A father-of-three who drove 285 miles for a driving test says it was cancelled because of 'a few raindrops' on the passenger seat. Jacob Caroll, 27, from Chichester, West Sussex, had spent months desperately trying to book a test closer to home before securing a slot in Scarborough.
After having the car professionally valeted, he arrived at the test centre on December 15. However, as his wife's grandfather exited the vehicle, a few drops of rain fell on the passenger seat. The examiner reportedly refused to sit on the 'slightly damp' seat and declined Jacob's offer of a blanket.
Despite his attempts to reason with her, Jacob was told the test was cancelled and he would need to rebook. The next available test in Scarborough is in April, just before his theory test expires. Jacob said: 'It was just a few raindrops and she patted it and said she couldn't do it. It's literally a joke.'
Jacob's mother-in-law, Vicky Bagshaw, expressed disbelief, stating that the family relies on him being able to drive. She 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.'
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.'
