Learn to Drive with Go Driving

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has confirmed its new test fee structure for 2009/10 following a public consultation in October last year.

The fee increases will apply to theory and practical driving tests booked on or after 30 March 2009. Fees relating to the Approved Driving Instructor scheme will increase from 24 April.

General fee increases include;

* (in October 2009)

DSA Chief Executive, Rosemary Thew, thanked the public for participating in the public consultation, and said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that fees remain as low as possible for our customers – particularly during the current economic climate.

“Despite this, increases are necessary to cover general running costs, development work and increases in inflation.

“The Agency is largely self-funding. We receive only a small amount from general taxation and have to recover most of our costs through test fees.

“We are confident that these increases will enable us to maintain our high standards and provide a first class service to all our customers.”

The D.S.A. are proposing that in the learner driver’s test the pupil will not only have an examiner in the car but also a third person (instructor, parent or friend) in the back of the car for extra weight.  So how can this be practiced easily?  If you’ve got your own car and enough passengers to take out on a regular basis it’s no problem.  In a driving lesson, this may be more difficult if you’re taking lessons in your lunch break, free period evening or weekend as your instructor will have to arrange to have someone else in the car.  The third person could be a friend but this may be off-putting for the pupil and also tiresome for the passenger (will they want to come again on the next lesson).  One alternative is that the instructor arranges to pick you up with their last pupil still in the car and you drive them home.  This is known as piggy backing.  The D.S.A. has frowned upon this as it doesn’t allow the instructor to debrief and close the lesson correctly.  It can also put extra pressure on a novice driver if they have to drive through areas that may be beyond their level of ability, or demoralising when watching a natural driver picking up new skills more quickly when they may have spent several weeks working on the same subject!

The idea behind this proposal is to reduce the amount of novice drivers passing their test one week (with only one passenger) and then a week later filling the car with four passengers and trying to drive the same way.  As we all know the handling qualities of a car change dramatically once it is loaded.

Other options could be:

•  newly qualified drivers drive for a short period displaying P plates limited to carrying two passengers at any one time. 
• Or make Pass Plus compulsory before a newly qualified driver can carry passengers and when doing Pass Plus there must be at least three people in the car.

Let us know your thoughts on the subject!

I’m still happy. Thank you Andy!

Jess Pearce (3 less serious faults)

I wish to confirm my availability for the course…

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you and your team (esp. Mr. John Richards) for equipping me with the necessary skills to make this possible.

Kindest Regards,

Ruel

I liked Go Driving because of the thorough tuition, care to make me a good driver not just for my test.  Lots of additional info, attention to detail and good progression.  Thank you!  Corinne Loynes – Shrewsbury (4th June 2008)

What do I need to start learning to drive?

* Provisional driving licence
* 17 years old (unless registered with motability)*
* Able to read a number plate from 21.5m (with glasses/contact lenses if needed)

* Disability living allowance – if you are receiving disability living allowance at the higher rate, you can apply for your provisional driving licence up to 3 months before your 16th birthday.  You can’t drive however, until your 16th birthday.

When/How do I get my provisional driving licence?

You can apply for your provisional licence prior to your 17th birthday by:

* Getting an application form (D1) from most post offices or
* Applying online here

As part of your driving course with us, we supply and encourage you to maintain an Appointment & Driver’s Record Card.

This allows you to:

• Easily plans your appointments.
• Clearly track your progress.
• Find helpful hints and advice.
• Keep a record of your success.
• Find your Instructor’s contact numbers.

Our pupils find this a real help, even referring back to it after their test (just to keep up the standard!)

Driver's Record

The theory test is made up of two parts: the multiple choice part and the hazard perception part. You’ll need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. The number of questions you’ll be asked to answer in this touch screen computer test is 50 in 57 minutes. The pass mark for the multiple choice part of the theory test is 43 out of 50.

Our instructors can help with your theory learning, both during lessons and by checking your knowledge through a series of example test papers.

The hazard perception part is a computer based test to assess how well you can recognize and respond to hazards on the road. The pass mark for the hazard perception test for car drivers is 44 out of 75.

Hazard perception is a vital part of your driver training and your instructor will help develop this skill to a high standard.

Your driving test will start with an eyesight check and some vehicle safety questions. You will then start your practical driving test which will include some specific manoeuvres.

The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.