Clammy hands clutch the steering wheel with a vice-like grip as your heart begins to pound louder than the horns honking outside.

You’ve had dozens of driving lessons, been out practising with friends, and family and have been told by everyone what a fabulous driver you are.

Yet somehow failing your test has become something of a hobby.

There are those of us who had the skill (or good luck) to pass first time, but for those who’ve taken the test more times than they have fingers on their hands to count, it can be a nightmare.

So imagine how Cha Sa-soon feels.

The South Korean grandmother has only just past the written section of her driving test after an amazing 950 attempts.

The 68-year-old has already spent the equivalent of dhs15,400 on getting herself roadworthy and finally scored the 60 per cent required after sitting the exam nearly every day since April 2005.

She must now pass the practical test to get behind the wheel legally.

But she’s not alone in her ordeal behind the wheel.

Marketing manager Abdul Rahman, 31, from India says his battle to obtain a Dubai driving licence has been long and painful.

“I took four tests in Sharjah and am now on to my seventh in Dubai. I have been taking tests for the past three years.

“It’s a really frustrating experience because you’re investing a lot of time, money and effort into it and you can’t understand what’s happening,” he says.

As well as paying dhs800 for each of his 11 tests, Abdul, who drove for three years in India before moving to Dubai, believes he’s spent around dhs12,000 in total trying to get his licence - with paying for lessons, tests and taxis to and from the test centre. And although people may offer him their condolences and tell him ‘you’ll do it next time’, Abdul says most don’t understand what an impact consistent failure can have on a person.

“It’s the toughest thing I’ve had to do, not only in Dubai but in my entire life!” he explains.

“I’ve always been good at taking tests - exams were never a problem. I used to study and get good marks, but after failing 11 times I just feel so disheartened.

“In normal exams you would never usually fail more than once. And then I see people driving here and question how they managed to get a licence!”

Abdul says he’s finally accepted he won’t pass his test and continues to pay dhs700 for a lift from Sharjah to Dubai monthly.

Daniel Power, who spent dhs4,000 on his attempts to become roadworthy - says his nationality helped him secure a licence on his third attempt.

“When I did pass this time it was fairly comical. My road test was all of three minutes and in my parking test, I really messed up, but in the loose words of the guy who passed me ‘You are English, you can drive, but you can’t park’.

He said the others taking the test would fail.”

Waseem Iqbal is a senior lecturer and examiner at Emirates Driving Institute.

He says most drivers struggle because they’re not familiar with the type of car they take the test in as they may only be used to the car they’ve taken lessons in. And he advises drivers not to fear the officer sitting next to them.

“Many people get scared of the examiner thinking he’s a tough traffic department man and it makes them lose confidence,” he says.

“Nervousness effects observation and we also get a lot of people coming in who are worried about other issues - a lot of people come in thinking about debts, how much they’ve spent and the consequences if they don’t pass. “And they’re also thinking about all the people who are around them? - ‘this examiner is hard he wont pass me’ etc.”

Waseem advises drivers to try to stay calm and keep a clear head on the day of their test and use the few minutes in the car to show the examiner what a confident driver you are. And, here’s something for the girls, we’re better drivers - it’s official.

Waseem adds: “Ladies are better drivers because they concentrate better.

“The gents often come in stressed and cannot concentrate as well. Women tend to pass after a maximum of four tests where sometimes men take ten attempts.”

Sorce:http://www.7days.ae

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