Kevin had helped me go through the entire car to understand how to read all the levels and check my tire tread and all sorts of stuff.  I got asked how to check to see if my horn was working.  I asked if she really wanted me to honk it which was yes.  So I pressed on the horn and nothing happened, then I said, "oh, excuse me, I forgot the car needs to be on for the horn to work" so I turned it on and the thing finally honked...duh!  Next she asked me about tread depth and I knew that one from the practice material so that was easy.  I also had been advised to back into my parking bay so that I could avoid having to do that procedure and it made it easier getting out of the very tiny car park they have.  My first procedure was to parallel park which made me nervous because one of the no brainer moves had been kind of hard on me lately because half of the time I would end up hitting the curb when I practiced (remember I'm parking on the opposite side of the road people - it's tough learning that all over again).  Well, it took me three attempts to get it right but each time I thought I was going to hit the curb and apologized and said I needed to pull up again.  Thank goodness she didn't mark me down bad for that...that killing her with kindness really worked out.  Now they don't tell you if you pass or not until you get to the end, unless you know you did something really bad.  But she did tell me that I passed and when through my marks with me.  Apparently I sped through some round-abouts and she said to watch it...since I did slow way down for the last one she let me off the hook.  Finally I got two marks against me for not using my hand brake...okay, I drive an automatic car and I have NEVER used my hand brake.  I know I was supposed to try and use it which I thought I tried to, but apparently I didn't and using your hand brake is a HUGE deal over here since they have such problems with fender benders and are high on safety.

Long story short...I PASSED and it's good for 10 years!!!!