Learning To Drive? Here is some useful information
Before learning to drive
Before learning to drive you need to make sure that you meet certain legal requirements.
You must have the following documents:
Driving instructors are registered by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) and when giving instruction for money or gain ,
they must display a valid certificate (such as below ) in the left hand side of the front windscreen. If the instructor is a
trainee then the certificate will be pink and if the instructor is qualified then the certificate will be green. If there is no
badge at all in the bottom of the windscreen then the instructor is probably illegal and probably not insured. Report them
to the police at once if they are charging money or doing the lessons for gain.
Instructor gradings
ADIs are graded 1 through to 6, six is the best grade. A majority of instructors are grade 4, which means that they are competent. If an instructor is a grade 3
or below the DSA will be taking action to remove them from the register if they do not improve their grade to 4 or above very quickly.
An instructor is graded by a supervising examiner who periodically sits in on a one hour driving lesson to see how they perform. Everyone can have a bad
day and either the instructor or the pupil gets nervous, therefore, the instructor perhaps gets a 4 but is capable of delivering lessons worthy of a 5 or a 6.
There are many grade 4's that give wonderful training, make it fun for their clients and get lots of first time passes. There are also some grade 5 and 6
instructors who lack people skills and have the same personality as a cardboard cutout therefore their lessons can be very dull!
Structured training and the driving syllabus
The Driving Standards Agency states "Those who pass their driving test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22
hours of private practice. Learners who prepare this way, with a combination of plenty of professional training and plenty of practice, do better in the test."
From our experience this statement is very true. As humans, we learn at different speeds, therefore some people may only need a handful of lessons whilst
others may take a year or more.
If you have not driven before, don't worry. A good instructor's lessons should be structured and will work at your speed. You should not be thrown into traffic
before you are ready and nor should you be held back. The main areas covered are all on the official Driving Standards Agency syllabus and should include:
You should not just be taught how to pass the driving test but you should be trained to deal with today’s road and traffic conditions in a safe and confident
manner on a mixture of roads.
Previous driving experience
If you have previous driving experience then your driving should be assessed to see where you need help to develop your driving.
Why 2 hour driving lessons are better than 1 hour
To really get the most out of your driving lessons, you are better off if you can afford it, having 2 hour lessons at a time as two hour lessons are more efficient
than one hour lessons.
Driving tests
Theory and hazard perception test
The theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple choice part and the hazard perception part. You need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. Once
you have passed the theory test you can then apply to take your practical driving test.
For further details about the theory test - Click Here
Practical driving test
Your driving test will start with an eyesight check and some vehicle safety questions. You will then start your practical driving test which will include some
specific manoeuvres. The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of
driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure).
However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.
For more information about the practical car test - Click Here
To pass
In order to pass the theory and hazard perception test you just need to study the Highway code and "Driving- The essential skills" Also it would be a good
idea and if you have access to a computer to practice the hazard perception test. There are a number of CD roms available in the high street shops.
To pass the practical driving test just listen to your driving instructor, keep up regular lessons, take advice from your driving instructor as to how many
lessons you need and when to apply for your test. Practice in between driving lessons if possible.
Hopefully you will be driving in a systematic style and able to perform naturally. On the day drive as though you are on a normal driving lesson.
Before learning to drive
Before learning to drive you need to make sure that you meet certain legal requirements.
You must have the following documents:
- Driving Licence.
- Insurance.
- MOT (If car is older than 3 years)
- Vehicle Registration Document.
- Vehicle Excise Duty.
- Learner drivers
- Learners driving a car must hold a valid provisional licence and must be supervised by someone who holds a full EC/EEA and has held it for at least
three years for the type of car (automatic or manual) Also they must be at least 21 years old
- Vehicles.
- Any vehicle driven by a learner must display red L plates to the front and rear of the car which must conform to legal specifications. In Wales, either
red D plates, red L plates, or both, can be used. When not being driven by a learner (except on driving school vehicles) L plates should be removed
or covered. Before driving unaccompanied, you must pass the theory test (if one is required) and then the practical driving test for the category of
vehicle you wish to drive.
- Fitness to Drive
- If you have any health condition that is likely to affect your driving, you must report it to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). If taking
medication, check the instructions or ask your doctor or pharmacist. You must not drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. Using illegal drugs
is highly dangerous so never take them before driving as the effects are unpredictable and can be even more severe than alcohol and may result in
fatal or serious road crashes.
- Eye sight
- You must be able to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres (67 feet - about five car lengths) in good daylight and for a new style
number plate from a distance of 20 metres (66 feet). If you need to wear glasses (or contact lenses) to do this, you must wear them at all times whilst
driving. The police have the power to require a driver, at any time, to undertake an eyesight test in good daylight.
- Drinking alcohol
- will seriously affect your judgement and abilities to drive a motor vehicle. You must not drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 35 µg /100ml or a
blood alcohol level of more than 80 mg/100 ml. Alcohol takes time to leave your body; therefore you may be unfit to drive in the evening after drinking
at lunchtime, or in the morning after drinking the previous evening. If you are going to drink, arrange another means of transport.
Driving instructors are registered by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) and when giving instruction for money or gain ,
they must display a valid certificate (such as below ) in the left hand side of the front windscreen. If the instructor is a
trainee then the certificate will be pink and if the instructor is qualified then the certificate will be green. If there is no
badge at all in the bottom of the windscreen then the instructor is probably illegal and probably not insured. Report them
to the police at once if they are charging money or doing the lessons for gain.
Instructor gradings
ADIs are graded 1 through to 6, six is the best grade. A majority of instructors are grade 4, which means that they are competent. If an instructor is a grade 3
or below the DSA will be taking action to remove them from the register if they do not improve their grade to 4 or above very quickly.
An instructor is graded by a supervising examiner who periodically sits in on a one hour driving lesson to see how they perform. Everyone can have a bad
day and either the instructor or the pupil gets nervous, therefore, the instructor perhaps gets a 4 but is capable of delivering lessons worthy of a 5 or a 6.
There are many grade 4's that give wonderful training, make it fun for their clients and get lots of first time passes. There are also some grade 5 and 6
instructors who lack people skills and have the same personality as a cardboard cutout therefore their lessons can be very dull!
Structured training and the driving syllabus
The Driving Standards Agency states "Those who pass their driving test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22
hours of private practice. Learners who prepare this way, with a combination of plenty of professional training and plenty of practice, do better in the test."
From our experience this statement is very true. As humans, we learn at different speeds, therefore some people may only need a handful of lessons whilst
others may take a year or more.
If you have not driven before, don't worry. A good instructor's lessons should be structured and will work at your speed. You should not be thrown into traffic
before you are ready and nor should you be held back. The main areas covered are all on the official Driving Standards Agency syllabus and should include:
- Cockpit checks
- Safety checks
- Controls and instruments
- Moving away and stopping
- Safe positioning
- Mirrors - Vision and use
- Signals
- Anticipation and planning
- Use of speed
- Other traffic
- Junctions
- Roundabouts
- Pedestrian crossings
- Dual carriageways
- Rural roads
- Turning the vehicle around in the road
- Reversing
- Parking
- Emergency stop and ABS
- Driving at night
- Weather conditions
- Dealing with level crossings
You should not just be taught how to pass the driving test but you should be trained to deal with today’s road and traffic conditions in a safe and confident
manner on a mixture of roads.
Previous driving experience
If you have previous driving experience then your driving should be assessed to see where you need help to develop your driving.
Why 2 hour driving lessons are better than 1 hour
To really get the most out of your driving lessons, you are better off if you can afford it, having 2 hour lessons at a time as two hour lessons are more efficient
than one hour lessons.
If you look at the average lesson structure, it will be split in the following way. (Times are in minutes and are a guide only)
- In a one hour driving lesson this leaves only 30 minutes of practice (LEARNING TIME)
- In a two hour lesson though you will get 90 minutes of practice (LEARNING TIME)
- This is THREE times the amount of time compared to that of a one hour lesson
- If you take 2 one hour lessons per week you will only get 60 minutes of LEARNING TIME compared with 90 minutes if you have 1 two hour lesson.
Driving tests
Theory and hazard perception test
The theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple choice part and the hazard perception part. You need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. Once
you have passed the theory test you can then apply to take your practical driving test.
For further details about the theory test - Click Here
Practical driving test
Your driving test will start with an eyesight check and some vehicle safety questions. You will then start your practical driving test which will include some
specific manoeuvres. The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of
driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure).
However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.
For more information about the practical car test - Click Here
To pass
In order to pass the theory and hazard perception test you just need to study the Highway code and "Driving- The essential skills" Also it would be a good
idea and if you have access to a computer to practice the hazard perception test. There are a number of CD roms available in the high street shops.
To pass the practical driving test just listen to your driving instructor, keep up regular lessons, take advice from your driving instructor as to how many
lessons you need and when to apply for your test. Practice in between driving lessons if possible.
Hopefully you will be driving in a systematic style and able to perform naturally. On the day drive as though you are on a normal driving lesson.
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© Rob Sefton 2010
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