New mum overjoyed to pass driving test - only to have licence revoked | Sunday Observer

New mum overjoyed to pass driving test - only to have licence revoked

27 May, 2018
Kelsie Murphy, from Kent, thought she had passed her driving test with just six minors (Image: Triangle News)
Kelsie Murphy, from Kent, thought she had passed her driving test with just six minors (Image: Triangle News)

May 23:

A new mum was overjoyed to ‘pass’ her driving test - only to have her licence revoked a day later because she’d actually failed.

Kelsie Murphy was celebrating her birthday when the test centre contacted her and told her there had been an admin “error”.

The 22-year-old says her examiner had gone through the test paper with her after she took the exam in Herne Bay, Kent, last month.

She says he showed her she had received only six minors and told her: “You’ve got yourself an early birthday present- you’ve passed!”

Kelsie was so delighted she was almost in tears - but her happiness turned to confusion when the test centre got in touch the next day.

She says she was told to return her pass certificate, with a “major” error having been recorded during her driving test on April 11.

It remains unclear how she ended up being given an initial ‘pass’ result - but the centre has said there was an “administrative error”.

It is thought she is the first person in Britain to have had their licence revoked before even receiving it.

Kelsie said: “I have no idea where the major mark came from. As far as I knew, everything had gone smoothly.

“I feel like the unluckiest person ever because they told me it hasn’t happened to anyone but me.”

The mum-of-two had thought she had passed with half a dozen minors after taking the test at Herne Bay driving test centre.

Drivers must have fewer than 15 minor faults and no major errors to pass and be issued with their interim driving licence.

Kelsie claimed: “My examiner said ‘congratulations you’ve got yourself an early birthday present- you’ve passed!’

“I was so happy, nearly crying, but holding myself back because I didn’t want to embarrass myself.

“I’ve been through a lot in my life and I was over the moon that things were finally going well for me.

“My driving instructor came running over to me because she could see the smile on my face.

“The examiner went through the paper with us, showing me that I only had six minors.”

Kelsie, from Broadstairs, Kent, was ecstatic to have ‘passed’ the test after previously failing on her first attempt.

She returned home to celebrate with her family and friends, where she was greeted with congratulatory balloons, banners and cards.

Her mum had helped her to buy a car, and she sent her papers off to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to get her driving licence.

But a day later, while celebrating her birthday, she received a call from the test centre asking her to return the pass certificate to them.

Shockingly, she says they then told her she hadn’t passed after all.

A letter addressed to Kelsie, from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) Operational Delivery Manager, Mark Aston, said a “serious fault” had been recorded during her test.

The letter, dated April 14, read: “After your test on Wednesday 11th April at 13:35 our in-house checks identified a serious fault had been assessed and recorded during your test but due to an administrative error, your examiner issued a pass.

“You can only pass your test if you receive fewer than 15 driving faults and there are no serious or dangerous faults recorded.

“With this in mind, I am sorry to confirm that you have not passed your driving test and that you should only be driving in accordance with the provisional licence regulations.”

It added: “Finally, please accept my sincere apologies for any upset and inconvenience that this error may have caused.”

Kelsie said: “They told me there was a serious mark down on the paper. I just didn’t get it. The man passed me and he wouldn’t have done so had the serious mark been there.”

She added: “We have no idea what’s happened.”

The test centre, run by the DVSA, has offered Kelsie a free retest. But she has declined because she believes she has already passed.

Now, the young woman says she has no licence and is stuck in limbo while an investigation takes place.

“It’s really upsetting and stressful to have to go through this and it makes me want to give up on my driving,” she said.

“I’m determined to stay strong and sort the situation out.”

DVSA Operations Director Richard Hennessey said: “DVSA is unable to comment on any ongoing investigations, but we apologise for any inconvenience this error may have caused.”

– mirror.co.uk

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