The Kent History Forum

Life Stories and Personal Memories => Personal Memories => Topic started by: Invicta Alec on May 17, 2021, 08:30:05 PM

Title: Driving Tests
Post by: Invicta Alec on May 17, 2021, 08:30:05 PM
I passed my driving test on the 4th of July 1968 (second attempt). I remember the date easily as I think of it as my "Independence Day". I've therefore held a licence for coming up to 53 years this summer.


My lessons were given to me by the "Sevenoaks School of Motoring" and in that year the cars being used were Mark 1 Ford Cortinas.

What did you pass in?

Alec.

Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: johnfilmer on May 17, 2021, 10:08:15 PM
I had my first lesson on my 17th birthday, 5th February 1968. Wright’s Of Sittingbourne gave me 12 lessons in their brand new Ford Escorts. Passed first time, six weeks later, in Gillingham.


I did have the benefit of having passed my motorbike test about a week before my birthday, and many months of riding on L plates beforehand. So hazard perception and general road awareness were already there, as well as basic clutch and gear operations.


The Austin 7 Special bought a week later was “interesting “ in comparison to the Escort.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: MartinR on May 17, 2021, 10:21:20 PM
I started riding my mother's moped at 16, got my first bike at 18.  Passed my bike test (first time) on 28/10/75, aged 19.  I booked 12 lessons with BSM, then added a further 6 because I didn't feel I was up to standard (no chance to practice) and passed first time on 12/5/77.  Not in Kent though, bike in Middlesbrough and car in Durham.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Howardws on May 18, 2021, 08:17:58 AM
I took my test four times before I passed in 1963, mainly because I didn’t have proper lessons until after the third failure. I think that turning up in a driving school car always helps as well. The car was a new Ford Anglia, somewhat different to the 1937 Morris 8 tourer that my friend and I owned between us. I seem to remember that my instructor was the most expensive in Southampton but he had the best record of passes. I think he charged £1-5s-0d per hour but I may be wrong.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: OilyRag on May 18, 2021, 09:48:10 AM
My parents had a driving school, taxi and coach company, passing my test quickly and first time was expected, luckily I did so in my Hillman Imp, got back with my pass certificate in my hand to be told by mum "good, you can cover a job this afternoon".
First time I ever drove on a motorway was in her Hillman Hunter, ink still wet on pass cert and with fare paying passengers in the back.

Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: mmitch on May 18, 2021, 10:24:13 AM
Passed my test at second attempt on May 13th 1967 in Dartford. Going back to work and showing my pink slip to my boss he gave me a job in London the next night!
 Driving home at 3am was stopped by the Police on Blackheath simply because I was the only one about! They smiled at my pink slip and let me go. I have managed to keep a clean licence (FX) so far while driving over 1.5 million miles...
mmitch.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: AlanTH on May 20, 2021, 11:26:47 AM
I took my test in Chatham at their New Road office in around 1965 and failed. My Ford Consul was the car and I was so nervous for some reason my foot kept making the car surge. "You need more practice" the examiner said.
"Doesn't matter" I replied "I've been driving solo for nearly a year with my L Plates and not got stopped yet". He was indignant and said it was against the law but at that age I didn't give a stuff and nor would most others. 
I had driven many miles with those Ls stuck on front and back... up the M1 to Scarborough in Yorkshire, Shrewsbury, many places in the south, all for work, got followed plenty of times but never a stop so I must have done something right.
Passed the next time a few weeks later after a ride around with the examiner of about 10 minutes.[size=78%] :)[/size]
[/size][size=78%]AlanTH.[/size]
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Dave Smith on May 20, 2021, 12:27:52 PM
In 1958 I lived in Maidenhead & worked in Acton, London W2 &, after years on the train, my Dad lent me the money to buy a Lambretta L150. So I HAD to pass my bike test & did so first time. 2 years & 38,000 miles later- Lord knows how many de-cokes( what are they I hear the younger generation ask?) later- I bought a Standard 10. Don't old cars look TINY now! My next door neighbour kindly took me out most evenings in his brand new Vauxhall Victor, to get the miles in. I then went to the local driving school & using their Morris Minor( I liked their Austin A40, but couldn't get my legs under the steering wheel!), had some lessons. Off to the examiner & we "kangaroo'd" off up the road! It was a dual drive & he'd inadvertently put his foot on the instructors bar! Luckily, I kept control, he apologised, & I passed. My second car was a Standard Vanguard Mk.1- with the big circular tail lights- bench front seats & column change- & that was so easy to drive. SXO3 & cost £75 from a lad in the office, who needed money!
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: johnfilmer on June 15, 2021, 01:05:25 PM
I’m not sure when it ceased to be necessary to give hand signals on a driving test.


A mate took one of his tests in Canterbury. Asked to turn right, he checked his mirror, stuck his arm out the window as well as flicking on the indicators, then changed down a gear. To his horror he realised that he had run out of hands and quickly put one back on the steering wheel, hoping the examiner hadn’t noticed.


Of course he had, another fail and a stiff talking to...
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: MartinR on June 15, 2021, 01:37:19 PM
Well when a school friend of mine took his bike test in c.1973 hand signals were required.  When I took mine in 1975 indicators, if fitted, were sufficient.  I certainly didn't need hand signals on the car in 1979, but could be asked about them in what was called the theory questions then.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Lutonman on June 15, 2021, 04:13:46 PM
Found this on the government website, it gives the answer


History of road safety, The Highway Code and the driving test - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/history-of-road-safety-and-the-driving-test/history-of-road-safety-the-highway-code-and-the-driving-test)
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Smiffy on June 16, 2021, 01:41:26 PM

Things were a bit more basic in 1935:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbbERUEsQ4Q

"Examiners don't like cars on pavements" ;D


Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: mmitch on June 16, 2021, 03:01:54 PM
The mention of the A40 reminds me of the driving school in Gravesend that had two steering wheels in their A40s.....! Didn't last long but the dual foot pedals did. They were a comfort sometimes.......
mmitch.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: johnfilmer on July 04, 2021, 10:44:47 PM
Our two sons driving lessons were supplemented by practice driving my wife to and from school. This was done using the company’s spare Astra van that we used to find extremely useful to cover servicing, breakdown and accident repairs.


The eldest took his test without hassle in the school car, passing first time.


About two years later his brother got a short notice cancellation test appointment, but his instructor was not available. The spare van was in use and our cars were unsuitable being my Golf VR6 and her Land Rover Defender 110. So we borrowed the spare van back for an hour or two and he took his test in that.


Being in use by an engineer it had ladders and copper tube on the roof, tools and equipment rammed inside and the usual detritus found in works vans. Oh and it was blowing a serious gale with horizontal rain and bits of tree and other debris flying about.


L plates on a fully sign written van (we always did the bonnet as well) look quite odd, but the examiner was unfazed and just carried on. Taking the test in a van had only one difference in that the reverse around a corner is done on the right rather than the usual left hand corner. He passed.


Not being a particularly organised soul in his youth it was some time before he sent off his pass to get a full licence and didn’t chase up its non appearance for ages. Another year later DVLA said that it had never received the paperwork, and the might of bureaucracy always wins. So he had to take his tests again, and again passed, but this time in a driving school car. The licence that he received had the distinctive photo that he had sent with the first pass...


He therefore remains the only person I know who has passed his test first time - Twice!
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Invicta Alec on July 04, 2021, 11:17:25 PM
Haha! Great little story John.


Since today is the 4th of July I can now confirm that I've held a licence for 53 years (as indicated in the opening post of this thread).


Anyone held theirs longer?


Alec.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Howardws on July 05, 2021, 07:35:17 AM
56!

Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: pete.mason on July 05, 2021, 08:26:20 AM
56 for me too :o
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: mmitch on July 05, 2021, 10:21:05 AM
Only 54 for me but still clean! FX!
mmitch.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: grandarog on July 05, 2021, 01:16:18 PM
I took my test in Derry NI in 1967 just after the troubles had started. Bernadette Devlin and the American Noraid were stirring up the IRA .
Things hadn't got to bad at the time although it was not unusual for gangs of yobs to roam the streets banging on car roofs and chucking bricks about.
However proceeding along on the test quite well ,as the instructor said turn right at next junction,I indicated and stopped to let an approaching car pass.
As I started to turn into the road there was a crowd of yobs 20 yards in front. The Examiner didn't appreciate getting slammed against his door when I did a reverse handbrake turn and shot back up the road we had come along. He didn't say much and I thought O'S**t that's blown my test.
Anyway completed the Emergency stop and reverse round corner and arrived at the Test Station. To My surprise he said that was a very good test and wrote out the Pass cert. Who taught you the emergency turn? I had to admit no one, but I had been living and driving RAF vehicles on my 1629 and Malta Driving Licence for 3 years. I had learnt to do it in Landrovers when mucking about on the pans , on late shifts, while waiting for our Shackletons to land .
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Colin walsh on July 05, 2021, 03:23:09 PM
Hi,never took a driving test in my life.yet I held a full license,including HGV.
My story:- I was hanging around the M/T Pool at 33Engineer Reg,(as one did in my day,) engaged in the nobl art of avoiding work/drill or any other military type occupation.officer to me:"- can you drive,"me "no sir" officer type dumbo "well jump in this Land Rover. With me"short lesson on starting,stoping and the bit in between (steering gear changing ECT)  officer "well done lad "handed me a pink slip(note ,not female underwear)army type form,officer "go to Maidstone lines and procure a driving license from the transport officer,your in the convoy tomorrow , were of to Osnabruck.sounds funny ,but I swear by the great panjandrum it's somewhere near the truth
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: MartinR on July 05, 2021, 03:49:39 PM
Quite believable.  My late uncle (born 1914) never took a test, and was driving into hist 90s.  I believe in his case he just applied for the license when they started issuing them.  Tests only started in 1935 by which time he was 21 and already driving.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: grandarog on July 05, 2021, 04:06:11 PM
 When the HGV licences were introduced in the late 60's An employer just had to say you had been driving xxx type vehicles and you were given the licence ,no testing involved.
Us lads in the RAF with B class 1629 service licences had been driving HGV's ie. Rigid Bedfords,Hippos ,Matadors and some even Queen Marys (Extra long Artics).
 I personally spent many hours driving flagged  and boarded Hippos conveying explosives from railway yards to RAF Stations I was at.
 Come the day the RAF decided they weren't going to authorise us, only actual MT Trade Drivers, not B or C class.
Consequently there was a shortage of drivers and a panic drive to recruit more.Some lads changed trades just to get the licence before they demobbed.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: MartinR on July 05, 2021, 05:04:57 PM
It's interesting comparing my driving licence with my son's.  You get a lot less groups after you've passed your test these days.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: johnfilmer on July 05, 2021, 05:40:17 PM
Our sons could never drive my wife’s Land Rover Defender 110 because it had too many seats for their newer licences without a further test.


They would also need to take yet another test to be able to tow our trailer with it. We didn’t realise the differences between our entitlements for a while. Didn’t stop them driving it around our field!


My father never took a test (born 1909) and he was a lorry driver. His licence, the old red one, simply said “All Groups”.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Howardws on July 05, 2021, 09:06:13 PM
My father didn’t have to take a test when he bought his first car - a  three wheel Morgan with a Jap vee twin engine. Apparently he bought it at an auction and drove it away. When I asked how he learned to drive he was most affronted. His reply was “I’m an Engineer, I knew how a car worked, therefore I knew how to drive”.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Dave Smith on July 05, 2021, 09:46:34 PM
Sorry lads, mine is 60 years car & 63 m/cycle (scooter in my case but license was for all m/c's). No doubt that will be well beaten  by someone in the years to come. Incidentally, my Dad's license- for 1 year only- was 12/1/1924, needed for his work duties. But he never owned a car. His Highway Code book (32 pages), which included signals for cyclists & drivers of horse drawn vehicles, cost 1d.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: AlanTH on July 06, 2021, 09:42:53 AM
I've had a license for 55 or 56 years now. I also drove buses for Maidstone and District from Gillingham depot, taxis for Vokes and old Tom Wimble and my own cab after buying 2 at different times. Same here in Oz where I've lived for nearly 50 years, cars, buses and taxis plus trucks but not the real huge ones they use here.
Used to ride motorbikes occasionally but never took a test.
Still drive huge distances when we travel to the north for holidays but don't do the 800 plus kays in a day I used to as I get too tired now. Rather sit back earlier in the day and have a beer or three. :)
AlanH.

PS. Just modified the above years since first getting a license.... so I can drive but can't count yet. :)

Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: MartinR on July 06, 2021, 10:27:39 AM
50 years in December since I got my provisional licence:
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: AlanTH on July 25, 2023, 10:13:11 AM
I seem to spend a lot of time on memories these days, mostly because the girls don't love me any more.... :) But going back to driving and passing the test etc., I failed my first attempt from the centre on New Road Chatham.
I told the examiner it didn't matter as I always drove everywhere on my own and he gave me a ticking off as it was against the law which of course I knew anyway.
I had a blue Ford Consul with my tools in the back and drove all over the country doing various jobs and never got stopped once by the police although I was followed on numerous occasions. 
Anyway, I drank heaps in the old Bridge Wardens on the Tideway when Arthur Toyer and Connie ran it, and another drinker in there was a bloke named Stan and he was a Sergeant of Traffic. Stan lived right across the road from the pub and knew just about everything we all got up to especially us yobs and was known as a bit of a stickler for road safety.
An older bloke who also drank there, name long forgotten, bought his first car at about 55 - 60 years old so him and "Mum" could go for days out down the coast etc.
Stan nicked him for driving without a licence and no qualified driver with him. The old bloke (much younger than I am now.... ) protested vigorously and said to Stan "There's a youngster in the pub has been driving around for months with L plates on, why don't you give him a ticket?"
Stan's answer was great and the old bloke told me afterwards moaning about it .... "Because he can drive and you can't". Stan took me aside not long after and gave me a good telling off but I still never got a ticket and continued on my merry way for nearly a year before passing the test. :)
AlanTH.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Smiffy on July 25, 2023, 09:16:53 PM
I'm pretty sure the test centre was situated in Rock Avenue when I finally got round to taking my driving test in the late '70s.

I had failed my first test (incorrect use of gears or some such thing) and made sure to book a double lesson before taking it again. My instuctor was really easy to get on with, and had an interesting sense of humour. On pulling up outside the test centre his final words to me were "If you don't pass this time you're a w*nker". Needless to say, I then had no option but to pass - and indeed I did  :)
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Lutonman on July 26, 2023, 02:19:26 PM
I took my test from Rock Avenue, it must have been soon after it moved from New Road.
My emergency stop was covered when someone walked out in front of me and I slammed on the brakes. Examiner said "that will count as your emergency stop"!
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: shoot999 on July 26, 2023, 04:48:08 PM
I took my test from Rock Avenue, it must have been soon after it moved from New Road.
My emergency stop was covered when someone walked out in front of me and I slammed on the brakes. Examiner said "that will count as your emergency stop"!

Same here. Rock Avenue in 1974. And did my emergency stop when two boys on bikes shot out in front of me coming out of Gillingham Park.
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Lutonman on July 26, 2023, 05:21:28 PM
Saw some "moaning" on the internet about old drivers needing to retake their test and that they did not have to do the Theory test. So I did two of them on the internet and passed both times. So just because we are old does not mean those people were right. We bring a lot of experience and indeed more patience I guess. 
Title: Re: Driving Tests
Post by: Beachbum on July 26, 2023, 08:48:59 PM
I had my Motorcycle Test in January 1974 and Car Test in July 1974, both in Margate.

The Bike test was a freezing cold day and the Examiner was known for a dislike of motorcycles. He asked every possible highway code question to catch me out. Fortunately I had become a Motorcycle Trainer with the RAC/ACU and was on the ball.

The Car Test was in a brand new car that I had never seen or driven before, I had to walk some miles to the test centre as it was being used for another person prior to my slot.
The emergency stop was on a freshly laid surface with stone chippings all over.
A surprise emergency stop happened by the Clock Tower junction with Eaton Road when a wheelchair fell of the path. I was then stuck in the middle of a very busy junction, and then stalled a couple of times.

Know I have yearly medicals for my HGV Class 1 Licence.