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Tuesday 16 November 2010

Failing the Driving Test is Avoidable

Collisions are sometimes unavoidable, the good news is it’s unlikely to happen on your driving test.

The DSA published a list of reasons why candidates fail the Driving Test, it could happen to you. The best way to avoid a failure is to be sure you are ready and have the approval of your Driving Instructor

Below are the Top 10 reasons:
1. Observation at Junctions. This is very simply, ineffective observation and judgement at any form of junction.

ADVICE: Plan ahead, check for an open or closed junction. Use all of your mirrors, make blind spot checks and check at least twice in each direction before emerging. If it’s busy, keep looking and don’t stare in one direction for too long.

2. Reverse Parking. Again ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy when completing either parking exercise.

ADVICE: Be sure you know how to park in the first place. Every time you park it should look and feel the same every time. Always check blind spots and mirrors first and if possible have both your windows open a few centimetres allowing your to hear hear if any other road users are approaching. Reverse slowly ensuring you’re following your techniques and any reference points you may know of. It’s easy to get into a fluster if other road users appear, so try and keep your cool at all times.

3. Use of Mirrors. It may seem like common sense but not checking or not acting on the information you see in your mirrors are a big reason for failure.

ADVICE: Look and remember what you see in your mirrors, not only does it help with your planning ahead, for example changing lane and before you brake or signal, you’ll be aware of the driver behind and possible intended actions. On average you should be checking your mirrors every 5-7 seconds while driving. Make sure you use your mirrors in pairs at all times.

4. Reversing around a corner. Again ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy when completing this exercise.

ADVICE: Success can only be achieved be completing the manoeuvre slowly. Often candidates swing wide through ineffective observation and using a little too much speed. Guard your use of speed well. Use both your mirrors and blind spot checks to help yourself understand your surrounding environment and your movements. If another road user passes by you while you’re still moving, it’s likely you will fail through not “giving way” to other road users, a common reason for the “observation fail”.

5. Incorrect use of signals. In other words not cancelling or giving misleading signals.

ADVICE: If you were lost and someone gave you incorrect directions, you may become annoyed or frustrated. This is how other road users can feel if you don’t “communicate” correctly while you are driving. Always think and look to see if your signal is both appropriate and correct for the circumstances. If you leave your signal on, not only can it be misleading but it can be dangerous for other drivers, they may pull out in front of you thinking you are going elsewhere.

6. Moving away safely. This is a simple case of ineffective observations.

ADVICE: Your instructor will be training you to look over your shoulder before moving off, this is called a lifesaver check. It’s called a lifesaver check for a reason! If you fail to check 360* before moving off it’s likely you will miss something, that day will likely be your driving test day resulting in a fail. ALWAYS check over your blind spot where traffic could appear from.

7. Incorrect positioning on the road. Driving Examiners look for lane discipline at roundabouts or on bends.

ADVICE: Understand what lane discipline is…the ability to stay in lane in given circumstances, to follow a direction or route without moving out of position causing other vehicles to change speed or position. Very oftan candidates will cross over a white line on a roundabout trying to make a straight-on route, more oftan than not this can happen where markings are poor. Remember other road users will be around you at all times, they will need space to move around. Look ahead, curve the vehicle around a roundabout and stay in lane. As a driver you don’t have control over other peoples actions so you cannot assume you’ll understand fully where they may move to next.

8. Lack of steering control. Unfortunately steering too early or leaving it too late is a worrying reason for failure.

ADVICE: When the most commonly used item in the car used is the steering wheel, you wonder why this happens. More oftan than not it may result from ineffective observation rather than the candidate not knowing how to use it. The basic rule to remember is “the hands follow the eyes”. This fundamental rule is worthwhile remembering in all situations, even those you feel well in control of. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted, nothing will be more important than you and other peoples safety when you drive a car.

9. Incorrect positioning to turn right. This usually occurs when turning right at junctions and from one way streets.

ADVICE: When emerging from a one way street, remember you can position well to the right or left hand side as no one should be turning into the road you are emerging from. It will be a No Entry for other road users. If you aren’t sure then look at the road markings at the junction edge, they will be the thick double dotted lines you’re probably very familiar with. These will extend right the way across the junction as opposed to half of it like you see at the regular Give Way junctions.

10. Inappropriate speed – Not so much for travelling too fast but travelling too slowly or being hesitant.

ADVICE: You will no doubt be aware of the danger of travelling too fast, but travelling too slowly can be just as dangerous. You must know what the speed limit is, NEVER break it and remember also, it’s not a target. If it isn’t safe to use the speed limit then you won’t need to. Hesitancy usually occurs at junctions where candidates take a little too long to emerge. You may have been a pedestrian for many years and so should have a good perception of speed and distance. If you can walk across a lane of traffic you could probably drive across it. Other references exist but ultimately paying a good deal of attention will help. If it is really, really busy, you will just have to wait for the opportunity to arise, don’t feel because you have been there for ages that you must start interrupting the flow of traffic. You can only emerge when it’s safe.

Are you ready?
Those who pass their driving test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training, combined with 22 hours of private practice (DSA figures).

Candidates who combine professional instruction with private practice are also more successful on the test.

The UK national current pass rate is only 45%. For first time candidates, it’s even lower.

1 comment:

  1. Being confident and focusing on the point where most of the failures are being made, one can easily past the test without any failure. Just need to follow up everything in a right manner what you have being taught.

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