‘Relieved’ mother-of-two, 31, celebrates getting her driving licence after SEVENTEEN tests

A mother-of-two has described her relief after she finally passed her driving test following 17 attempts behind the wheel.  

Blessing Platinum-Williams, 31, first took her driving test in 2008 before repeatedly failing more than a dozen times in 12 years.

The ‘relieved’ mother-of-two was finally handed a pass last month after embarking on an intensive course at Auto Gears Driving School, Watford, at the start of lockdown.

Ms Platinum-Williams, who suffered depression due to her repeated failed tests, said: ‘I just feel so relieved and going make sure I’m extra careful so I don’t lose my licence!

‘I hope I can inspire other people to persevere with theirs. I used to walk about 20,000 steps a day, which isn’t ideal in winter, to get my kids to nursery.

‘It’s like an hour to get to their nursery and an hour back.

Blessing Platinum-Williams (pictured after her pass) first took her driving test in 2008 before repeatedly failing more than a dozen times in 12 years

‘When it was really cold, I’d wrap them up as tight as I can – but I didn’t have the luxury of getting an Uber every single day.

‘It was just so difficult and stressful for years.’ 

Ms Platinum-Williams failed two tests in 2008, before taking exams in Wisbech, Portsmouth, Chichester, Barnet, Chingford and Woodgreen over 12 years.

She took her final test in Watford on July 31.    

‘I booked them in so many different places because I’d been told there was a good instructor in the area’, she said.

‘I was trying to go to places that supposedly had higher pass rates – which is ridiculous I know, but I was desperate.’

She revealed how the test failures left her in a dark place and had a domino-effect on other parts of her life.

‘I felt like a failure and that I couldn’t do anything,’ she added.  ‘Because of that, I just lay in bed crying all the time. I felt depressed for a year.’ 

The 'relieved' mother-of-two (pictured) was finally handed a pass last month after embarking on an intensive course at Auto Gears Driving School, Watford, at the start of lockdown

The ‘relieved’ mother-of-two (pictured) was finally handed a pass last month after embarking on an intensive course at Auto Gears Driving School, Watford, at the start of lockdown

Pictured: Ms Platinum-Williams with her licence

Pictured: Ms Platinum-Williams with her husband Mike and sons Ivan and Matthias

Ms Platinum-Williams, who suffered depression due to her repeated failed tests, said: ‘I just feel so relieved and going make sure I’m extra careful so I don’t lose my licence’. Pictured right: The mother with her husband Mike and sons Ivan and Matthias

Ms Platinum-Williams then took inspiration from the Bible and was able to get back on track with her driving. 

‘I started to read Jonah and Job, I kind of brushed myself off and realised I had to get my s*** together,’ she said.

‘It made me realise that things happen and it’s about timing – where you’re supposed to be in life.

‘It was evident, after having lessons with the driver who helped me pass, that I had bad drivers who didn’t make me ready for driving.’ 

The mother-of-two decided to take advantage of lockdown’s empty streets to practice her driving everyday from March. 

‘We quickly established that I couldn’t drive at all’, Ms Platinum-Williams said, speaking of her new instructor.

‘I had done loads before that, the equivalent of 100 hours with previous instructors – so I’d wasted a lot of money.

She revealed how the test failures left her in a dark place and had a domino-effect on other parts of her life. Pictured: Ms Platinum-Williams after her pass

She revealed how the test failures left her in a dark place and had a domino-effect on other parts of her life. Pictured: Ms Platinum-Williams after her pass

‘He thought I was terrible and asked me to rate myself out of 10, which I said one, and he agreed. I was appalling with roundabouts and responding to other drivers.

‘He thinks I just had awful drivers and used to be a really nervous driver because I wouldn’t have the adequate training to go out on the road.

‘Luckily, we brushed up on my planning and controlling the car.

‘He was very analytical and had a folder of processes which I needed to follow. So I knew, in my mind, I would follow them. I had very clear steps to use.

‘Arul said “let’s make the tenth attempt a charmer” and I passed with two minors.

‘We did an equivalent of about 30 hours – so about 15 lessons.’ 

The mother and her husband Mike marked the pass with a takeaway – and are anticipating lockdown’s rules easing further so they can celebrate with their friends.

‘We got the best spring rolls at this Thai place in Watford,’ she said.

‘I would say we’re quite basic when it comes to food, but my husband would hate to hear me say that.

‘I’m still waiting to get a big cake with a P on it!’