Preparing for your driving test - The Driver's Record 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.
To help you learn in a structured way, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has produced a Driver's Record. You may have received a Driver's Record with your provisional driving licence. This will help you monitor your progress and provide you with a lasting record of your achievement. You can also get one from your instructor, from your local driving test centre or from the link in the 'When to take your practical test' section below.
Structured learning
The Driver's Record is a way of helping you and your driving instructor keep a record of your progress while you're learning to drive.
The Driver's Record has a list of 24 key skills covered in the practical driving test. It has space for your instructor to fill in as you progress through the five levels shown on the Record. Levels one to four should be initialled and dated by your instructor, and full details added when you reach level five. From this, both you and your instructor will be able to see at a glance which skills you need to improve.
You need to learn the skill and then practise to get the experience. You also need to learn both the theory and practical driving at the same time, especially now that the theory test contains a hazard perception part. The record is a pocket-sized leaflet that you should take with you to all your driving lessons.
What are the five levels?
The meaning of each level is:
•the skill is introduced
•it can be carried out under full instruction
•it can be carried out correctly when prompted
•it seldom needs to be prompted
•you can carry it out consistently without any prompting
The Driver's Record will help to remind you what you're trying to achieve, how to get there and how far you've got.
Wednesday 21 July 2010
Friday 9 July 2010
Independent Driving Explained
From 4 October 2010 your practical driving test will include a section of ‘independent driving’.
During your test you’ll have to drive by either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both, for about ten minutes.
To help you understand where you’re going, the examiner may show you a diagram.
It doesn't matter if you don't remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.
Independent driving is not a test of your orientation and navigation skills. Driving independently means making your own decisions - this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going.
The independent driving route
If you ask for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will confirm them to you.
If you go off the independent driving route it won’t affect the result of your test unless you commit a driving fault.
If you go off the route or take a wrong turning, the examiner will help you to get back on the route and continue with the independent driving.
If there are poor or obscured traffic signs, the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next traffic sign - you won’t need to have a detailed knowledge of the area.
You can’t use a sat nav for independent driving as it gives you turn-by-turn prompts. Independent driving tests how you make your own decisions.
Newspaper reports
Some newspapers have claimed that independent driving would lead to a fall in the driving test pass rate. This claim is based on early research where conditions did not reflect the eventual design of the new element of the test.
Subsequent trials with a larger number of participants and more closely reflecting the conditions in the planned new test showed no significant fall in the pass rate.
During your test you’ll have to drive by either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both, for about ten minutes.
To help you understand where you’re going, the examiner may show you a diagram.
It doesn't matter if you don't remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.
Independent driving is not a test of your orientation and navigation skills. Driving independently means making your own decisions - this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going.
The independent driving route
If you ask for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will confirm them to you.
If you go off the independent driving route it won’t affect the result of your test unless you commit a driving fault.
If you go off the route or take a wrong turning, the examiner will help you to get back on the route and continue with the independent driving.
If there are poor or obscured traffic signs, the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next traffic sign - you won’t need to have a detailed knowledge of the area.
You can’t use a sat nav for independent driving as it gives you turn-by-turn prompts. Independent driving tests how you make your own decisions.
Newspaper reports
Some newspapers have claimed that independent driving would lead to a fall in the driving test pass rate. This claim is based on early research where conditions did not reflect the eventual design of the new element of the test.
Subsequent trials with a larger number of participants and more closely reflecting the conditions in the planned new test showed no significant fall in the pass rate.
New Drink Driving Laws
North Review of Drink & Drug Driving Law
AA recommendations accepted
16 June 2010
Commenting on the North Review of the Drink and Drug Driving Laws, Edmund King, AA President, said: "The Automobile Association has long been highlighting the hidden problems of drugs and driving so we are delighted that these issues are being addressed.
"We are pleased that Sir Peter has followed our verbal and written recommendations on many of these issues and made use of our AA/Populus panel results to ascertain the views of the motoring public.
"Our members want action on drug driving and also support a reduction in the drink drive limit together with a 12 month ban."
Drink driving accounts for some 430 deaths per year and if better records were kept we estimate that an extra 215 deaths may be due to drug driving or a combination of drugs and alcohol. Hence a quarter of all road deaths are caused by drink or drug driving so it is essential that further action is taken.
The AA believes that more focus needs to be given to the problems of drug driving.
We are pleased that Sir Peter has made positive recommendations on screening devices, a clarification of the law and a call for coroners to test for the presence of drugs in road fatalities.
We would like to thank Sir Peter and his team for their work on these important subjects.
AA Recommendations
The following recommendations were proposed by the AA and are included in the North report recommendations.
Drink Driving
•Lowering of drink drive limit to 50mg/100ml
•Review 20mg limit for new drivers after 5 years
•Maintain a 12 month ban at 50mg
•Target cars of high risk offenders
•Deployment of portable evidential breath testing equipment
•Higher policing priority
•79% AA members support random breath tests
Drug Driving
•Coroners should test for drugs in all fatalities
•Volunatray roadside saliva tests
•Greater use of Field Impairment tests (FIT) and training
•Drug driving to be made an 'offence brought to justice'
•Speed up the process with use of nurses rather than forensic physicians
•Look to type approval of police station drug screening kits
•Look to a specific offence of driving with certain controlled drugs at levels deemed impairing
•Better NHS training and clearer labelling On legal drugs
Information about the Review and its terms of reference can be found on the North Review website.
AA recommendations accepted
16 June 2010
Commenting on the North Review of the Drink and Drug Driving Laws, Edmund King, AA President, said: "The Automobile Association has long been highlighting the hidden problems of drugs and driving so we are delighted that these issues are being addressed.
"We are pleased that Sir Peter has followed our verbal and written recommendations on many of these issues and made use of our AA/Populus panel results to ascertain the views of the motoring public.
"Our members want action on drug driving and also support a reduction in the drink drive limit together with a 12 month ban."
Drink driving accounts for some 430 deaths per year and if better records were kept we estimate that an extra 215 deaths may be due to drug driving or a combination of drugs and alcohol. Hence a quarter of all road deaths are caused by drink or drug driving so it is essential that further action is taken.
The AA believes that more focus needs to be given to the problems of drug driving.
We are pleased that Sir Peter has made positive recommendations on screening devices, a clarification of the law and a call for coroners to test for the presence of drugs in road fatalities.
We would like to thank Sir Peter and his team for their work on these important subjects.
AA Recommendations
The following recommendations were proposed by the AA and are included in the North report recommendations.
Drink Driving
•Lowering of drink drive limit to 50mg/100ml
•Review 20mg limit for new drivers after 5 years
•Maintain a 12 month ban at 50mg
•Target cars of high risk offenders
•Deployment of portable evidential breath testing equipment
•Higher policing priority
•79% AA members support random breath tests
Drug Driving
•Coroners should test for drugs in all fatalities
•Volunatray roadside saliva tests
•Greater use of Field Impairment tests (FIT) and training
•Drug driving to be made an 'offence brought to justice'
•Speed up the process with use of nurses rather than forensic physicians
•Look to type approval of police station drug screening kits
•Look to a specific offence of driving with certain controlled drugs at levels deemed impairing
•Better NHS training and clearer labelling On legal drugs
Information about the Review and its terms of reference can be found on the North Review website.
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