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Advice for Learning to Drive
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > Life > Motoring > Advice for Learning to Drive You cannot start to learn to drive a car until your provisional driving licence has been accepted and is in your possession. Generally you won't be able to learn to drive until you are 17, but if you are in receipt of the higher rate of disability allowance you can start to learn how to drive when you reach your 16th birthday. You are allowed to apply for your licence up to 2 months before your licence is due to start. But you are not allowed to drive on the road until your licence has arrived and not until you have turned 17 (or 16 if that applies to you.) To apply you will need to fill in an application form, which you can get from most post offices - it is a D1 form.
Finding an instructor and booking a lessonWhen you are looking for an instructor it might be worth asking around friends and family first to see if they can suggests anyone. Whilst there are many very good instructors out there, like with everything, there will be ones who just want the money off you and don’t give you what you need/want. If there aren’t any that people can recommend then there will be lots in the phone book. Ring up plenty of driving schools. You will probably want to know what car they use (manual or automatic), what length of lessons they do, when do they do them (evenings and weekends?)The cost for a normal lesson and then do they do any student discount, discount for multiple bookings etc. Check how they charge for the test day (do they charge for 2 hours or however long you are out for, or are there special test fees?) Do they do any theory tuition? There will be some schools that you like the sound of more than others. Book one lesson with one of them and see how it goes. Don't get talked into block booking lessons with them to start with, whilst you do save in the long term paying for 10 lessons in one go - or whatever their offer is, if you decide you want to swap after a couple of lessons with them, you wont have saved anything! Some people will be fine with the first instructor they go with, and others won't. It is your money though, and you are paying them, so if you aren’t happy with them you can swap after as many or as few lessons as you want. There are a lot of questions from people about if the AA/BSM etc are better than other driving schools. There is going to be mixed opinion on this one! AA and BSM, along with other driving schools and individual instructors have to pass the various parts needed to come an instructor. I think the AA only use fully qualified instructors (with a green badge) some places use partly qualified instructors (with a pink badge.) This doesn't mean that a pink badge instructor won't be good, just that they aren't full qualified yet. You can always request that you have a green badge instructor if you want anyway. But, going to the AA/BSM is no guarantee of quality. There will be good instructors and bad instructors anywhere you go. Most places will give discount for block booking, student discount etc. I'm not trying to tell anyone to go/or not to go to the big companies, just don't assume they will be the best and don't try ringing any others. Personally I wouldn't have gone with them on principle, as I didn't see why they should charge more for different postcodes and why they had to charge me about £6 more per hour than any other company. Book your first lesson for a time when you are happy with it. It might be best having it from and to home to start with, people often have them to/from school, college etc, but it means that you won’t have friends watching. Instructors will have dual controls (clutch and brake) and they can use the gear stick and handbrake from their side of the car, and will even turn the wheel if it is needed, so really they can do most things to control the car - except accelerate. Instructors should be calm etc during lessons, and take everything at the individuals pace - but like teachers at school, some will be better at it than others. You shouldn’t stay with an instructor if you don’t feel comfortable with them, don’t like their teaching style etc. The First LessonGenerally, although I know this can vary, the first lesson will be spent on quiet roads learning the basics of the car. If you already know this then tell them, but a lot of people won’t, so they will explain how the car works – the brake, clutch, accelerator, how to change gear. The handbrake, indicators, lights etc. They will show you how to start the car and move off, most people will then have a drive around quiet roads just learning how the car feels when it is moving etc. Learning to driveI think the DSA quote that it takes about 30 hours on average for people to learn to drive. Don’t worry if you take longer than this! Everybody is different and will learn at different paces. You will get there in the end if you stick at it! If you are only have 1 hour a week, you will obviously take a lot longer to learn than someone having a 2 hour lessons &/or driving with parents at home. During the lessons you will learn all the things that you need to pass your test. You will learn how to turn left and right, and deal with big junctions. Learn how to do roundabouts, dual carriageways, country roads, busier roads (near schools, shops etc.) You will also learn the manoeuvres needed for your test, these will be turn in the road, parallel park, reverse round the corner, emergency stop (and maybe the bay park - depending on which test centre you will be using - they don't all require this one.) See the links and info below about the manoeuvres. Driving with Parents (or friends)A lot of people will want to drive other than just lessons, a lot of this is personal preference. Generally it is probably a good idea to have some lessons with an instructor, just to check that what parents etc are saying is right, things could have changed a lot since they passed. Your parents may well be good drivers, but not know how you should do the manoeuvres for them to be test standard etc. Although, having said that - its up to the individual. If you are driving another car, you will need to be insured on it, have L plates showing on the car, and can only go out with another driver who has held a full licence for 3 or more years. Personally, I couldn't afford insurance long term, but had a week before I took a test, but I found that I struggled to get used to my mums car and it really knocked my confidence. If you can, it might be worth picking an instructor with the same car as your parents. Theory TestYou can take your theory test as any point after you are 17 (and when you have your provisional licence.) Although it is only valid for 2 years so there is no point taking it if you aren't planning on learning to drive fairly soon afterwards. Also, it can be easier if you have some lessons before you do it, then you will already be aware of some of the signs, roads markings etc and will have started to develop some sense of hazard awareness. It is currently £30 for the theory test. There are two parts to the theory test, the set of MCQs (pass mark 43/50) and the hazard perception (pass mark 44/75) ..... The hazard perception partWith the hazard perception, you need to click whenever there is a hazard developing, something which could cause the driver to have to slow down, change direction etc. Without seeing the clip you mean, I'm not sure what it was, but the driver may have been slowing down as they came up behind the bike - meaning that you needed to. Were you coming towards the it? You might have needed to move road position to let the other car have enough room to go round. You want to avoid clicking too much, or in a pattern. Click when you see a hazard coming up and then when you get closer to it. For example, you are coming up to a parked car - click - the car may move away, someone open the door, you need to move around it, etc. When you get closer to it (they may then start to open a door etc) click again! I found that otherwise I was often clicking too early - before the hazards had developed enough. You want to try and 'look ahead' down the road so that you can see what is coming towards you - like you would when you are driving, so that you see things as they are developing rather than just when you are on top of them. There will be one clip on the test that has two hazards rather than one, so don't worry about clicking for more than one thing - just don't get too clicker happy! It is worth getting a CD to practice on, a lot of it is just getting the knack right for what they actually want you to click on - just practice loads on the disc and look at the feedback they give you as to what you should have clicked on. I found the actual thing easier than the practice disc that I had been using. Video clip explaining hazard perception Multiple Choice QuestionsThere is a huge bank of questions from which the questions for the theory part are taken (around 1000) - this means that you could end up with a range of questions - and they will be different for each person and each time that they take it. There can be questions on road signs, (there will be a picture of a sign and options for what it means.) Questions about braking distances (best thing with these is just to learn them!) Questions about first end things (only basic though), for example there is a motorcyclists on the road after an accident, what is the priority,? Talking to witnesses, maintaining his airway, trying to pull his helmet of etc... Questions about pedestrian crossings. The best thing is to get a copy of the highway code and know your road signs and read through them. You can get practice CDs and books with all the questions in. Useful WebsitesThese site have hazard perception clips free & not free Tells you everything you need to know about the Theory Test Book your test online Book Your Theory Test ManoeuvresThese can be hard to explain as everybody seems to learn them in different ways and different 'methods' work differently in different cars. There are 3/4 manoeuvres that you will need to learn, depending on your test centre. You will also learn how to carry out an emergency stop. There is the turn in the road (not a three point turn - you can do it in more than three!), reverse round the corner, parallel park, and they may be a bay parking exercise depending on your test centre. The most important thing with all of these really is to take them slowly so that you have time to correct things if they start to go wrong, and to do plenty of observations. I have put some links below for more information about each one. Bay ParkingI didn't have to do this one, my test centre didn't do it, so can't really comment on it, except to say that I still can't do it now! But then I was never taught it! Bay Parking >>>> has sound as well Turn in the RoadBasically this is as the name says, turning the car around to face the other way. It isn't called a three point turn, you can take more than three to do it, normally though you won't need more than 5! Avoid touching the kerb and this one is pretty easy! Video clip of turn in the road Reverse round a cornerThis one can be hard to find explanations that work for, there is such a variety of corners, methods used for a tight corner won't work well for a big sweeping corner. Basically though, you will be pulled up before the corner, shown which one you need to reverse into. You then drive just beyond it and reverse turning into the side road - going around the corner. You need to avoid hitting the kerb as you go round, but trying not to go too wide either. When you get around the corner you will need to straighten up so that the car is fairly close to the kerb! Video clip for reverse round a corner Parallel Park or Reverse ParkThis is where you pull up parallel to a car and reverse back, turning the car into the space behind the parked car. You will be expected to do it in about 2 car lengths - that is 2 lengths of the car you are driving. Main problems with this are either turning in too close to the car you are parking behind (don't clip the other car!!!) Touching the kerb, or going the other way, and not touching the kerb but being far to wide from it! Emergency StopThese are carried out in about 1 in 3 tests, so you may get one, or you may not! One of the main faults people seem to get with this is that they stop fine, but then rush to move off again and don't do proper observations. This means checking both blind spots and all your mirrors. Practical TestYou cannot book this until you have taken and passed your theory test, you must then take it within 2 years of this as your theory cert will expire. Talk to your driving instructor about when you think you should put in for it. Everybody will be different and you don't want to rush it too much and end up wasting money and knocking your confidence by failing when you shouldn't have taken it. Having said that, a lot of people find that the first test is good experience and helps them to know what to expect if they have to do it again. It is currently £56.50 for a weekday test and £58.00+ for a weekday evening or Saturday test. The day of your testWhen you go for your test you need to take, your theory test pass certificate and both parts of your driving licence (photocard and paper counterpart.) If you have changed your name etc since they were issued you need to take proof/evidence of that. You don’t need to take it, but it is probably worth taking the letter or printout with the time, date and place of your test on it. Check this to make sure that you know what time you need to be there! If you have lost any part of your licence or your theory cert you could risk turning up without it and hoping you will be OK – but in general I don’t think you will be allowed to take your test. 0870 0101372 seems to be the phone number that you need to ring to ask about any missing or incorrect documents. If you are having a lesson before your test then make sure that your instructor knows what time your test is (and where it is.) If you are taking the test in your own car, make sure that it is fit for being used in a test (check the regulations which are on the DSA website.) Also, make sure that you know where the test centre etc is, and that you will be able to get there in time - maybe have a practice run before hand (at a similar time to your test) so you know how long it will take you to get there. Also, if you are taking your test in your own car make sure that there is someone who can come with you in your car to the test centre. You are allowed to ask for a friend or your instructor to sit in on your test if you want, but they must not interfere in any way. They will have to sit in the back of the car and won’t talk during the test. I did this on one of my tests and both me and my instructor found it helpful. I had failed a several tests by this point, and my instructor didn’t know why as I was driving well in lessons. It meant that he could see what I was doing wrong on my test, and in future lessons he could help explain that to me better. Taking your testWhen you get to the test centre you will wait for your examiner to call your name. Then you have to show him/her your photocard and paper part of your licence and you theory cert. If you have had a change of name/address etc to what is on these then take evidence of this. You will be asked to sign the test sheet which is saying that the car is insured for the purpose of the test (if its an instructors car it will be, if its you own then check with your insurance company.) They will then ask you to take them to your car. They will give you the information about your test (which its sounds like they have learnt off by heart) "the test is 38-40mins and will take in a variety of roads and situations...." On the way they will ask you to read a number plate at the set distance, if you get this wrong you get a couple more chances, but if you can't get it right then thats it - you can't take your test. Make sure you try this before, I struggled on my first test and had to work the letters out - got my eyes tested before my next test and found I needed glasses! Show Me, Tell Me QuestionsYou will then have the show me/tell me questions (one of each) the list of these is on the DSA website. Here!If you can't do them, its only a minor, so don't worry too much! You can then get in your car and sort your seat etc out whilst the examiner starts to fill their sheet in (car reg etc.) They will explain that they want you to follow the road ahead unless they tell you otherwise. They will then tell you that you may move away when you are ready. Make sure that you use mirrors (and indicators if they are needed) a lot of people forget this in their rush to move away. The TestYou will be asked to do 2 manoeuvres during the test and maybe the emergency stop. If you are asked to do the emergency stop you will be warned before hand, so don't worry about them suddenly springing it on you. But you need to be alert still as you may need to do an unplanned one if (for example) a child runs into the road etc. There is loads of advice people can give during the test. All of which is easier said than done at the time! Drive how you have been taught, don't go over the speed limit for roads, but try and do the limit - if it is safe to do so. You won't impress the examiner by driving slowly. Make sure that you check mirror often. They will ask you to pull in at the side several times during the test (sometimes on a hill, or close behind a parked vehicle etc) and then ask you to move away. Make sure you check your mirrors (and blind spot) for this, indicate when you are going to move out (if there are any cars nearby) don't just stick an indicator on and wait for someone to let you out. If you are moving away on a hill, make sure you get the bite - and don't roll!! When you do the manoeuvres, take your time (and do plenty of observations,) but don't take forever over them! If you start to go wrong try and correct it, you will probably only get a minor for control. If you carry on and hit the kerb, then you will fail. Make sure you watch what other cars are doing - they will often wait for you, then when there is a big enough gap try and squeeze past - just stop and let them get on with it! When you are at busy junctions/roundabouts etc don't rush into going when you shouldn't. If you don't go when you could have done, you will probably only get a minor for hesitation. If you go when you shouldn't have done then you will probably fail for it. After you have passed your testSo....the examiner has told you that you have passed! What next? I think with the new licences they take your photocard part off you and send it away for a replacement, if you have a slightly older licence (I did) then you will have to send it off for replacement yourself (with a fee to cover it.) If you send it off yourself then you will need to send the paper part, photocard, cheque for the fee and your pass certificate. You are allowed to drive as soon as you have received the pass certificate, you don't need to wait for your new licence. You just need to make sure that you have insurance on the car you will be driving. I took a photocopy of the certificate and my licence before I sent them off just because I wanted something to show that I was allowed to drive before my pink licence came through. You don't need to do that though, you can legally drive straight away! Probationary PeriodWhen you have passed your driving test you will be subject to a two year probationary period. This applies to anyone driving on a licence issued by the DVLA. The two year period begins on the day you first pass the practical test - not when you first drive a car after you have passed your test. If during the probationary period, you are convicted of driving offences for which six or more penalty points are awarded, your licence will be revoked. If your full driving licence is revoked, you will be treated as if you never passed a driving test. To continue driving, you will have to get a provisional driving licence again and drive with L plates until you have passed both the theory and practical parts of the driving test again. You cannot appeal the revocation of your licence. However, you can appeal against the conviction or sentence which brought the number of penalty points up to 6 or more, you can apply to the DVLA to have your licence restored pending the result of the appeal. If the court notifies the DVLA that the sentence is under appeal, the full licence should be restored without a further test. There is no minimum period for which the licence must be revoked. As soon as you have passed both the theory and practical parts of another driving test, you can apply for a new full licence. However, the penalty points will remain on the driver’s licence for four years from the date of your offence. After four years you can ask the DVLA to have them removed from your licence.
CommentsAll notes originally written by Cathie86 [1], except the road rage section, which is by Spiral Architect. |
