My son took his driving test today and what a day for him. His instructor took him for an hours lesson before his test and just as they were about to reach the test centre a car overtaking him, lost control and fish tailed into the side of his car leaving a nasty dent on the drivers side!! My son was quite shaken but insisted he wanted to go ahead with his test, so his Instructor explained what had happened at the Test Centre, and they delayed his test for 15 minutes, which I thought was very kind, as they obviously work to a tight schedule. Apparently 10 minutes into his test, a small child ran right out into the road in front of his car causing him to do an unexpected emergency stop. Poor Matthew said that for the remainder of his test he was on pins waiting for incident number three, but fortunately he managed to complete the rest of his test unscathed and even managed to Pass.

Apparently after the test the Examiner had a chat with his Instructor and was very complimentary about his driving and quick reactions, and joked with Matthew that he may be better staying at home for the rest of the day. May be I need to learn to relax when I am in the car with him, as I find I am constantly using an imaginary brake!! Seriously though I can't help but feel a little relieved that he has had a bump, albeit not his fault and with no injury to anyone, as he said that it really shook him up and he couldn't believe how quickly it happened. I do think it has helped bring home the importance of being extra careful when he is behind the wheel.

Awww, Well Done to your son Matthew.

Yes as you say his experiences that he faced today will help shape his driving attitude.
Hope he's ok thou as being even in a 'minor' accident can make the most experienced driver
quite anxious.
Plus having a small child running out into the road, he must have nerves of steel to have coped
with it all.

Coo, well done to your son - what a hair raising time!

Not sure I should have read this thread....my stomach is churning with butterflies, my son takes his test this afternoon and I think I`m more nervous about it than him!

A big well done to your lad.... as already said he must have nerves of steel! I hope he has many years of safe and happy driving :)

Well today he has been out driving and seems fine. He seems to be in and out like a yoyo, I think it's any excuse to drive. I am really surprised how he managed to hold his nerves together, as he tends to lack confidence, but obviously copes better with the unexpected than we give him credit for. Now it's my nerves that are being tested each time he leaves the house, as the roads are really slippy and as we all know, it's quite often other drivers that we have to worry about.

Lisakom, I really hope your son passes his test and if he does please pass on my congratulations.

Unfortunately he didn`t pass, 200 yards from the test centre he didn`t see a car coming round the island and the examiner had to use the dual controls....instant fail...such a shame as up till that point he only had 1 minor.

Ah well better luck for him next time...at least it happened then and not after he had passed, as I`m sure it would have been a phone call saying he`d smashed his car!

Oh, sorry to see this but as you say it's better he had his near-miss then, rather than after his test. I am sure the close shave will have made him realise how easy it is to have a bump and hopefully made him a little more cautious. Also in fairness to him, the roads are rather manic at the moment, so to have only had 1 minor, he must have been driving really well up until then. Better luck next time.