Lichfield Driving Test Centre Exit Left

Ok, so your taking your test in Lichfield - what problems do the first few minutes present?

Going left you proceed down really narrow and bendy road - there are usually cars parked on the left, so you need to be in 1st gear and looking well ahead.

Further down this really narrow road, there's a T-junction where you really need to stop to look both ways - generally you will asked to turn right.

Having negotiated that junction, you will be asked to turn left at the STOP junction - of course the examiner will not use that word. You must stop and mainly look right to give way - however a few other things to watch:

• The corner is reasonably tight, so don't get too close to the left kerb, there is a chance of mounting it if you turn too soon.
• There may be vehicles turning right into your road - they can surprise you, so look left as well as right (as you should always do).
• There's a light controlled pedestrian crossing as soon as you turn left and you probably will not have time to see this after you turn. So make sure that the lights are green before you set off - keep an eye out for people pressing the button.

So now your test in under way and assuming that you have taken care, you will be off to a good start.


Next time we will look at turning right out of the Lichfield test centre.


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The first 3 minutes of practical test often determine result

Most people are nervous before any test, interview, sports game etc. - It would be really unusual if this wasn't the case. I have had drivers going to test and be unable to control their left foot for the first few minutes; some have been sweating profusely, unable to speak and many other symptoms.
Once the test gets under way many have said that these initial nerves subside very quickly and they get "into a good rhythm". Unfortunately this is sometimes too late, they have already made one serious error and effectively failed the test. I am not a medical person but I guess there is an adrenalin rush as part of the old "fight or flight response" to perceived "danger" - we all want to pass so much. How can a driving instructor assist with this issue?

1. Make sure that the pupil is actually ready - there is a tendency to let learner drivers go to test when they could pass, but not actually ready. It is an expensive business and that extra half a dozen lesson is not what they want to hear. I believe that if they are ready, their confidence level is higher and therefore they don't feel the anxiety so much.

2. Perform several mock tests where you behave exactly like an examiner i.e. courteous but fairly cold, quiet and completely unsupportive.

3. Repeatedly explain to the pupil that there is no rush in the test; it will last 38 to 40 minutes and they will travel for between 7 and 10 miles. Ask them "can you drive?", "can you concentrate for 40 minutes?" Make it sound really easy, by now you should know that they are ready and should pass.

Next blog post we will discuss some of the characteristics of a couple of test centres which make the start of the test really important.

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Defensive Driving

Practicing defensive driving will help keep you safe whether you have just passed your driving test or you have been driving for years. So what exactly is defensive driving? How do you drive defensively?

• Awareness - what do you see ahead, behind and to each side?
• Planning - what's going to happen next?
• Anticipation - what happens if?
• Staying In control - always drive within your limits, if you start to feel out of control you are probably driving too quick for the conditions - so check behind and slow down until it feels safer - trust your instincts.
• Drive responsibly with care, consideration and courtesy.

A few examples (there are many):
You see railings up ahead, there are likely to be pedestrians crossing - we sometimes see the railing before the crossing. What if there are people about to cross? If you are expecting it, you will be prepared for it - no suprise - keep control.

You see a green traffic light, we all know it will change to amber then red, we just don't know when. So anticipate it changing and check in the rear and be ready to stop smoothly or carry on if it doesn't change.

Similarly you see a bus ahead, what is it most likely to do - stop at a bus stop - so don't be surprised when it does.

Traffic calming is meant to slow traffic doen in urban areas, so try to keep steady speed around 20 mph, this will give you plenty of time to scan ahead and to the sides and react comfortably to the inevitable events such as pedestrians crossing, cars pulling away etc.

More posts soon, meanwhile check out these sites if you are looking to learn to drive soon

Traffic Calming Priority Signs

Most learners (and qualified drivers) will know that the priority in traffic calmed areas is set by the arrows within these signs. However it appears that not everyone knows about this little tip - you can also tell the priority by the shape of the sign, which you can see from much further away. The blue rectangular sign will always be your right of way and the round one will always be a give way. This allows you to plan where and when you are going to give way earlier and make it easier.

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More confusing road markings in Lichfield

Following on from an earlier post, this crossroad junction has confused many a learner. Imagine that you are the white car driving up London Road, towards the camera and want to turn right into Cricket Lane. If you follow the arrow on the road, you would enter the junction on the wrong side of the road - not recommended. Of courses if the road is clear (other turn-right box) you would drive further on and turn when you get to normal turn right position.

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Here's a couple of road markings that are confusing even to the experienced driver. This is one of the roads used by the Lichfield Driving Test Centre examiners, so make sure that you understand precisely what they mean.

Travelling South on the A5 towards Tamworth you come across a relatively new roundabout complex, required because of the M6 Toll Road. Check out the road markings in the right lane of the two lane dual carriageway; they are contradictory. The first road mark (lower image) shows it is right-turn only; the second (upper image), shows ahead only but same road numbers.

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Is an intensive driving course a good option

OK so you want to pass your driving test as quickly as possible. Are intensive courses a good choice for you?
Let's look at the statistics first The Driving Standards Agency reports that the pass rate for the UK car test generally hovers around 40%. They don't report on intensive courses since they wouldn't know how a particular candidate had been learning. However having done many intensive courses myself, I can report that the pass rate is significantly higher (in 2010 my courses had a 74% success rate). Of course one can take my experience with a pinch of salt...But let's say that is is accepted, then why does it happen? My opinions are that:

• People who do an intensive course are more motivated, they generally have a particular reason to pass e.g. a job offer. Contract this with a person who has just turned 17 and a family member has paid for a few lessons - not necessarily very motivated.
• In the usual weekly lessons model, there a degree of "wasted" time where last week's lesson is recapped and re-learned. This doesn't affect an intensive learner so much, since should not have forgotten too much, from an hour earlier (say).
• It is customary for instructors to teach a learner using the DSA's standard test routes, once the pupil is competent. This is especially useful in an intensive course, at most centres I will be able to teach on all routes in the run up to a test. Because this is done in a short period, the pupil becomes very familiar with the difficult roundabouts, stop junctions etc.
  
  

Having passed your test, please, please carry on learning - I've been driving for 40 years and I still learn. Having said that the UK pass rate is relatively low c 40%, the accident rate amongst new drivers is very bad (check out the insurance premiums). So however you choose to learn, remember that it is a process that continues forever.
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