A frustrated father faces a four-month wait to retake his driving test after a 285-mile journey ended in cancellation over what he describes as a ‘few raindrops’ on the passenger seat.
The Marathon Journey for a Test Slot
Jacob Caroll, a 27-year-old shift manager and father-of-three from Chichester, had exhausted all local options to book a practical driving test. After months of searching without success, he finally secured a slot hundreds of miles away in Scarborough, near his wife's grandparents' home. The round trip totalled a staggering 285 miles.
Determined to be fully prepared, Jacob had his car professionally valeted the day before the long journey on December 15. He travelled with his wife's grandfather, who was dropping him at the Scarborough Driving Test Centre.
The 'Slightly Damp' Seat That Ended the Test
Upon arrival, as his wife's grandfather exited the vehicle, a small amount of rain is said to have fallen onto the passenger seat. When the examiner approached, she reportedly refused to sit on the "slightly damp" spot.
Jacob offered to place a blanket over the seat, but claims this was also rejected as the blanket was "creased." Despite his attempts to reason with the official, the test was cancelled before Jacob had even started the engine. "It was just a few raindrops and she patted it and said she couldn't do it. It's literally a joke," Jacob said.
Family Impact and Lengthy Wait
The cancellation has had significant practical and emotional consequences for the family. Jacob's next available test slot in Scarborough is not until April, just before his theory test certificate expires. The wasted trip also involved costs for a hotel and fuel.
"They have three small kids and him being able to drive would take a massive load off my daughter," said Jacob's mother-in-law, Vicky Bagshaw, 46. She added that other instructors at the test centre were "flabbergasted" by the decision.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) stated it "cannot comment on individual complaints" but encouraged any learner who feels mistreated to report the issue to them directly.
Jacob says the experience has left him feeling anxious about the prospect of taking another test, having been left without recourse on the day. "I didn't even get the car moving," he lamented.
