CSM Cranswick School of Motoring Tel. 01377 240577 or 07889 292 855 incorporating www.online-driving-school.co.uk 8 Winterdale, Driffield. East Yorkshire. YO25 5FS
Driving test tips! My first piece of advice is DON'T APPLY for your driving test until you know full well you are ready! It wastes time and money and you'll have to take it over and over again until you are ready! So assuming that you are ready, here are a few tips to help you! Make sure that if attending the test centre in your own car that it has an accessory mirror for the examiner to see behind! The car is roadworthy, correctly insured and has a current tax disc and that the 'L' plates are clearly displayed! You must take with you, your licence (both parts if it is the new photo-licence) otherwise the old paper licence (correctly signed) and theory pass certificate where appropriate! If you only have an older 'paper' licence, you will also need to take with you, some form of� accepted 'photo identification' (passport or signed photo etc:).
Your EYESIGHT must meet the current requirements as stated in the Highway Code! If not, the examiner will terminate the test on the spot! Make sure that if you wear spectacles, you have them with you! Allow a few minutes to arrive before the allotted time, to make sure that you find a suitable parking space! Note!! You MUST go into the waiting room a few minutes before your test! You
will be required by the examiner to sign a declaration, stating that your
car is appropriately insured and then, after checking your eyesight, the
examiner will will invite you to get into your vehicle!
The Driving Test! When the examiner gets into your vehicle, he will inform you that unless he states anything to the contrary, you should follow the road ahead (as marked) or alternatively, straight ahead at say a crossroad! DON'T sit there like a dummy expecting him to tell you where to go in these situations! Just read the road markings (choosing the appropriate lane if necessary) and get on with it! Other
terms he might use!! Tip: make sure that when approaching a roundabout that you read the sign and note where each exit is so that if you are asked for example, to take the 'third' exit at the roundabout, you know which position to take up! He is not expecting to sit alongside the world's best driver! He only wants to make sure that you are safe and and reasonably competent and will continue to be safe when driving unaccompanied!
Be in the correct position on the road, travelling at the correct speed, in the correct gear, have good observations and signal when and where necessary!
Tips: DON'T get too close to stationary vehicles or obstructions as you are passing them!!! Beware of pedestrians stepping out!!!
Don't look down at your gears
when driving along...it's DANGEROUS! Don't drive too slowly...maintain the flow that a reasonable driver would be expected maintain (NEVER drive that 'bit more carefully' because the examiner is in with you! Always read the road and anticipate the situation in good time and keep within the speed limit! On open roads (ie: those road sections subject to the appropriate 'National Speed Limit', try and get up this if safe to do so!!
Do NOT stop at every junction unless it is
necessary!! Read the road, particularly roundabouts and filter in if at all
possible!
Only
indicate where it will help another road user! Obviously you should ALWAYS
indicate when turning right, left and on entering a roundabout (when
turning right or left)� or left indicate when leaving roundabouts ( on mini
roundabouts it is not usual to indicate off as they tend to be so small as
to affect your steering)!� You don't have to for instance, indicate every
time you pass a parked car! Use your head and ask yourself, 'will
indicating help another road user ,' if not, it's usually ok not to bother!
DON'T CONFUSE OTHER ROAD USERS! However, I suggest that whenever you are
overtaking a cyclist (particularly on an open road, you should always
indicate as the driver of a vehicle may not be able to see that there is a
cyclist on the road and by not indicating, the following driver may collide
with the cyclist! Also, indicating in this situation, helps oncoming
drivers note that you are moving out! However, if in doubt, hold back until
it is safe to overtake!
During
your test, you will be invited, several times, to pull in on the left by
the examiner; the examiner has good reasons for doing so, although it might
seem to you, that there was no reason for doing so! When you go to move off! Not only should you check your mirrors and indicate (if necessary) , but you should also look carefully around over your shoulder (into your blind spot!). Failure to to the latter will most certainly get you a minor fault mark!
During your test, you will be expected to carry out two of the three
manoeuvres you should have practiced and you may
also be asked to carry out an emergency stop! (one in three candidates are
asked to carry out this exercise). Reversing and Reverse Parking and Turning in the road. When carrying out these manoeuvres, don't mess around but certainly do not rush!!!!!
When reversing,
which is usually carried out by reversing round a
corner to the left (you will normally be asked
to reverse round a 'right hand corner' if taking your test in a commercial
vehicle), The examiner will stop you before
the junction, point out the junction and invite you carry out the exercise!
With reverse parking,
the system is the same; the examiner will point out a
vehicle and ask you to reverse behind the vehicle into a space of about two
vehicle lengths! Yours takes up one so, end up with no more than a vehicle
length between your vehicles' bonnet and the proximal point of the one
which you reversed behind! Observations should be similar to reversing!!!
Always be aware of what is happening around you!
Turning in the road
(often called a 'three point turn'): You do not
necessarily have to complete it in three movements but, try to do so!
Again, always keep a look out for other road users, complete it at a
reasonable pace and don't over-react if another vehicle come close to you
when carrying out this manoeuvre! If you're in the middle of the road, the
other vehicle usually can't get past until you've completed this part of
the exercise so
DO NOT panic!
Continue on until you've got sufficiently close to the kerb and then see
what happens! If they wait for you, get on with it, otherwise, wait until
they drive past and then continue!
Remember, pedestrians have right of way at all times over any other type
road user!!! They are the most vulnerable (together with cyclists). When overtaking cyclists, be careful to give them clearance about the width of a modest car and don't follow too close to them! never follow more closely to them than you would another vehicle! Try and anticipate the actions of other road users and think 'WHAT IF'!!! Most difficult situations are predictable!!!! Ignore the signs at your peril!
NEVER change speed before checking your mirror(s): (someone may be following closely or overtaking you!) Never overtake or change direction before checking your mirror(s)! When turning right from a main road to a side road, always check finally before you turn as, someone may have begun to overtake and you may have to abort the right turn! When turning left from a main road to a side road particularly in town, check your near side mirror just before you begin to turn as, there may be a cyclist coming up on your near side! When leaving roundabouts, check your near side mirror before you move to your left as, another road user may be pulling alongside you! In this case you may have to abandon� your planned exit and go round again! It's safer than having an accident! Tip: Normally, except in emergencies, you should never apply the brakes without having checked the mirrors first!!! The above is an example of what is available to my students. Copyright Cranswick School of Motoring 2002 - 2009 |