Nerves can have a crippling effect on learner drivers once they get to test day. AA Driving School instructors have recalled particularly superstitious students whose desire to get their full licence resulted in unusual rituals:

One pupil wore the T-shirt she had on when she gave birth to her daughter (now seven years old) and the trousers she wore before she conceived.

Another had failed three times due to nerves. On her fourth attempt she had read that bananas were key to alertness so ate two bananas before her test and passed. She also swapped her lucky cowboy boots that she had worn on her other attempts for her trainers.

One learner bought a car shortly before she took her test. For good luck her mum cracked an egg on each tyre and bought her an 'evil eye' toy to ward off people's envy and jealousy. She passed.

On her pre-test lesson, a pupil stopped and parked whenever she saw two drains so she could get out and stand on them. She passed first time with only two minor faults.

Just before her lessons one learner used to play with her Nintendo Wii Mario Kart. She had the steering wheel controller and felt it helped with steering on the lessons.

One learner had a lucky Italian Job T-shirt they wore for their school exams. They would not take their driving test unless they wore that particular T-shirt. They passed second time (wearing the T-shire on both attempts).

A student's mother gave his father a brand of chocolate bar when he took his HGV 1 test. He passed and it is now something all the family does when someone has a driving test. The young student, his brother and cousins all followed this ritual, and all passed first time.

Several students follow the superstition of saluting magpies, avoiding dates like Friday 13 or refuse to cross the path of a black cat.