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.

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Hazard Perception Test Video

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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