The Driving Test The driving test has undergone a number of changes in recent years, the main one being the extended length of the test which has added a further 7 minutes, on average, to the duration time. The reason for this is to test the candidates driving ability to cope with a wider range of different types of road and traffic conditions. More recently, a selection of ‘show me’ and ‘tell me’ questions have been introduced to test candidates on their knowledge of car safety and maintenance.
These questions will be posed at the start of the driving test before the driving part proceeds.
New and improved test report forms have also been introduced to record any faults made during the test. The report is handed over to the candidate at the end of the test and a brief explanation may be given to particular faults that the driver has made.
Statistics show that more than half the people who take a driving test fail on their first attempt. It is therefore vital that you are well prepared and confident in your ability before you apply for a test.
Some of the most common reasons for failing the test include the following:
Failure to steer correctly
Failure to make proper use of gears
Failure to move away safely and under control
Failure to make effective use of the mirrors
Failure to judge speed correctly
Failure to make progress and avoid undue hesitancy
Failure to negotiate left turns correctly
Failure to negotiate right turns correctly
Failure to negotiate roundabouts correctly
Failure to position the vehicle correctly
Failure to exercise lane discipline
Failure to signal correctly
Failure to act on traffic signals and road markings correctly
Failure to approach road junctions and roundabouts at the correct speed and with proper observation
Failure to carry out a reversing manoeuvre or a turn in the road correctly
Failure to stop the vehicle in an emergency
In order to be well prepared for the test, and to minimise the possibility of making any of these faults, you will need plenty of practise with a good instructor.
When the day finally arrives to take your test make sure that the bodywork and the tyres of the vehicle you are using are legally correct and in safe condition. All lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, washers and the horn must be in good working order. The vehicle must also display a valid tax disc and L-plates front and rear.
You must also make sure that you remember to take with you your driving licence (including the paper part), appointment card, theory pass certificate and some form of identification such as a passport or student union card if you have an old style licence.
Try to arrive at the test centre in plenty of time, at least 5 minutes before the test is due to begin. If you need to wear glasses for driving don`t forget to take them with you. Before the driving part of the test begins you will be asked to read a vehicle registration plate from a distance of 20.5 metres. If you cannot do this the examiner will have to abandon the test and you will be failed.
If you pass the test you will be presented with a pass certificate with which you can apply for a full licence.
If you fail it is because you have not reached the required standard to be safe on the public roads. You should study the report the examiner gives you and discuss it with your instructor. Listen to the advice your instructor gives you, and get more practice before applying for the test again.
The Theory Test and what you need to know
The theory test for learner drivers, which was introduced into the UK in July 1996, was brought in to raise the knowledge and safety standards of new drivers and to comply with the European Community regulations.
Before a learner driver can take a driving test they must first pass the written theory test which involves answering a selection of 35 multiple-choice questions on a variety of subjects including the following:
Alertness
Attitude
Safety and your vehicle
Safety margins
Hazard awareness
Vulnerable road users
Other types of road users
Vehicle handling
Motorway rules
Rules of the road
Road and traffic signs
Documents
Accidents
Vehicle loading
To pass the theory test you must answer a minimum of 30 questions correctly and also pass the hazard perception test which follows.
Although on the face of it this might not sound such a difficult task, the 35 questions you will be presented with are taken from a bank of hundreds of different questions based on the areas of driving listed above. It is therfore in your own interest to study and learn the answers to as many of these questions as possible, indeed if not all of them. This may sound a rather daunting task, but with careful planning it`s not so difficult as it sounds.
There are currently a number of books and CD roms available from booksellers as well as Amazon that contain all the questions and answers related to the theory test and the hazard perception test. The `Highway Code` also contains advice relating to the theory test and is still an essential aid to learning the rules and regulations of the road.
If you start taking your practical driving lessons before you take the theory test, you should begin your theory study at the same time. By doing so, and with guidance from your driving instructor, you will learn how to apply the theory information to practical situations, which in turn will help make you a much safer driver.
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