Here is a driving tip for those of you taking the DSA practical assessment.
You must make every effort not to arrive late for your driving test (this is not usually a problem for those using a driving school car as the instructor will know where the centre is, how long it takes to get there and local knowledge of traffic conditions), the DSA examiner will give you a maximum of 5 minutes after you appointment for you to show up. If you arrive more than 5 minutes late, your test will not go ahead, and you will lose your booking fee (without compensation).
If you are a foreign licence holder new to the UK, you must note that you need to provide a car that is insured, roadworthy and displaying 'L' plates for the test. The Driving Standards Agency does not have cars that you can use to take the practical driving test in. You can not hire a car from rental companies (Hertz, Eurocar) for the driving test, as their insurance will not cover you, even if you have a valid international driving license, and the DSA will call up any car hire organisation to confirm insurance cover if to turn up in one, so give yourself every chance to pass the driving test, make sure you know all the DSA requirements.
Your driving test will also be cancelled if your fail the eye test, your car has a safety recall notice that you can't prove has been fixed, or fault pointed out to you which is not fixed with 5 minutes (brake light not working, tyre that needs to be changed). You are most likely not going to be given extra time to fix a fault if you already arrived late for the driving test.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Driving School T Junctions
Here are some driving tips you need to take note of for your lessons or practise sessions so you are well prepare for the DSA practical car driving test.
You must make sure that during your driving lessons or while out with a supervising driver you exhibit the same skills that you will demonstrate to the DSA examiner while out on the driving test, and so for a T-Junction the following guidelines MUST be followed if you want to pass and get a full British licence.
You will be using the MSPSL routine to deal with all junctions, and emerging is no different. This is not a driving lesson, so I'm only dealing with points that over the years I've seen many people have problems with on the driving test.
Approach speed: You must approach a T Junction at a speed that is right for the visibility that is available, some junctions will be open which means that you can see from far before you get to the give way line vehicles approaching from the left and right. Most T Junctions will be closed with restricted views of the main road, and emerging at these junctions mean you have to approach at a slow speed.
Minimum safe look: In order to emerge safely as per the DSA standard, you need to perform the minimum observations before entering a T junction, this refered to the minimum look. You MUST look to the right, left and right again. if it is not safe, continue with this procedure until you see a safe gap on both sides.
It is not acceptable to enter part of the road, and wait till the other side is clear or traffic stops for you.
There is no maximum time that you have to wait in the side road, you just have to wait until there is a safe gap even if the road is very busy, so make sure on your driving lessons, you don't get pressurised into doing what other road users do and go half way into the junction waiting for others to stop for you, it is not safe and will fail you with the DSA examiner.
You must make sure that during your driving lessons or while out with a supervising driver you exhibit the same skills that you will demonstrate to the DSA examiner while out on the driving test, and so for a T-Junction the following guidelines MUST be followed if you want to pass and get a full British licence.
You will be using the MSPSL routine to deal with all junctions, and emerging is no different. This is not a driving lesson, so I'm only dealing with points that over the years I've seen many people have problems with on the driving test.
Approach speed: You must approach a T Junction at a speed that is right for the visibility that is available, some junctions will be open which means that you can see from far before you get to the give way line vehicles approaching from the left and right. Most T Junctions will be closed with restricted views of the main road, and emerging at these junctions mean you have to approach at a slow speed.
Minimum safe look: In order to emerge safely as per the DSA standard, you need to perform the minimum observations before entering a T junction, this refered to the minimum look. You MUST look to the right, left and right again. if it is not safe, continue with this procedure until you see a safe gap on both sides.
It is not acceptable to enter part of the road, and wait till the other side is clear or traffic stops for you.
There is no maximum time that you have to wait in the side road, you just have to wait until there is a safe gap even if the road is very busy, so make sure on your driving lessons, you don't get pressurised into doing what other road users do and go half way into the junction waiting for others to stop for you, it is not safe and will fail you with the DSA examiner.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Driving Instructor tax return
One of the things that you need to do as a driving school instructor is file your annual tax return! The deadline for filing your online tax return for the 2007/08 year is January 31st 2009.
In order to be able to file your tax return, you as a driving instructor need to keep accurate records of earnings, expenses and any capital costs you incur while running your school. Administration is something that many ADIs or those thinking about becoming a driving instructor don't factor into the time that they have to use to earn the money made for teaching learners to drive.
If you haven't filed your online tax return, then you need to do it TODAY, to avoid a late payment fee, it doesn't matter if your driving school made a profit or loss.
Note: Your National Insurance (NI) contributions you make as a driving insructor are not tax deductible.
In order to be able to file your tax return, you as a driving instructor need to keep accurate records of earnings, expenses and any capital costs you incur while running your school. Administration is something that many ADIs or those thinking about becoming a driving instructor don't factor into the time that they have to use to earn the money made for teaching learners to drive.
If you haven't filed your online tax return, then you need to do it TODAY, to avoid a late payment fee, it doesn't matter if your driving school made a profit or loss.
Note: Your National Insurance (NI) contributions you make as a driving insructor are not tax deductible.
Monday, 12 January 2009
Cheap BSM driving lessons £17
BSM is currently offering cheap driving lessons at only £17 per hour in its latest £85 for 5 offer to tempt new learner drivers to join the school in the new year 2009.
In 2008 the British School of Motoring (the largest driving school in the UK) ran the very successful £15 per hour driving lessons campaign. As usual this offer is only open to new BSM customers (defined as anyone who has not had tuition with them in the last 6 months), all lessons must be paid for in advance, and used within 3 months of the lessons being paid for.
One important difference in this offer! Un-like the £15 BSM driving school offer, this new offer does not totally guarantee that you will pay £17 per hour as prices vary with area, so those of in places like London, Birmingham and other high density populations might find out that you don't qualify for this special offer.
If you would like to take out this new cheap BSM driving lessons offer you need to call the driving school on 0845 494 0357.
BSM Fiat 500 car
In 2008 the British School of Motoring (the largest driving school in the UK) ran the very successful £15 per hour driving lessons campaign. As usual this offer is only open to new BSM customers (defined as anyone who has not had tuition with them in the last 6 months), all lessons must be paid for in advance, and used within 3 months of the lessons being paid for.
One important difference in this offer! Un-like the £15 BSM driving school offer, this new offer does not totally guarantee that you will pay £17 per hour as prices vary with area, so those of in places like London, Birmingham and other high density populations might find out that you don't qualify for this special offer.
If you would like to take out this new cheap BSM driving lessons offer you need to call the driving school on 0845 494 0357.
BSM Fiat 500 car
Driving Test Reversing Maneuver
While learning to drive a car and dealing with DSA set exercises, your driving school instructor would have mentioned the importance of looking behind the car if you are perfoming any reversing during a Maneuver on your driving lessons.
If you are a foreign licence holder wanting to pass the UK driving test in order to obtain a full British licence, then this is something that you are goint to need to work hard on doing before you go for your DSA practical car test. As a driving instructor, I've seen a lot of people with international licences who come to the UK, and they don't look behind but use the interior mirror when reversing during a maneuver. This is not safe according to the driving standards agency, and whether you agree with them or not because you have been driving for over 15 years and have never had an accident while using this technique, the point is you have to look behind the car when reversing if you want to pass the UK driving test.
The maneuvers that include reversing on the driving test are turn in the road, bay parking (left and right), reverse parking exercise, reverse round the corner (usually to the left, but it would be to the right if you do the test in a van with no rear windows).
More DSA test advice
How many driving test attempts does it take averagely to pass?
If you are a foreign licence holder wanting to pass the UK driving test in order to obtain a full British licence, then this is something that you are goint to need to work hard on doing before you go for your DSA practical car test. As a driving instructor, I've seen a lot of people with international licences who come to the UK, and they don't look behind but use the interior mirror when reversing during a maneuver. This is not safe according to the driving standards agency, and whether you agree with them or not because you have been driving for over 15 years and have never had an accident while using this technique, the point is you have to look behind the car when reversing if you want to pass the UK driving test.
The maneuvers that include reversing on the driving test are turn in the road, bay parking (left and right), reverse parking exercise, reverse round the corner (usually to the left, but it would be to the right if you do the test in a van with no rear windows).
More DSA test advice
How many driving test attempts does it take averagely to pass?
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Moving off Safely
On either your first or second driving lessons, your instructor would have taught you how to move off safely according to the DSA standard. The basic principles POM (Prepare, Observe and Move) would have been taught, and you should have been practising and using these basic skills up until the time you are ready for your driving test.
As an approved driving instructor who sometimes sits in on my learner's driving test, I'm saddened when they fail to pass because they fail to use the POM routine properly, particularly taking effective observations and therefore not moving off safely! You MUST check your blind spots always, and don't just turn your head in robotic fashion, your eyes must register what is around, what is the point of looking if you fail to notice the car reversing out of their driveway towards you?
This driving skill is very important, as it affects your confidence and ability to pass the driving test, especially on maneuvers. Make sure that whatever vehicle you are using for the test be it a driving school's car with dual controls or your private customised mini cooper, you can find the biting point repeatedly and with easy, as this another thing that affects how you eventually move off safely.
As the saying goes, 'Practice makes one perfect', spend enough time on the basic driving skills until you can do them without thinking too hard about it, moving off safely and smoothly can be done with a lot of practice so get working on it and your nerves will be less likely to get the better of you during the dsa practical car assessment.
As an approved driving instructor who sometimes sits in on my learner's driving test, I'm saddened when they fail to pass because they fail to use the POM routine properly, particularly taking effective observations and therefore not moving off safely! You MUST check your blind spots always, and don't just turn your head in robotic fashion, your eyes must register what is around, what is the point of looking if you fail to notice the car reversing out of their driveway towards you?
Finding the biting point
This driving skill is very important, as it affects your confidence and ability to pass the driving test, especially on maneuvers. Make sure that whatever vehicle you are using for the test be it a driving school's car with dual controls or your private customised mini cooper, you can find the biting point repeatedly and with easy, as this another thing that affects how you eventually move off safely.
As the saying goes, 'Practice makes one perfect', spend enough time on the basic driving skills until you can do them without thinking too hard about it, moving off safely and smoothly can be done with a lot of practice so get working on it and your nerves will be less likely to get the better of you during the dsa practical car assessment.
Monday, 5 January 2009
You need driving lessons to pass UK test
While there are no requirements for you to have professional tuition before taking the UK driving test, here are two reasons why you need driving lessons with an approved instructor.
If you are learning to drive with someone who is not a professional driving instructor, maybe a family member or friend who has held a driving licence for over 3years and is at least 21yrs old, have you asked yourself this question: 'Will my teacher be able to pass the current DSA driving test without taking driving lessons from an instructor?' I you can not honestly answer that question with a yes, then you need professional driving lessons.
Secondly, you might be thinking I will take a few driving lessons with an instructor from a school when I think I'm ready for the test. All well and good, but a lot of people never do because they belive so much in their ability to drive a car from A to B, have been convienced that the test is not that difficult, and in any case what have they got to lose if they don't pass on their first attempt, they can always have another go after taking driving lessons if necessary. Of course they go for the test, fail, blame the DSA driving examiner for being harsh as what they did is done by drivers (including your teacher) every day, so why should I have failed on that!
You need driving lessons before going for a test, because a school instuctor knows what is required by the DSA examiner, the latest information about car safety recalls, and can help you get rid of all those bad driving habits you built up while learning to drive with family or friends. It is this lack of knowledge about what is required by the DSA, and the bad habits that many learners acquire which contributes to the low pass rate of the UK driving test.
If you think that you can save money by buying a car, getting a friend to supervise you and get yourself ready for the test, you are kidding yourself, the current driving test is hard, and not getting any easier. You need driving lessons if you want to have a good chance of passing first time or on your next attempt.
If you are learning to drive with someone who is not a professional driving instructor, maybe a family member or friend who has held a driving licence for over 3years and is at least 21yrs old, have you asked yourself this question: 'Will my teacher be able to pass the current DSA driving test without taking driving lessons from an instructor?' I you can not honestly answer that question with a yes, then you need professional driving lessons.
Secondly, you might be thinking I will take a few driving lessons with an instructor from a school when I think I'm ready for the test. All well and good, but a lot of people never do because they belive so much in their ability to drive a car from A to B, have been convienced that the test is not that difficult, and in any case what have they got to lose if they don't pass on their first attempt, they can always have another go after taking driving lessons if necessary. Of course they go for the test, fail, blame the DSA driving examiner for being harsh as what they did is done by drivers (including your teacher) every day, so why should I have failed on that!
You need driving lessons before going for a test, because a school instuctor knows what is required by the DSA examiner, the latest information about car safety recalls, and can help you get rid of all those bad driving habits you built up while learning to drive with family or friends. It is this lack of knowledge about what is required by the DSA, and the bad habits that many learners acquire which contributes to the low pass rate of the UK driving test.
If you think that you can save money by buying a car, getting a friend to supervise you and get yourself ready for the test, you are kidding yourself, the current driving test is hard, and not getting any easier. You need driving lessons if you want to have a good chance of passing first time or on your next attempt.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Driving School Website should work for you
You might know that having a Driving School Website in todays internet savy society and competitive learner driver industry is a must for anyone who wants to sucessfully market their driving school business, but is your website actually working for you and achieving your goal of sending more students and enquiries to your doorstep?
Many newly qualified and old ADIs think that all they need to do to benefit from their driving instructor website is to put together a couple of pages with their name, where they offer driving lessons, prices and pictures of the driving school car and then sit back and wait a couple of days for the learner driver equiries to start rolling in from the poor marketing effort put into the project.
Your driving school website or blog on the internet is your business card that introduces you as an instructor or your school to potential clients and because today's generation of internet surfers want instant answers to their queries, you have only a few seconds to capture their attention before they move onto the next ADI website. Bearing this in mind, you need to make sure that the first page a potential learner driver client lands on sells them your driving tuition services. Just telling them that you are a qualified instructor with so many years of experience, operate in their area, charge £15 per hour and use a Ford for driving lessons is standard protocol. You need to tell them why they should take driving lessons with you. Give them unique points which your local competition does not offer, tell them why they have a better chance of passing the driving test with you than going with the BSN driving school down the road.
Remember pass rates can not be easily proven, so while you can mention yours, sell the extra value you add to your driving lessons. Know what your local competition is offering and market your driving school's features that they don't have. There will always be those looking for cheap driving lessons, who will choose based on price, but there will also be those looking for quality and you want to attract these with your driving school website.
Make sure you go over your website thoroughly, and ask someone else to check for typos, it does look professional if there are lots of spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
You might be surprised that you have to market your driving instructor website for it to work for you, especially as a newly qualified ADI.
If you have email, make sure you setup a signature that gives your website address and is attached to every email you send out.
Advertise your website on your driving school car, a potential client might not be able to full copy your phone number, but if they see you have a website, they might search for you on the internet. Even if you don't, curious people might still check to see if you have a website anyway.
Tell both your present and past learner drivers about your website, and ask them to post a link to it from their blog or website if they have one.
Put your driving school website url on your business cards and any other stationary you use.
If you contribute to online learner driver forums, make sure you reference your driving school website, if you are very helpful, then people are more likely to recommend you.
It will also take some time for your efforts to start bearing fruit, but if you take these steps then in about 3 months things should start to happen and the enquiries will begin.
Many newly qualified and old ADIs think that all they need to do to benefit from their driving instructor website is to put together a couple of pages with their name, where they offer driving lessons, prices and pictures of the driving school car and then sit back and wait a couple of days for the learner driver equiries to start rolling in from the poor marketing effort put into the project.
Effective Instructor Business marketing with a website
Your driving school website or blog on the internet is your business card that introduces you as an instructor or your school to potential clients and because today's generation of internet surfers want instant answers to their queries, you have only a few seconds to capture their attention before they move onto the next ADI website. Bearing this in mind, you need to make sure that the first page a potential learner driver client lands on sells them your driving tuition services. Just telling them that you are a qualified instructor with so many years of experience, operate in their area, charge £15 per hour and use a Ford for driving lessons is standard protocol. You need to tell them why they should take driving lessons with you. Give them unique points which your local competition does not offer, tell them why they have a better chance of passing the driving test with you than going with the BSN driving school down the road.
Remember pass rates can not be easily proven, so while you can mention yours, sell the extra value you add to your driving lessons. Know what your local competition is offering and market your driving school's features that they don't have. There will always be those looking for cheap driving lessons, who will choose based on price, but there will also be those looking for quality and you want to attract these with your driving school website.
Make sure you go over your website thoroughly, and ask someone else to check for typos, it does look professional if there are lots of spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
Marketing your Driving school website
You might be surprised that you have to market your driving instructor website for it to work for you, especially as a newly qualified ADI.
If you have email, make sure you setup a signature that gives your website address and is attached to every email you send out.
Advertise your website on your driving school car, a potential client might not be able to full copy your phone number, but if they see you have a website, they might search for you on the internet. Even if you don't, curious people might still check to see if you have a website anyway.
Tell both your present and past learner drivers about your website, and ask them to post a link to it from their blog or website if they have one.
Put your driving school website url on your business cards and any other stationary you use.
If you contribute to online learner driver forums, make sure you reference your driving school website, if you are very helpful, then people are more likely to recommend you.
It will also take some time for your efforts to start bearing fruit, but if you take these steps then in about 3 months things should start to happen and the enquiries will begin.
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