Tips

Those lucky people who learnt to drive before 1996! They didn’t have to pass a theory test before they were awarded their driving licence. If you are learning to drive, then unfortunately you do have to take this test, although on the positive side this means you are better prepared for life on the road.

To pass your theory test with flying ‘L’ plates, here are eight tips to help you succeed.

Book it!

You can’t pass a theory test without booking it! There are 160 sites around the UK where you can take your theory test, and you can book online. The test costs £30 and you can pay online using your credit or debit card.

Revise, revise, revise

The theory test is just like any other exam. If you don’t revise you are not going to pass. There will be 50 multiple choice questions, and you need to get at least 43 correct – that’s 86 percent! So, find yourself a theory test handbook and get revising!

Learn to recognise hazards

Once the multiple choice section is over, it’s time for the hazard perception test. You’ll be shown video clips, and you’ll be expected to spot potential driving hazards in each one. The best way to prepare for this section of the test is to make a habit of spotting potential hazards while you are driving.

Take a mock

There are several places online where you will be able to take a mock theory test. Make sure you can score at least 86 percent on your mock before your real test, even if it means rescheduling it. You’ll be wasting both time and money if you’re not sufficiently prepared.

Don’t be in a rush!

There’s nothing worse than taking a test when you’re not in the best frame of mind for it. Make sure you plan effectively for your arrival at the test centre – turn up at least half an hour early. If you are using public transport then factor in time for delays. Catch an earlier bus or train if you can – it is always better to be safe than sorry!

Don’t forget your provisional licence photocard

No excuses will be allowed – if you forget your licence photocard, then you will not be allowed to sit your test, it really is as simple as that. To double your anguish, you won’t get your test fee back either.

Use your practice time

You’ll be given fifteen minutes before your test to get used to using the touch screen computer, and to the layout of the questions. If you are having difficulty, then tell one of the invigilators.

Keep calm!

You’ll have fifty-seven minutes to answer fifty questions. If you get stuck on one, move on to the next one and come back to it when you have time. If you need to take a breather at any time, do so.

No one really likes taking tests and exams, but you have to take your theory test if you want a full licence. Just follow our tips and you’ll give yourself the best chance of a pass.

With over 100 years of experience in teaching pupils to drive throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can help you pass your test whether you are 17 or 70, male or female, nervous or not – we have the know-how.  With DSA registered, Approved Driving Instructors throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can pick you up from your home, school, college or office and you will NEVER have to share your car with another pupil.  Call us today on  to speak with our helpful team to discuss the options available to you.

Once they approach their later teens, most children will want to learn how to drive. Not only is it a modern ‘right of passage’, it’s always a way for your child to express their independence. It will also scale down your services as a taxi service!

However, a parent worries enough about their children without having to worry about them being on the road in charge of a motor vehicle. Here are some tips on how you can remain calm about the thought of your child being alone on the road.

Their first steps as a driver should be under the supervision of a professional

 If you can drive, then you may think that driving lessons are a waste of time. You can drive, so why can’t you teach your offspring to drive?

The truth is, driving a car and teaching someone to drive a car are two very different things entirely. When you put someone in front of a steering wheel for the first time, they are likely to be extremely nervous, and should an unexpected situation arise, they will panic.

A professional driving instructor will know how to handle first-time drivers – they have of course handled countless first-time drivers throughout their instructing career.

Most driving instructors also have dual-controlled vehicles, so that they can safely intervene if a dangerous situation does arise.

 Learning to drive is all about learning how to pass your test

How long is it since you passed your test? Twenty years ago? Twenty-five? How much can you remember about it?

Even if you can remember a lot about your driving test, you’ll find that the modern driving examination has changed a great deal since then. Would you be able to pass a modern-day driving test? Do you always drive in the manner that would pass the scrutiny of an examiner?

Again, if you want your son or daughter to learn how to drive properly, safely, and in a manner as desired by a driving test examiner, then it’s much better if you leave it to the professionals. They will know the correct way in which you should drive if you want to acquire a driving licence.

Eventually, your child will become confident enough for accompanied driving

Once your child has had enough lessons, they will be confident enough to drive with you accompanying them. When this time arrives, you will need to cement what they have taught by their instructor. Make sure you encourage them to drive defensively – to anticipate problems before they occur and to keep an eye out for potential hazards.

Put yourself second – if you suggest something and your child say ‘but my instructor says I should do this’ then agree with your child and their instructor. No matter what you may think, the way that your instructor says driving should be performed is the correct way!

When then the time comes and your child wants to drive, follow the above tips if you want to give them the best chance of obtaining their licence. Don’t forget to bin your ‘Dad’s Taxi’ or ‘Mum’s Taxi’ stickers as well!

Lanes School of Driving has been teaching pupils to drive for over 100 years. Our school is well established in London, Kent, and Surrey. If you are local to us please give us a call today on 020 8166 5678. Do not worry about making your way to your local Lanes driving school. We can pick you up from your front doorstep.

Don’t worry, if your town is not listed here, we will still come to your door and pick you up – at no extra charge!

… then welcome to the club. The amount of people who didn’t pass their driving test first time in some areas outnumbers those who did two to one. The key thing to remember is that if you did not pass your driving test first time, then you are certainly not alone. It is most definitely nothing to be embarrassed about.

So, don’t give up, book a few more lessons, and book that second test. There is one benefit of taking your driving test a second time – you simply will not be as nervous as you were first time around! The day of your second test will not be as daunting, and that’s guaranteed. You will know mainly what is in store, and there is now absolutely nothing on the test that will hold any surprises for you.

The worst thing you can think is “well, obviously driving is not for me!”

 If you don’t pass first time, then you are obviously going to feel disappointed, especially if a number of your friends managed to pass on their first attempt. There are plenty of reasons why you may have failed – perhaps you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, or you just felt too nervous on the day. Not everyone is the perfect driver every single day of their lives – not even people who have passed their test and have been driving for years.

Remember that you took driving lessons and your driving test in order to enable you to be able to drive. You cannot drive legally without a licence, and you cannot obtain a licence without taking your driving test. Just think of all that time, effort and money you’ll be wasting if you don’t take your test again.

Most people who want to learn to drive do manage to pass in the end, no matter if they pass first time, second time, third time … one person eventually passed on their forty-eighth attempt!

Take your lessons and your next test as seriously as you did your first attempt

Once you commit to retaking your test, well done! No one likes a quitter!

Don’t be tempted to take your lessons leading up to your next test for granted. You will have failed your first test on something. Take the time afforded to you to practise what you failed on. The more you practise, the better armed you’ll become not to fail for the same reason.

Make sure you keep taking driving lessons with your instructor – don’t just fill up the time until your next test driving with friends and family. If you’re letting things slide, then your instructor is trained to spot them. Will your friends notice that you’re not checking your mirrors enough? Or that you are braking too late?

Remember that failing your driving test first time is never the end of your driving career, and it actually puts you in some very illustrious company. The 2009 World Formula One Driver’s Champion – Jensen Button – failed his first test too!

With over 100 years of experience in teaching pupils to drive throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can help you pass your test whether you are 17 or 70, male or female, nervous or not – we have the know-how.

With DSA registered, Approved Driving Instructors throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can pick you up from your home, school, college or office and you will NEVER have to share your car with another pupil.

Call us today on 020 8166 5678 to speak with our helpful team to discuss the options available to you.

Obtaining your driving licence is seen as a right-of-passage, mainly as it comes at a time when most people are closer to the end of their teens than they are to the beginning (although you can of course learn to drive at virtually any age!). However, no matter how exciting piloting your own vehicle seems, it’s still something most people are very nervous about. Driving is a huge responsibility, after all.

Some people require only a handful of lessons, but for others it’s a much longer process. One thing is crystal clear though – you should never attempt your driving test unless you are completely ready for it.

It’s recommended that most drivers undertake at least forty to fifty hours worth of driving practice with a qualified instructor before they go on to take their driving test for the first time. Once you’re comfortable with driving, extra practice with a suitable family member or friend is also a good idea.

That’s a lot of driving time, and fitting it in with school and work can be a problem. If you’re learning to drive in the winter you have the additional issue of finding daylight hours in which to practice.

The good news – our driving instructors are flexible. If your current instructor will not make flexible arrangements – then give us a call!

There are also other ways in which you can comfortably fit your driving tuition around your schedule:

Don’t be tied to being picked up from home

– if you’re working or at school then you’ll probably have a commute. You can save time by being picked up from your school or workplace for your lesson, take your lesson, and then be dropped at home. You can also ask about having driving lessons in your lunch break.

Sacrifice some weekend time

– you may of course think that week days are for work or study, and weekends are for play. You can easily sacrifice a little of your ‘playtime’ so you’ll become a qualified driver sooner.

Take tighter lessons

– you may feel that a one hour lesson is standard, but your instructor is likely to be willing to offer you shorter lessons. If you can’t find an hour at a time, then two half-hour lessons are just as useful. In fact, when you are driving for real it’s unlikely every car journey you make will last an hour anyway.

Get out of bed!  

– If you really can’t find the time to fit in your lessons, how about sacrificing an hour’s sleep and setting your alarm earlier? If you can fit in some early morning tuition it will at least get you used to crack-of-dawn driving once you’ve passed your test!

Obtaining your driving licence gives you independence and freedom and stops you from being reliant on public transport and other people. A little bit of creative scheduling will soon see you finding the time to fit in all those all-important driving lessons!

You want to learn how to drive, and you have decided to take driving lessons. You will be investing your time and money so you can pass your driving test. Choosing an experienced and properly qualified instructor will make your learning process so much smoother and quicker.

If you want to know how to choose the best driving instructor, here are some pointers:

Qualifications

In the UK, all driving instructors must be approved by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The DSA licences fully qualified driving instructors as Approved Driving Instructors.

Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) should have a green badge on display in their car window. This badge will give you the assurance that they have been assessed as being able to teach at a competent standard.

The DSA also certifies Potential Driving Instructors (PDI). These are still undergoing initial training and are not fully qualified. They can be identified by a pink badge in their car window. Trainee instructors offer discounted prices, but their pass rates are substantially lower than those of Approved Driving Instructors.

Approved Driving Instructors are required to undergo a grading process every few years to ensure continuing quality in their standards of instruction.

Qualities

As well has having the right qualifications, a good driving instructor should demonstrate the right qualities.

There are stories of driving instructors blaring loud rock music during lessons, or using lessons as an opportunity to do their grocery shopping. Luckily these examples are rare.

A good instructor should always be on time and turn up in in a car which is clean and well maintained. The instructor should have a plan drawn up from the DSA syllabus prepared for each lesson. During your lesson the instructor should be attentive and aware at all times. The instructor should be polite and respectful and should never shout or get angry with you.

Car

Some instructors use flashy cars to attract students, but they are certainly not required, and may actually be a distraction from learning. Also, extremely large cars like people carriers and 4×4’s are hard to manoeuvre and are not suitable for learner drivers. A good instructor should be able to teach in any standard car.

Your instructor should be expected to have dual-controls their car with an extra set of pedals for the instructor to operate from the passenger seat. This will enable the instructor to safely take over the controls should you get into difficulty.

Pass rates

Some instructors may use pass rates to try and attract students. Do not take notice of these. Pass rates are easy to fake and impossible to verify. Pass rates do not reflect the varying abilities of students. An instructor who specialises in first time or nervous drivers is going to have lower pass rates than an instructor who takes pupils with previous driving experience.

Call us today

Lanes School of Driving has over 100 years experience in teaching the public to drive. Today we are one of the largest independent driving schools in the UK. All of our instructors are DSA registered Approved Driving Instructors and they give lessons on a one to one basis. You can choose a male or female driving instructor. Our fleet of cars include automatic and manual drive.

If you are looking for a driving instructor, give us a call today and our experienced staff will be happy to advise you further. Also, we provide driving instructor training for those interested in becoming a qualified instructor themselves.

Driving in the city can be confusing and stressful. The city streets are riddled with intersections, one way streets and bus lanes. Traffic levels are very high and there are pedestrians everywhere.

Learning how to drive safely on city streets is very important. Studies have shown that 30% of collisions occur whilst driving in the city.

Before you drive into a city, you must prepare yourself for traffic jams and swarms of pedestrians and cyclists in every direction. Road observation and awareness of other road users is critical.

If possible you should avoid cities during rush hours. Rush hours occur during weekdays and are generally between 7am and 9am and between 4pm and 6pm. Rush hour traffic will not only delay your journey, it will cause you frustration, increase the risk of an accident, and could give rise to unnecessary confrontations with other drivers.

Driving in busy traffic

When driving in busy traffic, watch out for signals from other drivers at all times. If someone in front of you signals to indicate they wish to switch lanes, make sure they have seen you and give them space to manoeuvre. If you find yourself in a traffic jam, look out for pedestrians trying to cross the road in front of you and cyclists and motorcyclists riding alongside your vehicle.

Pedestrians

In city streets, pedestrians are a major hazard. There are many of them, they are very vulnerable, and they may not be aware of you or other vehicles. When you are turning into a new street, take a good look to make sure it is clear of pedestrians. Do not rely on pedestrians to notice you and stay out of your way. Be especially aware of older people with slower reactions.

Cyclists

Like pedestrians, cyclists are very vulnerable and will always come off worse if they are involved in a collision with a car. Before turning, make sure you look over your shoulder to check for cyclists or pedestrians. Cyclists do not always follow the rules, so watch out for cyclists on the wrong side of the road or running stop signs. Always maintain plenty of distance between your vehicle and passing cyclists.

One way streets

One way streets are used because they increase traffic flow and reduce vehicle and pedestrian collisions. Make sure you look at the one way road sign to check the direction of traffic. You will also see that all the cars on a one way street are parked facing the same way. Remember that on a one way street traffic can overtake on either side.

Bus and tram lanes

Many city and towns designate specific lanes for buses and trams. Look out for markings on the road setting out these lanes. Bus lanes may or may not be for the exclusive use of busses. Look out for road signs which will explain the times during which busses have exclusivity. Always give way to trams as they cannot be steered and cannot stop rapidly.

Call us today

At Lanes School of Driving we offer individually tailored intensive driving courses with one to one tuition. Our courses cover driving in the city and many other aspects of driving. We have both male and female instructors available.

Why not give us a call today on to find out more.

Driving gives you the freedom to travel anywhere on your own. You may be considering learning to drive, so there is an important change to the Driving Theory test that you will need to be aware of.

First of all, let’s understand what the driving test entails. It is made up of 2 parts:

1. Driving Theory Test
   This is a standard computerised desk based test and you need to have knowledge of the different aspects of driving to pass this test. But you need not worry, because a driving school can help you with the required knowledge and study material which is beneficial in passing this test. This test has the following two subparts:
   1. HPT or Hazard Perception Test
   2. Multiple Choice Questions

   You must pass this before you take the practical test. The theory test is delivered on behalf of DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) which is planning to reduce the fees charged for conducting the test based on the competitive tendering. The cost of car and motorcycle theory tests will fall by £6 in October to £25, with a further cut of £2 a year later. The theory tests are set to offer better value for money while continuing to meet these rigorous standards.

   Note:  For Lorries and buses the HPT and the multiple choice questions are completed on separate dates.

    

2. Driving Practical Test
   No changes in the fee structure or the format of this test have been made yet, though DVSA is considering the overall balance of cost and income across all fees. The idea is to make the Practical test comply with the “user-pays” principle. According to this principle, the user of the service pays the full cost of that service and it is not subsidised by another user paying for a different service. DVSA is planning certain changes to obtain an overall balance with respect to the services and the costs involved.

Government Intervention and why is it necessary:
The fee is a part of the legislation and any amendment in the same can be undertaken only by the Parliament and requires consultation.

Changes and their effect:
The purpose behind these changes is to reflect the reduced fees paid by DVSA to the theory test contractor. These contract revisions are all set to start in autumn 2014. As the revised contract is going to reduce in two steps, these savings will also be implemented in two stages – in October 2014 and October 2015.The same will apply to tests taken for cars and motorcycles, including abridged theory tests, CPC tests for Lorries and buses, vocational license acquisition tests, delegated tests and ADI Part 1 tests.

All said and done let’s watch how these changes add value to you, the consumer, because ultimately that is what matters the most.

What next?
If you have any questions about the theory test and the training we can provide you on the theory test, or if you wish to book your first lesson, please give us a call today. We would love to hear from you.

With over 100 years of experience in teaching pupils to drive throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can help you pass your test whether you are 17 or 70, male or female, nervous or not – we have the know-how.

With DSA registered, Approved Driving Instructors throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can pick you up from your home, school, college or office and you will NEVER have to share your car with another pupil.

Call us today on alternatively, if you complete the contact form we will respond within 24 hours.

HOW TO BECOME A GOOD DRIVER

When you take driving lessons you’ll be learning how to operate a car and get from one place to another, and how to manoeuvre and park safely when you get there. The real learning comes once you’ve passed your driving test and you’re let loose on your own! None of us are born with the skills required to be a good driver and it doesn’t just happen overnight; being a good driver is something that you need to work on over time. Here are a few tips to help you become a relaxed and more confident driver:

Practice makes perfect – After passing your test try not to leave it too long before you start driving, if you’ve not got your own car then see if a relative will insure you to drive theirs. It’s a good idea to drive in different weather conditions to get used to them and build up your confidence in snow, rain, high winds etc as your car will handle differently in different weather. Once you have your license it’s advisable to take a Pass Plus course as this will give you the opportunity to gain experience driving in city centres, country roads and motorways with an instructor at your side.

Avoid distractions – As a new driver who is trying to build up their confidence it’s important to limit distractions whilst driving. If you’re carrying a passenger who is likely to talk and gesticulate while you’re driving then maybe ask them to sit in the back or keep quiet. Try to avoid hanging things from the rear view mirror as this can interfere with your field of vision, causing blind spots and distracting you.

Read the road – As you begin to drive more often you’ll get better at reading the road and reacting to potential hazards in a timely manner. If you’ve limited your distractions as per the point above then you’ll be better equipped to be aware of what’s going on around you. You can’t always rely on other drivers to use their brakes and indicators as they should so it’s important to be vigilant and keep a safe distance.

Be decisive – Hesitation is not one of the qualities of a good driver! If you’ve read the road properly and decided to do something then don’t hesitate if it’s safe to do so. If you need to change lanes then you should indicate’ check your mirrors, and once a clearing opens move over, don’t hesitate as you could miss your chance, confuse other road users or cause an accident.

Understand your vehicle – Before setting out on a journey make sure you know the workings of your vehicle. Locate the wiper controls, fuel cap, radiator controls etc so that you’re not fumbling around whilst driving, thus not paying attention to the road. Make sure you also understand how your vehicle handles i.e. acceleration, turning circle, maximum speed etc.

With over 100 years of experience in teaching pupils to drive throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can help you pass your test whether you are 17 or 70, male or female, nervous or not – we have the know-how.

With DSA registered, Approved Driving Instructors throughout London, Kent & Surrey, we can pick you up from your home, school, college or office and you will NEVER have to share your car with another pupil.

Call us today on and book your first lessons with us for just £9.99 alternatively, if you complete the contact form we will respond within 24 hours.