Belvedere Driving Test Centre — Attraction in London

All – This is an honest review of Mrs/Ms Helen – Driving Test instructor at Belvedere (London). For the sake of my mental health (and of many others) - please read through before booking your test at this center. Background: It was my 2nd attempt in the recent past with the same instructor and I failed the test. Please refer some notes on my test experience below – • Overall Experience: Mrs/Ms Helen is intentionally rude to make the candidate feel anxious on the test day. Given all my attempts to break-ice and talk candidly to reduce anxiousness, she maintained the attitude of unwillingness throughout the test. As marked by Mrs/Ms Helen and briefed in front of my trainer – • Serious fault 1 – I did not stop in time for a pedestrian to cross Zebra crossing. This is a FALSE statement. • Serious fault 2 – I did not provide enough room for a cyclist while overtaking him after following the cyclist on the same road for at least 500 m. This is again a FALSE statement. • and countless other minor mistakes (FALSE) (My trainer’s car records everything due for the camera assistance system in place – I can show this as proof to my above assertions) Appeal (Drawbacks): While I have the option to appeal this decision in court, it is my understanding that the process is very time consuming and test result will still not change (rather my new test will be free of charge, if at all these observations are agreed in court of law). I am a family man with a regular job. I cannot indulge myself with a court hearing and so I am at a loss of another test cost + cost incurred with my trainer. Requesting Action: It is my most humble and sincere request to anyone who is interested in taking responsibility, not only for mental health of many others (like me) who might endure the same feat, but also to report something bad in the world that...

Was incredibly disappointed with my driving test experience at Belvedere Test Centre today. I was unaware of the incredibly low pass rate at this centre, and how cold the examiners could be here, and if I had known this beforehand, I probably would have taken my test elsewhere. My examiner, Steve, was probably the most unhelpful and rude person I have encountered in a long time, and I can't believe the way in which he treated me during my driving test.

It was my first ever test, and I was incredibly nervous, to the point I could feel myself shaking. I knew I had made a mistake and failed, and was disappointed when he said we would drive back to the test centre early, without giving me a chance to do the rest of the test, but I was hopeful he could give me some constructive criticism, and at least let me know what things I had done well in the test. Once we got back, he gave me the most UNHELPFUL "feedback" (if you can even call it that). He did not even look at me once, he just told my driving instructor everything I did wrong, as if I wasn't even in the car, and without even acknowledging me. It was so unbelievably rude, and it was like he didn't even know how to talk to another human being. Before I could even say anything to him, he had gotten out of the car and headed back into the test centre.

Maybe the test centre's pass rate and reputation wouldn't be so low if they actually trained their examiners to be a little kinder to those of us taking tests, and offered actually insightful feedback, encouraging us to improve on our mistakes. You might actually be able to get more out of a person if you are a bit...

I am writing this review two months after my driving test at Belvedere on 11/07, intentionally delayed to reflect with clarity. My examiner was Roger, and based on my experience and many others’ - there is a serious issue with how this individual conducts tests. Let’s be clear: being autistic is not a license to be rude or hostile. Roger created an environment so tense and uncomfortable that it felt engineered to provoke mistakes. This is not just my opinion, my instructor agrees too. I made what was clearly a minor mistake, yet Roger marked it as a major fault and failed me. He did not intervene with the steering or use the emergency brake. I had zero minor faults and one major, which was questionable at best. This was not a fair assessment. Immediately after the test, I submitted feedback via the DVSA link, reporting Roger’s unprofessional conduct and stating that he is not fit for the role. No response to date. I have since passed my test on 18/09 at Erith, with Simon as the examiner. You can read my detailed review there. I raised my concerns about Roger with Simon, and he echoed the same sentiments. If you have the option, avoid Belvedere. If you’ve had a similar experience with Roger, report it to DVSA. Driving tests are expensive and stressful enough, we don’t need examiners who make it worse. Roger’s conduct is a disgrace to the system and undermines the integrity of the driving...