Changes to the theory test

For those who havent taken their theory tests there is no need to panic just yet, but the latest release from the DSA might mean you should consider doing it sooner rather than later.

"
The Driving Standards Agency is to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers used in theory tests, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

This will help to ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers.

The move follows the introduction of independent driving into the driving test and the DSA's decision to stop publishing test routes in October 2010, to make sure the test assesses a learner's ability to drive and not their capacity to memorise routes.

Mike Penning said:

“The driving theory test should help to prepare drivers for real life on the road - good driving is not just about vehicle-handling skills, but also about having the knowledge and understanding of safe driving theory.

“No longer publishing these questions and answers will mean that successful candidates will have to understand the theory rather than simply memorising answers.

“I believe that this - along with the other changes we are making to the driving test regime - will lead to better drivers and safer roads.”

In September 2011 DSA will change the format of books and other learning materials available to help people prepare for theory tests. This will take place at the same time as more challenging case studies are introduced to car and motorcycle theory tests.

Then, from 1 January 2012, DSA will create theory tests using questions which will not be published.

Practice questions and answers, not used in theory tests, will still be available to help candidates with revision.

Other companies which publish products containing DSA theory test questions will also no longer have access to the questions used in the tests."

Amba Driving School

Driving lessons in Wilmslow,Knutsford and Lymm

If you are taking driving lessons in Wilmslow then Sale test centre is your best option in my opinion.The other test centre to consider is Macclesfield but its pass rate is around 37% compared to Sale at 44%.There will be other reasons apart from the location as to why it must be tricky but Im guessing all those hills cant help.If your taking driving lessons in Lymm then again Sale or Nortwich is your nearest test centre.Learning to drive in Knutsford then Northwich is probably your nearest choice. What is interesting about learning to drive in Wilmslow,Knutsford and Lymm is that your driving lessons will involve country lane driving.Not wishing to alarm anyone but 3/4 of fatal accidents happen on country lanes so its important that the dangers are made aware to learners.I will cover these in a separate blog.Wilmslow,Knutsford and Lymm all over good beginner areas so your initial driving lessons will be structured around these nursery routes so your car control will be developed before moving onto the faster main country roads.If your looking for a driving school in Wilmslow,Knutsford or Lymm please visit Amba Driving School

This post is originally from January but has been tweaked slightly.It is actually worth doing a driving lesson in difficult conditions so you know what to expect.
Driving in these conditions is an extremley hazadous undertaking.Thankfully Altrincham,Sale and Timperley are fairly flat so sliding down hills into something hard is unlikely.If you do need to drive then here are a couple of pointers to help you avoid trouble.The first thing to do is obviously drive slower.In dry conditions you always try to leave a 2 second gap to the vehicle ahead which creates a safe stopping distance,in snow and ice this gap increases to 10 seconds.This will leave you plenty of time to apply the break in a progressive manner to avoid locking the brakes and the car sliding.Right and left turns into side roads in icey conditions can be trouble.Avoid arriving too fast,hitting the breaks and sliding into the curb side on and buckling a wheel.If the car does start to slide in this situation,come off the brake and the car hopefully will grip and you should be able to steer around the corner.
Not too much gas and smooth acceleration should avoid wheel spin and changing up into a higher gear earlier will also avoid the wheels spinning.

If your looking for a driving school in the Altrincham,Sale,Timperley,Cheshire and Manchester areas visit Amba Driving School

What happens when your test is cancelled.

Taking your driving test in the winter months is always something of a lottery as to whether it will get cancelled or not.Any amount of sharp frost or potential ice,forces the examiner to cancel due to health and safety factors.Its not a bad idea when booking a test in winter to aim for after 1030.That way the sun comes up and melts any hard frost.Tests before this time have a habit of being cancelled.If your unlucky enough to have the test cancelled you will not lose your money but the DSA will re-schedule it.This should be done within 3 days but your new date could be weeks or months away so once you have a new date,look to change it on-line yourselves.

For a driving school in the Altrincham,Sale,Timperley,Cheshire and Manchester areas visit Amba Driving School

Common sense.

Driving is 90% about common sense and this also applies to the driving test its self.Where things become a little blurred is in the interpretation of the Highway Code(essential bedtime reading as it will send you to sleep,but dont leave it on your coffee table as it wont impress friends).
A good example of this blurring effect is emerging from a side road onto a major road and another vehicle is indicating left to turn into your road.The high way code advices you not to emerge until the vehicle indicating left has turned into your road,just in case it doesn't actually turn in and you pull out and have an accident.On test though,an examiner will expect you to pull out if the car indicating does look like its turning in.So apply common sense to the situation and make a judgement.If the car looks to be slowing down to make the corner or if there are number of cars all indicating left,then common sense would dictate its safe to emerge and pull out into the road.If your worried they are indicating but not showing much sign of slowing for the corner then wait.Common sense really.

For driving lessons in the Altrincham,Sale,Cheshire and Manchester areas visit Amba Driving School

Independent driving

So from the 1st October the driving test will change.The candidate will have to follow road signs or a short sequence of verbal directions or a combination of both.To help with the verbal directions,the pupil will be given a diagram.A pupil can ask the examiner for directions at any time so don't worry if you forget where to go.In fact,even if you go the wrong way,as long as you do it correctly you will not be penalised and the examiner will redirect you back to the test route.This is not a test of your memory but a test of how you apply the mirror signal manoeuvre routine whilst thinking for yourself.A good instructor will already be introducing independent driving into the lessons already so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise come the test.The good news is you only now do one manoeuvre instead of the traditional two.For driving lessons in the Altrincham,Timperley,Sale,Cheshire and Manchester areas,please visit Amba Driving School

Crash course driving lessons,are they necessary?

Crash courses of driving lessons usually imply cramming as many lessons into a couple of weeks and getting through your test.Sounds easy enough but what you have to ask yourself is it really necessary?Unless you absolutely have to pass your test in a couple of weeks,say for a job or leaving for university,then consider a few things.Firstly,you have to have your theory test passed before you can take your practical test.Once you have passed your theory test it can take anything up to 6 weeks to get a practical test date unless your lucky enough to find a cancellation.So that's at least 6 weeks taken care of already.Consider also that the learning process is more effective in shorter periods than over a longer time scale,so cramming 5hrs into a day may not be to good for your brain!
If you really do need to get through in a hurry I would suggest this option.Do 2hrs a day over 2 weeks which will give you 20hrs and means you are well on your way.A lot of people need around 25-35hrs before being ready for the test but of course it can be less or more.You can also practise for your theory which usually has a 2week waiting list.Then look for a cancellation driving test and with a bit of luck you could be done within 4-6 weeks.
If you are looking for driving lesson crash courses in Altrincham,Sale and other Trafford areas then please visit Amba Driving School