Most learners take two or three driving tests before passing but one man from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has just been given the green light to go solo on the road at the 33rd time of asking.
Christian Whiteley-Mason, 42, more at home juggling dinner plates than L plates after appearing as a contestant on Channel 4’s Come Dine With Me, suffered his first failure way back in 1992 before the theory section was even added to the test.
He went on to fail on another 31 occasions during which time he had 14 different, very patient, instructors, and 85 lessons which cost him more than £10,000.
This time around he took the automatic-only driving test and was relieved, delighted and more than a little surprised to have passed.
He said: “I can’t believe I’ve actually finally passed after all these years. I’m still in shock.
“I had 56 lessons with my first instructor and eventually he told me to give up. He said I would never pass.”
Christian, who has now splashed out on a second hand Smart Car called Percy, added: “I’m so proud of myself. It’s changed my life. I felt like I’d achieved everything I really wanted to achieve, this was the one thing left I had to do.
“My motto was always been don’t stop believing.”
Despite having to wait so long for a pass, stats issued by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show Christian’s difficulties are not so unusual after all.
Some people take far long than others before they can do this
DVSA reports that England’s 20 worst learner drivers have tried and failed the practical test more than 700 times between them – that’s an average of 35 times each. They say that one 38-year-old Liverpool man surpassed Christian’s record and took 39 goes to pass his test.
The figures include the top 20 repeat theory test candidates who, between them, have taken the test 1,309 times – an average of 65 times. Only eight of those have so far managed to pass.
Topping the list is a 30-year-old woman who has sat the theory test 113 times – that’s cost her an incredible £2,600!
To avoid joining DVSA’s embarrassing register of repeat failures it’s a good idea to get as much time behind the wheel as possible before your practical test. That means squeezing in additional drive time between lessons with your instructor.
Adrian Flux offers special car insurance for learner drivers from just £1 per day to ensure they get as much extra practice as is possible in a safe and cost-effective manner.