A father who travelled more than 285 miles for his driving test was left stunned when an examiner cancelled it, allegedly because the passenger seat had 'a few raindrops on it'. Jacob Caroll, 27, from Chichester, West Sussex, had been unable to book a test locally for months and finally secured a slot near his wife's grandparents in Scarborough.
After having his car professionally valeted, Mr Caroll drove nearly 300 miles north. On a wet day, as he exited the car, several raindrops landed on the passenger seat. He claims the examiner refused to sit on the damp upholstery and declined his offer of a blanket. Despite his attempts to persuade her, the test was cancelled and he was told to reschedule.
Mr Caroll said: 'It was just a few raindrops and she patted it and said she couldn't do it. It's literally a joke. The next one there is April, just before my theory runs out. I didn't even get the car moving.' He added that the encounter has left him feeling 'anxious' about attempting another test.
His mother-in-law, Vicky Bagshaw, 46, said: 'He was shocked. He wasn't allowed to speak to anyone to dispute it. A couple of driving instructors were waiting with their pupils and they were absolutely flabbergasted.' She noted that the family had paid for a hotel and the test, which he never got to take.
A DVSA spokesperson said: 'DVSA cannot comment on individual complaints. We would encourage any learner driver who feels they have been mistreated to report it to us at the earliest opportunity.'
