The Most Common Question I’m asked by Pupils and Parents is –

” HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PASS MY DRIVING TEST ? “

Well There is No Easy Answer to that question, simply because everyone is an individual, and everyone proceeds at their own pace !

Driving today is a complex skill, it necessitates the ability to Plan Ahead, Evaluate Developing Situations, and make Decisions On The Move.

To establish when your ready to pass your Driving Test you 1st need to understand the TOP reasons why individuals Fail a Driving Test and then answer the following questions  !

Top Ten Reasons for Failing Your Driving Test

1. Observations at Junctions – Ineffective Observations and Judgement.
2. Reverse Parking – ( Bay and Parallel Parking ) – Ineffective Observation or a lack of accuracy.
3. Use of Mirrors – Not Checking or not acting on the information received.
4. Moving Away – Poor observations or control when moving away.
5. Use of Signals – Not given, Not cancelled or Misleading signals given.
6. Poor Positioning – At roundabouts, bends, lane, Turning right and one way streets.
7. Reverse around the corner – A lack of Observation or accuracy.
8. Lack of Steering Control – Steering too early or leaving it too late.
9. Turn in the road – Ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy.
10. Inappropriate Speed – Travelling too slowly.

It is interesting to note from the above reasons for failing a driving test that two issues keep cropping up –

1. Observations – 6 errors in the top 10 reasons have something to do with A LACK OF OBSERVATIONS
2. All 4 set MANOEUVRES are in the top 10

Questions to ask yourself are –

1) Car Control

• Can I drive the Car smoothly, using the Gas Pedal, Brake and Clutch safely without any help at all ?
• Can I perform each of the manoeuvres, without any help at all  under full control, observing as necessary, acting upon this information and being accurate with my road position ? ( Reverse around a left corner, Parallel Park, Turn in Road and Bay Park )
• Can I keep the car under full control at slow speed, using either Clutch or Brake Control as appropriate.
• Am I fully aware of my surrounding at all times and that of other drivers / Pedestrians ?

2) General Driving

• Can I follow Road signs, Road Markings and directions given to me ? Do I approach them at the correct speed, Gear and Road Position taking into account other drivers and within good time ?
• Can I drive and maintain the correct road position at all times on roundabouts, lanes, bends, turning right and one way streets.
• Can I drive at high Speed on faster Roads and maintain the correct road position, keep up with the other vehicles and plan ahead to deal with any situation that may arise by anticipating what will happen next.
• Can I stop the car quickly, if required to do so ? under full control and having the required reaction time.
• Am I fully aware of my surrounding at all times and that of other drivers ?
• Can I make allowances for other drivers errors ?
• Am I checking my mirrors effectively, every time I move off, slow down, speed up, change direction or stop ? and act upon the information given.

3) Junctions 

• Can I deal with junctions, do I approach them at the correct speed, gear and road position taking into account other drivers and the type of junction ?
• Can I deal with Roundabouts effectively ? do I approach them at the correct speed, Gear and road position taking into account other drivers and where I am going ?

4) Own gut Feeling

• Do I feel confident and safe enough to drive on my own after passing my driving test ? Remember you are now fully responsible for your actions.

So When i’m asked, am I ready for my Driving Test, we tend to go through the above list and answer the questions above – this therefore gives us the answer we need.

It may sound a daunting task, But with the correct training there is no reason why you can’t pass your Driving Test 1st time with City Way School of Motoring and join the growing list of pupils who have done just that and become Safe, Competent drivers that are able to think for themselves.

When learning to drive with City Way School of Motoring, we will keep you fully aware of your individual performance, so you will be aware of any areas that need to be improved, by forwarding your performance records to you at the end of your driving lesson by email. therefore you will also be able to self evaluate as well.