A video of a man deploying the help of a friend to bag himself some "extra space" to work with during his driving test has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was posted by @yy0.5uly and has received more than 3.5 million views since it was shared on March 28. The footage shows a person driving a car down a street, with another vehicle in front of it in the distance.
A message overlaid on the video reads: "When your mate failed his test twice already and asks you to drive behind him this time." The student driver was taking a U.K. driving test, according to hashtags shared with the post.
A voice in the clip says: "So we give him extra space... because obviously, you wanna help people out... take your time, mate... take it easy on that clutch."
A caption shared with the post reads: "He still failed, next time need a car in front too."
Some TikTok users were confused about what benefit the latest tactic offered to the student driver.
User randomriver wrote, "he doesn't have to worry about other cars right behind him i guess," while user520488 posted: "holds up traffic and able to give extra space, more time to think..."
@yy0.5uly He still failed, next time need a car infront too #fyp #prayforthebrother #learning #drivingtest #ukdriving @Aman🐯
♬ original sound - Aman🐯
Of the 329 million or so people living in the U.S. in 2020, around 228 million people had a valid driver's license, according to the data compiled by Statista, the global data firm.
The 2022 American Driving Survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that
94.5 percent of U.S. residents aged 16 years and older drove at least occasionally in 2022.
The student driver in the latest viral post is not alone in his latest fail, as the national U.K. driving test pass rate for 2023/2024 was reported to be 48.2 percent, according to data from the U.K. government website.
Perhaps even making it to the practical portion of the driving test is commendable in and of itself; the U.K. was found to have the 16th hardest theory test in the world in a survey of practical and theory exams in over 190 countries conducted by Zuto, a car finance website.
Among the countries with the hardest driving tests is Russia, which features two practical tests, an obstacle driving course and on-road exam. China was also found to have one of the most rigorous driving exams in the survey. It features a theory test of 100 questions that requires you to memorize the answers to 1,000 questions, two practical assessments and a final theory test.
The practical test in Ukraine allows learners to make only two mistakes before getting an instant fail, while those in Montenegro are allowed to make three mistakes. In that country, before getting a license, you must also be examined by an ophthalmologist and a psychiatrist, while new drivers in Croatia are also assessed for their personality type and fitness to drive, according to the survey.
'So Smart'
TikTok users praised the friend in the latest viral clip for the "smart" tactic used to help the student driver.
Spoonarchive posted, "This is lowkey smart," and missanecdote wrote: "This is so smart omg [oh my god]."
User @phoebewaltho added: "...why is this such a good idea."
"Wish i had mates like this," commented 1864710476391937 and afshan wrote: "now that is a TRUE friend."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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