The moment you've been looking and working hard towards has arrived.
The moment you've been looking and working hard towards has arrived.
But sometimes, things out of our control can take this away from us on the day of the test.
So we need to ensure you are prepared for as many eventualities as we can before taking you to test.
As far as the DVSA are concerned, the stats for an average learner learning to drive should have taken at least 45 hours of driving tuition with an approved driving instructor and an additional 22 hours of home tuition to build on their experience outside of their lessons.
So in total about 67 hours of driving experience before taking their test.
Now, this figure is an average! Some learners will learn substantially quicker and other substantially longer, but what is important is not the length of time put in, it's about being prepared for a lifetime of safe driving once you have passed your test.
We understand the pressure put on young drivers to get their driving licence.
The pressure of getting a job and needing a licence.
Needing a car to get to College or Uni.
The cost of lessons and not being able to afford that many.
Peer pressure to just get it done, especially that of some parents let alone mates who can't wait to get a lift.
NONE of this is important if you are not prepared fully to be on the roads for the rest of your life.
Booking a test "just to have a go" is NOT the reason for booking a test!
What would happen if you managed to get a lucky pass? Would you truly be prepared for all types of road, all types of weather conditions? All types of volumes of traffic, driving at night? driving at speeds?
Missing vital learning, could literally be the difference between life and death!
And with the statistics of 5 death per day on UK roads, you do NOT want to become one of those statistics!
Overall, in 2022, around a fifth of all killed or seriously injured ( KSI ) casualties from collisions involving cars were in collisions which involved a young car driver. Young male car drivers aged 17 to 24 are 4 times as likely to be killed or seriously injured compared with all car drivers aged 25 or over.
Young drivers aged between 17-24 account for 7% of driving licence holders but were involved in 16% of fatal and serious accidents in 2017.
So now we've started this section off with some downbeat stats...... Are YOU really ready for your test? Are YOU fully prepared to go it alone from here on in if you pass your test?
If that is the case, well done for putting in the time and effort to get this far. And we wish you all the best for the next 40 minutes with an examiner.
This is what usually happens on the day of your driving test.
Your Instructor / accompanying driver will usually ensure that you arrive about 10 minutes before the test.
Hey! nobody wants to turn up late and have additional stress.
You won't be allowed into the car park until 5 minutes before your test, this is to keep the car park clear for returning students from the test before yours.
This will give them time to get back from their 40 minutes, park up, get their results, allow them to swap seats with their accompanying driver or Instructor and make their way home.
You should then have a less crammed car park for you to park up yourself.
It is advisable to reverse into one of the parking bays so that you are ready to drive straight out at the start of your test.
Your car should be cleaned before your test starts, have adequate fuel for the test, and be fully road legal.
Tax, Valid Insurance that also covers you for test purposes, and a valid MOT certificate.
There are certain restrictions on vehicles that can or cannot be used, this information can be found on the Gov.uk website.
At the time your test should start, an examiner will come out from the test centre and call your name.
They will introduce themselves and ask that the name they have called is the name you would like to be referred to during the test.
They will ask to see your provisional driving licence and possibly your theory test certificate.
They will ask you a couple of questions and will check your licence photograph is a true representation of the person in front of them.
You will be asked to check that the Email address that you supplied when booking the test is the same address that you would like your test results to be sent to.
They will ask you whether your accompanying driver is coming out on test with you. (they are just a passenger and cannot take part in the test, so you will NOT be permitted to speak with them. If an examiner feels that there is some form of interaction between you and your accompanying driver that is helping you with the test, the examiner has every right to cancel the test)
The examiner will also ask whether you would like your accompanying driver to listen in at the end of the test to the test debrief.
The choice of your accompanying driver being with you during the test or listening in at the end of the test is yours not theirs.
Once these formalities have been carried out, your actual test begins.
You will be asked to read a number plate at approximately 20 metres away. YOU MUST be able to read this, if you need glasses to do so, that is fine, but you will then need to wear those glasses for the test.
If you cannot read the number plate with or without glasses the test
WILL NOT CONTINUE.
If you have had to use glasses to read the number plate you will have a restriction placed on your full licence should you pass, which means whenever you are driving after you have passed your test you must always wear glasses or prescription contact lenses while you are driving.
Once this has been done, they may give you a run down of what will happen during the test.
This is roughly what will be said to you.
"The test will last between 38-40 minutes taking in different road and traffic situations, they will want you to follow the road ahead at all times unless instructed otherwise or unless road signs or markings need you to do something differently.
You will be asked to carry out one reverse manoeuvre and possibly an emergency stop.
There will be an independent drive section where you will need to drive independently following a Sat nav or follow road signs, this will last for anywhere up to 20 mins of the 38-40 minutes."
You will then be asked if you have any questions regarding what you have been told.
Once this has been done they will ask you to make your way to the car and either, get in and make yourself comfortable but do not start the engine, or you may be asked to make your way to the car and open the bonnet.
Before you leave the test centre you will be asked a "Tell me" question and this may be to do with an item under the bonnet, to do with the tyres, or may be to do with something inside the car.
The examiner will make a visual inspection of the vehicle you are driving, and also take some details of your instructors badge if you are with an instructor.
The visual inspection is to check the condition of the car and tyres and also to ensure that your vehicle is road legal.
Once you are both in the car and seat belts on, you will be asked to start the engine and exit the car park.
Now is the time to
"show them what you know, and the skills you have acquired in your training and practice up to today"
If you have put in the relevant time and gained enough experience,
passing your test "should" be a walk in the park.
Just "do what you do" on an everyday lesson.
Don't do something you've never done before as it is possibly wrong.
Ensure that the drive is comfortable for you and the examiner.
Do not take unnecessary risks.
KEEP IT SAFE!
There are 3 stages of "Fault marking"
Driver Faults
Serious Faults
Dangerous Faults.
A pupil may make up to 15 driver faults and still pass their test
A pupil cannot make any serious or dangerous faults as that would lead to a test fail.
A serious fault is deemed that you have caused another road user to change speed or direction because of something you did.
A dangerous fault would be when an examiner has felt the need to intervene, such as:-
Using the dual controls
Using the steering wheel to avoid a collision
Telling you to STOP because you may have missed something like a car pulling out of a junction or lights changing to red and they deem that you had not seen it happening.
Or telling you to GO, such as waiting to turn right at lights, you have passed the stop line and are waiting for a gap in traffic to turn or for the filter light to come on. The filter light does not come on and the lights change back to red and the pupil stays where they are.
The examiner will tell the pupil to go so that the junction is clear for traffic coming from their right.
This has led to examiner intervention and therefore a fail.
So, stay calm, keep the drive safe, show what you have been taught, if you make a mistake don't think it's game over just focus on the remaining journey and continue to drive your best right up to the time that your engine is switched off back at the test centre.
Although a candidate is permitted 15 driver faults, if there are 4 or more faults in any one category, it is highly likely that the examiner will deem that you do not have enough competency within that area and may change the driver faults into a serious fault.
If you have been taking driving lessons with an instructor, they will know when you are ready and will advise you so.
That being said and with the current state of the availability of driving test in the UK (up to 6 months) your driving instructor may have to make an educated guess as to when they believe you will be at a standard and have gained enough experience to take and pass your test. As it gets closer to your test date your instructor may advise you to postpone your test to a later date as you may not have covered the full curriculum or not be at the required standard to pass the test.
This is not an instructor trying to drag out your lessons for more money!
This is because your instructor does not want to hear of you being involved in a road traffic accident because you were not prepared to be on the roads yet on your own.
Your driving instructor is a professional in the field of driver tuition, TAKE THEIR ADVICE!
If you choose NOT to take their advice, and "have a go anyway" expect your driving instructor to refuse you the use of their car for the test!
Of course you are still entitled to continue with the test, but it will be in your own car or your parents car or a hire car that has dual controls fitted.
To understand whether you are or are not ready for your test, you need to be truthful with yourself.
Can you do everything yourself?
You need to be capable of doing all this ON YOUR OWN without any interaction from your instructor.
Can you carry out a cockpit check and start the car?
Can you carry out a safety check around the car every time without prompts?
Can you select appropriate gears without looking at the gear level and have the correct gear selected for every situation you are in?
Can you maintain excellent road position throughout your drive and especially on roundabouts?
Can you turn into and emerge from junctions safely having carried out the MSPSGL routine every time?
Are you capable of carrying out every manoeuvre without prompt and in any given situation whether that be uphill, down hill to the left or right, in heavy traffic, or tight situations?
Have you had enough experience on all types of road to include Urban, rural, Town centres, Dual carriageways, Motorways?
Can you drive in all different types of weather condition to include , sun, rain, wind, snow, fog, ice and night time?
Do you understand all road signs, road markings, priorities?
Do you adjust your speeds to the circumstances?
Do you know how to work out the speed limit for the roads you are on?
Do you understand and know how to react to understeer or oversteer?
Do you understand all the rules behind having a legal vehicle?
Are you aware of saccadic masking and how it can affect what you see at junctions?
Can you move off on a hill without roll back?
Can you move off every time without stalling?
Can you pull in without touching the kerb?
Do you check your mirrors generally when driving and every time before changing speed or direction?
Do you believe everything your instructor tells you regarding road safety, or do you just agree with them as their old and don't know anything about keeping you safe?
Do you think 33mph in a 30mph zone is acceptable once you pass your test? As you've been told by others you are permitted 10% over the limit?
This list is NOT exhaustive but just some of the more common areas where fault or fails will come during your driving test.
Just this small list will give you a good idea if you are honest with yourself as to whether you are truly ready for your test or not.
If you cannot do any of these without interaction with your driving instructor, you are NOT ready for your test.
In summary.
The Driving test, is for you to show an examiner that you are capable of driving safely for 40 minutes having complete control over your car.
They will assess your capabilities to:-
Meet the minimum eyesight requirement to hold a driving licence.
Move off and stop safely.
Use the Accelerator, Clutch, Gears, Footbrake, Parking Brake and steering correctly.
Ensure you have set the car up to suit you before moving off, Mirrors, seat position, seatbelt etc.
That you can use ancillary items of the vehicle whilst driving and explain your understanding of others ancillary items when stationary.
You can perform an Emergency stop if requested.
Use your mirrors correctly before signalling, changing direction or speed.
Use your signals when necessary, correctly and in a timely manner.
Be capable of arriving at junctions at the correct speed, carrying out effective observations, positioning correctly, without cutting corners, mounting pavements, or crossing centre lines.
Be able to judge and make safe decisions when meeting vehicles, overtaking or crossing the path of other road users.
Show that your position in the road for normal driving and on roundabouts is correct and safe.
Showing that you understand how to deal with Pedestrian crossings, positioning your vehicles for normal stops, awareness and forward planning, having a good clearance on parked vehicles or other obstructions, can keep a safe following distance in moving and stationary traffic and can show a good use of speed.
You must be able to show that you can make progress where necessary and not be unduly hesitant when necessary.
You need to show that you are capable of responding to traffic signs, road markings, traffic lights, traffic controllers and all other road users.
You must also be able to show that you can control a car with complete control and effective observations when carrying out a requested manoeuvre such
forward bay parking, reverse bay parking, parallel parking or pulling up on the right.
As a general statistic,most new drivers will have had an accident of some sort within the first 2 years of gaining a driving licence,
and generally, a vast majority of accidents happen within a mile of the drivers house, usually because of complacency with their local area.
