A father-of-three's 285-mile journey to take his driving test ended in instant failure before he even started the car, after the examiner refused to sit on a passenger seat marked by a few raindrops.
A Mammoth Journey for a Test Slot
Jacob Carroll, 27, from Chichester, had spent months trying to book a practical test near his home. With no availability, he widened his search and secured a slot in Scarborough, North Yorkshire – a 285-mile drive away – near his wife's grandparents' home.
In preparation for the crucial test on December 15, Mr Carroll had his car professionally cleaned before making the long journey north. He arrived at the Scarborough Driving Test Centre on a rainy day with his wife's grandfather.
'It Was Just a Few Raindrops'
Mr Carroll claims that as he got out of the car at the test centre, a few drops of rain fell on the passenger seat. When the examiner approached, she allegedly patted the seat, declared it too damp to sit on, and terminated the test.
"It was just a few raindrops, and she patted it and said she couldn't do it. It's literally a joke," said the shift manager from West Sussex. He offered a blanket for the examiner to sit on, but he claims she refused this too, stating it was "all creased up."
"I didn't even get the car moving," Mr Carroll added. "She walked off and said I had to pay for another test and that was it."
Family 'Flabbergasted' by the Decision
The abrupt cancellation has left Mr Carroll feeling anxious about rebooking. His next available test slot is in April, just before his theory test certificate expires.
His mother-in-law, Vicky Bagshaw, 46, said she was "flabbergasted" by the incident, which has added pressure to the young family. "They have three small kids and him being able to drive would take a massive load off my daughter," she said.
She added that other driving instructors waiting at the centre were also shocked by the examiner's decision. The family had invested in a hotel and the long journey for a test that never happened.
A spokesperson for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) 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."
