Whether we are aware of it or not, we all fall into bad driving habits. So seven years after passing her driving test, would Bristol Observer reporter Sharon Kelly still pass with flying colours?
She took a mock test to find out…

After months of lessons and four failed tests I finally passed it – fifth time lucky!

That was seven years ago and since then I have been living in the knowledge that I wouldn’t have to go through that hell again for at least 50 years.

So when someone came up with the bright idea of doing a feature on bad driving habits and suggested I take a mock test, that funny butterfly, sickly feeling came flooding back again.

Once in the driver’s seat those pre-test nerves resurfaced and I felt like it was the real thing all over again.

Driving instructor Roger Spaven was very reassuring and talked me through the test.

My hands began to shake and in true learner-style I kangarooed the car down the road.

After around 10 minutes I had got used to the car and I thought I was doing quite well.

I tried to remember what I had been taught when I was a learner – to mirror signal manoeuvre and be aware of other road users.

An hour of three-point turns, reversing around corners and roundabouts later the test was over.

“How do you think you did?” asked Roger.

“Okay,” I said. “I think I did everything the way I should have.”

Roger pointed out a few things I had done while he totted up the driving faults I had incurred – it was more than usually allowed – I had failed the mock test.

I couldn’t believe it I thought I had winged it and passed with flying colours.

Roger said my errors were down to bad habits I had picked up over the years.

These included driving and stopping too close to the car in front, speeding, coasting and not using my handbrake or wing mirrors enough.

He said I was not in any way dangerous, unsafe or unfit to be on the road, I just had a few bad habits, which with his help could be ironed out.

“I think the majority of road users would fail if they had to take a driving test again,” he said.