Jacob Caroll, a 27-year-old father of three, was left stunned after making a 285-mile trip from Chichester to Scarborough for his driving test, only for it to be cancelled before it even began due to a few raindrops on the passenger seat.
After months of struggling to secure a test slot near his home in Chichester, Jacob extended his search to Scarborough, near his wife’s grandparents’ home. He finally found an appointment and had his car professionally cleaned ahead of the long journey.
However, on arrival at the Scarborough Driving Test Centre on a rainy day, a few raindrops had dampened the passenger seat as he exited the vehicle with his wife’s grandfather. Jacob claims the examiner refused to sit down due to the wet seat, rejecting even a blanket he offered to use for protection.
READ MORE: RSPB Encourages Gardeners to Feed Birds Roast Potatoes This January
READ MORE: How to Attract Robins to Your Garden This Winter with Food They Love
Despite his attempts to persuade her otherwise, the examiner informed him that the test was cancelled and that he needed to rebook. Jacob, who manages shifts in West Sussex, 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 available test is in April, just before my theory expires. I didn’t even get the car moving.”
The experience left him feeling anxious about retaking the test. “She didn’t mention the weather when we arrived — it was pouring rain. When I opened the door, she said she couldn’t sit on the seat. I even offered a blanket, but she said it was all creased up and refused to sit down. Then she walked away and told me I had to book another test,” he explained.
Jacob’s mother-in-law, Vicky Bagshaw, 46, said she was “flabbergasted” by the incident. “They have three young kids, and him being able to drive would be a huge help. He’s a competent learner driver and insured on their car. He was shocked, and no one let him dispute it. Other instructors waiting were also stunned. It was just a few drops of rain and she refused to sit on the seat.”
The family had also paid for a hotel and travelled all that way, only for the test to be cancelled without even starting.
A spokesperson for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) stated: “We cannot comment on individual complaints. We encourage any learner driver who feels mistreated to report it to us as soon as possible.”