How do I start
How do I apply for a driving license? Why do i need a driving instructor? Training Matrix	What is the theory test about? How does the new drivers act affect me? what are the stopping distances?	What is the practical test about? What is Pass Plus? Information on drinking & driving

All New Clients will be given Free Access to Theory Test Training sites & Training Note websites        

In order to drive a car you will need to have a in your possession valid UK Driving License or a Valid International Driving License. This means a license issued by the Driving Vehicle & Licensing Authority with your name and at your current address. You do not need to carry it around with you because should you need to produce it you will be given 7 days to produce it at a police station of you choice.

You can obtain an application form from Main Post Offices, or by writing to Customer Enquires (Drivers) DVLA Swansea SA6 7JL or by phone 0870 2400009 or by visiting http://www.dvla.gov.uk.

There are too many rules and regulations regarding this issuing of driving licenses for me to list in this short introduction to driving, so if you need more information contact the DVLA.

To take the theory test for cars you will need to be at least 17 years old and in possession of a provision license for cars. You can apply by post with an application form obtained from ;- Your Driving Instructor, The Theory Test Centre, the Practical Test Centre.
You can phone 0300 2001122 and book a test using a Credit or Debit Card or by visiting The Theory Test is now made up of two parts.

The First Part is called the Hazard Perception and Awareness Section. This is on completed on a computer, you will be asked to view several situations on a Video clip. Either during or after the clip you will be asked to identify hazards or when you should need to check your mirrors. The Idea is that the Trainee is encouraged to be able to Identify Potential Hazards and plan how to Anticipate and Deal with them in plenty of time. There is a Time limit for this section of 15 minutes.

The Second Part of the Test is a Multi Choice Questionnaire of 50 Questions of which the Trainee must answer 43 Correctly. There will be Various sections you could be asked Question on. The time limit is 50 minutes.

A point to Remember for Both Parts of the Test there may be more than one correct answer. Be prepared to look for them. I would strongly recommend that you practice on a computer both parts of the test before taking the Test as you will need to understand what the test is looking for. I can offer Free Theory Test Training to all my pupils so that they can use it as a way of taking a Mock Test before taking the real test.

You can read a copy of the Syllabus from here. Their are many books you can buy to prepare for the test and several web sites, try asking your usual search engine for details or follow this link to find them. The MOST IMPORTANT BOOK to understand is the HIGHWAY CODE. Do not try to take the theory test without having studied the highway code, The test is harder than you think.

To take the Practical Test you will have to have passed your Theory Test . You can apply by application form available from your Driving Instructor or the practical test Centre. Or by Phone on 0300 2001122 or on the Internet www.dsa.gov.uk using your Credit or Debit Card.

There is a book issued by the Driving Standards Agency an excellent reference book called Driving the Essential Skills ISBN 0-11-552224-7 again the most important book to read is THE HIGHWAY CODE ISBN 0-11552290-5.

The Practical test is conducted with an examiner giving you directions instead of your Instructor. The test last for between 35 - 45 minutes and will include at least 2 Reverse Manoeuvres. I have included a copy of a Mock Test paper so you can see what you are going to be marked on for the Practical Test.

This is a training course without a test, taken after passing your test. This is linked with insurance companies to save you money. You can read the Syllabus.

Many Driving Instructors are registered to train for this course. You can ring 0115 9012633 or visit www.passplus.org.uk.

The aim of this scheme is to speed up the speed up the process of gaining good driving experience and to teach you positive driving skills. Through out the course there will be two key factors to keep in mind.

ATTITUDE
Responsibility for your actions
Care & consideration for others
SKILLS
Observation
Assessing what you can see
Making decisions
taking the right actions

Why should I go to a Driving Instructor to be taught to drive, rather than my Mum/Dad/Brother/Sister/Uncle/Aunt or friend who has been driving for 15 years plus and have never had an accident? They say they can teach me.

To pass the Practical Test and be a safe driver you will need to have planned training course. Especially at the beginning so you have get the basic safe driving concepts sorted out in your mind. Then as much practical practice as you can get in a safe manner.

The only people allowed to be paid or receive gifts in exchange for lessons are Approved Driving Instructors (ADI Cars) or a Trainee License Holder.

An Approved Driving Instructor has to display his license all the time he is teaching and to obtain this license he has had to pass a searching three part exam and be registered with the Driving Standards Agency.

Which instructor to chose is up to you. Why not ask your family & friends or visit the web.

Choose an instructor depending on his reputation & what he has to offer. All instructors should try to cover as much of the Practical Driving Syllabus as possible, let you know what the Recommended Books are. Be able to help you prepare for the test as safely as possible possibly let you find out what the real test is like by giving you a mock test, allow you to practice as many subjects related to safe driving as possible in the time available to you.

To pass the practical test you will have to be able to drive to an appropriate standard set by the Driving Standards Agency and tested by Examiners paid by the Driving Standards Agency. A Driving Instructor knows what this standard is and knows how to train you to that standard avoiding bad habits and encouraging you to follow safe driving practices as quickly as possible. Parents and friends are likely to have picked up bad habits, which could encourage you to fail the test or even become a dangerous driver.

After passing the Practical Test remember that you will be under probation for 2 year, if you get 6 or more points in this probationary time. Your driving license will be revoked and you will have to retake both Theory and Practical Tests. This also includes any Points that you may have accrued before taking your test. After passing these tests again your license will be returned with the points still showing until they are revoked in the due time.

This act was introduced because new drivers with less than 2 years experience irrespective of age make up 10% of all drivers on the road. But they are involved in 20% of the accidents and 25% of all fatal accidents each year. This is because of their lack of experience in dealing with the various different problems that they might meet on the road.

Before driving you must be medically fit to drive, understand that some medicines can affect your ability to drive. You must inform the DVLA if your health, is liable to affect your ability to drive over a period of time or if your ability to drive worsens to a dangerous point in the future.

Do not drive if you feel tired or unwell or notice you are losing concentration. Alcohol reduces your ability to drive safely.

Driving with alcohol in your system is potentially extremely dangerous and carries sever penalties. If you drink in the evening you are likely to be over the limit in the morning. It take over 24 hours for alcohol to be totally flushed out of your system.

You must not drive if your breath alcohol level is higher than 15ug/100ml (equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 80mg/100ml)

Driving whilst under the influence of drugs prescribed, bought or illegal which affect your driving is an offence. If you are not sure whether the drugs you are planning to take are going to affect your driving then check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Remember that taking illegal drugs affect your ability to drive safely not only while it is in your system but it can have a lasting after affects. They might make you feel good but this is at the cost of your ability to make safe judgments.

As a driver you will need to remember the stopping distances at various speeds. I feel it is also important to know what the actual stopping distances are.

At 30mph your stopping distance is 75 feet, 23 meters, or 6 car lengths. Try to imagine how far six car lengths is. For example imagine how far six car lengths away is from where you are sitting or when you are sitting in the car.

This idea of stopping distances is often misunderstood. The stopping distance given in the Highway Code is an average distance taking into account many factors such as road conditions, types of tires, weather and other variables. So different cars will have different stopping distances. Remember stopping distances change depending on many different variables such as weather, road conditions, tyre conditions and the drivers reactions.

Their is a variable that is often forgotten when breaking that is the thinking distances. It will take an average of 0.7 seconds for you to react. That is the time it will take for you to start to move your foot. Why not find out how far you travel at 30 mph before you react to a given situation (9 meters) then work out how far from where you are sitting now or in your car what 9 meters really is.

This means that you should NEVER drive at a speed that you can not see it is safe to stop in regardless of the conditions.

Have a look at this page about Brake, The website for people interested in Road Safety.

Follow this link for a training matrix on my other web site that can help learners find out how much the have learnt and need to learn.

I can now offer Training for Migrant workers with Training Matrix's available in English which can be Translated into your language. Follow this link to find out more.