Passed today in Upplands Väsby, some reflections

I had my driving test at 10am today in Upplands Väsby and it went relatively smoothly.
Some quick context:

- I had a drivers license already for manual from a non-EU country in which we drive on the left side. Just about 3 years of experience.
- After just two lessons using manual car at a local driving school in Upplands Väsby I decided to switch to automat since I’d last driven more than two years ago, and I found the process of handling the many, many requirements for passing here to be cumbersome while also focusing on the additional requirements for manual gearbox.
- I took sixteen lessons in total, first a package of 10, after which I topped up an additional 5 lessons while at the same time booking the test. I also purchased the 6th lesson just before the test day because I was still making silly mistakes.
- Also an additional short lesson on test day as a ’warm up drive’. I used the driving school’s car.
- I went into the test with limited faith in my ability to pass. This is because I was still having challenges stabilising my speed, hesitating and sometimes misreading other drivers in roundabouts, and recognising when the right hand rule applies.


Here was my test route:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/59.5054549,17.921671/59.504905,17.9240207/59.5143916,17.9272653/59.5070408,17.9243557/59.4702414,17.9106952/59.4724207,17.9068676/59.4704561,17.9133237/59.4952591,17.9236413/59.4949152,17.9202953/59.5054089,17.9216391/@59.5051083,17.9197359,16.25z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m1!4e1!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTEyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

A minor correction on the route; Maps didn’t want to plot the direct route, but we drove from the Lidl parking area towards Stockholmsvagen directly by making a left turn. I also made the left turn from Stockholmsvagen into the Lidl parking lot to finish the drive.

- The drive went quite smoothly and almost uneventful. Just one time I believed I had actually failed the test, that was when I got a yellow light when so close to turning left here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SCnX7ogS6q1bx3P56 I made my own decision to go a little hard on the breaks to stop, but I ended up crossing the giveway line with two front tires. Later when the examiner asked me to reflect on my test, I brought up this moment, but she says that I made the best decision that could be made at that time (I suppose I could have proceeded through if I was going straight).

- In Rotebro, she only asked me to perform a front park beside another vehicle. Then we left the parking lot and drove through a residential area where the right hand rule applied multiple times. Not 100% sure if I did perfect observations in all cases, but evidently what I did was good enough to pass.

- While taking the left turn here https://maps.app.goo.gl/EEKXgFk2Thd7cEA99 I hesitated briefly but luckily did not stop completely. Stopping here is a definite no no since you’d be on a priority road. I hesitated because during my lessons we always took the right turn, hence, I was slightly taken aback by a different route.

- Coming back, the entrance into E4 had quite heavy and slow traffic, and they were using their breaks a lot to slow down. This also forced me to keep breaking so as to keep safe following distance. I focused on this a little too much and ended up indicating left a bit late for comfort (exit Bredden).

- The other parts of the drive went really well. I however do believe I


Some thoughts...

- I credit this first time pass to having gone through a driving school. I think with only private practice, it would be really difficult to pass the test.
- The instructors from the trafikskola not only know all the routes, they also know all examiners and how their grading usually differs individually. They trained me on several possible routes and every kind of difficult scenario.
- The test itself became much easier as I had overprepared
- I also used a lot of online resources to get ready, including Youtube, Google Street View, and this forum for possible routes and notes.
- I really appreciated both the positive and the negative experiences posted about Upplands Vasby in this forum.
- One other thing, when my driving instructor saw the examiner coming, he was quick to say YES! You are getting a good one, this lady is really nice, she doesn’t make the test too long, and she won’t try to chat you up during the test. I found the silence to be very very useful.

Good luck to all aspirants!