A common question asked by many learner drivers taking lessons is when should my school instructor start teaching me driving test Maneuvers, or after how many driving lessons should I be ready to do a turn in the road?
The answer is it depends on both your ability while learning to drive, and your driving instructor. There is no guidelines set by the DSA, and as long as you cover the complete skills required for the practical car test, it doesn't really matter. Most learner drivers usually ask this question because they want to know if their instructor is holding them or they are comparing the progress being made by a mate.
Generally, the first driving manuover to be taught is the turn in the road (formally called a 3 point turn), and most instructors will teach this set exercise after enough driving lessons have been spent on Moving Off and Stopping, and approaching junctions to turn left and maybe right, the idea being to get the pupil comfortable with the basic controlling skills to start and stop the car, deal with steering round a few junctions at a safe speed while being able to take effective observations. The number of lessons taken to get to the stage where a manoeuvres is taught will vary with every individual, so it is not quite reasonable to compare yourself with a friend or family member who started learning to drive at the same time as yourself.
Make the effort to use each driving lesson to master the current skill being taught, and sooner than later it will be time for you also to learn your first driving Maneuver.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Driving Test attitude matters
If you are preparing for the DSA UK practical car driving test, then you need to have the right attitude if you want to pass on your next attempt.
Most learner drivers know that the average pass rate for the current driving test is 40%, while this means more people fail than succeed, those statistics still mean, that every day people take the practical car or motorcycle assessment and end up getting their full British driving licence for their category of vehicle.
The driving test might be hard, the examiners harsh but at the end of the day if you have prepared fully with the help of your driving school instructor, taken extra private practise where possible and have brushed up on your road traffic signs, highway code knowledge thus ensuring you have the required skills at the standard the DSA expects, then you have a very good chance of being one of the 40% pass rate candidates.
Don't think the examiner is out to trick or fail you, while they are human beings and not perfect, most of them are professional and will only judge you on what you do during the 40mins that you are driving. They don't expect you to be a perfect driver, which is why you can commit up to 15 driving errors and still pass, so no matter what mistake you make during the test, you must not give up and stop giving your best, many test candidates have failed because the made a mistake, thought it was a serious one, relaxed and then gone on to make the real serious driving error, the first one only being marked as a minor!
If you've had adequate driving lessons, only put in for the DSA practical test when you are ready, attend with the right attitude, there is no reason why you should pass your driving test on your next attempt.
Related Articles
Too many attemps of driving test.
Driving test tips.
Most learner drivers know that the average pass rate for the current driving test is 40%, while this means more people fail than succeed, those statistics still mean, that every day people take the practical car or motorcycle assessment and end up getting their full British driving licence for their category of vehicle.
The driving test might be hard, the examiners harsh but at the end of the day if you have prepared fully with the help of your driving school instructor, taken extra private practise where possible and have brushed up on your road traffic signs, highway code knowledge thus ensuring you have the required skills at the standard the DSA expects, then you have a very good chance of being one of the 40% pass rate candidates.
Don't think the examiner is out to trick or fail you, while they are human beings and not perfect, most of them are professional and will only judge you on what you do during the 40mins that you are driving. They don't expect you to be a perfect driver, which is why you can commit up to 15 driving errors and still pass, so no matter what mistake you make during the test, you must not give up and stop giving your best, many test candidates have failed because the made a mistake, thought it was a serious one, relaxed and then gone on to make the real serious driving error, the first one only being marked as a minor!
If you've had adequate driving lessons, only put in for the DSA practical test when you are ready, attend with the right attitude, there is no reason why you should pass your driving test on your next attempt.
Related Articles
Too many attemps of driving test.
Driving test tips.
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Driving Lessons Hampstead NW3
If you are going to be learning to drive from the Hampstead area of London, and are an absolute beginner, you should book 2 hour driving lessons with your school instructor to begin with.
Anyone living in NW3 knows that the roads are narrow, busy with cars, and usually have vehicles parked which means that the conditions don't suit someone who has never driven before, and for this reason on your first few driving lessons, your driving instructor will have to drive you to either Regents Park or Cricklewood, a round trip journey that could cut 30 minutes off the time that you would be actually learning! So if you booked an hour of tuition, you would have wasted half of it travelling. On the other hand booking a 2 hour lesson means you still have 1.5 hours to cover a lot with your driving school instructor.
Depending on the indivdual's ability, it will be a couple of driving lessons before you are ready to tackle Haverstock or Hampstead High Street traffic, and any responsible instructor would like to keep thier driving school car safe and will only give you control once you have demonstrated you have the skills to handle the NW3 roads and traffic.
For first class quality driving lessons in Hampstead and surrounding areas of NW3 London, give Shola a call on 07956233032. as a fully qualified DSA registered and CRB checked instructor with many years experience, you can be assured of the best value of tuition for your money, and can find more about him by visiting his driving test tips website.
Additional Driving Articles
How to deal with different types of roundabouts.
Anyone living in NW3 knows that the roads are narrow, busy with cars, and usually have vehicles parked which means that the conditions don't suit someone who has never driven before, and for this reason on your first few driving lessons, your driving instructor will have to drive you to either Regents Park or Cricklewood, a round trip journey that could cut 30 minutes off the time that you would be actually learning! So if you booked an hour of tuition, you would have wasted half of it travelling. On the other hand booking a 2 hour lesson means you still have 1.5 hours to cover a lot with your driving school instructor.
Depending on the indivdual's ability, it will be a couple of driving lessons before you are ready to tackle Haverstock or Hampstead High Street traffic, and any responsible instructor would like to keep thier driving school car safe and will only give you control once you have demonstrated you have the skills to handle the NW3 roads and traffic.
For first class quality driving lessons in Hampstead and surrounding areas of NW3 London, give Shola a call on 07956233032. as a fully qualified DSA registered and CRB checked instructor with many years experience, you can be assured of the best value of tuition for your money, and can find more about him by visiting his driving test tips website.
Additional Driving Articles
How to deal with different types of roundabouts.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Driving Test Appointment letter - read it!
If you've booked yourself a practical driving test, the DSA will have sent you an appointment letter giving full details of date, time and location of your car or motocycle driving test. It is important that you throughly read this letter even if you are attending the assessment in a driving school car, as they will provide you with important information that you need to know, some of which if you don't adhere to will stop the test from going ahead.
I've mentioned before that you should not arrive late for a driving test, so you will obviously need to know where the test centre is located and how to get there if you are using a private car for the test. The letter also gives details of the conditions that your driving test car needs to be in (roadworthy, displaying "L" plates, interior mirror for examiner, all lights fully functioning), and the identification documents that you need to bring with you.
Note that you will not be able to take the driving test without your licence counterpart, or if your private car has a safety recall issue that has not been rectified. All of this information is on your DSA appoinment letter, so familiarise yourself with the test requirements. You should however be able to take the test if you forgot or didn't get your apointment letter in the post after apply online via the direct.gov website and thus don't have a letter with you, as long as you've got your full identification documents, the same applies to the theory test certificate.
I've mentioned before that you should not arrive late for a driving test, so you will obviously need to know where the test centre is located and how to get there if you are using a private car for the test. The letter also gives details of the conditions that your driving test car needs to be in (roadworthy, displaying "L" plates, interior mirror for examiner, all lights fully functioning), and the identification documents that you need to bring with you.
Note that you will not be able to take the driving test without your licence counterpart, or if your private car has a safety recall issue that has not been rectified. All of this information is on your DSA appoinment letter, so familiarise yourself with the test requirements. You should however be able to take the test if you forgot or didn't get your apointment letter in the post after apply online via the direct.gov website and thus don't have a letter with you, as long as you've got your full identification documents, the same applies to the theory test certificate.
Saturday, 7 February 2009
Driving School - Roundabouts
There are 2 types of roundabouts that you will have to deal with while learning to drive in the UK or on the DSA practical car driving test, these are mini-roundabouts and major/multi-lane roundabouts.
Part of the key to developing the right driving skills to be able to successfully deal with these junctions is being able to identify them early while on the road, getting the approach right, and then using the correct procedure to give way, spot gaps in traffic and make progress as necessary.
The mini roundabout is a common junction in the UK, and as a learner driver, it won't be long after you've started driving lessons that you'll have to deal with them intially with full talk through help from your instructor, and later fully on your own, so your first task is being able to identify a mini roundabout, knowing the basic rule that you only have to give way to traffic approaching from the right.
Since a roundabout is a junction, and you would have dealt with easier junctions before graduating to mini-roundabouts, your previous experience will be a good foundation to build on, so revise your M.S.P.S.L routine and how to use it to deal with hazards and junctions. You need to also be confident in moving off swiftly as this a skill that will be called upon regularly at rounabouts. Another skill you need for dealing with mini roundabouts is the ability to change gears smoothly, in particular block gear changing (from 4th to 2nd or 3rd to first or even 4th to 1st).
You need to remember that the brake slows down the car, and you select the right gear to move in (not necessarilly from a stop).
The road sign above is one way of knowing you are approaching a mini roundabout during your driving lesson, other prompts might be a give way sign, with the solid circle painted on the road, so once you've identified the hazard, you should check your mirrors, and signal (if turning left or right, no indicators are need if following the road ahead, neither do you need to signal coming off a mini roundabout as there isn't enough time to do that and steer at the same time), get the car into the right position for the direction you are going turning, next to need to look to the right and using the information your eyes see, dealing with the traffic, or proceed if safe.
One common mistake many learner drivers do when dealing with mini roundabouts is to concentrate so much on the right without scaning the other entrances to the roundabout, thus missing gaps in the traffic.
To safely navigate mini roundabouts you need to be slow, and as much as possible go round them without touching the solid markings (this is not always possible on very small junctions).
You don't always have to stop at a mini roundabout, sometimes just slowing the car down is all that is required to give way to traffic on the right. If you do have to stop for a long queue of traffic, remember to use your handbrake to secure the car, this serves to purposes, first it stops you from being pushed into the junction if bumped from behind by a car accidentally, and secondly your car will not roll backwards. Once secured, get the car to the biting point, so you are ready to move off immediately you spot a safe gap in the traffic, and with a bit of practise, this driving skill will be mastered.
It will take sometime to be confident with roundabouts, so make full use of your driving school instructor by go to various mini roundabouts and not just the ones on DSA test routes.
Part of the key to developing the right driving skills to be able to successfully deal with these junctions is being able to identify them early while on the road, getting the approach right, and then using the correct procedure to give way, spot gaps in traffic and make progress as necessary.
Mini roundabouts
The mini roundabout is a common junction in the UK, and as a learner driver, it won't be long after you've started driving lessons that you'll have to deal with them intially with full talk through help from your instructor, and later fully on your own, so your first task is being able to identify a mini roundabout, knowing the basic rule that you only have to give way to traffic approaching from the right.Since a roundabout is a junction, and you would have dealt with easier junctions before graduating to mini-roundabouts, your previous experience will be a good foundation to build on, so revise your M.S.P.S.L routine and how to use it to deal with hazards and junctions. You need to also be confident in moving off swiftly as this a skill that will be called upon regularly at rounabouts. Another skill you need for dealing with mini roundabouts is the ability to change gears smoothly, in particular block gear changing (from 4th to 2nd or 3rd to first or even 4th to 1st).
You need to remember that the brake slows down the car, and you select the right gear to move in (not necessarilly from a stop).
The road sign above is one way of knowing you are approaching a mini roundabout during your driving lesson, other prompts might be a give way sign, with the solid circle painted on the road, so once you've identified the hazard, you should check your mirrors, and signal (if turning left or right, no indicators are need if following the road ahead, neither do you need to signal coming off a mini roundabout as there isn't enough time to do that and steer at the same time), get the car into the right position for the direction you are going turning, next to need to look to the right and using the information your eyes see, dealing with the traffic, or proceed if safe.
One common mistake many learner drivers do when dealing with mini roundabouts is to concentrate so much on the right without scaning the other entrances to the roundabout, thus missing gaps in the traffic.
To safely navigate mini roundabouts you need to be slow, and as much as possible go round them without touching the solid markings (this is not always possible on very small junctions).
You don't always have to stop at a mini roundabout, sometimes just slowing the car down is all that is required to give way to traffic on the right. If you do have to stop for a long queue of traffic, remember to use your handbrake to secure the car, this serves to purposes, first it stops you from being pushed into the junction if bumped from behind by a car accidentally, and secondly your car will not roll backwards. Once secured, get the car to the biting point, so you are ready to move off immediately you spot a safe gap in the traffic, and with a bit of practise, this driving skill will be mastered.
It will take sometime to be confident with roundabouts, so make full use of your driving school instructor by go to various mini roundabouts and not just the ones on DSA test routes.
Friday, 6 February 2009
£15 Driving Lessons
Someone recently rang my driving school receptionist looking for £15 driving lessons in West London. Now I know the credit crunch affects instructors, but I can't imagine any ADI will be covering their costs let alone earn a living by offering such cheap prices for driving tuition in the heart of London, especially when these are not introductory offers, but regular prices.
I know there are many driving school instructors offering these low prices, which makes me wonder if they are operating illegally, are ripping off the learners by offering sub-standard tuition, using various time wasting techniques to reduce the actual car driving time or maybe they aren't even instructors at all!
There is a saying that if it is too good to be true, maybe it isn't. As a learner driver looking for £15 driving instructor lessons, have you ever wondered why they are offering lessons up to £10 cheaper than other ADIs? While there are various factors that could affect the price of services offered in different parts of London, surely there can't be that large a diffence in costs incurred to run a driving school business?
Just a word of warning, you get what you pay for, but do you think it is worth being caught driving without insurance, a dangerous un-roadworthy car or even being involved in a life changing accident just because you where trying to saving a few pounds by taking £15 driving lessons from an absolute stranger whom you don't even know is a qualified instructor operating in London?
I know there are many driving school instructors offering these low prices, which makes me wonder if they are operating illegally, are ripping off the learners by offering sub-standard tuition, using various time wasting techniques to reduce the actual car driving time or maybe they aren't even instructors at all!
There is a saying that if it is too good to be true, maybe it isn't. As a learner driver looking for £15 driving instructor lessons, have you ever wondered why they are offering lessons up to £10 cheaper than other ADIs? While there are various factors that could affect the price of services offered in different parts of London, surely there can't be that large a diffence in costs incurred to run a driving school business?
Just a word of warning, you get what you pay for, but do you think it is worth being caught driving without insurance, a dangerous un-roadworthy car or even being involved in a life changing accident just because you where trying to saving a few pounds by taking £15 driving lessons from an absolute stranger whom you don't even know is a qualified instructor operating in London?
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Driving School Learner Drivers pass the Test
If you are learning to drive a car with a driving school instructor, you have a higher chance of passing the DSA UK practical car test than if you are being supervised by a family member, friend or if you just attempt the test on your own because you have a foriegn or international driving licence with many years of experience. The reason is quite simple, you need to know the required car skills, be able to perform them to the DSA standard, and at the same time remain safe during the 40minutes of the driving test, not doing so will result in a failure and you won't get a full British licence.
It is very possible to pass the driving test without the help of a qualified instructor even on the first attempt, but to increase your chances of this happening, you need to go about preparing the proper way.
Many people think that there some driving test secrets which only a few people including the DSA examiners know about, and therefore the best you as a learner can do is to use an ADI to prepare for the practical car assessment. The Driving Standards Agency has publicly made available all the information that anyone who wants to take the test needs via its website and various publications which you can buy.
One of the publications that anyone learning to drive without a driving instructor should use is The Official DSA Guide to Learning to Drive. This book written by the people who conducts the UK driving test contains all the information that the learner driver needs to pass because it tells you the standards required and with the help of your supervising driver you can practise these skills until you master them. As long as you abide by the advice given in the book and are confident you can do all that is required, then driving test nerves should not be an issue and you should pass with flying colours.
If you are not a foriegn license holder, don't have or can't afford a car to learn to drive with family or friends, then the only option left for you is to use a DSA approved driving instructor (ADI) in your quest to passing the driving test.
On your first lesson, you should check your instructors registration badge to make sure they are operating legally, as you don't want to be wasting your money paying someone to teach you to drive when they aren't qualified even if they are offering you very cheap driving lessons.
As long as your instructor is fully registered and not illegal, you can fully rest in the assurance that you will be getting the right tuition and driving skills to get you to the DSA test standard, but it still doesn't hurt to buy the The Official DSA Guide to Learning to Drive book as you can read that when not having lessons just to supplement your knowledge.
If you have a car, and can also do some private practice, make sure that you drive according to the dsa standard taught by your instructor and not the advice of your family, friend, as this will guarantee a driving test pass if you continue to do things the right way and don't cut corners.
Passing the driving test without a school instructor
It is very possible to pass the driving test without the help of a qualified instructor even on the first attempt, but to increase your chances of this happening, you need to go about preparing the proper way.
Many people think that there some driving test secrets which only a few people including the DSA examiners know about, and therefore the best you as a learner can do is to use an ADI to prepare for the practical car assessment. The Driving Standards Agency has publicly made available all the information that anyone who wants to take the test needs via its website and various publications which you can buy.One of the publications that anyone learning to drive without a driving instructor should use is The Official DSA Guide to Learning to Drive. This book written by the people who conducts the UK driving test contains all the information that the learner driver needs to pass because it tells you the standards required and with the help of your supervising driver you can practise these skills until you master them. As long as you abide by the advice given in the book and are confident you can do all that is required, then driving test nerves should not be an issue and you should pass with flying colours.
Driving School Instructors and the practical car test
If you are not a foriegn license holder, don't have or can't afford a car to learn to drive with family or friends, then the only option left for you is to use a DSA approved driving instructor (ADI) in your quest to passing the driving test.
On your first lesson, you should check your instructors registration badge to make sure they are operating legally, as you don't want to be wasting your money paying someone to teach you to drive when they aren't qualified even if they are offering you very cheap driving lessons.
As long as your instructor is fully registered and not illegal, you can fully rest in the assurance that you will be getting the right tuition and driving skills to get you to the DSA test standard, but it still doesn't hurt to buy the The Official DSA Guide to Learning to Drive book as you can read that when not having lessons just to supplement your knowledge.
If you have a car, and can also do some private practice, make sure that you drive according to the dsa standard taught by your instructor and not the advice of your family, friend, as this will guarantee a driving test pass if you continue to do things the right way and don't cut corners.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Driving School closed by Snow
Most of the UK was hit by artic weather conditions on Monday and Tuesday 2nd and 3rd feb 2009, with heavy snow falling overnight which meant that most roads were blocked, and the driving conditions were very unsafe. This resulted in many people not being able to go to work, and majority of driving schools in the south eastern part of England were also affected with most instructors having to cancel driving lessons because the conditions were not safe to drive in, let alone learn to drive a car.While it is not uncommon in the winter here in the UK to have to cancel lessons in the early part of the day (including the DSA cancelling driving tests), the conditions on Feb 2nd 2009 meant at least almost 2 days of cancellation for instructors with the resultant loss in earnings which is even worsened by the current credit crunch, and weekly franchise fees are still due which means additional pressure on driving school owners.
Driving Test and Snow
The DSA will usually cancel a driving test if there is extreme weather conditions, Snow, black ice or other dangerous driving conditions, so it was not just instructors that were out of pocket in the recent snow storms, the driving standards agency doesn't usually give compensation for tests cancelled due to weather conditions, though you'll have to check with the local test centre, as this weeks instance might be a bit different since I don't think the examiners were actually able to get to work either!
If you have a test and are not sure if it will go ahead, the number to contact the driving test centre is on the appointment letter, don't call the DSA central booking office or Nottingham Hq, as they won't be able to help you.
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