A man with three children traveled 285 miles for a driving test only to have it canceled due to a wet seat, forcing him to wait until April for a new appointment. Jacob Caroll, 27, had been struggling to find a nearby test slot and eventually expanded his search to Scarborough, nearly 300 miles away from his residence in Chichester, West Sussex.
After meticulously preparing his car for the journey, Jacob’s test day turned sour when a few raindrops fell on the passenger seat as his wife’s grandad exited the vehicle at the test center. Despite offering a blanket to cover the slightly damp seat, the examiner refused to proceed, citing safety concerns.
Expressing frustration over the cancellation, Jacob mentioned that the next available test slot was in April, just before his theory test expiration. He emphasized the minimal nature of the dampness on the seat and how he had recently cleaned the car. The incident at the Scarborough Driving Test Centre on December 15 left Jacob feeling apprehensive about rescheduling.
Jacob’s mother-in-law, Vicky Bagshaw, expressed disbelief at the situation and its impact on the family, highlighting the inconvenience and financial loss incurred. She mentioned Jacob’s competence as a learner driver and the importance of him obtaining his license for family responsibilities.
A DVSA spokesperson stated that they cannot comment on individual cases but encouraged any learner driver who feels mistreated to report such incidents promptly.
