Tom Hodson, the Bristol Evening Post’s self-appointed “worst driver”, retakes his driving test to find out what he’s forgotten…

Motorists are often heard moaning about the falling standard of driving on British roads, yet with a more difficult driving test, instructors maintain new drivers are better equipped to get behind the wheel.

I remembered the stern driving examiner, the cold sense of fear creeping down my spine beforehand, and the virtual inability to move once I was in the test car.

And as the Evening Post’s self-appointed worst driver, with a list of bumps, scrapes, and speed camera penalty points as long as my arm since passing my test in May 1998, I didn’t particularly want to brush up my skills.

Since 1996, learner drivers have had to pass a written theory test, and since 2002, a hazard perception test. Three years ago a “show and tell” section of the exam was added so learners could point out things like oil filler caps.

But my task was simply to complete the road-based test without posing a hazard to either my car or other road users.

Once inside, Steve Fackrell, a 45-year-old who has been a driving instructor for 20 years, told me what he would expect.

He said: “We are trying to push the level of the pass mark up and these mock tests, which we give driving instructors, are designed to give people a better idea of what they need to do to pass.

“Learners have to be better these days – the standard of driving needed to pass is quite high.”

First of all we went through the initial checks – mirrors, seatbelts on, driving position adjusted.

Then, instead of sailing around the streets with abandon as I usually would, I began to drive cautiously, finding it disconcerting having a passenger watching every detail.

While I pulled up to junctions, indicated and pulled out, he would put little ticks on his examiner’s sheet – a bad sign.

Numerous times, while being watchful of my driving, I ended up with a long queue of cars behind me or a furious-looking van driver inches from my boot.

Having pulled into Barton Hill, we stopped in a side street and Steve instructed me to reverse around a corner.

I checked my mirrors several times, indicated left, looked behind me and began the manoeuvre.

The car reversed smoothly around the corner, there was no traffic around to hit me, and I’d successfully completed that part of the test. Feeling a sense of elation, I then proceeded to successfully execute a three-point turn and a reverse park.

But as we pulled back into the office car park in Baldwin Street, it was clear Steve wasn’t so satisfied with my driving.

He reported that I had six major faults on his sheet – six more than a pass would allow.

It emerged my gear-changing left plenty to be desired, when stationary for a long time I forgot to apply the handbrake, and most of my test had been done with just my right hand on the steering wheel.

I should also have used my mirrors better when signalling, changing speed and changing direction.

He said: “Overall it was good – that was fairly typical of somebody who has been driving for a couple of years.

“I knew that gears and steering would be issues – but your use of mirrors is a concern.”

I walked out of the office glad I wouldn’t have to take my test again – but I have learned how I should be using my mirrors.

So hopefully I have become a better driver as a result of the test, although that’s not what my passengers tell me.