Over the weekend I carried out a couple of advanced driving tests (I know, it was a car rather than the bike :roll: ) Anyway, I gave one of the candidates his briefing, which usually finishes with me saying "Drive naturally and as you have been taught by your observer during your tutor sessions, do what you normally do and you will I am sure do absolutely fine" I always say something along these lines just as a form of another chill pill to help them relax. Anyway, I get led to the candidates car (Bentley Continental) and he does his pre drive check very well, in we get and he does his cockpit drill and off we go. We are about 20 minutes into the drive when the candidate saod "Could you do me a favour and hold on to this please?" and promptly hand me his packet of rolling backy and proceeds to roll himself a ciggy whilst still driving on test My gast was flabbered. He then lit up and started puffing away. I suppose I should have said something sooner, but in 30 + years as an advanced examiner that was the first time that has ever hapened.. I did ask him to extinguish his cig. Anyway, we got back and I asked him about his behaviour and his reply? "You told me to do what I normally do" Well despite the fact that when he had control of the car it was actually a very good drive, I had to fail him not least because I stank (even though he only took a couple of puffs) and he did not have proper control whilst he was rolling his baccy. I just could not believe what I had witnessed. When I told him that I was unable to pass him, he just shrgged his shoulders and said "OK, I quite understand!" I got back in my car and just chuckled for about 10 minutes before I set off for home. Some people eh?
Funny. I would have thought he would have been a Dunhill man, rather than Shag and Swan Vestas type - as they say never judge a book by its cover !
