Bedford Driving Lessons » Driving Test

Bedford Driving Test Centre to close soon…..

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:26:30 +0000

The local test centre at Bedford is to close soon. In a letter sent to local Driving Instructors, the DSA has announced that they will not longer be delivering driving tests at their existing site in Bushmead Road, when their use of the building ends on 22 October 2012. The testing will then move just out of town to the DSA’s Training & Development Centre in Cardington. No date for final testing in Bedford has been announced, may well be before the use of their building ends.

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DSA Opening times over the holidays announced!

Driving Lessons in Bidenham

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:55:12 +0000

Bidenham Driving School

Congratulations to Ant Hensman, for passing his practical driving test on 3rd May in Bedford. An excellent achievement to pass his practical test first time with just three minor faults, on a very waterlogged morning.

Well done Ant, on gaining your full driving licence. Hope to see you driving around the local area soon.

All the best for the future from your driving instructor Nick Mann, as you take care on the roads.

Contact Bidenham Driving Instructor Nick Mann:

Through Facebook

Call 01234 402151 or 07801 698910

Visit my Driving School Website or Email

Nick has now helped 305 people to pass their test! Read what’s been said.

For latest driving news visit my blog

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Driving Lessons in Wixams

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:42:12 +0000

Wixams Driving School

Congratulations to Kyle Brown, for passing his practical driving test on 27th April in Bedford. An excellent achievement to pass both his theory and practical tests first time.

Well done Kyle, on gaining your full driving licence. Hope to see you driving around the local area soon.

All the best for the future from your driving instructor Nick Mann, as you take care on the roads.

Contact Wixams Driving Instructor Nick Mann:

Through Facebook

Call 01234 402151 or 07801 698910

Visit my Driving School Website or Email

Nick has now helped 304 people to pass their test! Read what’s been said.

For latest driving news visit my blog

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Driving Lessons in St Neots

admin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:28:46 +0000

St Neots Driving School

Congratulations to Will Mason, for passing his practical driving test on 11th April in Bedford. An excellent achievement to pass first time just one driver fault.

Well done Will. All the best for the future from your driving instructor Nick Mann, as you take care on the roads.

Comments about his driving lessons from Will

Thanks for all you help getting me though. Would recommend Nick to anyone learning to drive.

Contact St Neots Driving Instructor Nick Mann:

Through Facebook

Call 01234 402151 or 07801 698910

Visit my Driving School Website or Email

Nick has now helped 303 people to pass their test! Read what’s been said.

For latest driving news visit my blog

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Driving Examiners to ditch the clipboard and use tablets…..

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:10:23 +0000

The Driving Standards Agency has announced that is to begin testing the use of tablets during practical tests later in the year. At the moment the tests are marked using pen and paper, but this move will see information recorded electronically and will allow results to be forwarded up the line instantly after a test is completed.

Not convinced this is the way forward at present. There are so many warnings of using electronic equipment was when driving, this could pose a distraction to the candidate on test and would this set a good example of the supervising driver using the device on the move? Perhaps in the current climate of cost cutting, equipping the 1,800 or so examiners with the equipment would be very costly!

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More driving test candidates to benefit from better local services

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:36:57 +0000

Driving test candidates across the country are set to benefit from a more convenient service as the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) extends a trial exploring a new approach to test delivery.

As well as using conventional driving test centres, the DSA has been looking at whether practical driving tests can be delivered from other venues such as local authority buildings, hotels or leisure centres.

This new approach is currently being trialled at eight locations, and following positive feedback from candidates and instructors, the DSA now plans to extend the scheme to five more areas across the country.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:

“We have to be more flexible and innovative in delivering driving tests to make sure that we are offering people the best service possible wherever they live and I am delighted that these first trials have proved successful.

“We are now extending the trial so that more candidates will be able to benefit from a service that is convenient as well as being cost effective.”

The DSA plans to further develop this model and extend the scheme across areas in and surrounding: Watford, Manchester, Kettering, Glasgow and Worcester. In each area, DSA will look to identify a number of locations where there is sufficient demand for local test provision. Tests could be provided from local authority buildings, or from local businesses such as hotels or retail outlets.

As part of the longer term planning for driving test delivery, the DSA is looking for opportunities to work in partnership with the private sector across the country. Tests will still be conducted by DSA examiners, but the agency is inviting businesses who may be interested in providing premises for delivering driving tests to register their interest. A Prior Information Notice is being published in the Official Journal of the European Union and the agency hopes to attract interest from a wide section of the business community.

Source: DSA

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In 2011 twice as many women failed on reverse parking control…..

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:28:33 +0000

Figures released by the DSA have shown that in 2011 over 40,000 women failed their driving tests for lack of control while reverse parking, compared with just under 19,000 men struggling on the same exercise.

For years men have appeared to have the bragging rights for parking cars, and seemingly last year on driving tests it appears to be true. It has been said in the past, that males are generally better at sizing up angles when reversing, whilst females have greater skills in other areas. But when it comes to driving tests, if the candidate knows a pattern/method to reverse park and gets enough practice and guidance from an instructor on driving lessons, the exercise shouldn’t be a problem on the test and afterwards as well.

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Driving Lessons in St Neots

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:39:28 +0000

St Neots Driving School

Congratulations to Gemma Thomas, for passing her practical driving test on 17th February in Bedford. An excellent achievement to pass first time just five driver faults.

Well done Gemma, on gaining your full driving licence. Hope to see you driving around St. Neots soon.

All the best for the future from your driving instructor Nick Mann, as you take care on the roads.

Comments about her driving lessons from Gemma

My lessons were well planned and allowed me to develop my knowledge and skills on the road quick and easily. Drive iQ assisted in the development of my skills on the road, and helped me alongside my lessons with analysing the road effectively, allowing me too pass my driving test first time!

Contact St Neots Driving Instructor Nick Mann:

Through Facebook

Call 01234 402151 or 07801 698910

Visit my Driving School Website or Email

Nick has now helped 302 people to pass their test! Read what’s been said.

For latest driving news visit my blog

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Driving Lessons in Bedford

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:18:29 +0000

Bedford Driving School

Congratulations to Surjit Singh, for passing his practical driving test on 8th February in Bedford. An excellent achievement to pass with just three driver faults, after taking a test previously many many years ago.

Well done Surjit, on gaining your full driving licence. Hope to see you driving around Bedford soon.

All the best for the future from your driving instructor Nick Mann, as you take care on the roads.

Comments about his driving lessons from Surjit

Dear Nick. I can’t believe I have just passed my driving test today, within four weeks after my theory, thanks only to you mate! I kept telling my wife “the man is so understanding, calm, considerate and cool towards me all the time”. You have gone above and beyond your duty to ensure I got a test date in good time. A legend and a very good tutor in whatever field. I certainly go the very best service and standards for my money.

Contact Bedford Driving Instructor Nick Mann:

Through Facebook

Call 01234 402151 or 07801 698910

Visit my Driving School Website or Email

Nick has now helped 301 people to pass their test! Read what’s been said.

For latest driving news visit my blog

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Immigrants to be banned from taking driving tests in foreign languages…..

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:26:19 +0000

Immigrants are to be banned from taking driving tests in their native language amid concerns rogue translators are helping them cheat.

Ministers are understood to be considering ditching rules “within months” which allow learners to sit theory tests in any of 19 foreign languages – including Urdu and Albanian. A system which allows translators to currently sit in on the practical test to explain the examiner’s instructions will also be stopped.

Nearly 800 people have had their licences revoked in the past two years, after investigations by the Driving Standards Agency uncovered evidence of translators coaching learners during their test, it was reported.

Dozens of further cases are also in the pipeline and nine translators have been struck off the approved list.

A Department for Transport source said each investigation costs an average of £10,000 – and warned that the cases uncovered so far may be just the “tip of the iceberg”.

Ministers are also concerned about the safety implications of providing driving licences to thousands of people who do not speak English and cannot read road signs.

Figures show that in 2010, some 93,407 driving theory tests were conducted in a foreign language. More than 1,500 people also took the theory test for a bus driver’s licence in a foreign language.

Transport minister Mike Penning said the existing rules, which were introduced by the last Labour Government, acted as a disincentive for immigrants to learn English.

He told the Daily Mail: “This practice is wrong on many levels, and we are going to end it. It is very hard to fathom the logic of why it was ever allowed in the first place. Road safety should be our priority, not political correctness.

“It cannot be right to be handing British driving licences to people who are unable to read warning signs flashed up on motorway gantries. There is also evidence of fraud.

“But there is also a wider point about community cohesion – we should be encouraging people to learn English, instead of offering them ways to avoid it.”

Government sources said the change, which could be brought in as early as the autumn, did not require a change in the law. In future, drivers will be able to take their test in only English or Welsh.

However, it is understood the Equality and Human Rights Commission has privately warned ministers the ban may breach anti-discrimination laws unless firm evidence demonstrating that people taking tests in a foreign language is a threat to road safety can be provided.

Mr Penning said he was confident there was “just cause” for the ban, and added that most other EU countries did not allow learner drivers to take their driving test in a foreign language.

From: telegraph.co.uk

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Calls for A-roads to be mandatory in driving tests…..

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:30:14 +0000

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) is encouraging the government to include driving on A-roads to be standard during the testing process. As they correctly point out many test candidates are well prepared in low speed manoeuvres, but have limited (if any) knowledge or experience in key elements of out of town driving.

Currently the driving test routes are varied, due to available local roads and limited testing time. To make the roads safer, a longer test covering more key skills may be the way forward, or even having candidates pass two tests (in and out of town) to get their licence. Both these should improve road safety, but would more than likely be unpopular to the public (due to additional time and expense in gaining a licence), and therefore to governments that propose them

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Driving Lessons in Sandy

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:27:55 +0000

Sandy Driving School

Congratulations to Surya Thapa, for passing his practical driving test on 23rd January in Bedford. An excellent achievement to pass first time, with just three driver faults.

Well done Surya, on gaining your full driving licence. Hope to see you driving around Sandy soon.

All the best for the future from your driving instructor Nick Mann, as you take care on the roads.

Comments about his driving lessons from Surya

Nick, I want to say thank you very much from my heart that I passed my driving practial first time. Without you I couldn’t do that. All the credit goes towards you. The way you are teaching the driving class was so excellent and very very clear. Keep going on. Best of luck in the future. You are no 1 Driving Instructor.

Contact Sandy Driving Instructor Nick Mann:

Through Facebook

Call 01234 402151 or 07801 698910

Visit my Driving School Website or Email

Nick has now helped 300 people to pass their test! Read what’s been said.

For latest driving news visit my blog

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Excellent First Time Pass Rate in 2011…..

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:18:24 +0000

In 2011 it was a great year for driving tests. Nick helped 78% of his students to pass their driving tests first time, under his instruction.

Well done to everyone, not just with the driving test, but also those who now have the Pass Plus certificate or the Drive iQ PRO qualification.

Also in 2011, Nick successfully completed his Diploma in Driving Instruction, joining a very small number of instructors who hold this award.

Authorities not sure what a pothole is…..

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:54:35 +0000

The recent government potholes reports that “There is no national standard definition of a pothole, only guidance based on best practice including risk assessment and defect thresholds.” Apparently there is a manual on keeping the highways well maintained, but this provides limited advice on the hole discovered. Various organisations have their own definition of sizes for a potential pothole.

Road users pay a lot to use the roads, through various taxes attributed to motoring, so seeing the roads in such a poor state is annoying in the least. Time and money must be wasted in officials travelling to view potential holes, then reporting. More mobile units could be more use in repairs holes when spotted by themselves, or reported by the public or other officials.

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DSA Opening times over the holidays announced!

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:04:20 +0000

Find out when the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) customer service centre and driving test centres are open over Christmas and New Year.

Online services available as normal

DSA’s online services will be available throughout Christmas and the New Year at direct.gov.uk/drivingtest. You can book, check, change or cancel your:

theory test, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
practical test, between 6.00 am and midnight, seven days a week

Friday 23 December 2011

DSA is operating as usual
DSA’s customer service centre will be open from 8.00 am

Monday 26 December 2011

Monday 26 December is a public holiday, so DSA’s test centres and customer service centre will be closed
online services will be available
automated telephone lines for general information such as fees, and interactive voice recognition to change an existing practical test will be available from 6.00 am to midnight

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Tuesday 27 December is a public holiday, so DSA’s test centres and customer service centre will be closed
online services will be available
automated telephone lines for general information such as fees, and interactive voice recognition to change an existing practical test will be available from 6.00 am to midnight

Wednesday 28 December 2011

DSA’s driving test centres in England and Wales will be closed – test centres in Scotland will be open
DSA’s customer service centre will be closed
online services will be available
automated telephone lines for general information such as fees, and interactive voice recognition to change an existing practical test will be available from 6.00 am to midnight

Thursday 29 December 2011

DSA is operating as usual
DSA’s customer service centre will be open from 8.00 am

Friday 30 December 2011

DSA is operating as usual
DSA’s customer service centre will be open from 8.00 am

Monday 2 January 2012

Monday 2 January is a public holiday, so DSA’s test centres and customer service centre will be closed
online services will be available
automated telephone lines for general information such as fees, and interactive voice recognition to change an existing practical test will be available from 6.00 am to midnight

Tuesday 3 January 2012

DSA’s driving test centres in England and Wales will be open – test centres in Scotland will be closed
DSA’s customer service centre will be open from 8.00 am

Wednesday 4 January 2012

DSA is operating as usual
DSA’s customer service centre will be open from 8.00 am

Changing or cancelling a driving test without losing your fee

The quickest and easiest way to change or cancel a theory or practical driving test is online at direct.gov.uk/drivingtest.

The last date to change or cancel a test online booked for 3 January 2012 without losing your fee is 28 December.

If you change or cancel a test booked for 3 January by phone, you need to do it on or before Friday 23 December, as DSA’s customer service centre is then closed until 29 December.

Source: DSA

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ABI reassurance to motorists about winter tyres!

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:40:06 +0000

The ABI has issued reassurance to motorists that fitting winter tyres should not result in an extra charge on their motor insurance.

Under an ABI commitment ABI member insurers representing 90% of the motor insurance market confirm that they will not charge any additional premium if winter tyres are fitted, provided that the tyres meet, and are fitted in accordance with, the vehicle manufacturers’ specifications and are in a roadworthy condition.

Nick Starling, ABI’s Director of General Insurance, said:

“Insurers do not want to penalise motorists who take steps, like fitting winter tyres, to improve their safety on dangerous winter roads. Last year cold weather came early and there was some uncertainty for customers about the insurance implications of fitting winter tyres. This commitment clarifies the position for motorists.”

While the insurers signed up to the commitment will not charge an additional premium for the fitting of winter tyres, some may require the customer to advise them that these tyres have been fitted. The commitment covers cars used for personal use, under a private or personal use car insurance policy.

The commitment does not cover fitting new wheels. Any motorist who has winter tyres fitted to new wheels should contact their motor insurer for advice.

SOURCE: ABI.ORG.UK

Driving examiner strike – candidates to attend tests

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:28:32 +0000

Driving test candidates booked to take their test on 30 November are urged to turn up at the test centre despite the threat of industrial action by examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union.

Driving Standards Agency (DSA) chief executive Rosemary Thew said:

“Not all examiners are members of the PCS union and we cannot be sure that those who are will not turn up for work. We therefore want candidates to attend so that practical tests can be delivered if possible. Theory tests are not affected and will be taking place as planned.

“Candidates who turn up but are unable to take their tests because of industrial action will not have to contact DSA to re-book. They should hear from us with a new date within five to ten working days. We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause and are doing everything we can to minimise disruption for our customers.”

If no examiner is available for a test, a new date will be rebooked automatically by DSA and the candidate will be sent details of the new test. If candidates fail to attend they will not be able to claim out-of-pocket expenses if their tests are cancelled – and they will need to rebook their own tests.

Source: DSA 28/11/11

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Driving tests in a foreign language to be stopped!

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:39:14 +0000

Ministers are to bar people from taking the driving test in a foreign language after uncovering figures showing about 90,000 tests are taken in other languages every year. There are growing fears that tens of thousands of people may have been granted British driving licences despite not being able to read road signs in English. The rules currently allow the theory test to be sat in 19 foreign languages. People are also permitted to attend the practical test with a translator. In total, 93,407 car driving theory tests were sat in a foreign language last year. There were 18,927 Urdu tests last year, 12,905 in Polish and 298 in Albanian. Last night, Mike Penning, a transport minister, said that the Government was studying how to change the rules to ban the “politically correct” foreign language tests. “I find it incredible that Labour thought it was a good idea to let people without a basic grasp of English loose on our roads,” he said. “Road safety should be our priority, not political correctness. More

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Could foreign language driving tests be banned?

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 21:25:23 +0000

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DSA launches theory test apps on iTunes!

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:18:49 +0000

Candidates preparing for their driving theory test now have a handy new way to practice on the go: the DSA has launched an official range of iPhone on iTunes. Around 1.4 million people each year take their driving theory test and with ownership of iPhones continuing to grow, the new apps will extend the range of official DSA books, CD-ROMs, DVDs and downloads, in the DSA’s permanent quest to get learners on the road to safe driving for life.

There are three new apps available, produced by TSO (The Stationery Office) – the DSA’s official publishing partner:

The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers: preparation for the multiple choice part of the theory test, including a study section, a practice section, mock tests, optional voiceover and much more.

The Official DSA Theory Test Kit for Car Drivers: preparation for the multiple choice and hazard perception parts of the theory test, including an optional voiceover and much more.

The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers (free): a taster for the full theory test app.

The apps encourage candidates to follow a three-step process in preparation for their test to help ensure they really understand the theory behind driving:
1 Study – these apps include background information on all 14 topics covered in the test.
2 Practice – candidates can select specific topics to answer questions on and see how much they have learnt.
3 Mock test – with 57 minutes to answer 50 randomly selected questions, just like the real thing.

The official apps include the full DSA explanation for every answer and references to the source materials where candidates can find out more for complete test preparation. They are the only apps on the market which include official practice case studies for each topic, and there are lots of other extras, including a complete digital version of The Official Highway Code and a theory test centre locator. Candidates can review all their answers to see where they need a bit more work and their progress is clearly monitored throughout, making it quick and simple for learners to see when they are ready to pass. There is also a helpful voiceover option included for those with reading difficulties and/or dyslexia.

The Official DSA Theory Test Kit for Car Drivers app also includes preparation for the hazard perception part of the test. There are official DSA interactive video clips so learners can get a feel for how this part of the test works, with the ability to review their performance to understand their score.

Rosemary Thew, DSA Chief Exec, is excited about the launch: “A lot of work has gone into making these apps the most comprehensive on the market. We are confident that they will provide learners with the knowledge and understanding they will need to drive safely throughout their lives.”

The official DSA theory test apps are suitable for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and are available from iTunes at a special introductory price. The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers is just £2.99 (25% discount) and The Official DSA Theory Test Kit for Car Drivers is just £3.99 (33% discount). Introductory prices are available for a limited time only.

To find out more, visit tsoshop.co.uk/dsaapps. To view the full range of official DSA titles visit tsoshop.co.uk/dsa, call 0870 850 6553 or go to good high street and online book stores and computer software retailers.

Source: DSA

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Driving tests could become harder say MP’s!

admin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:55:20 +0000

Making driving tests tougher could help ease traffic jams clogging up roads across Britain, MPs claim. Members of the Commons Transport Committee say warning road users about impending congestion through real-time information systems could also be a cost-effective way to cut congestion. They are trying to get a grip on the nation’s traffic woes without building expensive new roads or introducing a ‘pay as you drive’ road pricing policy – which was scrapped by the Coalition government. The government estimates that the rising cost of congestion will cost the UK economy an extra £22billion by 2025. Launching the report called Out of the Jam committee chairman Louise Ellman told the Daily Telegraph the committee thinks young drivers must have more experience of all types of road conditions before they sit their test. More

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Falling pass rates costs learners!

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:08:04 +0000

Less than 30 per cent of candidates pass their driving tests first time at some examination centres, while only 152 out of 340 test centres in England, Wales and Scotland recorded pass rates of 50 per cent or more. The other 188 centres confirmed that more than half of first-timers taking their tests failed, according to figures released by the Department for Transport last night. The worst-performing centre in the country is Hermon Hill, in Wanstead, north-east London, which recorded 3,453 fails out of 4,826 first-time tests taken in the year up to the end of March – a failure rate of 71.5 per cent. Two centres in Bradford, at Thornbury and Heaton, also posted failure rates of more than 70 per cent. Nine of the bottom 10 performers, which all recorded pass rates lower than 35 per cent, were in London or Yorkshire. The national average for failures was 46.2 per cent – amounting to 336,352 out of 728,438 tests taken. However, any learner drivers hoping to improve their chances by heading for one of the best-performing centres would have a long way to travel, as most of them are in remote areas of Scotland. Examiners in places such as Mallaig, Inveraray, Islay and the Isle of Skye test barely 200 candidates between them a year. Motoring experts last night blamed “socio-economic factors” for the low scores in a number of inner-city areas. More

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87 year old grandmother passes advanced driving test!

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:40:20 +0000

AN 87-YEAR-OLD grandmother from Weymouth has become one of the oldest motorists in England to pass the Advanced Driving Test. Jean Rawson, of Belle Vue Road, has never passed a driving test as her provisional licence was automatically upgraded to a full licence after the Second World War. But she decided to take on the advanced test to prove she is an adequate driver despite her mature years and is hoping her new certificate will help her get cheaper car insurance. “I’ve always enjoyed driving enormously as I like the freedom of it,” Mrs Rawson said. The retired dog breeder came from good stock for driving as her father was Herbert ‘Herbie’ Kensington Moir, one of the famed Bentley Boys who raced in the early 1920s. She saw an advert for the advanced driving programme in the Echo and decided she wanted to complete the test to prove she should still be driving her white Volkswagen Polo 1.9 diesel. More

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339 injured during driving tests!

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:26:11 +0000

More than 300 candidates and examiners were injured during driving tests in the UK last year, according to new statistics released today. Five examiners suffered physical attacks and 209 reported “verbal assaults” as tensions in the car boiled over. The figures, obtained in a Freedom of Information request by Autoglass®, also reveal that learner drivers committed more than one million “dangerous” and “serious” errors during tests last year. The biggest mistakes were poor observation at junctions (65,988 dangerous incidents) and use of mirrors (32,827 dangerous incidents), There were also more than 4,000 incidents of test-takers reversing dangerously. Matthew Mycock, Autoglass® managing director, said: “Driving tests can be stressful occasions but these figures really are quite alarming. They beg the very real question of how many candidates are being entered before they are fully prepared? “Of course people are going to make mistakes during the course of a test but it is worrying that so many dangerous or serious errors are happening, not only from the point of view of candidates and examiners but also other road users and pedestrians.” More

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EU directive for UK over 60′s to take compulsory driving tests!

admin — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:40:01 +0000

Motorists over 60 could be forced to take regular driving tests under a ruling, which is expected to come into force in 2013. However the European Commission has announced that it has no plans to enforce these additional measures to drivers within this age bracket in the UK. The EU Directive on Driving Licenses which has already been approved gives member states the option of imposing tests every two years for motorists aged 60 plus and annually for those 76 and over. In 2006, the Council of Ministers adopted this measure to create a single European driving licence to replacing the 110 different variations currently in existence throughout the EU with provisions taking effect in 2013.More

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Coventry Leaner passes on 25th attempt!

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:17:38 +0000

IT’S one “L” of record – a Coventry motorist failed 24 driving tests before finally passing. That makes the dogged driver the holder of a unique MOT – most often tested – in the whole city. At the 25th attempt, and thousand of pounds lighter in fees, the persistent rookie was able to rip up the L-plates. The only unanswered question now is: was it a man or a woman? For while the number of attempts has been disclosed by the Driving Standards Agency, following a freedom of information act request from the Telegraph, the agency won’t name the record holder. The driver started every test at the Bayton Road test centre, in Exhall, which mainly takes Coventry learners. More

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Parents pass on their bad habits to learners!

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:57:54 +0000

Parents have a key role to play in learners’ driving development, but many lack confidence or up-to-date knowledge, or have developed bad habits which they risk passing on according to AA Driving School. Top of the list is poor use of mirrors – mentioned by one in four of a national panel of AA driving instructors. Speeding, failing to check blind spots and not feeding the wheel when turning were next on the list, followed by braking too hard or too late. Top 10 list

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Driving Test fraud on the increase!

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 21:10:59 +0000

The number of people paying fraudsters to take their driving test for them has more than quadrupled in just seven years. The Daily Mail can reveal details of the huge increase which allows thousands of unqualified and potentially lethal motorists on the road with genuine licences. In 2004, a total of 168 cases of impersonation were reported to the fraud and inquiry team at the Driving Standards Agency. But since last April, more than 700 such cases have already been reported – and investigators expect the final annual figure to exceed 800. Sources at the DSA warned that the figures were ‘the tip of the iceberg’ and thousands of drivers could have gained licences by cheating. The vast majority of offenders are foreign nationals, with Asians, Africans and Eastern Europeans among the most prolific. The scam works when the fraudsters pass themselves off as the person in the photo on the provisional licence which candidates must show at their test. Impersonators are charging £1,000 to sit theory tests and another £1,000 for practical tests. More

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Driving test centres in Wales fail to be consistent!

admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:47:45 +0000

LEARNER drivers in certain parts of Wales have nearly twice the chance of passing their tests than those in others. Figures released yesterday show a huge disparity between pass rates across the country, sparking calls for an investigation into test procedures and the way results are monitored. The figures show that the overall pass rate in Rhyl during 2009-10 was just 38.4%; 40.2% in the now closed centre at Mold and 45.2% in Bala. However, in Llandrindod Wells the pass rate was 73.3%, with 60.3% in Lampeter and 58.7% in Brecon. According to the Driving Standards Agency, the Welsh average is 51.2%. The figures were obtained by Plaid Cymru South Wales Central AM Chris Franks, who maintains that drivers in North Wales are no worse than those in the areas he represents. Mr Franks said: “Two years ago I obtained details of the pass rates for drivers across Wales. It appears that little has changed. There is still a huge discrepancy between test centres.” He added: “While the DSA say that pass and fail rates among individual examiners are analysed, there must be an issue when pass rates vary so much – from under 40% to more than 70%. “I don’t believe that learner drivers in North Wales are any worse than those in Mid or South Wales, despite the figures. “The position hasn’t changed in two years, so there must be an issue with the difficulty of the area where drivers do their tests and perhaps a difference in the attitude between examiners. More

Cancellation of identity cards: changes to ID requirements…..

admin — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:40:47 +0000

The government has passed legislation cancelling identity cards for British citizens. From 21 January 2011, those identity cards that have already been issued will no longer be legal forms of identification.

This means you will no longer be able to use the identity card as a valid document to prove your identity for a practical driving test or for Driver CPC periodic training.

If you do not have a photo card licence and counterpart to prove your identity but have an old-style paper one, you must bring this and a valid passport.

Source: DSA

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Paper licences to be phased out!

Driving Test rip-off sites clamped down on!

admin — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:46:19 +0000

OFT crackdown after AA blows whistle on websites that target learner drivers with inflated fees The AA has welcomed a new crackdown on rip-off online ‘booking services’ that charge unsuspecting learner drivers huge administration fees to book their test. The Office of Fair Trading has confirmed it is now taking action through Trading Standards against ‘websites that charge administration fees for consumers to book their driving theory or practical tests without clearly explaining the additional fees to the consumer’. The action comes after AA Driving School highlighted cases where learners unwittingly paid surcharges of up to 65% by booking their test through third-party websites rather than directly through the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The complaints related to commercial websites that invite learners to enter their details and preferred dates for a DSA test. The details are the same as the learner would enter if booking directly with the DSA (which charges no booking fee). Some sites include ‘DSA’ in their Google search listings or web page headings, which can make it confusing as to whose site a learner is on. Learners were then charged over £50 for a theory test for which the DSA charges £31, with the difference being levied as an ‘administration fee’. Others were hit with fees of up to £30 to book a practical test – on top of the standard DSA fees of £62 for a weekday test or £75 for a weekend or weekday evening – while bookings for extended tests attracted booking fees of up to £40. More

Trainee Instructors cause driving test hardships!

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:51:39 +0000

Up to 27,000 extra driving tests have been failed in the last year by learners taught by trainee instructors – while most pupils did not even know their instructor was learning on the job, AA investigations reveal. Much lower pass rates among those taught by trainee instructors have cost learners over £1.7 million in additional test fees over the past 12 months, with millions more believed to have been spent on extra lessons needed to reach test standard. The AA findings follow an expose by BBC One’s Rip Off Britain revealing that some major driving schools are charging pupils full-price for lessons without telling them their instructor is a trainee. Few learners realise that trainee instructors are allowed to give lessons unsupervised without having passed an exam on their ability to instruct. Yet the number of trainee instructors has soared in recent years – more than doubling in two years, to more than 7,600 by June 2010 – according to Driving Standards Agency data. This means one in seven instructors is now a trainee. A major government study 10 years ago found that learners taught by trainee instructors are 25% less likely to pass their driving test. It found that learners had little idea their instructor could be a trainee, yet they were generally charged full price. The study called for a major campaign to raise awareness about trainee instructors and their lower pupil pass rates. Yet a recent request by the AA for up-to-date pass rates for trainee instructors was declined by the DSA on the basis that it would take weeks of work to create the necessary database. More

DSA launches Facebook page for learner drivers!

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:39:17 +0000

DSA launches Facebook page for learner drivers

Page for learner drivers
Safe driving advice and tips
Visit facebook.com/mydrivingtest

Facebook users can now get safe driving advice and keep up to date with changes to the driving test.

The Driving Standards Agency has launched a page called ‘I can’t wait to pass my driving test’ and wants learners to become fans.

As well as getting advice and tips about learning to drive, fans of the page will be able to find links to:

detailed information about getting a driving licence, learning to drive, and the theory and practical driving tests
book their theory and practical tests using the only official booking service
read the Highway Code online
buy official DSA publications to help them prepare to pass their test

To become a fan of the page visit facebook.com/mydrivingtest.

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Electronic parking brakes now suitable for driving tests!

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:21:19 +0000

Information from the DSA

Vehicles with electronic parking brakes can be used for tests
Change from 1 November 2010
DSA responds to advances in vehicle technology

From 1 November vehicles fitted with an electronic parking brake will be allowed to be used for practical driving tests.

There are usually two ways of releasing an electronic parking brake:

using the footbrake while releasing the parking brake, then coordinating the accelerator and clutch to move away
coordinating the accelerator and clutch – when the electronics sense the clutch is at biting point the parking brake releases automatically

The parking brake will not usually release automatically if:

the accelerator is not used
the controls are not coordinated correctly

If there is no loss of control either method is acceptable.

If the examiner needs to take action to stop the vehicle, and it’s not fitted with dual controls, they will apply and hold the electronic parking brake – this will bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.

Advances in technology

To begin with, electronic parking brakes were fitted only to top of the range vehicles. DSA decided not to allow manual vehicles fitted with them to be used for driving tests.

Electronic parking brakes are now being fitted to an increasing number of vehicles, so it’s unrealistic to continue this policy.

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New driver gets licence then crashes into test building!

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:17:53 +0000

A man who had just passed his driver’s license test failed to properly park his vehicle and drove into the Drivers License Center in Collier, police said. Collier police Chief Thomas Devin identified the driver as Robert Keller, 34, of Carnegie. Efforts to reach Keller this morning were unsuccessful. “He shook up a couple people, but he’s not going to be cited,” Devin said. The incident occurred yesterday at the facility in the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center on Washington Pike. “(He) had just passed the test and pulled into a parking space in front of the center to drop off the instructor,” Collier police Sgt. Brian Halbleib said. “He thought the vehicle was in park.” When the vehicle started moving, Keller panicked and apparently hit the accelerator instead of the brake, police said. The car jumped the concrete parking stop and slammed through the front door and glass wall, coming to rest inside the building amid more than a dozen startled and scared customers and employees. More

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Independent driving will be introduced into the British driving test!

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 07:41:03 +0000

Independent driving will be introduced into the British driving test Monday 4 October. Candidates in all main categories of test will be asked to spend around 10 minutes demonstrating their ability to drive safely without step-by-step directions from an examiner. Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “The independent driving assessment gives test candidates the chance to show they have the necessary skills to cope with the sort of traffic conditions they will face every day. “Learning those skills from the very start of the driving process will help make new drivers safer.” At the moment the examiner gives directions throughout the test. But during the independent drive, the candidate will have to follow traffic signs or a short series of verbal directions, or a combination of both. To help candidates understand where they are going when following verbal directions, the examiner will show a diagram. Candidates can also ask for a reminder as they drive. DSA’s Chief Driving Examiner Trevor Wedge said: “The aim of independent driving is to assess the candidate’s ability to drive safely whilst making decisions independently. It’s not a test of navigation and candidates won’t be failed for going off route. ”The test is being improved to help produce safer drivers, but that doesn’t mean it’s getting any harder. We know many instructors are already teaching independent driving.” In addition, practical car test candidates will only have to complete one of the three reversing manoeuvres, instead of two at present. Other categories of test remain unchanged. The price and duration of tests also stay the same. (DSA)

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First time passers are shown to be safer!

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:48:27 +0000

A study commissioned by the Department for Transport showed that “first time passers” were 15 per cent less likely to be involved in a collision. According to the research carried out by TRL, formerly the Transport Research Laboratory, the confidence gained from passing a test first time influences the behaviour of a novice motorist. “First time passers were on average more confident about their driving abilities,” the research noted. “They also reported making fewer inexperience errors, but more violations and more aggressive violations when driving.” However the study also showed that those who were taking their test for the first time were more likely to fail the on the road exam than those who were making their second or third attempt. They did, however, score higher on the theory test. A second study by TRL showed that the chances of having an accident during the first six months after passing a test hinged on whether learner drivers were given extensive tuition on how to drive in town centres and in the rain before they took their test. Those who had were found to have developed an “attentive, careful, responsible and safe driving style”. According to the latest statistics released by the Driving Standards Agency 45.6 per cent of candidates passed their driving test last year. These studies appeared to underpin the concern that the existing arrangements merely test a young motorist’s ability to pass an exam, rather than their competence behind the wheel. More

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Driving examiner says he quit after being accused of passing too many learners!

admin — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:52:19 +0000

A DRIVING examiner claims he was sacked because he didn’t fail enough candidates on their tests. Jim Kerr claims he was singled out by bosses because his pass rate was “too high”. The 61-year-old was so incensed when he was finally sacked by Driving Standards Agency bosses earlier this month that he launched his own leaflet protest. He said: “I have worked as a driving examiner for 23 years and underwent regular spot checks for quality control purposes. “My decision to pass or fail was never called into question.” Jim’s problems started when the DSA introduced a “chi-square” system of grading to collect pass rates for examiners. The mathematical formula compares an individual examiner’s performance against his colleagues at a given test centre. Jim, who worked at Glasgow’s Shieldhall Test Centre, said: “I was called in last March and told that, because my pass rate was higher than my colleagues’, I must be doing things wrong – and had to fail more people. “I was shocked. I was probably the most experienced examiner at Shieldhall and possibly the only one not to have a disagreed decision in the quality control process.” More

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Independent driving: changes to practical driving test

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:53:04 +0000

From 4 October 2010 your practical driving test will include a section of ‘independent driving’. In the independent driving section of your test, you will drive for about 10 minutes without step-by-step direction from your examiner. At present, examiners give candidates step-by-step instructions during the test. For other parts of the test, this will still be true. But during the independent driving section of the test, the examiner will ask you to drive by either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both. 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. More from DSA and video

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Driving test routes no longer to be published!

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:33:36 +0000

To help make the driving test more representative of real driving, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will no longer publish details of test routes, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today. Currently test routes used by each driving test centre are published online but this will stop when new routes are introduced at the beginning of October. This change is being made to support the introduction of independent driving, which will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in more realistic driving situations rather than memorising a particular test route. Mike Penning said: “We want new drivers to be able to drive safely and independently and learning to drive test routes by rote isn’t the way to achieve this. “Stopping the publication of test routes will help to make sure that the driving test better reflects realistic driving conditions and will give new drivers the skills and confidence they need to stay safe on the roads.” Full DSA release

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EU wants driving tests to be more eco-friendly!

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:24:41 +0000

Learner drivers could fail their driving test if they pose a threat to the planet, under proposals being draw up by the European Commission. Braking suddenly, revving the engine or wasting fuel by being too heavy on the accelerator pedal could prove costly. This is because Brussels wants to include “eco-driving” – cutting carbon emissions at the wheel – in the practical driving test. The plans, which could consign “boy racer” drivers to history, were unveiled earlier this week by Siim Kallas, the EU’s Transport Commissioner as part of a comprehensive road safety strategy for the next decade. It would be achieved by widening the current EU Driving Licence Directive, which is binding on all member states. In Britain “eco-driving” has been included in the written test since September 2008. But making it part of the practical examination would mean that learner drivers would not only have to be safe drivers but also “clean” ones as well. More

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‘Eating English food changed the shape of my ears’ Claims test candidate!

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:31:09 +0000

WORKERS at a driving test centre were stunned when an Albanian man told them eating British food had changed his appearance – including the shape of his ears. Lefter Duka, 33, had booked in for a driving theory test but the man who turned up at the reception desk looked nothing like the picture on his provisional licence. He was shorter, stockier and more bearded than Mr Duka – but insisted it was his diet that had altered his look. The real Lefter Duka, from Gloucester, was then prosecuted when he turned up for a driving test himself. Paula Davies, a test centre administrator told magistrates in Gloucester: “We brought up the point that he didn’t look like the photo on the licence and he said that the food here had made him put on weight compared with where he was from. “We said that his ears were different and he said the same thing – that the food was at fault. “We said his eyebrows were much bigger on the photo and he said he had shaved them.” Staff were not satisfied that the man was Mr Duka and they refused to let him take the test. More

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Learners charged extra to book their tests!

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:11:28 +0000

The AA is warning learner drivers over online ‘booking services’ that add surcharges of up to 65% to arrange a driving test which learners can easily book themselves. A number of young learners alerted the AA after they unwittingly booked their test through third-party commercial websites that invite learners to enter their details and preferred dates for a Driving Standards Agency test. Learners are then charged over £50 for a theory test for which the DSA charges £31, with the difference being levied as an ‘administration fee’. Some sites add fees of up to £30 to book a practical test – on top of the standard DSA fees of £62 for a weekday test or £75 for a weekend or weekday evening – while bookings for extended tests attract booking fees of up to £40. Simon Douglas, director of AA Driving School, says: “These so-called ‘services’ invite you to type in the same details you would if booking directly with the DSA, only on a different website and at a hugely inflated cost. Some sites include ‘DSA’ in their Google search listings or web page headings, which can make it confusing as to whose site you’re on. More

Two Learners take 16 attempts at the driving test last year!

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:32:28 +0000

Two Britons took their driving test for the sixteenth time last year – and one still managed to fail, it was revealed today. And almost 800 learner drivers sat it for the tenth time, new figures show. Of these only 236 passed. Just under half of those who attempted the test succeeded at their first go, according to the Driving Standards Agency. While a quarter got their licences on their second try. But 30 per cent of people needed to take three tests or more before they earned the right to ditch their L-plates. And infamous learner Maureen Rees, from BBC’s Driving School, will be pleased to learn that 17,500 people last year matched her in succeeding after seven attempts. The DSA says, on average, it takes about 45 hours of professional training and 22 hours’ private practice to pass. About 1.75million driving tests were taken last year. But only 800,000 were successful, according to a Freedom of Information request organised by the Sun newspaper. Although, even fewer are likely to pass in future after the DSA announced it would add ‘real world’ challenges to make the exam harder. More

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‘Lucky Pants’ help L test drivers!

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:41:58 +0000

‘Lucky pants’, socks and T-shirts, calming aromatherapy oils and a lucky champagne cork are among the good luck charms carried by learners to help pass their L-test, according to AA Driving School. Others seek divine intervention with prayer beads, bibles and religious medals, or superstitions such as saluting magpies – but in reality there is no substitute for good preparation, a nationwide survey of AA instructors reveals. More

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Driving Tests automated in Bangalore!

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:37:50 +0000

The city will soon see the inauguration of the Automated Vehicle Driving Testing Track (electronically controlled with sensors), dubbed the first of its kind in Asia, for both four- and two-wheelers. Built at a cost of Rs 1.8 crore, it is funded by both the Central and State governments. The track, which is coming up near Ullal, Jnanabharati, off Mysore Road, is the brainchild of Transport Commissioner Bhaskar Rao. Rao had promised to build this track during a Bangalore Mirror campaign on traffic problems in the city in November 2009 after holding bad drivers responsible for the city’s traffic woes. While he had announced it would be ready in less than a year, it seems to be the one project that the Transport Department will finish ahead of schedule. The automated system will replace the present manual procedure followed for issuing driving licences and will be inaugurated in a couple of weeks. “We started this project after we received complaints from candidates that our inspectors were failing them intentionally. But we didn’t have any evidence to prove them wrong. This track will clear this particular problem as a candidate’s driving skills will be tracked by sensors installed under the track, which alerts the control room if someone touches the poles on the track. We can also give them a CD carrying the whole data of the test if they want,” Rao said More

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Happy 75th birthday to the Driving Test!

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:37:38 +0000

The British driving test marks three-quarters of a century of helping keep people safe on the road when it turns 75 on Tuesday 1 June. The first car and driving licences were introduced in Britain in 1903. But it was not until 1 June 1935 – amid rising numbers of deaths as the popularity of the car increased – that a compulsory driving test was introduced. The first driver to pass was Mr J Beene and within a year, the number of deaths on the road had fallen by 1,000. In 1934, 7,343 people were killed on the roads and there were 1.5 million cars. The latest figures show there were 2,538 deaths on the roads in 2008 when there were around 34 million cars. Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “The driving test is not just a rite of passage, it has helped save thousands of lives on our roads. “The test and the learning needed to pass it are a vital part of giving drivers the skills they need to drive efficiently and safely. “High standards of driver training and assessment are an essential contribution to helping Britain’s roads remain among the safest in the world.” More

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Man passes driving test with robotic arm!

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:08:19 +0000

A mind-controlled robotic arm is bringing new independence to an Austrian man who lost his arms, even allowing him to drive a car, the arm’s maker announced earlier this week. Created by the German firm Otto Bock HealthCare, the arm has allowed 23-year-old Christian Kandlbauer to pass a driving test with flying colors, giving him the freedom to drive the seven kilometers to and from work each day without assistance. The device is the first mind-controlled arm prosthesis in Europe. After a high-voltage electrical accident struck Kandlbauer back in 2005, both his arms had to be amputated. His right arm has since been replaced by a myoelectric DynamicArm, which now operates the steering wheel when he drives his specially equipped Subaru Impreza, modified for him by Paravan. Taking the place of his left arm, however, is the new, seven-jointed prosthetic arm, which he controls in real time using just his thoughts. He now operates that arm to control the direction indicator lights, horn and all other safety-related devices of his vehicle. More

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Coventry learners driving test ordeal!

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:14:19 +0000

A SHOCKED learner driver in Coventry was just minutes away from passing her test when it suddenly turned into a nightmare. Amie Cotton was one final manoeuvre away from a pass when she had to do an unscheduled emergency stop after she noticed huge chunks of scrap metal in the outside lane of the A444 on the outskirts of Coventry. The sharp-edged metal scraped under the car on the dual carriageway not far from junction three of the M6 at Bedworth causing £3,000 damage. As the car came to a halt she was then hit with another blow when her examiner told her she’d passed up to that point but would have to retake her test because it was deemed incomplete. The 18-year-old, of Redesdale Avenue, Coundon, said she was “gutted” at the prospect of having to go through the nerve-wracking ordeal again. She says she had no idea where the metal came from but suspects it had fallen off another vehicle. Amie said: “I was overtaking a lorry and I could see something on the road in the distance but didn’t know what it was. “Before I knew it I could see three or four pieces of broken up metal in the lane I was going into. “I hit the metal and then the steering wheel got really heavy and it was hard to control – it all happened within seconds. More

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Korean women passes driving test at 960th attempt!

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:36:37 +0000

South Korean woman has finally succeeded in passing her driving test on her 960th attempt. Cha Sa-soon passed a written exam on her 950th try last year by spending about £11,000, including application fees. In South Korea, an aspiring driver must pass a written exam to get behind the wheel for a driving test. More

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