The Driving Test

A survey, recently carried out by the DVSA, suggests that to give potential candidates the best possible chance of passing the driving test, they will need to have completed approximately 45 hours of driving with a professional instructor plus as much “additional” fully supervised driving practice with a member of their family or friend.

Please note that the supervising driver needs to be over 21 and have held a full UK licence for over three years. Many people fail their first driving test… Are you really ready?

TOP 10 REASONS WHY PEOPLE FAIL THE DRIVING TEST

1. Poor observation at junctions – ineffective proper observation and poor judgment of speed or space
2. Reverse parking – ineffective all around observation or a lack of accuracy (ie simply not looking around enough)
3. Use of mirrors – simply not checking all mirrors (including door mirrors) or not acting on the information
4. Pulling up on the Right and reversing two car lengths – ineffective all around observation or a lack of accuracy (ie simply not looking around enough)
5. Incorrect use of signals – not cancelling after turns or giving misleading or confusing signals
6. Moving away safely – ineffective observation such as not checking mirrors or blind spots (ie over your right shoulder check)
7. Incorrect positioning on the road – at roundabouts or on bends or straddling road markings
8. Lack of steering control – steering too early or leaving it too late, resulting in poor or dangerous road positioning
9. Incorrect positioning to turn right – at junctions and in especially along or right turns on one way streets
10. Inappropriate speed – simply driving too slowly for road conditions or being hesitant at junctions

SO WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS DURING THE PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST ?
The actual DRIVING TEST takes between 40 to 45 minutes, depending on the time off day and traffic.

During the course of the test, you will be expected to show the examiner you can drive for a 20 minutes by following instructions given by a SAT NAV. The examiner will bring a SAT NAV preloaded with various test routes… The examiner will set it up at the appropriate time and simply ask you to follow the instructions. This is known as Independent driving. Or you’ll be asked to follow a series of road signs

Don’t worry about going the wrong way, or missing a turn. The examiner will simply ask you to keep going, and he’ll get you back on route as soon as is practical.

If the road signs are not visible or hard to see, he will still prompt you. Or if you want anything clarifying, again you can ask for confirmation.

If you’re reading the road (as you should be) there’s no problem. It's designed to encourage you to become totally independent, so when you pass your test, that’s exactly what you’ll carry on doing when you’re out driving by yourself.

I’ve been teaching this aspect of driving for many years.

You will be asked to show the examiner your ability to do JUST ONE pre-set manoeuvre from the following four options

Park “ON THE RIGHT” in an appropriate place. Then reverse back in a straight line for about two cars lengths
Reverse Bay Parking (Carried out in the car park at Loughborough’s Driving Test Centre)
Reverse Parallel Parking (Behind another car on the roadside)
Forward Bay Park, then reverse out and drive on. (done in any car park during the actual test)
The Emergency “Controlled Stop” procedure could be done at random at the examiners' discretion.

You will almost certainly be asked to perform a Hill Start, plus several normal stops at the side of the road. Then asked to “Drive on” again

You will fail if you make one serious or dangerous mistake, or if you commit more than 15 driving faults

There are normally a minimum of 7 driving test’s conducted daily by each driving examiner Monday to Friday through the week, the first test being at 8.10am, followed by 9.07am.10.14am.11.11am.12.38pm.13.35pm.14.32pm…

(Extra driving test times are sometimes available during summer months at 15.29pm.16.26pm, but might be charged extra)

There are often tests available on a Saturday & Sunday, and again are charged extra by the DVSA …please consult the DVSA website for latest fees and availability

Before the actual driving test begins, the examiner will take you out to the car and ask you to perform one simple basic routine maintenance checks on your car.  In addition to another question on the move. This is known as the “SHOW ME” ”TELL ME”

An example of this could be to show/tell him how you would check the oil levels on your car, or perhaps explain how to check the Tyre pressures. All this will be explained during the course of your lessons.

Try not to get too nervous about your Driving Test!

Amazingly, 6 out of 10 fail due to Driving Test Nerves!