Fifth Time’s a Charm; The Struggles of The Road Test

Fifth Time’s a Charm; The Struggles of The Road Test

Hi, my name is Claire. I am nineteen years old and I have failed my driver’s license road test four times.

I felt you wince and cringe from here. It is a scenario I know very well. Nearly four years of having my learners permit (and renewing it), dodging all the questions and sympathies, and holding my shame upon hearing of which family member passed their test this month. Needless to say, I have a complicated relationship with the DMV and driving in general, but to fully understand that you ought to know my story.

My drivers journey started with me taking my in-class d course at the age of 16 in 2021. COVID-19 had pushed everything back, but I had never been too eager to drive before then, so it was not a big concern. We were taught the laws and shown the graphic videos—of which I think genuinely shocked some kids and were beneficial in general motor safety—and we even spoke with a quadriplegic man on the risks of drunk driving. I cannot speak to my instructor’s effectiveness (as I do not know the number of kids in my class that passed versus failed), but from a retrospective standpoint, I can say that I felt he taught the rules of the road well.

After this, I passed my written driving test and went on to receive my instructional learner’s permit. I would hold it for two years before needing to renew it—and have a better picture taken. Within this time, I would practice with my dad every couple of weeks, for an hour at a time—only ever in parking lots, of course. As you can probably gather, this method did not yield many hours for my time sheet, and the lack of new skills being learned did not help very much either.

My mom begged and pleaded to take me driving, but I stuck to my—and my older brothers–‘inhibitions about her de-escalation skills and instructional abilities. In simpler terms, she likes to shout, and always thinks crashing is inevitable. She is anxious, and it is genetic.

I moved to live with my older brother and his wife in my first year of college—I was taking online courses at a community college, in preparation to transfer. During this time, I was taught to drive primarily by my brother, but by my grandmother, boyfriend, and sister-in-law as well.

And then I started taking road tests. First and foremost, I’d like to emphasize how stressful and near impossible it is to get a test scheduled. Not only are there never any appointments available, but the ones that do pop up are typically hours away and early in the morning, warranting a hotel stay or a red-eye drive (which doesn’t seem the safest for someone taking a test involving heavy machinery). If you can’t manage to get an appointment during the waking hours, you can always wait until midnight for when the appointment servers reset with cancellations. Although, you are liable to become discouraged when day after day you do this, and night after night you come up fruitless, tired, and frustrated. Eventually I did obtain a road test appointment—well, technically four—but regardless, the DMV/DVS scheduling system is one that needs some serious work, and the stress of having to take the road test is only added to by the reminder that if you don’t pass this time, you’ll only have to repeat the scheduling cycle again.

I took each test with more hope than the one before. You can ask everyone that so graciously brought me to my tests, and I’m sure they’ll tell you how progressively stressed and panicky I would become. This is not due to the actual driving. I feel that after four years of practice, driving doesn’t induce the same stress it did when I started learning, but rather the knowledge that someone will be beside me, judging my every action and marking it down on a little yellow sheet, determining if I can truly progress to adulthood. That is stressful.

They are looking out for the safety of the public, as well as my own safety, and that is crucial. Ensuring public safety is possibly the main job of road test coordinators. In this, I do believe that more people would pass the road test and be safe drivers if there was more warmness from the instructors. Now, I am not saying that they should pass everyone immediately, and I definitely don’t blame the instructors for my failing, but having instructors who say hello and reel off their official spiel with no cordiality, empathy, or kindness, definitely has a negative impact on overall morale while taking the test.

I won’t go into detail about all of my test-attempts, but I will say this: I believe that I should have passed at least the most recent test, but if the state of Minnesota does not agree, then I must not be as safe as I could be, and I can accept that and keep trying. I do not deny it is disheartening and frustrating to see a newly-16-year-old, freshly passed their test, and instead of exercising their newly acknowledged driver safety, they are speeding, running reds, and “whipping shitties” in parking lots at 2am. I don’t know these kids’ stories, but I know that if there was more parental/school involvement post-license, the streets would be safer from excited young teens, thus resulting in fewer deaths on the road. Teens are young, and getting a license is a big part of growing up, but their youth often equates to rash decision making, we can help ensure that these decisions are not fatalities.

In addition, I believe that the inclusion of more affordable and accessible adult drivers’ education and behind the wheel courses would encourage more adults to obtain a license, potentially reducing the number of illegal drivers, and vehicle related deaths.

I have no experience with car crashes—aside from my deep interest in the life of the late Lady Di—but I am very familiar with irresponsible driving within my cohort. Nearly every driver in my family speeds (aside from my dad, who frequently drives too slowly). Many also have repressed anger that manifests itself in road-rage. I’ve known ever since before I started driving, that I didn’t like how unsafe I felt as a passenger. In this, once I do get my license, I know that I do not want to follow in their footsteps, and I would rather be late then end up dead. This awareness, along with obeying road laws and educating myself on past and current driving related issues will act as a foundation for becoming a safe driver.

My four failed test attempts are a source of shame (and payment), but I strongly believe that my extended learning and practicing years have made me a better driver. I know, ‘how can you be a better driver if you continue to fail?’, it seems silly, but I feel that with each attempt I fail, it not only warrants more practice, but enforces me to be more observant in preparation for my next test. I legally have to retake behind the wheel—an absolutely exciting payment in addition to tuition—but I believe it will benefit me in better preparing me for unsafe situations that may arise, and hopefully (crossing my fingers) will be able to pass on my fifth attempt, and begin gain real-life experience as a safe driver on the road.