The Road To Passing Your Driving Test

Step 1 - Before you learn to drive

Before you can start to learn to drive, you will need a provisional driving licence. You can apply for your provisional driving licence up to three months before your 17th birthday. Your Croydon driving instructor will need to check your provisional driving licence (both the photocard and the paper part) on your first lesson and will carry out a short eyesight test by asking you to read a car number plate from approximately 20.5 meters. To hold a full UK driving licence you must pass both a theory and a practical driving test. Your Croydon driving instructors main aim is to provide you with the tuition and skills that will enable you to pass these tests and obtain a full driving licence.

Step 2 - The driving theory test

You may take your driving theory test from the age of 17 years, but you have to pass the driving theory test before you can book your practical driving test. To book a driving theory test online you will need a UK driving licence number and a debit/credit card for payment. Our Croydon driving instructors offer free theory test tuition and coaching. The driving theory test consists of two sections, both of which must be passed on the same occasion:

Part One - Multiple Choice
For this section you will use a touch screen computer which tests your knowledge of the Highway Code. A question and selection of answers will appear onscreen. You have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer. You can 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later.

You must answer correctly at least 43 out of 50 questions in 57 minutes. Your Croydon driving lessons, will help you learn the highway code. Your Croydon driving instructors are also fully prepared to provide you with help and advice on preparing for the test and can supply discounted home study material (paper or computer based) if required. For more information, visit the DVSA's Driving Theory Test site For cost-free and subscription-free mock learnerstuff.co.uk
Part Two - Driving Hazard Perception
For this section you will be shown 14 video clips which feature every day road scenes, these test your ability to identify as quickly as possible developing hazards on the video clips. In each clip there’ll be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards. The hazard perception part records your responses through the use of a computer mouse button. You won’t be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test; as on the road, you’ll only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.

You must score at least 44 out of 75. For more information visit the DVSA Safe Driving for Life website here.

Step 3 - The practical driving test

On the day of your driving test it is normal to have a short driving lesson before the test, to get you driving comfortably and to settle any last minute nerves. Before the driving test begins the driving test examiner will carry out a short eyesight test, by asking you to read a number plate from approximately 20.5 meters. They will then ask you some driving safety questions (one of which is whilst driving), which are basic safety checks that a driver should carry out to ensure the vehicle is safe for use. Some checks may involve the Candidate to open the bonnet to identify where fluid levels would be checked, pupils will not be asked to touch a hot engine or physically check fluid levels. Your Croydon driving instructor will cover these with you in plenty of time before your test and you can also prepare by reviewing the driving test questions on line.

The UK Driving Test

The driving test itself lasts between 35 - 45 minutes. The test examiner will want you to drive safely and competently in various road and traffic conditions.

You will be asked to perform one reversing manoeuvre from either:

A Parallel Parking exercise.
A forward in or reverse in bay parking exercise.
A pulling up in the right hand side of the road, reverse for two car lengths, then rejoin the traffic flow exercise.

The examiner MAY ask you to perform an emergency stop exercise also.

You will be asked to pull over and pull away during your test, including:

Normal stops at the side of the road.
Pulling out from behind a parked vehicle.
A hill start.

Your practical test will now include approximately 20 minutes of independent driving. During this part of the test you’ll have to drive independently by either following:

Traffic signs.
Directions given by a pre-programmed Satellite Navigation device.

It doesn't matter if you don't remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers. The examiner will put you back on track, when asked. Independent driving is not a test of your orientation and navigation skills. Driving independently means making your own decisions - this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going. If you do not follow the exact route you will not receive a fault mark providing you are safe in the route you take, and the examiner will help with driving directions to get back on route.

During the driving test you are allowed to make up to 15 driving (minor) faults; you are not allowed to make a serious or a dangerous fault. During your lessons, you will do one or more ‘mock tests’, to help you get used to driving under test conditions. 'The Official Driving Test' book, published by The Stationery Office, sets out the full syllabus and explains the test in more detail.

Slaters Driving Instructors Croydon -
my role in your driving test

Slaters Croydon driving instructors aim is to ensure independent driving through your lessons, I aim to ensure complete readiness for your driving test, and make you a safe, assured, and responsible driver.

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