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Category: Driving Test

  1. Driving tests, the instructor and the examiner

    Posted on

    The pupil.

    When teaching someone to drive, you find there are 2 types of pupil. The first wants to be completely ready for their driving test and so as with the theory test will spend hours and hours practising until they are as ready as they can be.

    The second type, as with the theory test, knows that to give the needed stimulus to prepare for the test, they first need to be given a definite date to work to and only then does the pupil find themselves sufficiently motivated enough to fully prepare for the the exam.

    And that's where there is a problem!

  2. Driving tests and bad weather

    Posted on

     

    Some driving tests may be affected by winter weather over the next few days.

    The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) doesn't conduct practical driving tests in adverse weather conditions, for example when the roads are icy. This is for the safety of both the person taking the test and the examiner.

    If you're due to take your practical test, follow the advice given on your appointment email or letter. Call your test centre only if there is snow or ice in your local area on the day of your test.

    When to phone your test centre
    It's best to phone your test centre around two hours before your test is due to start. This is because conditions on the roads may improve during the day, and driving tests can then go ahead.

    If your test is early in the morning, call as soon as you can on the day. If you call the day before, the test centre won't be able to tell you if your test will go ahead.

    If your test is in the afternoon, call the test centre later in the morning. The test centre is more likely to know if the roads will be suitable for your test.

    If nobody answers the phone, and the conditions in your area aren't looking too bad, it's likely that the driving examiners are out:

    • checking the local roads to see if driving tests can go ahead

    • taking driving tests because the conditions are suitable

    However, this isn't a guarantee that your test will go ahead. Please call the test centre again or go there in time for your test.

    If your test cannot go ahead
    If your practical driving test is cancelled another appointment will be arranged automatically at no further cost. However, the DSA don't pay any out-of-pocket expenses.

    A new appointment date is usually sent within three working days. This may take up to seven days when there's a period of prolonged bad weather.

    If your test hasn't been rebooked at that time, you should call our customer service centre

  3. Driving test and bad weather

    Posted on

    Driving tests and bad weather

    Some driving tests may be affected by winter weather over the next few days.

    The Met Office has forecast colder weather with snow showers becoming increasingly likely. Some parts of the country may have significant snowfall. 

    Your driving test

    If you're due to take your practical test, follow the advice given on your appointment email or letter. You should call your test centre only if there is snow or ice in your local area on the day of your test.

    DSA do not conduct tests in bad light or bad weather conditions for the safety of the candidate and the examiner. Another appointment will be arranged automatically at no further cost, but compensation is not payable.

    A new appointment date is usually sent within three working days. This may take longer when there’s a period of prolonged bad weather.

    If you haven't heard about a new appointment within seven working days, you can check the status of your booking online at direct.gov.uk/drivingtest.

    If your test hasn't been rebooked at that time, you should call our customer service centre

  4. DSA Test changes for lorries and coaches

    Posted on

    Braking exercise change for lorry, coach, bus and trailer tests

    People taking tests to be lorry, bus, coach or car-and-trailer drivers will perform the braking exercise on-road rather than off-road from 1 January 2011, the Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

    Candidates will be asked to perform the braking exercise immediately before the angle start, where the driver is asked to pull away from behind a parked vehicle.

    Mike Penning said:

    "This update to the testing process reflects advances in modern braking technology and allows us to strengthen our assessment of the candidate’s ability to brake safely in real traffic conditions.

    "I have asked the Driving Standards Agency to keep the test under review to see if it is possible to identify any other improvements."

    Currently candidates have to perform reversing, uncoupling (where appropriate) and braking exercises off-road. Only the braking exercise is being moved.

    The new method does not mean any change to the actual content of the test. Other categories of test are unaffected.

  5. Electronic Parking Brakes

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    Electronic parking brakes suitable for tests

    • 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.