Independent driving, new driving test from 4th October 2010

Ok so the driving test is changing soon, is there anything to be concerned about? I'd say not. This is what will happen; at some point during your test the examiner will get you to stop on the left as normal advise you that he/she wants you to do some independent driving. They will explain that they either want you to follow a series of directions similar to the junctions shown here. Alternatively that you should follow signs for a location e.g. major town. Since it is always the second half of the test, you are bound to be driving back towards the test centre. So for example please follow signs for Lichfield or Sutton Coldfield. You may also be asked to do a combination both following a series of junction, then follow signs for wherever.

Important note: In the current test if the examiner asks you to turn left at the end of the road and you actually turn right, what happens? As long as you do it safely and commit no driving faults, the examiner will say "I actually asked you to turn left, but don't worry I will get us back onto the correct route." It doesn't matter at all, really, really it is fine. Similarly in the independent driving section of the new test, if you can't remember the route or get confused, this is what to do. Follow the route that you think is probably correct and do it safely (using you normal procedures). If there is time ask the examiner to clarify, but if in any doubt just carry on safely and the examiner will help with directions as necessary.
Independent driving is being used from October 4th 2010 and there will be one less reversing manoeuvre, you still have to be able to do all four, so keep practising.

If you looking for a good instructor, check out the websites.

RAMP and MSPSL - secrets for passing test

Following on from yesterday's tip - let's look at how the examiner's are taught. Ok so there's a junction coming up and we are going to turn right - this is what the examiner thinks: RAMP = (check) Road Ahead, (check) Mirror, (eyes on) Pupil and says "at the road ahead please turn right". The examiner then checks if the pupil follows MSPSL. Mirrors - are pupil's eyes looking into internal and right mirrors? Signal - is pupil's finger applying right signal at the correct time? Position - are we steering to just left of centre? Speed - are we slowing down to correct speed for junction, correct gear too? Look - is pupil looking ahead and right? And finally is the pupil's decision a good one i.e. to go or stop?
So every time the examiner says " at the ..... ahead please turn ......" - you should kick off your MSPSL procedure - this is the correct way to deal with ALL hazards anyway and if you apply it correctly, you will have a better than average chance in your test.

More tips soon in the meantime check out my intensive course website

Get inside the examiner's head to help pass test

During the practical test the examiner must to go through a number of set procedures and understanding these will help you pass. You will be stopped on the left around 8 times on your test, sometimes prior to a manoeuvre but mostly to check that that your safety check hold up when put under pressure. So to stop on the left we use MSM and it isn't finished until you apply parking brake, select neutral and cancel any signal; you will then be told "thank you, drive on when your ready". When you hear this, think "drive on when safe" & do all around observation finally checking right over your right shoulder. Sometimes you will be stopped on an uphill & yes your ability to use good clutch control is being tested, but the main thing is this. Since it generally takes a few seconds to pull away uphill, you MUST check over your right shoulder again & again, as often as it takes until you are off and running. You will be asked to stop on the left reasonably close to a parked car; again when you drive off it will take a few seconds to clear the obstacle; no prizes for guessing what you MUST do (again & again as often as it takes). Next tip about RAMP and MSPSL in next blog.

Learn safe driving for life AND pass your test.

Keeping a bubble of safety around your new (or old) car

Here a few tips to keep you safe before and after you pass.

When travelling in traffic & you need to stop, try to maintain a gap of around 1.5 meters to the vehicle in front. Measure this easily by checking that you can just see the tyres of the vehicle ahead touching the tarmac (road). Why why why - try the car in front breaks down & if you are too close, how would you steer around? It could also roll back - who hasn't done that? If an emergency vehicle wants to come between traffic, it will be easier to go left or right if you leave a gap - could save a life or ....

In dry weather use the 2 second rule; by watching the vehicle ahead pass a stationary object (tree, sign, bridge) and then saying "Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule". If you get to the stationary object before you finish that phrase, then you are following too close. It takes 2 second to say that and if the road condition is poor e.g. wet or loose surface then double that time i.e. say it twice.



Let's say you overtake a slower vehicle on a dual carriageway, how soon should you pull over in front of it? Well you really want to leave a 2 second gap again; but how to measure that? The easiest way is to carry on until you see BOTH headlight come into you internal mirror - works every time.


Drive safely and take care especially just after you pass.

Top ten reasons for failing the practical driving test

According to the Driving Standards Agency, the current pass rate for the UK driving test is 43%. So it has to be useful to know what most people do wrong.

The top ten reasons for failing the driving test are:

1. Observation at junctions: Ineffective observation and judgement.
2. Reverse parking manoeuvre: Ineffective observation or lack of accuracy.
3. Use of mirrors: Not checking or not acting on information from mirrors.
4. Reversing around a corner manoeuvre: Ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy.
5. Incorrect use of signals on driving test: Not cancelling or giving misleading signals.
6. Moving away safely: Ineffective observation before moving.
7. Incorrect positioning on the road: At roundabouts or on bends.
8. Lack of steering control: Steering too early or leaving it too late.
9. Incorrect positioning to turn right: At junctions and in one way streets.
10. Inappropriate speed during the test: Travelling too slowly or being hesitant.

Intensive driving courses are the fastest and cheapest way to learn

Signals to other road users

The Highway Code states that signals are used to warn and inform other road users of our intentions. How many signals can you think of and how often are they used? Most people would say, indicators, brake lights, reversing lights, hazard warning lights - then err err can't remember. Anyway for what it is worth there are 8 and I believe this is the correct ranking based on usage.

1. Car position i.e. parked or holding back; positioned to turn right/left; lane discipline on roundabout, dual carriageway etc.
2. Brake lights
3. Indicators
4. Reversing lights
5. Headlight flash
6. Hazard warning lights
7. Horn
8. Arm signals

So if you think about it we are continuously giving at least one signal at all times, even if we are simply driving down a straight road with no intention of turning off. The car position is an intuitive signal straight from the driver's subconscious.

Ask about the practical test backlog and how we get around it.