Left? Which one?

Date: June 2011
Test Centre: Wallasey
Reason for fail: Serious fault, Turning Left - Observation

David was asked to take the next road on his left. There are two ways into the side road - The slip lane you can see with the parked cars in it, and a more conventional T-Junction, which is mainly used by traffic turning right into the side road.

Not being that familiar with Wallasey, David saw the "T" part of the junction, and turned left there. However, since the majority of people turning left there would use the slip road bit, and join the same bit of road that David was now going into, it was important that he looked left as he completed the turn. Unfortunately, he didn't do this, and the examiner had to give him a serious fault. Shame really, as he only picked up a handful of minor faults, and would have easily passed if it wasn't for this error.

I failed my first one too!

Date: 1995
Test Centre: Ellesmere Port
Reason for fail: Junctions - Turning Left

I came to this junction on my first driving test. Back in 1995, Stanney Lane had a 40mph speed limit. It's now a 30mph limit but people tend to go a bit quicker than that sometimes, because it's a wide straight road.

I got to the junction, looked right, saw a car in the distance, turned out to the left anyway.

Seemingly moments later, the car that had been in the distance was overtaking me, and since he'd been affected by my pulling out, I got a serious fault.

Gutted mate! What should you have done?

It didn't matter that the car that overtook me was probably doing more than 40 miles an hour. I should have had another look, seen that he was approaching quickly, and waited for him to pass before emerging.

I did pass second time though!