UK Driving School Podcast

Pass The UK Driving Test!

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 09:40:55 PDT

Welcome to UKADI, the only website you need with all the information, advice, tips and videos to help you pass the driving test at your next attempt.

As a driving instructor with over 10 years experience helping thousands of learner drivers get the highly coveted DSA pass certificate, I know what it takes to please the DSA examiners, and my goal is through this online instructional blog to give you free the resources needed to reach the standard expected of every test candidate.

A word of caution, passing the UK driving test is not easy, and you as a learner driver will increase your chances of passing first time by putting in the hard work and effort (this does not mean just taking driving lessons only), as many very good drivers with competent car handling skills have failed the test due to simple things that can only be blamed on either a lack of knowledge of the UK driving examiner requirements or over-confidence not giving the DSA practical test the due credit it deserves as one of the toughest learner assessments in the world.

The UK Driving Test

To get a full UK driving licence that enables you to drive a car in the UK unsupervised (manual or automatic transmission), you need to pass 2 tests (1 computer based theory and a practical vehicle motorcycle, car, HGV/LGV assessment).

If you have not already done so, you should apply for your provisional driving licence, and while you are waiting for it to arrive, I suggest you get copy of the official DSA learner guide shown below and start preparing for your theory test right away (it is never too early to start preparing). The guide also contains information about the practical driving test as well, and since it is made by the people who actually conduct the assessment, it is all you need!

Most people pass the theory test first time especially if they take the time to go through the official dsa study guides like the one mentioned above, but if you don't just study some more, practise the hazard perception videos and you should be fine. Note that the test is available to take in other languages, see the DSA website for an up to date list.

Once you have taken and passed the theory test, you have 2 years to take and pass the practical assessment or your theory test pass certificate will expire and you will have to go through the process again, including paying another booking fee.

Preparing and taking the Practical Driving Test

I have already mentioned that passing the UK driving test is not easy, to illustrate this, of the 1.7m tests conducted in the 2011/2012 financial year only 47% passed, that means over 900,000 people failed! (source DSA Press Release), so it is important that you are fully prepared (practically and knowledge wise) if you do not want to be one of those failure statistics.

How to Prepare for the UK practical driving test?

PRIVATE TUITION (Learning with Friends/Family)

PROFESSIONAL Driving Lessons with DSA approved Instructor

Private Tuition

Currently in the UK there are no requirements that stops people from taking the driving test even if they have not used a DSA qualified instructor to learn, nor do you have to bring a dual controlled instructor's vehicle to the test centre, so this is a common option used by many, but having spoken to a few examiners in my local centres a high percentage of these candidates fail for a few reasons.

1. Lack of knowledge: Friends/family rarely have all the complete knowledge to adequately prepare a provisional licenced learner driver for the dsa driving test. To supervise a learner you need to have at least held a full licence for 3 years. Within that time, changes could have been made which an ordinary driver might not know about. Another thing to consider is that most drivers would have forgotten some of the things that they were taught by their instructor that made them pass, so they can't pass skills that they do not have or remember.

2. Bad Habits: Friends/Family teaching you to drive will always pass on or not notice some unsafe bad driving habits that you have which will in turn increase your chances of not passing the driving test.

3. Inadequate Preparation: Most candidates learning to drive with friends/family will think they are ready for the practical car test once they have learnt the 4 dsa driving maneuvers, can drive from A-B and feel confident. DSA driving tests are designed to assess a candidate's ability not only to drive a car from A-B, but they will take you on different road types, traffic conditions, junctions, meeting situation and in all this the examiner wants to see you being SAFE.

Driving test routes can be tricky and sometimes having local knowledge might be beneficial especially when your teacher knows exactly how the DSA examiner expects things to be done. Have you practised driving on a 70mph dual carriageway including moving into the right hand lane to turn right at traffic lights or a roundabout?

The DSA recommends 40 hrs of professional lessons with additional private practice to gain enough experience and confidence to pass the driving test first time.

So what advice can I give for those who would like to learn to drive with family or friends due to high cost of driving lessons.

1. Know what is required. It is very easy to pass a test when you know what you will be tested on, as you can prepare adequately by focusing on the core skills. For those learning to drive with friends I recommend you get a copy of the Official DSA Guide to Driving. This book tells you how the DSA want you to drive or perfom a maneuver, and is a required reference to know that what you are being taught is wrong or right.

Many learner drivers will trust their dads when it comes to driving, but they can be wrong, and you can use this book to stay on track or request to do things differently as at the end of the day the DSA examiner is using these standards, so if you want to pass do things the DSA way. A common reason a lot of learners fail is not knowing the highway code, so this book covers all situations and rules that pertain to driving in the UK.

2. Take a few professional lessons or mock test. Only a qualified approved driving instructor can truly tell if you have reached the standard required by an examiner, so taking a mock test with them will reveal how ready you are, what bad habits you exibit and you would have a chance of driving on a typical dsa test route.

The best way to find a good driving instructor is to go by recommendation from a friend who has used one, failing that you can use the DSA website to find an instructor.

When speaking to an instructor, take note if they answer the phone while on a driving lesson (giving directions/instructions), as this is already a bad sign that they are not professional.

More reading for learners using private tuition to learn to drive

Top 10 Driving Test Faults
Are You Ready for The Driving Test (video)
Expensive Driving Lesson with Dad!

Professional Driving Lessons

The most common question a driving instructor gets asked is how many lessons will I need to be ready for a driving test? There is no simple answer to that question, there are a lot of factors that determine this, including choosing the right instructor. However here is some advice to help you get the best out of your lessons and increase the chances of you passing first time.

1. Get a copy of the learners record. Even though your instructor will be guiding you in your preparations, the learners driver record will serve as tracker on your progress against the skills being measure by the DSA.

2. Make good use of your time between driving lessons. If you are really serious about passing the driving test first time, then you need to make use of your free time to continue to learn about what the DSA examiners expect during the test. You can watch videos about the manuevers you are having problems with, memorise reference points, and most importantly of all know the highway code inside out!

Any one who has taken driving lessons with me or read this free online blog would know that I am constantly recommending the highway code for test candidates for one simple reason, you need to fully know the rules of the road, including signs and road markings.
Yes as a driving instructor I will tell you anything you need to know, but knowing the highway code inside out is not only beneficial to you on the driving test, but once you pass, you are less likely to be banned for having 6 points on licence after passing test or get a parking ticket for parking in the wrong place.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, those who put in extra work are more likely to pass at the first attempt compared to those who barely take enough lessons, hardly know enough signs, only been on a high speed dual carriageway twice and are hoping they do not get the reverse round the corner exercise as they are rubbish at it.

Why Do People Fail The UK Driving Test?

Not everyone who fails the driving test is totally unprepared, sometimes test nerves can play a part, while others arrive too late, but for those who do take the test, here are the top 5 reasons and the serious driver errors marked by the DSA examiner.

Junctions
The most common place learner drivers commit a serious major driving fault is at junctions where the fault is usually that of ineffective observations.

Many driving test candidates approach junctions too fast, leaving themselves not enough time to use the MSPSL Routine. If you can't see that it is 100% safe to go at the junction, you SHOULD wait. The examiner does not expect you to be as fast as experienced drivers, neither can you take some of the risks that they do on the test.

Maneuvers
Whenever carrying out any of the 4 reversing maneuvers, there are 2 skills that the examiner expects from you, effective observations to keep you safe and good car control to enable you carry out the exercise itself.

You should not hit the kerb, be too wide when reversing round a corner, straddle 2 bays at the end of the bay parking exercise and must parallel park within 2 car lenghts.

Mirror Checks
Failing to check mirrors before changing speed (slowing down or accelerating), changing direction or not acting on the information seen in the mirrors. Do not get into the habit of just moving your head when signalling, you MUST process the image in the mirrors and act on what you see. Remember you driving must not affect or potentially impact other road users.

Moving Off Safely
While stalling the car is not usually a serious driving error, if you try to pull off in 3rd gear, and stall your vehicle half-way into a junction where you are an obstruction to others, then you have no chance of the examiner not marking a major serious fault.
The other usual reason candidates fail moving off is not checking the right blind spot after stopping on the left handside of the road or causing another car to slow down/change direction as you move into the road.

Use of Signals/Indicators
The common errors here, are not signalling when necessary, poor timing of signals, misleading signals and finally forgetting to cancel a signal after coming off a junction.

More Resources and Tips to Help Pass The UK Driving Test

Dealing with Mini Roundabouts.
Points on Licence and Driving Test.
Simple Driving Test Mistakes That Fail Learners

DSA Examiner Driving Test Routes

As an instructor over the years I have seen some very good drivers get tripped up at some tricky places on some of the routes by examiners in the NW London area, so I have made these tutorial videos to cover these situations.

Each video covers what I have found out to the toughest route, and has additional tips on other places or things that you should be aware as a driving test candidate. These are offered as complimentary preparation materials to your lessons or private practice sessions.

Hendon Driving Test Routes Video 2012

£4.99 Buy Now

Independent Driving On the Test.
Theory Test Changes
Driving Test Changes.

Mill Hill Driving Test Route Video

£4.99 Buy Now

Borehamwood Test Centre WD6 Route Videos

£4.99 Buy Now

Foriegn Licence UK Driving Test

Over the 10 years of being a driving instructor, I have helped many drivers from countries like America, Canada, Pakistan, Nigeria, Soth Africa, etc pass the driving test first time, something they would not have been able to do on their own for ONE KEY reason BAD DRIVING HABITS.

If you are required to take a test instead of exchanging your foriegn licence for a UK one, the authorities (DSA/DVLA) do not believe your country's driving standards are good enough to use here! For this very reason you SHOULD take a few lessons from a qualified instructor to weed out the bad habits, as well as know what the examiners expect. Many candidates with international driving permits who pass the theory test first attempt go on to take a practical assessment thinking that the DSA examiner just wants to see if they can confidently drive from A to B.

It is more than just that, which is why they are surprised when the bad news is delivered at the end of the 40 minute assessment.

A 1hr driving lesson can not get rid of driving habits! I have seen so many drivers try this thinking they are smart by asking for one session on the dsa examiner routes, and while I will give them ALL the help I can, habits don't die that easily. Usually they start off fine, but 20 minutes in, they relax (especially once they start talking with the examiner) and they the normal habits show up (driving with one hand, no mirror checks, harsh braking, excessive speed).

If you are serious about passing, you should consider taking a 2 hr session at least a week before the test so you know what is expected, and can then practise (if you have an insured car with international permit) or take a few more lessons to iron the bad driving out.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

To Pass Driving Test Highway Code Knowledge Required

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:03:56 PDT

You can dramatically increase your chances of passing the UK practical driving test on a motorcycle or in a car if you are 100% familiar with the Highway Code.

It only costs £2.50, is very small so you can carry it anywhere you go, but it contains tons of information on how you are expected to behave while driving in the UK, the meaning of road signs and markings, but most of all it could help you avoid commiting a serious driving test fault and thus pass at your next attempt. Over the years I have seen many test candidates ignore advice to read the highway code in between lesson make simple mistakes which could have been easily avoided if they mastered the book.

Simple things like going over a stop line at traffic lights, understanding filter arrows, reading road signs, etc are all simple things that DSA examiners have failed learners on, nothing to do with driving ability!

The video clip below illustrates how lack of knowledge on the part of a candidate who has a test the next day could easily result in a failure with the DSA examiner sitting next to you.

There where no cars in the left lane when the learner was about to move into the left hand lane, but doing so whould have meant crossing a solid line bordering the hatched area used to seperate traffic, doing so would have violated the highway code, and this would have been marked as serious driver error on the DL25 examiner report form!

Even if you are taking regular lessons with an instructor or doing private practice, there is no harm in reading the Highway Code over and over again. It will only boost your confidence in the knowledge that you are doing the right thing.

Buy Highway Code Today!

If you require affordable high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Twitter Followers Competition May 2013

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:32:05 PDT

I am running a competition offering the prize below to a lucky twitter follower of mine (to be chosen at random).

£30 John Lewis Voucher or 2 free driving lessons in Mill Hill.

The competition will run from 08.00 on Tuesday 14th May to 22.00 on Thursday 30th May 2013.

To enter you have to complete the following steps

1. Follow @ukadi_
2. Tweet "I'm following @ukadi_ for free driving test tips & videos #ukadi05"

*You must include both @ukadi_ and the #ukadi05 hashtag as all tweets are tracked by software.

The following rules Apply:

(a) You MUST hold a current provisional licence or have passed your test on/after the 15th may 2013 (I will check when claim is made).
(b) You are allowed 6 additional tweets to increase chance of winning.
(c) Maximum of 7 tweets over competition period and maximum of 1 tweet a day. Spammers will be reported to twitter and their entry invalidated .
(d) You must be following on day winner is announced as claim details will be exchanged via DM.
(e) Winner must claim prize within 7 days being announced.

Bonus prize: If I reach 1000 followers during the competition, the 1000th follower gets their theory or practical driving test paid for (No cash alternative, but they can nominate someone else).

Subscribe to my YouTube Driving Test Video Tips channel for free advice on how to pass the UK driving test.

Driving Test What Is Undue Hesitation

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:14:52 PDT

Undue Hesitation is one of the most feared driving test faults, but many learner drivers do not fully understand what the DSA examiner actually considers to be undue hesitation, some thinking that it has to do with how long you spend at a junction.

In this video I explain what the examiner is looking for when it comes to junctions, and the difference between 'Making Progess' and 'Undue Hesitation'

I would advice anyone taking their driving test to fully watch this video, as many learners rush junctions, take ineffective observations due to lack of knowledge of this driving fault.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Subscribe to my YouTube Driving Test Video Tips channel and you SHOULD follow me on twitter here!

Driving Test Mistake Misleading Signals

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:01:56 PDT

A simple driving test mistake that a lot of learner drivers fail on is misleading signals which usually occurs when a candidate fails to cancel the indicator after use, or indicates in one director and the vehicle does not go that way.

This instructional video taken during an actual lesson illustrates the point:

Works as much as possible on these small mistakes, as they could let you down when the dsa examiner is in the car.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school online marketing, do the proper research and know all the training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Video Tips channel and you SHOULD follow me on twitter UKADI here!

Dangerous Driving Will Get You In Accident!

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:10:10 PDT

If you have already passed the driving test, don't think you can throw the highway code rule book out of the car window, because sooner or later you will get caught in an accident if you continue to drive dangerously on the roads.

Every single day I listen to the radio traffic updates and there is always delays that are caused either on the motorway or an important A road due to car accidents which could probably have been avoided if the drivers involved had been more safety concious and not in a hurry.

Just because a DSA examiner is not sitting next to you does not mean that you should change your driving ways from what it took you to pass. None othe the drivers in the video clips below would drive like this on a test, so what makes it acceptable to do it after getting a full pink licence?

Another clip of breaking rules after passing, this time it is the 2 sec gap on a dual carriageway.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message using my details on this page.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school marketing materials, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Give Learners Chance If You Passed Driving Test

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:28:37 PDT

Is it too much to ask of you 'Advanced Drivers' to give learners a chance to gain some driving skills by being a little patient? It only takes a few seconds to be courteous, and it can go a long way to make life of other road users much easier.

The most worrying thing is that you drivers who have passed the driving test are more of a danger than the learners with thier 'L' plates as shown in these videos!

And here are more examples of dangerous driving by people who think they are good drivers.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI TV page.

UKADI - Crossing Solid Lines on The Driving Test.

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 06:09:29 PDT

Sometimes it is what seems like very simple mistakes that learners fail their driving test on, as is illustrated in this video clip below.

The DSA examiner is assessing your knowledge of the highway code as well as your skills of handling a car, so make sure you have enough experience to deal with anything you might encounter during the 40 minutes of the test.

Take the time to read the highway code between your lessons to increase your chances of passing first time.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an ADI? You can not become a driving instructor for free! It costs money, time and a great deal of effort with a success rate of only 30%.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Tips Overtaking Others

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:07:33 PDT

In this short instructional video tip, I offer a simple but very important advice to apply when you are overtaking other vehicles or road users during the driving test. Use it to make sure that you are exposed on the other side of the road for the shortest amount of time.

As always make sure it is safe to overtake, and give way to oncoming vehicles.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Dont Ignore Road Signs

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:31:04 PDT

This video taken from a real driving lesson illustrates why you need to build up a habit of paying attention and obeying road signs if you want to have a good chance of passing the UK driving test.

As you will see, it only takes one silly mistake like this for you to get a serious fault and fail thus wasting more time and money obtaining a full pink driving licence.

Take the time now to use those driving lessons to practiise everything you need to pass the UK driving test.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Passed Driving Test - Dont Cause An Accident

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:29:00 PDT

My people think that because they have passed the tough UK DSA driving test, they no longer need to use the rules of the Highway Code when they are in their cars! This is very evident by the number of dangerous drivers that can be seen around.

I listen to the radio everyday and 90% of the traffic alerts are due to accidents on the road network which could probably have been avoided especially if people stop driving like those shown in the video below.

The fact that you have a number of years no claims bonus does not mean you are a safe driver, and if you continue to ignore the rules you will sooner than later be involved in a serious accident, possibly killing or seriously injuring someone.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test 3 Point Turn mistakes

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:54:16 PDT

In this short video I want to show you the most common mistakes that learners make while doing the simple turn in the road (3 point) exercise during the UK driving test.

Personally I think candidates should not be failing on this manuever, as it is usually the first learnt, the simplest and you should have had a lot of practise by the time you see the DSA examiner.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Turning Right at Traffic Lights

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:38:59 PDT

In this short video taken from a typical driving lesson, I illustrate one of the common mistakes learners make while turning right at a traffic light.

As has been mentioned so many times before on this blog, junctions are the number one reason for candidates getting serious driver faults, and you need to always approach them slowly, look, assess the situation, make a decision and then act (LADA). This procedure takes some time, and you must not rush or copy other cars in front of you.

Get a copy of the Highway Code and read it from cover to cover as this will help you know how to deal with any situation you might get on the driving test, do not be lazy, the extra work done between your lessons will make the difference, and guarantee success.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Private car on the UK driving test

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:07:48 PDT

Further to my last blog post about a learner driver who was stopped from taking the driving test due to a defect on their own car being used for the UK practical test, I thought I'd point out what an examiner will check on all cars presented for the UK driving test.

The dsa examiner needs to be satisfied that the car presented is roadworthy, so will walk round the vehicle, checking the tyres are legal, lights are not broken and working, external mirrors are present and not broken, and the windscreen is clean and not damaged. The car must also be taxed, insured and display a valid DVLA registration plate.

If the car fails to meet any of these requirements, the examiner will point out the defect, and will give you about 5 minutes to fix it, failure to fix the defect will result in the driving test being terminated and you losing the test booking fee with no refund option.

So you need to check everything is okay with the car before using it for a driving test.

Currently (March 2013), you can use your own private car for the UK driving test, but you need to make sure that it meets all requirements. I was at the Mill Hill driving test centre recently, and while waiting for my pupil to drive off, I watched in amazement as 2 driving examiners gathered around a private car that someone had brought for the test. After a few minutes of fussing over one of the tyres, the test was terminated as one of the tyres was not roadworthy. The learner driver did not even have a spare tyre to replace it with!

Remember that you only have about 5 minutes to fix any defects with your car, so the only realistic fault that can be fixed is a tyre change and maybe light bulb if you have a spare and know how to replace them. Arriving late for a test less than 5 minutes might also eat into this time so do check your vehicle a day before the test and again on the morning of the appointment.

You are also required to provide an extra driving mirror for the dsa examiner (if you don't have a mirror tell the examiner before you walk out, they usually have some spare in the office, but don't count on it, it is your responsibility), the seatbelts must be working properly and the car must have proper rear seats for adults, so you can't use a 2 seat coupee for the driving test, and don't forget your 'L' plates..

NOTE: Your car should not subject to a manufacturer's safety recall notice, as this would mean you might need to supply a note from a garage saying this fault has been checked. Check the dsa website, link in driver resources.

Finally, if you are taking the driving test in your car, check with your insurance company to make sure that you are actually insured during the actual test, as contrary to what many believe, you are NOT being supervised by the examiner during the test and thus technically your insurance is invalid unless your policy specifically covers the driving test.

Finally, remember not to forget your glasses if you wear these as you must be able to pass the eye test before you can proceed to the driving part of the test.

More Reading
Why I became a driving instructor.

DSA Driving Examiner Strikes Wed 20th March 2013

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:28:21 PDT

If you have a practical car, motorcycle or HGV/LGV driving test booked for Wednesday 20th March 2013, the DSA is advising all candidates to attend as normal, despite the threat of examiners striking due to industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union.

If the driving test doesn't go ahead as normal, then I will advice any test candidate to seek compensation from the DSA, even though you will get a free rebooking within 10 days of the last appointment.

Because you can't be sure of how many driving examiners will tun up during strike action, it is best if you make your way to the test centre just in case you are lucky, and it goes ahead, unless you get a call from the test centre advising you that the driving test has been cancelled due to the planned examiner strike action.

Did you know that many driving test candidates fail because they did not know what a road marking or sign means! Take a look at the road sign below, if you saw it while in the car with a DSA examiner do you know what it is telling you?

The Highway Code only costs £1.50 and could save you having to take another attempt, so keep a copy close to you and make sure you read it regularly!

If you require a high quality driving instructor in NW London who is very helpful, patient and fully qualified, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Want to become a driving instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the glossy red driving school marketing advertisements, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

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The Driving Test 5 facts you might not know.

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:52:35 PDT

On the UK Driving test, the examiners do want you to pass, and will do everything to help you relax during the driving test.

Here are a few facts about the driving test that you might not know which you should bear in mind on the day.

1. You don't have to talk if you don't want to. If you think that talking to the examiner will not help your concentration during the driving test, politely let the examiner know that you'd prefer if they didn't make conversation with you during the test.

2. You are in control of the car, and are not being supervised! Contrary to what many learners may believe, the examiner is not supervising you during the driving test, thus if you are driving your own private car you MIGHT not be insured unless you have specifically cleared it with your insurance company that you are going on a driving test.

3. You can stop the car if you are not comfortable, or need to take a quick breather during the driving test. If you find out that your seat/mirror is not properly adjusted or that your driving test nerves are getting the best of you, it is acceptable for you to stop the car on the left (you of course will use SCALP to select the spot). Just explain to the examiner why you stopped, and as long as you stopped safely and moved off safely, you won't be penalised. You can't take a 5 minute break though!

4. You can use an interpreter or have someone along for moral support. If english is not your first language, you can ask a friend or relative along to interpret for you (just make sure they are nor an ADI/PDI), or you can ask anyone to accompany you during the driving test including your instructor for moral support, they just can't say anything to you during the test.

5. The examiner might not remember you from a previous test. Many learners remember who they had their last test with, but the examiner conducts so many tests that they don't remember everyone, so unless you did something extra ordinary like physically assault them or crash the car, they would not remember you. So if you are having another attempt a the driving test, treat it as if it were your first.

If you have found these driving test tips helpful, I would appreciate if you can share this website with your friends so that others too may benefit from the many free videos and tips I have here, giving it more exposure (Delicious, Stumble, Facebook, twitter, google+). Thanks.

DSA Test Maneuvers - Adjust your Mirrors

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:35:00 PDT

Before starting any of the 4 driving test maneuvers that you might be asked to do by the dsa test examiner, it is okay to adjust your mirrors to help you see more easily the bay parking lines or the kerb for the reverse round the corner exercise. Just remember to put them back to the position for normal driving immediately you complete the maneuver before moving off again.

Now because you are allowed to adjust your mirrors while performing a practical car test maneuver, it is important that you don't stare in the mirror and forget to take effective observations around you, or you will miss the pedestrian walking behind the vehicle or the silent hybrid toyota overtaking you which you are swinging out towards.

If you move off without re-adjusting your mirrors, don't panic, find a safe place to pull up on the left as soon as possible. Remember the test candidate of mine that passed the test with one error, he changed the mirrors to reverse round the corner, completed the exercise, was told to turn left, he moved off and turned into the new road realised the mistake, stopped on the left (mentioning he had to re-adjust his mirrors, not that he needed to), corrected the mirrors and continued with the test. At the end, the examiner did not mark him down for it.

If you are thinking of using cheap driving lessons to learn to drive, you might want to think again about the choice you make, as it could be an expensive mistake.

Subscribe to my YouTube Driving Test Video Tips channel and you SHOULD follow me on twitter here!

Driving Test Tips 10 steps to pass

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:01:49 PST

As an experienced London driving instructor who has helped many learner drivers pass the driving test over the last 10 years, I would like to give you some free tips to pass your next car test.

It is important that you realise that the DSA car test is tough, and it is not easy to pass as evidenced by the low national pass rate of about 40%. It only takes one mistake for a candidate to be failed by the DSA examiner if that driving error was deemed serious or dangerous, so these videos and the additional 10 Driving Test Advice Tips have been put together to help you pass the DSA practical car assessment on your next attempt. The information might be simple and obvious for some of you, but all the same bear them in mind and concentrate fully during the 40 minutes the examiner is assessing you so that your dream of driving a car unsupervised can be realised on your next attempt, as my experience from almost 10 years of helping various people pass the driving test has shown that many capable and well prepared provisional licence holders fail not because they are bad drivers, but made simple avoidable errors either due to lack of knowledge or not taking my advice seriously enough!

Visit my special website for those of you who are taking your driving test in the Mill Hill centre NW7 London.

Video 1 Multi-Lane Major Roundabouts

Before I begin, may I remind you that this website of mine is full of invaluable advice based on almost 10 years of ADI experience, so if you are really serious about passing, I strongly suggest you bookmark this blog, subscribe and go over the many other free online articles and videos posted here, you can never be overprepared, and who knows which tip it might be that saves you from making a serious error.

The DSA is making a major change to the theory test in January 2012.

Video 2 Independent Driving on the Test

Practical Tips To Help You Pass Next Attempt.
1. Arrive at the DSA driving test centre on time. Know your centre location (make sure you have the right details as many candidates have turned up at the wrong address), how to get there, and if possible visit a day earlier to know if there are any road works or local restrictions in place (important if you are not using an approved driving instructor ADI). Arriving for your appointment early will allow you to be more at ease. If you don't follow this tip and arrive more than 5 mins late for your driving test appointment, the DSA examiner will not take you out, you will lose your booking fee and not be able to get another appointment for at least another 10 days.

2. Master the UK highway code!.

This is probably one of the most ignored advice tips that I constantly give to all my learner driver clients. It is one of the simplest, cheapest and easiest ways of making sure you are fully prepared (apart from practicing driving a car according to DSA standard) for the test. The small highway code booklet should be your closest companion once you have a driving test booked, take it everywhere you go, reading it in your free time, as it will help with understanding road signs and markings, lane disicpline, how to deal with different types of junctions, other road users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and generally solidify your knowledge of how to drive in the UK.

Many times test candidates are not sure of how to deal with a particular situation, with different views being given even by qualified instructors! If you have read through the highway code a couple of times, you will always know the correct procedure, as DSA examiners will follow the highway code as this is the accepted standard. Just because you have passed the theory test doesn't mean you know everything or will remember it if you do not revise. It does not matter if people around you know that you are preparing for a driving test, what is more important is that you are not one of the drivers that the examiners tell "sorry you have not passed on this occasion, would you like me to tell you why?". Go and find your highway code booklet NOW and start reading it, what have you to lose? You do have a lot to gain
from it!

3. Get a good night's rest before the day of your driving assessment a tip easily overlooked.

4. A test tip to help anxious candidates is that Rescue remedy or Kalms might help with your driving test nerves (seek professional advice before using medication if you are driving), and remember being a little nervous is okay as it gets your adrenalin flowing, which helps you to perform in high pressure situations.

5. Use the toilet before you depart to the driving test centre (not all have facilties for learner drivers, DSA Barnet is an example), as you don't want to be caught short just before meeting the dsa examiner. A driving test tip I regulary give to my learner drivers.

6. During the 40 minute drive, deal with the present, don't try and predict the dsa examiner route, what set exercises you are going to get, which direction you are going to be told to go. You will pass the driving test if you successfully and safely carry out each step at a time.

7. Another driving tip is to make progress if it is safe to do so, but obey all road signs and markings, slow doesn't always mean you are being safe, and you could fail the test for driving too slow!

8. Make sure you understand any instructions you are given, if in doubt, ask for the driving examiner to repeat it.

9. Don't panic if you make a mistake, correct it and move on, dwelling on a driving error could cause a snow ball of errors, and the first one might not have failed you!

10. Make sure you are prepared before presenting yourself for the DSA driving test, you have a better chance of passing if you've taken professional training, know what the dsa examiner is looking for and had enough practice during your driving lessons. I've left this driving test tip till last, but it is the most important advice that you will get.

Bonus Tip: Watch the video below:

If you require high quality practical driving lessons to help pass the DSA test in Mill Hill, Hendon or Borehamwood centres from a knowledgeable instructor who is patient and tailors tuition to an individual's abilities, then give me a call on 07956233032

Mill Hill Driving Test Help
If you are taking your driving test at Mill Hill test centre, you might be interested in the video below, especially if you are not local to the area, as it covers the hardest route in use by the DSA examiners where you have to deal with the dreaded Apex Corner multi-lane roundabout during independent driving as well as the 70mph A1, turning right at sterling corner as well as some other tricky locations. The video has full commentary to point out the failing areas.

Download Video for £3.99

Follow UKADI on twitter for more tips and help to pass the sriving test.

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Driving Test Major and Minor Faults.
Most Common Failing Faults on the Car Test
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Driving Test Car Hire.
Want some cheap driving lessons.
Test Coming Up? Find the Biting Point.
Don't talk to examiner on the driving test!
The DSA driving test moving off and Stopping
How many driving lessons do I need before I book the driving test?
Taking the driving test in a private car.
DSA use of car horn on the test.
Top ten dsa driving test errors.
Nerves during practical car test
5 facts about the test you might not know.
The Red Driving School training scam or con.
Drive down petrol prices.

5 Driving Test Passes this Week

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:44:10 PST

This week I've had 5 out of 6 driving test passes with my learner drivers, 3 of which where first time passes. The complete learners having had an average of 35 hours driving lessons to reach test standard. I'm not saying that they are now very good drivers and will be able to handle everything that they will encounter on the roads, in fact I have advised each and everyone of them to consider taking a pass plus course, but they can now start to gain experience on their own.

The key advice I can give to anyone who wants to pass the driving test is make sure you are prepared, get enough experience of all the skills being tested, work on any weaknesses, get a strong knowledge of the Highway Code.

For those of you that might have failed the driving test on previous occasions, dont give up, many good and well prepared candidates fail the driving test either due to test nerves, a lapse in concentration or silly mistakes. If you continue to work on it, you will get that driving licence.

If you require high quality driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not check out my current discount lessons offer?

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Examiners are out to trick you!

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:57:35 PST

As a learner driver preparing for the the UK driving test, you've probably heard somewhere that the DSA driving examiners are not interested in passing you, that instead they would even go as far a tricking you into failing by getting you into various situations that would cause you to make a serious driving error.

First of all, let me say that as a driving instructor, most test candidates do not give the practical car assessment the due credit it deserves. The DSA test is a very high quality and demanding examination, and you should expect the examiners to follow the rules to the letter (even though we know that the driving test is never 100% consistent since it involves humans and conditions vary across the UK especially in rural areas), and the only way of having a guarantee of passing the driving test is if you aim to be an A plus student.

So do DSA driving examiners cause you to fail the practical car test delibrately? The answer is no, and contrary to common belief, they do actually want you to pass, and will do their best to get you relaxed during the 40 minutes you are in the car with them. The problem is sometimes the test candidates either don't know fully how the test works, or are too nervous to have noticed an instruction, or the lack of one (if you are not told anything at a junction you need to follow the road ahead which could be a compulsary turn).

Before you drive out of the test centre, the DSA driving examiner will give you a lot of information about the test, what is going to be covered in the assessment, and finally those famous words "I'd like you to follow the road ahead unless road signs indicate otherwise, if I want to turn, I'd let you know in goodtime". Those words are important, because they have just laid down a rule for you while driving, basically continue to follow the road ahead, but you must pay attention to road markings or signs, because there could be times when the examiner will not give you instructions (at a complusary right turn for example), yet you will still be expected to use MSM, with the signals being timed properly and the approach handled at the right speed! You can't complain that you didn't know which way to, and therefore didn't signal or had little time to slow the car down enough to deal with the junction safely.

Another example could be at a multi-lane roundabout which has 4 lanes on approach, you are told turn right it is the 3rd exit, if there are signs which tell you which lane to use, then the examiner is not going to advice you that both the 3rd and 4th lanes are for turning right, and that you need o be in the 3rd lane, they would expect you to follow the signs!
On the other hand if there was traffic on approach to the roundabout, and all road markings where covered by cars, then the examiners will prompt you with some advice, as they don't expect you to be familiar with the area.
Some large roundabouts especially on dual carriageways have traffic lights controlling them, and while the examiner will give normal instructions such as 'At the roundabout turn right 3rd exit', you need to pay attention and notice the red light and not try to go because nothing is approaching from the right. If the lights are not working then you need to know that normal roundabout rules apply, which means give way to traffic on the right. ALL of this information is clearly stated in the highway code, which I ALWAYS advice all my learners to master inside out not only for the test, but after passing it could save your life and money by avoiding penalty points and fines with an increase in insurance premiums.

You are not a learner driver

Anyone presenting themselves to a practical car driving test at a DSA centre is not expected to be a learner driver! You might not be very experienced, but you are expected to be trained to the test standard, have had enough practical driving experience (private practice or with your driving instructor) to be able to independently deal with any situation that would arise during the test, and this is what the DSA examiner is looking for. They expect you to be able to plan your driving to deal with what is happening on the road ahead, be able to perform any of the set exercises competently and safely, and most importantly want you to have the right attitude towards driving and other road users. 40 minutes is a long enough time for you to show what your normal driving habits are, and those that have been relying on the little prompts from Instructors or supervising drivers, will now be struggling to be at ease and drive safely, and the DSA examiners are trained and experienced enough to know and pick up on this.

It is the job of the DSA examiner to make sure that the driving test is valid by covering a variety of road conditons, traffic and they are not supervising you during the 40 minutes of the assessment, and while they might throw you a life line by repeating an instruction, or advising that the current road is a National Speed Limit restriction, you should not be relying on that or indeed expect them to be linient towards you.
You don't have to make small talk with the driving examiner, if that puts you off your ability to concentrate, just let them know you prefer not to talk, and they will allow you to focus on the driving test.
Finally remember you are in charge and control of the car, if something starts to go wrong, immediately correct it, remember the faster the car approaches a junction, the faster you have to think, and the less likely you are to make a safe decision.
The driving test is your opportunity to prove to the DSA examiner that you can be trusted to be incharge of a vehicle unspervised, if you are totally prepared for it, and you go into the examination with the aim of making no mistakes because you haven't cut any corners and are dreading any situation, then you are move than likely to comeout as one of the 40% who pass!

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Pass the driving test first time.

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:14:41 PST

Every single one of my pupils want to pass their driving test first time, but not all of them do, despite the fact that I prepare all of them to the best standard and give them the information and practice required! So how can you make sure that you are one of those that pass the UK driving test first time round?

Well I'm going to burst your bubble right away, and say that there is no way that an instructor can guarantee you will pass the driving test first time, but you can greatly improve your chances of passing first time by taking a few steps and be on your way to driving a nice car of your choice, but before I start I would advice you to get a copy of the dsa guide to passing the test and go through it thoroughly especially if you are not using a driving instructor or are a foreign driving licence holder.

How can you pass a test if you don't fully know what the examiner is looking for, and it doesn't matter if you are taking lessons with an ADI, you can never be too prepared or have too much knowledge. This guide even includes video clips from an actual driving test, so you can see what the examiner is actually looking for and marking you against. Remember a first time pass does not rely on luck, but knowledge and preparation and adequate skills.

1. Listen to instructor advice!
Huh? One of the main reasons for pupils failing the UK driving test is that they are not ready for the test! When I ask a pupil to book a test, I normally give them the earliest date they should book the driving test considering the waiting times at the test centres I'm using, the current progress of the pupil and how many lessons they are currently having in a week. This is the earliest date when I think they would be ready if all things are equal and the pupil continues progressing at their current learning rate. We now have a target to work towards, and both I as the driving instructor and the pupil will play a part in achieving that desired goal.

What I have found in a lot of cases is the pupil will once they have a date booked for the driving test, start to slack in their learning, either they cancel lessons, or don't take things serious enough, and as the test approaches you find they are not at the standard you expected them to be! At this point I normally advise them to reschedule the driving test, but most say they will give it a go any way! I can refuse to take a pupil for a test, butI will only do this if I consider the pupil to be very dangerous and could likely be involved in an accident! I have only refused one pupil in the last 7 years. So what happened to I want to pass the driving test first time? End result is they fail!

If you think your ADI is stopping you from taking a test just to milk you (very rare, but has been known to happen), first ask him why he thinks you are not ready for the driving test, when he thinks you are going to be ready, and what it is you need to achieve to be ready. If you still are not satisfied, seek independent advise from a different ADI, possibly by booking a mock driving test.

2. Be Prepared.
No, you don't have to join the Boy Scouts. The DSA has a syllabus of skills that will be tested during the UK driving test, so if you really want to pass the test first time, then make sure you have covered every thing in there, and that you can do everything required with no input from your instructor! If you don't have a driver record, ask your instructor for one, so you can keep track of how you are progressing. If you can not honestly say that you are at the independent level with each skill, then you are not ready.
How long will it take you to be prepared? Well the DSA who conduct the UK driving test recommend 40hrs of tuition, I also give you a guide based on my experience in the how many driving lessons article. These are average figures, and some learner drivers will not require that much, and others will require more, which is why the driver's record is very helpful in charting your progress.

3. Practise makes perfect!
Once you've covered the DSA skills syllabus and have attained the independent level, then the key to passing your driving test is confidence and consistency, and this is where practise comes in! The more you do something, the less you have to think about it, and it soon becomes a habit (a good one for passing the driving test)! If you are fortunate enough to have a car (or access to one), are insured to drive it and can find a knowledgeable supervising driver, then you can build up your confidence and consistency by practising the skills you have learnt with your instructor.
When ever you are out practising make sure you do things the way you have been taught by your ADI, as he knows what the current standards are. Do not copy what other drivers do on the road, or take conflicting advise from your supervising driver. The supervising driver is there to keep you legal and help you practise, if any advise they give you conflicts with what your ADI has taught you, always politely tell them that you will do it the way your instructor has told you to do it, as that is what the examiner would be looking for on your driving test.

If you are not fortunate to have a car or access to one, then your only option of achieving that confidence and consistency is with your driving instructor. This is where the notion of milking by the instructor comes in. The instructor is trying to get you consistent in your driving skills, making the minimum of mistakes, while gaining experience that will enable you to pass the driving test, but MORE IMPORTANTLY stay safe once you are out on the roads by yourself and are in charge of a 1Ton piece of metal and responsible for the safety your passengers as well as other road users.

Get in as much practise as you can afford, it is the key to what will happen on the day of your driving test.

4. The driving test day
If you have followed the 3 steps above, then you should not encounter anything that you are not familiar with on the day of your test. Try to be relaxed, make sure you had a good night rest the previous day, have breakfast (if an early test) even if only toast or cereal bar, to keep your adrenaline levels high. Drive as you have been taught, you can't dictate how other road users will behave, but you have TOTAL control over how you react to them. DO NOT be in a hurry to 'get it over and done with' take your time (but avoid undue hesitation), and make sure you do not rush your manoeuvres and take effective all round observations.
If you make a mistake, do not dwell of it, focus on the present task, and no matter what happens on the day, give it your very best till the end. The test ends when the examiner says 'that's the end of the driving test' so everything you do up till that point counts. You will be surprised at the number of people who have failed their test within the last few
minutes or their test, including the last parking action (I'm not taking about bay parking either)!

I wish you all the best with your driving test, but remember you are the one that ultimately determines the outcome of the test, don't give the examiner an excuse to fail you, no matter how trivial it may be, give him the drive of your life.

DSA Examiner Driving Test Routes

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Mill Hill Driving Test Help
If you are taking your driving test at Mill Hill test centre and are interested in passing first time with flying colors, you might be interested in the video below, especially if you are not local to the area, as it covers the hardest route in use by the DSA examiners where you have to deal with the dreaded Apex Corner multi-lane roundabout during independent driving as well as the 70mph A1, turning right at sterling corner as well as some other tricky locations. The video has full commentary to point out the failing areas.

Download Video for £3.99

For affordable practical high quality driving lessons to help you pass the test on your next attempt in any of the following centres Mill Hill, Hendon or DSA Borehamwood then give me a call Today on 07956233032.

Need some cheap driving lessons in order to pass?

More Driving Test Tips
Test Maneuvers advice.
How many driving lessons will I need to pass the test.
Driving without Insurance after test passed.
10 driving test tips to help pass the practical test.
Becoming a red driving instructor
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Driving - Indicating at roundabouts

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:50:56 PST

Some learner drivers preparing for the UK driving test have some difficulties knowing when to use signals or indicators at roundabouts, so I made this video to help out and hopefully clarify any issues as to what the DSA examiner will be expecting you to do in order to pass.

The key to mastering roundabouts is getting a lot of practice at various times of the day so you can deal with different traffic conditions and knowing how to make progress when it is safe.

If you need more help with mini-roundabouts or major roundabouts, click on the appropriate articles for additional tips and advice.
Remember you don't need to signal or indicate when exiting a mini-roundabout, as you usually don't have enough time to do it safely, so concentrate on steering the car and being in control.

If you require high quality driving lessons to deal with these junctions from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032. I can help with practice on the ever popular Apex Corner, Sterling corner, Mill Hill Circus if these are a source of concern for your next driving test in Hendon, Mill Hill or Borehamwood centres.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email service is provided and powered by feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can removed yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click.

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Driving Tests Halfords Wellingborough Feb 2013

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:15:50 PST

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is to start offering practical car driving tests from branches of the Halfords chain of stores starting with Wellingborough from Tuesday 5th Feburary 2013.

The move which has been approved by the department of transport is aimed to make it possible of DSA examiners to test candiates much closer to where they live and reduce travelling distances for learner drivers.

You will be able to book a driving test at these halford centres through the normal dsa website
as they become available.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Zebra Crossings at Junctions Driving Test

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 01:14:57 PST

As a provisional licence holder, would you know how to deal with a zebra crossing very close to a junction such as a roundabout or T-Junction?

From experience as a driving instructor, these situations are not very common, however if you happen to take the test in an area you are not familiar with due to earlier availability dates, you need to know what to do.

Remember pedestrians are road users, and as they are the most vulnerable, they have priority over cars following behind you.

Forward planning is essential so you notice these hazards, and are able to slow down and stop if neccesary. You do not want to fail the driving test for a simple mistake just because you were more concerned about a car that has been following you for a while even tailgating and thus not giving way at the zebra crossing.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons in the NW London area from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message today

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Narrowly Missed Passing First Driving Test Attempt

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:17:15 PST

If you have narrowly missed passing your first driving test, then you like many other learner drivers will be thinking that I'm going to rebook my next test as soon as possible and take one lesson the day before the appointment and will ace it this time!

I have seen many adopt this tactic, and it has backfired on them because it is the wrong approach to passing the driving test, especially here in London where there could be 8 weeks between the 2 test dates due to long waiting lists at DSA test centres.

While you might have narrow missed passing with a serious fault and maybe only a few minor driver errors, what you need to realise is that your standard of driving will drop if you do not continue to practice all the things that you did so well on your first driving test attempt. You will start to forget those simple mirror checks, that blind spot before moving off, the smooth control you had while reversing round the corner.

Taking just a lesson once a week, will keep your skills current, while allowing you to continue strengthen any weaknesses that you might have been working on. This is not about making more money out of you, it is about improving your chances of passing the driving test on your next attempt. Set a goal for each lesson, whether it be practising multi-lane roundabouts, gaining more confidence in the parallel parking exercise or gaining more experience driving on the 70mph A1 dual carriageway. You are paying for a service, so make sure your instructor is working with you to achieve your goals, do not allow him/her to bully you into doing what they prefer doing (avoiding dual carriageway to conserve fuel).

If you take this advice not only will you improve on your first driving test attempt, you might surprise yourself passing without any driver errors! Do not assume you will get the same test route and remember failing at junctions is the top most serious dsa driving test fault.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

More Reading
Independent Driving Test Tips Video with DSA advice.
Pass Plus Advanced Motorway Driving Lesson

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Passed Driving Test? Drive Safely

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 08:19:37 PST

If you have recently passed the driving test, you still need to drive safely and keep up the good habits transfered to you by your instructor.

Many people because they have the freedom develop unsafe habits which one day could result in incidents they would not be proud of.

The video clip below shows what goes on our roads today. Just because they were not involved in an accident this time does not make them safe drivers.

Do not wait until you get points on your driving licence or you are banned and have to take an extended driving test. Make a habit of being a safe driver, no matter what.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Same DSA Examiner Failed Me 3 Times!

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:00:22 PST

For the first time in my 10 year time as a driving instructor I had a provisional licence candidate who took a test at a centre in London and was failed by the the same examiner 3 times! I sat in on 2 of the practical assessments, and unfortunately I agreed with the serious faults that were marked on the DL25 report sheet. What I did not agree with was the attitude and professional conduct of the examiner.

On the 3rd driving test, the learner opted to go alone, so I can not comment on what happened in the car, but the report sheet showed 1 major fault for being too close to a parked vehicle. My client was obviously upset and asked to speak to the manager to find out why the same examiner assessed them 3 times and also complain on how they had been treated, including a claim that they were told to hurry up because the learner was a bit too slow!

Meeting the test centre manager revealed that all driving test examiner bookings are done automatically by a computer at the DSA headquaters and are supposed to be totally random. The manager did obviously say that all examiners are impartial, but if any test candidate was not happy with an examiner they were allocated, the only thing they could do would be to request that the manager accompany them to make sure the test was conducted to the proper professional standard.

My client did book another manual driving test at the same centre, and did get another examiner this time and decided to go with a family relation rather than the test centre manager who was ready for the ride. This time the result was positive (I believe not because of a different examiner, but just the drive met the standard required), no serious or dangerous driver errors, but there were a few things that the examiner had to debrief on,

Thinking about becoming a driving instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school marketing advertisements you see all over the place, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you and what the true earning potentials are in your area.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

More Driving Test Advice and Tips
Taking a Driving Test in London? Here is some helpful information.
Pass the Driving Test at Mill Hill
Need help with DSA Driving Test Routes?

International Foreign Driving Licence Only Valid For a Year in UK.

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 06:34:01 PST

If you are a foreigner living (resident for 185 days or more) in the UK and hold an international driving licence, you need to know that you can only drive a car legally in the UK for a year on your home country's licence!

Also note that just because you leave the country for a week 9 months after your first entry does not reset the one year clock, the 12 months starts from the day of your first entry, so make sure you are still legal if using an international driving licence. Remember your insurance is dependent on you having a valid driving licence.

Once your 12 months is up, you will need to apply for a provisional driving licence, take both a theory and practical car driving/riding test before you will be allowed to drive unsuprvised in the UK again.

My advice to any foriegn licence holder who wants to minimise the risk of not being able to driving in the UK alone, is to take driving lessons while your international licence is still valid, practice and get rid of any bad habits (which you do have), and take the DSA driving test before your 12 months is up, this will reduce any pressure and last minute panic trying to get a full UK driving licence. Many people do not understand that there are waiting lists of up to 14 weeks for test in some metropolitan places like London, Birmingham, Manchester as such you can not just get a licence in 2 weeks!

If you require help in finding out what bad habits you might have or what the DSA examiners are looking for during the DSA UK driving test, then why not get in touch with me. I am a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, with many years experience helping foreign licence holders from various countries get the full UK licence. You can call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Did you know that Borehamwood driving test centre has one of the shortest waiting times for practical tests in London?

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving With DSA Test Pass Certificate

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:00:36 PST

If you have finally passed the driving test and the DSA examiner took both parts of your provisional driving licence, then it is perfectly legal to drive a vehicle in the UK with just your pass certificate, as long as the car is insured to be driven by you.

It should normally take about 3 weeks for your full pink driving licence to arrive from the DVLA after you have passed, but if for any reason it has not, you should contact the DVLA office on 0300 7906801.

If you do decide to drive a car, it is best if you have your DSA pass certificate with you in the vehicle at all times to avoid problems if you get stopped by an ANPR police car while out and about.

Finally remember that you are on a 2 year probabtion period, so be safe on the road, and adhere to the highway code and traffic regulations, or you might find yourself having to take another practical driving test.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Why not subscribe to my YouTube UKADI driving Video channel for tips and advice on how to be a safe driver, and gain experience from the mistakes of others.

You can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Know Your Weakness

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 01:36:51 PST

A very important tip for anyone who wants to pass the driving test is to know what their weaknesss are, acknowledge them and seek professional advice on how to deal with them and work hard at correcting them.

One of my pupils took a driving test at Hendon and failed with a serious error on junctions, there were 4 other driving errors. The candidate was a foreign driving licence owner so was competent at driving a car, but was not patient at junctions, I explained the importance of being 100% sure it was safe to emerge at a t-junction and if there was any doubt as to if it was safe or not, to wait.

During the test, on approach to a T Junction to turn left during the independent driving element, the pupil was approaching a bit fast, saw some cars coming from the right, with the lead vehicle indicating left, started to go, but for some reason changed their mind and stopped but had crossed the Give Way line, forcing the other cars to go round us.

On the debrief, the candidate's excuse was that they had a limited view to the right, and were trying to peep, to which the examiner countered but you didn't stop at the give way first! I have mentioned this before, habits don't die easily, so taking a 2 hour driving lesson one day before the DSA practical car test is not going to guarantee you pass first time.

If you don't trust your driving instructor and think he/she is critising your skills just to get more lessons from you, then change, but it is critical that you deal with any faults as it only takes one driving error to fail.

If you require high quality driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the instructor training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

More Driving Test Advice
Learning to Drive in the UK.
Learn the Parallel Parking exercise.
Driving course to avoid points on Licence.
Extended Driving Test.

Simple UK Driving Test Mistakes That Learners Fail On!

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:44:03 PST

I want to use this website page to show you some of the simple driving test mistakes that many learner drivers fail the DSA practical car assessment on.

Most of these driver errors are usually caused either by a quick lapse in concentration or by lack of knowledge of the rel="nofollow">Highway Code.

Road Signs

In this first example the error was ignoring or not noticing some road signs 3 of them (a common leaner bad habit).

The driver was about to go through a red stop light, and I had to intervine. This footage was taken during a mock test.

Road Positioning

Here is the classic mistake of not taking notice of road markings painted on the tarmac surface.
While the driver shown is this video is not a learner, the footage illustrates the point, and explains why an examiner might classify it as a serious fault on the DL25 report.

Do not get into the habit of classifying any mistakes you make during driving lessons as minor, work on all weaknesses and put in the effort not to do them. It only takes ONE mistake to fail.

Observations When Moving Off After Normal Stop

This is one of the most simplest mistakes that you should really be avoiding. On the driving test you will be asked to stop at least 4 times on the left by the driving examiner, and then told to move off almost immediately. Many
provisional licence holders make the common mistake of not checking the right blind spot before moving off, and think that because nothing was there, it is not a serious fault. On the driving test if you do not check the blind spot 3 times when moving off, you are very likely to get a serious fault even if there was no cars coming.

More Reading

First 5 minutes of drving test are very crucial.
10 good driving test tips to help pass first time.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test - Hazards React To What You See

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:04:22 PDT

On the driving test, a sign of being a safe drver is you being able to react to everything you see in front of the vehicle and dealing with it adequately.

Passing the hazard perception theory test does not mean that the driving examiner will not assess this skill on the pratical car test, in fact they want you to demonstrate that you understand those video clips, so you need to transfer that knowledge into the car cockpit.

The basic rule is if you spot a hazard, react and deal with it in a safe manner.

What is a Hazard? As far as the DSA is concerned, a Hazard is anything that COULD POTENTIALLY cause you to change your current speed or direction. Examples are pedestrians, junctions, traffic lights, other cars approaching, narrow road, obstacles.

How do you deal with a Hazard? IMMEDIATELY you spot a hazard, you should use the MSPSL Routine to deal with it.

M: Check your MIRRORS (interior first, and exterior on the side you might need to move to, or exterior right if slowing down).

S: Signals are not usually necessary when dealing with hazards, even if you are overtaking obstacles as the next step takes care of that (the execption to this is on Dual Carriageways where you SHOULD ALWAYS signal when moving out of your lane).

P: Position your vehicle EARLY if you need to change direction. Learner drivers tend to get this wrong, ending up stopping too far to the left behind an obstacle, and then finding it hard to get past as cars behind overtake them.

S: Adjust your speed to safely deal with the hazard ahead. Slowing down does not always mean braking, sometimes all you need to do is come off the gas, while in other cases it might be essential to almost come to a stop to go through a narrow gate.

L: Look to make sure it is safe to proceed. If approaching a crossing remember people might run across, on unmarked junctions know who has priority, and be prepared to give way to others who might force their way or exibit other unsafe skills.

The key to dealing with hazards and passing the driving test is to react early to every one of them. NEVER think it is too early, if you have spotted it, then so would the examiner who is a much more experienced driver, so they will know exactly why you are doing what you are doing.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Dual Carriageways Simple Mistakes

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 05:21:46 PDT

In this article, I want to go over some of the simple mistakes that learners commit while taking the driving test on dual carriageways.

1. Failing to make progress: Dual Carriageways are meant to be fast roads, so if conditions allow it, you need to make progess, not necessarily driving at the speed limit but keeping the traffic moving at a good pace. For example doing 30mph on a 40mph dual carriageway is too slow! By the time you are ready to take the test, you should have been on a 70mph dual carriageway if you have them in your area and might get them with a DSA examiner.

2. Lane Discipline: This is one of the most common driving faults. You need to make sure that you do not veer out of your lane while on a dual carriageway, especially on bends in the road. Your driving lessons should be spent gaining enough experience on various dual carriageeways at different tmes of the day, so you know how to deal with bpth fast and large vehicles being close to you.

3. Changing Lanes Safely: If for any reason you need to move out of your lane, you MUST make use of the MSM Routine, in particular your indicators must have given enough notice to other road users of your intentions. It is NOT acceptable for you to signal and then move a second afterwards, nor should your car start to move out of lane before the mirror checks and signal is put on.

4. Forward Planning: As a learner you will be expected to be in the left lane, but unfortunately, this means you will have to deal with Buses stopping, large vehicles parked improperly, and other cars moving out when it is not safe and slow moving vehicles that YOU HAVE TO overtake. Practice looking far down the road ahead, this will allow you to notice potential dangers which you might be able to avoid if you change lanes early. If you can see the danger, then change lanes (the examiner will know exactly why as there are more experienced drivers), it is never too early.

It does take a lot of practice being able to safely deal with dual carriageways, so make sure you ready for the driving test, and do not try your luck when you can't safely turn right on a 70mph dual carriageway.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

One Driving Test Manuever

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:25:32 PST

Since the 4th of October 2010 when the DSA introduced independent driving on the test, candidates have only been required to carry out one driving test manuever, as before this date learners would be asked to do two excluding the emergency stop procedure. The change has reduced the chance of commiting a serious driver fault by 50% during a manuever. Having said that, many learner drivers are still failing the driving test during manuevers the only part of the test where the candidate has complete control of what the outcome might be!

The reason why I consider manuevers to be the easiest part of the practical car test, is that you know before hand what the DSA examiner requires (you would have been taught the 4 exercises by your instructor), should have practiced each one many times before and dealt with any weaknesses

On the day of the test, the examiner would ask you to park the car on the left handside of the road (never try to stop on the right!), tell you which exercise you are required to perform and then you would be told to continue when ready. Even if you are nervous, you should still be able to do this driving skill if you are truly READY for the test.

Now that you are taking driving lessons, it is up to you to master the manuevers, no matter what you find difficult, your instructor SHOULD be able to find a way of simplifying it for you. If they can't, find another instructor!

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Know When To Use Handbrake

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:00:02 PDT

By the time you are ready to take the driving test, as a candidate, you should know when to make use of the vehicle's handbrake.

For those of you who are not sure, the purpose of a car's handbrake is to secure it in a stationary position after you have stopped and will not be moving for sometime (at traffic lights or a busy junction). You should also apply the handbrake after stopping uphill to make it easier to move off safely if you are having problems finding the biting point (balancing the brake and clutch together) thus prevent you rolling backwards.

You do not need to apply the handbrake every single time you stop in traffic especially if you will be moving again shortly, and the same applies at junctions.

You definately do not want to be applying the handbrake before the car has come to a stop, and you should not develop the habit of taking your hand off the steering wheel as you break to a stop in anticipation of using the handbrake.

It is also advisable to use the handbrake if you obey a STOP sign, as then there is no doubt about whether the vehicle came to a complete stop or not.

Another time to use the handbrake is while performing driving test maneuvers so you can keep control of the car while changing gears or taking effective observations. As a driver it is your responsibility to be safe, so ask your instructor questions if not sure, and practice whatever you are weak at (hill starts, reversing round the corner, dual carriageways) so you have a better chance of success.

If you need more driving test tips then follow UKADI on Facebook or Twitter, the links are on the top right of this page.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Junctions Junctions Junctions!

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 03:23:21 PDT

The most common reason candidates fail the UK driving test is junctions, it is therefore paramount that you understand what the DSA examiner is looking for when you are being assessed for a full driving licence.

Junctions are dangerous places because you are meeting other vehicles or road users and therefore as a test candidate the examiner will be expecting you to exercise caution to make sure that you are always safe at these places.

Having been on hundreds of driving tests with learners, I can assure you that 90% of failures have NOT be caused by UNDUE HESITATION, but either INEFFECTIVE OBSERVATIONS or APPROACHNG TOO FAST and thus making a wrong judgement decision.

Driving Test Candidates are Inexperienced! Every driving examiner knows that you are an experienced provisional licence holder and thus they will NEVER expect you to be able to deal with a junction as quickly as the cars in front of you, so do not try and copy other road users, make decisions based on if you think it is safe or not.

Open or Closed Junction? If the junction is open and you can see it will be safe to join, approach at a safe steady speed and negotiate it. If on the other hand it is a closed junction, then you should be approaching with the intention of stopping, and only proceeding once you have assessed the traffic and decided it is safe to continue. If in doubt DO NOT go!

For you to be given a SERIOUS fault of undue hesitation, it has to be blatantly obvious that it is safe to go (NOT just because the car behind you honked)!

Being able to deal safely with junctions does take time, so get good practise in, especially on big roundabouts or complex junctions, but always remember if you don't think it is safe, maybe it is not.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Instructors Know Learners Better

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 03:50:20 PDT

You might not believe this, but a good driving instructor will after a few lessons know your driving abilities better than you know yourself and will be able to advice you on the best driving test centre to book your test at, what time would be best suited for your abilities if you are a nervous driver and what you need to practise more on to have a better chance of passing at your next attempt.

I say all this because further to my pevious article on listening to instructor advice, I today had another case of a candidate failing their driving test because they prefered 'trying their luck' with the DSA Examiner taking the test a few weeks earlier during rush hour! This person was always a bit nervous driving, and despite my warning that it can be more pressurised dealing with other road users on their way to work, failed due to a serious fault of not giving way to other road users while emerging to turn right at a junction.

While it might be true that some driving instructors will want to make as much money from you by getting you to take more training sessions, I am not one of them, otherwise why would I be offering free driving test tips, but more importantly, I have enough work coming in from my good reputation as a reliable, honest and very good instructor that I don't need to play dirty tricks. I love what I do, and want to help as many people as possible hence my blog.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Instructor Advice Take Serious

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:10:27 PDT

It is very important that you choose the right driving instructor, because you need to be able to trust the advice you are given especially as you get closer to the day of your DSA driving test.

Having over the last 10 years helped thousands of provisional licence holders gain a full UK licence, one thing that I do know is that those that listen to my advice pass much quicker and in less attempts than those that either ignore it or do as they please.

A lot of the advice I give especially as the test gets closer is not get more driving lessons, but little tips like thoroughly reading the highway code, watching roundabout videos and sometimes changing the booked driving test appointment time to increase the chances of passing.

There have been times when I have adviced some candidates to have more training sessions either because they have a particular weakness or have fallen behind the original planned schedule we had originally agreed on, but I only do this if necessary.

I tell all my learner drivers to ask questions especially if they do not agree with what I tell them or they think it is stupid or silly. My job is to get you confident in your driving safe as well as get you to the DSA examiners standard, so I will not shout at your or ignore any question, as it is better to ask a STUPID question and be put right, than to ASSUME you know that answer and fail the test!

It is for this very reason that I am not one of the cheapest driving instructors in the area. I offer good quality affordable training that will give you the best chance of passing within the shortest period.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test in Rush Hour Traffic London

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 03:55:59 PDT

I have always adviced my learner drivers to only book a driving test in rush hour especially in London only if they normally have lessons at this time of the day, and today I was able to demonstrate to one provisional licence holder why this is good advice after booking a 8.10am DSA appointment in Mill Hill because it guaranteed an earlier slot and less waiting time.

Having called me last week to advice of the test date and time, my first reaction was to cancel and find another time, but my pupil insisted despite never having a lesson at this time of the day, so I said lets have a lesson at 8am and then you can make up your mind.

We had that driving lesson this morning, and my pupil was surprised at how different it was to her normal time, and to top it off, she encountered what the typical attitude of rush hour drivers were twice. First a van driver was hooting at her for failing to enter a yellow boxed junction and secondly one woman shouted at her saying learners should not be allowed on the road when she is doing her school run!

By the time we finished the lesson 10 minutes late due to heavy traffic, she was seriously considering changing the appointment. We have one more early morning session booked for next week, so we will see where that leaves us as I will be going to Apex corner this time.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving test in Automatic car

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:23:18 PDT

Many of my pupils choose to take driving lessons in a manual car because they like the freedom it gives them of chosing either manual or automatic cars once they have overcome the minor detail of passing the DSA practical driving test. However some of them do try to change their minds after they encounter some hurdles while preparing for the practical car assessment.

First of all let me say that yes it is easier to take driving lessons in an automatic car and you would take less time to get to the standard where you will be thinking of taking the test, but it doesn't necessarily follow that it will be easier to pass in an automatic if you learnt to drive in a manual and have either failed the test or found a particular driving test maneuver such as reversing round the corner difficult and are looking for an easier route to getting that pass certificate.

There is more to passing the test than being able to confortably or smoothly change gears, and while you might not have to worry about those in a car with automatic transmission during your lessons, there are things like speed on approach to a junction, how to spot gaps in traffic at a roundabout, making progress on a national speed limit dual carriageway (A1 for example in Mill Hill), while being able to change lanes safely in preparation for a right turn at Stirling corner.
Even during your maneuvers, you can still hit the kerb in an automatic car while doing the turn in the road, not to think of those who can not reverse into the small Hendon test centre car park bays without straddling the line.
There are those who also fail the driving test for ineffective observations at junctions or during manuevers which has nothing to do with gears!

The point I'm trying to make is that many of you currently learning to drive will hit a hurdle at one time or the other, and you need to persist and work your way through the difficuties with your ADI, if you think they are not able to help, then maybe it is time to try changing driving instructors. Personally I don't think changing to automatic driving lessons is the right answer in this case (I might be wrong since I don't offer them), but if you are thinking of changing, don't be afraid to go back to manual if it doesn't make a difference to the real problem that you were having.

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DVLA Wheel Clamping Ban Effecetive Today

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:45:02 PDT

The DVLA ban on wheel clamping on private property comes into effect today the 1st of October 2010.

The ban effectively means all licences to clamp vehicles on private property are revoked, and it is now a criminal offence/illegal for security firms to place a clamp on a car that has been parked in a private car park.

This ban does not affect councils or government contractors working for the DVLA.

For more details visit the DVLA website.

Note that this does not stop security firms from issuing you with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) and issuing proceedings to collect this if you park un-authorised on a private car park!

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Lost Theory Test Certificate Book Driving Test Online

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:08:22 PDT

If you have lost your Theory Test Certificate, you can still book a driving test online without having to spend long minutes on the phone to the DSA to find out your pass certificate number.

The DSA in conjuction with the DVLA have launched a new 24hr online service that allows anyone who has passed the UK theory driving test and lost their paper certificate to find out the number which is required to book a practical driving test.

You will need the following information to retrieve your pass certificate number.

Provisional Driving Licence Number
Date of Birth
Address

Go to the DSA Website Now to get your lost pass certificte number.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Test Closed Junctions DSA Advice

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:18:29 PDT

One of the ways you can know that you are ready for the driving test is to be able to deal with closed junctions safely.

Learner drivers are usually too aware of vehicles behind them, that they do not deal with what is in front of them.

The examiner is always interested in seeing you drive safely, and in the case of a closed junction, it would unwise if you approach too fast when it is obvious that you can not see what is on the main road you will be emerging into.

The driving instructor video below gives you valuable advice on how to deal safely with closed junctions the way a DSA examiner would expect you to.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving On Roundabouts Stay In Lane

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 03:55:11 PDT

One common mistake that many learner drivers make during the UK driving test which leads to immediate failure is not staying in lane on a multi-lane roundabout when following the road ahead.

This video clip from a driving lesson illustates this simple but very important skill which the DSA driving examiner is assessing.

If you are not confident with roundabouts, then watch my videos and take some lessons or private practise sessions to perfect the skills required to pass the driving test.

Thinking about becoming an instructor with red driving school? You need to read my article before making a decision about this change in career. Do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Driving Lessons Borehamwood

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 01:09:36 PDT

I can offer you high quality affordable driving lessons in Borehamwood with a very high pass rate at the DSA/DVLA test centre in WD6.

Each session is on a one to one basis and tailored to your individual ability, with fast learners allowed to progress unto an early driving test.

The first driving lesson is £20, and discounts are available for block bookings. Use the contact details on the side of the page for more information.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Borehamwood DSA Examiner Routes.

Driving Tests at Halfords Shop

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:17:41 PST

Very soon some UK driving tests will be conducted from selected Halfords shops around the country according to a recent annoucement by the DSA.

The DSA has selected Halfords plc as a preferred partner, and is also exploring partnerships with the Fire and Rescue Service and several universities.
In one location the agency also expects to sign an agreement with training company Mantra Learning Ltd.
The scheme focuses on 21 locations, centred around 5 different areas across the country:
Glasgow
Kettering
Manchester
Watford
Worcestershire
Starting from autumn
Testing from partner premises in these locations is expected to start from the autumn.
These arrangements apply to practical car tests. Other types of practical tests and theory test centres will not be affected.
Partners will allow the use of their premises at no cost to the DSA. Tests will still be conducted by DSA examiners.
‘Best possible service’
Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning, said:
“It is vital that public services are as open and accessible as possible. This initiative is a great example of how working with partners in the public and private sectors can help to ensure that we offer people the best possible service wherever they live.
“Our aim is to provide all driving test candidates with a local service that is convenient as well as being cost effective.”
David Wild, Halfords CEO, said:
“We want to help motorists wherever we can, so we look forward to working in partnership with the DSA to provide a first class service for drivers taking their tests.”

While this might mean the introduction of new driving test routes, the standard will be the same, so you still need to be fully prepared to have any chance of passing.

First DSA Driving Test From Halfords Wellingborough Feb 2013.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Are You Ready For Driving Test

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 08:24:04 PDT

You might have learnt all the test maneovers and are no longer stalling the car, but does that mean you are ready for the DSA UK driving test?

This driving instructor video asks you a few questions about junctions which is the most common serious driver error DSA examiners fail candidates on.

A lot of very good drivers fail because they are not familiar with the DSA test parameters or the way they are expected to deal with situations. I keep recommending the highway code (available from amazon on the left) to people preparing for the test, spending a few minutes each day going through this £2 book could save you a lot of money when it comes to passing.

Are you ready to pass the UK driving test?

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Passed Driving Test Don't Misfuel Car

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 04:44:03 PDT

If you have passed the driving test and are fortunate enough to have a car to exercise your new found freedom, familiarise yourself with the show me tell questions and make sure you know how to refuel your car at a petrol with the correct grade for the vehicle engine.

Misfuelling could be a very expensive mistake to make.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe by email to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your Inbox. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

Drive Safely Avoid Traffic Incidents

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:29:24 PDT

All road users should drive safely in order to avoid road traffic collisions like the one shown in this video. Most test candidates fail their tests at junctions for ineffective obsrvations, incorrect use of speed, amongst other reasons.

It is not a small responsibility to be in-charge of a ton of metal, sometimes you need to be able to deal with other people's mistakes as well. Make sure you get enough experience before taking the driving test, and even if you pass, there is still a lot to learn. Pass plus for example should be considered if you have had less than 40hrs of professional tuition.

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

You will Pass The DSA Car Driving Test

adi@privatehomesales.co.uk (The Driving Instructor - Shola Ogunlokun) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:42:44 PDT

You will pass the driving test one day if you do not give up, so when you finally do and have forgotten about all the hard times you had (including the multiple test failures), are driving your very own car do not cut up or intimidate other learner drivers. Spare a few seconds and be patient!

If you require high quality affordable driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisement, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

Subscribe to my Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles and get DSA updates direct to your inbox by Email. The service is provided and powered by Google Feedburner, so I don't personally keep your email addresses, and you can remove yourself anytime after passing the driving test with just one mouse click, you can also follow UKADI on twitter or join my UKADI Facebook page.

More Reading
Overtaking DSA Driving Test
Should I Become a Driving Instructor?
How To Deal With Big Roundabouts.