Making Sure Your Test Vehicle Is Suitable

Posted on August 24th, 2010 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test.

Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has issued a notice on using space saver tyres on the learner driver cars during the practical driving test. The notice was prompted by increasing number of complaints from candidates whose test didn’t go ahead because their cars were fitted with space saver tyres. That also means they lost their driving test fee.

While it’s become a common feature for modern car manufacturers to use space saver tyres, Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) guideline clearly states that the tyre cannot be fitted to a leaner driver car. Following DSA notice we feel it necessary to remind all driving instructors and their pupils of essential vehicle safety requirements at the driving test.

1. Vehicle recall
   DSA may prevent a candidate from taking practical driving test when the car is subject to a manufacturer recall or safety notice. If the recall occurs, the car automatically becomes unsuitable for the test unless a candidate provides evidence showing the test car has been checked and rectification is not necessary. If you car does need remedial work, you should rebook your driving test.
2. Electronically operated parking brakes
   It is one of the key driving skills to be able to coordinate the gas, clutch and parking brakes control, which a candidate should demonstrate on the driving test. Electronically operated parking brakes make it much easier to handle so the test cars with electronic handbrakes are not suitable for the test.
3. Space saver tyres
   You should ensure the test vehicle is fitted with the same size tyre on the same axle and that tyres are not speed rated. No space saver tyres permitted!

A test car should also be fitted with a speedometer that measures in mph and km/h, L-plates on the front and rear, a passenger head restraint, an interior mirror and seatbelt for the examiner.

Good luck on your driving test!

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Everything You Should Know About Independent Driving

Posted on August 24th, 2010 by admin, under Driving Test.

Driving Instructor Training blog continues to update you on what’s happening in the industry. From Monday the 4th October, the changes to the driving test as part of DSA’s Learning to Drive Programme come into effect. Candidates will be asked to drive independently for about ten minutes following directions, traffic signs or a combination of both.

The reason behind the introduction of this part to the practical driving test is to assess the competence of a learner driver to handle driving through the route independently. Please, be aware that it is not to assess your ability to remember directions. If you get lost, it won’t be considered as a driving fault as long as your driving is safe.

If you do go off the pre-determined route, your examiner will help you find your way back. You may also ask the examiner to remind directions while driving. This new section is not expected to add to the driving test duration.

Good luck on your driving test!

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Getting a Driving Licence in the UK

Posted on May 23rd, 2010 by admin, under Advice for Learner Drivers, Driving Test.

I guess one of the things lots of young people want to get out of their 17th birthday is to start learning how to drive. Our post will brief 17-year-olds and anyone wanting to get a full driving licence on what they need to do to make it happen.

Provisional Licence

For starters, you need to apply for a provisional licence. You are not allowed to take driving lessons until your provisional licence has been accepted and in your possession. Application process is easy. You simply need to fill out a driving licence application from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and pay a provisional licence fee of £ 50. Provisional licence, however, puts drivers under certain restrictions.

1. You must clearly display L-plates on the front and rear of your car.
2. You can’t drive a car alone. Learner driver must be supervised by a full driving licence holder aged at least 21.
3. Learner drivers are not allowed to use motorways.

Driving test

If you are not the Queen, who’s not required to have a driving licence in order to drive a car, you will have to pass the UK driving test before you can get your desired full driving licence. Worried about deteriorating road safety, Driving Standard Agency (DSA) continues its efforts to improve the ways learner drivers are tested. We have seen some changes introduced over the past several years and further revisions are on the way. Below we will try to clarify the driving test process and new DSA requirements. The driving test currently consists of two basic parts: theory test and practical driving test.

Theory Test

Your theory test will include two parts: multiple-choice questions test and hazards perception test. These are not separate parts. If you pass one and fail the other, that means you’ve screwed up the whole test and you will have to start again. A fee to take the theory test is £31. If you fail the test, you lose your money with it.

During the multiple-choice part you will be asked 50 questions in 57 minutes, which makes about one minute per question. To pass the test, you need to have 43 right answers. Since last September, DSA introduced one case study-style question to this part. There is nothing new about case studies as you’ve had plenty of them at school. The hazard perception tests starts a few minutes after multiple choice questions part. You will be shown 14 driving episodes with developing hazards. You task will be to identify the hazard as soon as possible. The highest score you can get for each hazard is five. The pass mark is 50 out of 75.

Practical Driving Test

Once you’ve passed theory test you are allowed to take practical driving test that is also made up of two parts. Before you can do that, you need to complete your driving lessons schedule and pay a fee of £62 (weekday fee). The first part of driving test was introduced in 2003 and is called show me/tell me. Your examiner will ask you some maintenance related questions. It is called show me/tell me because you will be challenged with one “show me” question and one “tell me” question. For example, your examiner may ask you to show him where to check oil level and then ask to tell him how to change a tyre. If you fail to answer either one or both questions, this would count as 1 driving fault. After show me/tell me challenge you will proceed to your practical driving test. What happens during the test? Your examiner will give you directions which you should follow. You driving will demonstrate to the examiner how safe you are on the road and how well you can read the road signs. You’ll be also asked to perform manoeuvres including reversing around the corner, turning in the road and reverse parking. A candidate is allowed to make no more than 15 driving faults while the test lasts 40 minutes. Here is important update for those are only planning to get their driving licence. As part of Learning to Drive Programme initiated by DSA, from October 2010, a new part will be introduced to the practical driving test, Assessment of Competence to Drive Independently. During this part, the candidates will be driving on their own without directions from examiner. DSA says the new part will not add extra time to the test.

This post covers basic steps you need to take to get your full driving licence in the UK. Follow updates on the blog to get some useful advice on how to deal with your theory and practical tests and ensure your first pass.

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Learning to Drive Programme Unfolds

Posted on November 24th, 2009 by admin, under Advice for Learner Drivers, Driving Instructor, Driving Test.

DSA continues to be taking measures aimed at improving road safety and the way learner drivers are instructed and tested. Today we are going to update you on DSA’s Leaning to Drive Programme. We will recap what’s been achieved already and look at what’s coming next.

Learning to Drive Programme focuses on newly qualified drivers and includes measures built around three themes.

• Pre-driver education
• Strengthening the learning processes and the way learner drivers are tested
• Post test

The programme includes three basic phases.

Phase 1: Voluntary Pre-Driver Qualification and Abridged Theory Test, 2009

January saw the introduction of a voluntary pre-driver qualification in Safe Road Use. It targets 14-16 year olds but remains open to all age groups. The course consists of two modules, each taking about 40 hours. Despite the course is voluntary, it gives an advantage to those who passes it. They gain a credit towards the theory test, valid for three years. This credit means an abridged theory test, including 35 multiple choice questions instead of 50 and a lower theory test fee.

Phase 2: Case Studies, 2009

If you are currently on the training, you should be aware about case studies included in the multiple choice section of the theory test. The revamp came into effect on September 28. DSA explained this move as a measure designed to better assess learner drivers’ understanding of the theory. Case study puts knowledge into context and brings pupils closer to real life situations. Case study takes form of a short story on which five multiple choice questions are based. Only one case study is currently introduced.

Phase 3: Assessment of Competence to Drive Independently, 2010

From October 2010, DSA plans to introduce an assessment of competence to drive independently on all practical tests. This independent section is supposed to assess the candidate’s ability to drive independently of direction from the examiner. In other words, the candidate will drive as if they were alone. This new section makes perfect sense as learner drivers should be able to make timely and independent decisions before they can safely use roads by themselves. Independent driving will not add extra time to the test. DSA plans to reduce the number of reversing manoeuvres from two to one to fit the interdependent section in.

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Learner Driver Theory Test Revamped

Posted on October 26th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Schools, Driving Test.

Learning to Drive programme launched by Driving Standard Agency (DSA) is coming into its new phase with the introduction of changes to learner driver theory test. The Learning to Drive was planned as a long-term programme to overhaul learner driver test practices and regulations with the aim to strengthen the way drivers are trained and tested at driving schools.

From late September this year, learner drivers taking their theory test will face case study questions. As of now only one new question has been added in each theory exam for drivers, motorcyclists and moped riders. Instead of just choosing correct answer out of multiple-choice list, learner drivers will find a case study of driving episode. Candidates will judge by context and answer the case study question in the common way by choosing the right answer from a multiple-choice list using mouse or touch screen. Case studies are not something learners never heard about before as they are being extensively used in education.

DSA announced about the introduction of one new question based on existing multiple-choice questions so learner drivers could adapt to the concept. DSA officials, however, say they plan to include more case studies into exams in future. The reason for revamping the approach to the theory test was that case study can really put candidates into the context and show how well they understand what they have learnt during their theory training.

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No Driving Instructors In the Back Seat On L-Tests

Posted on October 15th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test.

Driving Standards Agency (DSA) initiative to force an observer into the back seat of learner car during driving test has been reversed earlier in the week. That mandatory requirement was dropped, though candidates may still ask their driving instructor or a parent who learnt them to drive to be present in the car on their practical driving test.

DSA planned to revise driving test regulations last May when officials announced their intention to make it mandatory for the candidates to take an observer on-board during their practical test. The idea behind new rule was that an observer could be valuable during the learning process, which in turn would bring road safety benefits.

Driving Instructor Association (DIA) representatives and other stakeholders, however, saw it as the initiative could do exactly the opposite of what DSA officials were trying to achieve. The revamp of driving test regulations generated hot debates. There was even an E-petition from candidates to stop DSA from introducing the rule. The final round of debate was the meeting of DSA and DIA representatives late in September, just weeks before the rule was scheduled for introduction.

Finally, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced DSA put a hold on the revamp to avoid unnecessary regulation. But the choice whether to have observer sitting in during L-test still remains with candidates. In his statement, Adonis insists that having someone sitting in will enhance learning experience and, in turn, improve road safety.

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Road safety

Posted on March 3rd, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test, Driving Tips.

All Driving Instructors have a responsibility to ensure that we drive safely and maintain our driving school vehicles in a roadworthy condition and to make every effort to promote road safety and that of others for the benefit of the environment.

How well can your learner driver see?

The driver of a motor vehicle is the most important component. The driver decides which way to turn, when to use the accelerator and when to use the brakes. Learner drivers need to see and react to changing conditions very quickly.

How much you see depends on how well you can see.

Legal requirements.

The learner driver must be able to read in good daylight, with glasses or contact lenses if necessary, a stationary number plate from a minimum distance of 20.5 metres (67 feet). From September 2001, a learner driver must be able to read a new style number plate from a distance of 20 metres (66 feet). Passing this test does not imply perfect vision.

Watching your speed

1. Driving too fast for road and traffic conditions and misjudging speed and distance are the two most common causes of crashes.
2. The learner driver should always drive at a speed that will allow the pupil to stop well within the distance they can see clear.
3. The pupil must also leave enough space between the driving school vehicle and the vehicle in front so that its possible to pull up safely if it slows down or stops suddenly.

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Restoring a pupils confidence

Posted on January 8th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test, Driving Tips.

Generally speaking, a learner driver doesn’t deliberately set out to make a mistake on purpose nor do they enjoy making errors. However errors are essential for anyone setting out to learn to drive. It is from errors that we learn to make the necessary adjustments in order to become a safe driver and pass the driving test. Errors will always occur no matter how exceptional a driving instructor you are. But if you use errors as a primary teaching base when giving instruction to learner drivers, this will be counter-productive. Allowing your pupil to to make continual driving mistakes is destructive and will damage the relationship between the driving instructor and the learner driver.

When an error has occurred, the best way to restore confidence is to repeat the action without the learner driver repeating the error. To guarantee success, the driving instructor must take full responsibility – even if you are on the way to the driving test centre when the error occurs!. All the driving instructor has to do is “tell” the learner driver when the error is about to occur – which is usually long enough for the confidence to be restored.

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Hazard Perception

Posted on August 28th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Test, Driving Tips.

Hazard Perception is the drivers ability to recognise a situation on the road which is either dangerous, or has the potential to develop into a dangerous situation in which some driver action will be required. Good hazard perception requires good visual scanning and anticipation, and a good understanding of how driving situations can develop.

Why the need for Hazard Perception

• Over confidence
  Young drivers rate their own performance as above average. They are more likely to equate “good” driving with the ability to master the controls of the car at higher speeds. However, vehicle control is only part of being a good, safe driver.
• Under-estimation of risk
  Young drivers take longer to develop the risk assessment skills required to safely interact with other road users. They detect and assess hazards more slowly, and they also under-estimate the risk of a hazard resulting in a crash and over-estimate their ability to deal with hazards.
• Age
  Young and novice drivers have a higher crash rate because they are inexperienced, their cognitive and perceptual skills are not fully developed and they take more risks. They also pick up bad habits quickly.
• Lack of driving experience
  Teenage drivers have less training and experience, which leads to more traffic violations.
• Poor attitudes
  The fact that violations, rather than errors or lapses, are associated with crashes suggests that they are caused by a poor attitude to road safety, rather than a lack of skill on the part of the drivers. While it is necessary to train drivers to a basic level skill, it is also necessary to persuade or constrain drivers not to violate. Therefore road safety efforts should be focussed on attitude change as well as initial skill training.

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Make sure your Driving Instructor is legal!

Posted on June 25th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test, Driving Tips.

When choosing a UK Driving Instructor you should make sure they are registered with the Driving Standards Agency.

Many people think being a Driving Instructor is an easy job, all they do is sit in the car giving directions all day. Teaching somebody to pass the driving test takes a great deal of patience and a lot of awareness. When you have finished for the day – you are not physically tired, but mentally tired.

It is illegal to take money from pupils for the giving of driving instruction unless the driving instructor is registered with the DSA.

To become registered your driving instructor must first have passed a police check. They have then to pass a Theory and Hazard Perception Test followed by an Advanced Driving Test.

Once they have passed the Advanced driving test they can choose to take 40 hours training and go on to a Trainee Licence. This allows them to gain experience for the Final Exam.

Your driving instructor must display his license to instruct in the window of the driving school vehicle. If the license is green – then the driving instructor is fully qualified. If the license is pink – then the instructor is a Trainee. You should check the license in the window, make sure it has not expired and the photograph matches that of your driving instructor.

If you pay somebody to teach you to drive that is not a registered driving instructor – you are not insured to drive the vehicle. It is only registered driving instructors that can get insurance to teach people to drive.

Don’t worry if your driving instructor is on a trainee licence – they will have undergone a lot of training to get the licence and as a result they will be more up to date than perhaps an instructor that has been teaching for 20 years.

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