Driving Test

I have to do my driving test here in the UK as the fact that I have had a Full non-restricted Canadian license and can drive anything except a motorcycle for 19 years doesn't seem to translate.. does anyone have the the theory book I can borrow for about 2 weeks?

Pm'd

As you're from north of the 49th I'd suggest leaving the studded snow tyres at home, makes the emergency stop frightfully difficult.

Oh, and remember: manoeuvre - indicate - mirror - rude hand gesture out the open window.

Good luck with your test Jacqui

@ Andy, replied
@ wildgoose.. hahaha thanks. it's a bit weird thinking I have to retest but oh well!

My father's one of the top instructors in Ontario - he teaches drivers hazzardous transport safety - which basically means everything from high speed chase senerios for the police and skid control manouvering on icy roads to how to reverse double tractor trains through 18inch clearances with petrol carriers. Think the ice truckers but in the city centre and you get the picture.
Pretty sure my driving test with him, which was far more stressful than what the DVLA is likely to ask.. but it's still unnerving.

Don't worry too much, Jacqui--you have a singular advantage over most other people taking the driving test.

You can drive.

UK theory isn't going to be that massively different from Canadian and US theory.

The one thing you have to watch out for, something that a number of people who renewed their driving test later in life find, is that your established driving routine may miss out some things that are perfectly routine for you and that instructors place great emphasis on. Try going out for a drive doing everything pedantically and by the book to remind yourself of the little partial manoeuvres that you may have come to take for granted, such as different steps when making a turn.

another tip:
We often find easier ways to do things. Like we look in our mirrors by moving little more than our eyes; this might not be good for the tester. Learn to move your head in a (relatively) exagerated way when you are doing your observational awareness stuff, (rear mirror, door mirrors, over the shoulder), they love that stuff.

another tip:
We often find easier ways to do things. Like we look in our mirrors by moving little more than our eyes; this might not be good for the tester. Learn to move your head in a (relatively) exagerated way when you are doing your observational awareness stuff, (rear mirror, door mirrors, over the shoulder), they love that stuff.

Yes, that's a good example of what I mean.

thanks guys... I will ensure to check my mirrors - and thanks oliver, I plan to take a few test drives before the exam (once i find someone with a car!) lol.

Jacqui - note from a fellow Norte Americano who did the test a couple of years ago - just deal with the patronising tone of the materials. They are not written for people with driving experience.

You'll not have an issue with the mirrors, etc as it'll take you a while to get used to being on the other side of the car. That alone makes sure you are a little more cautious.

If it helps, the assessor I had mentioned that in his many years of doing the job he had NEVER failed anyone from the US or Canada. We're all too road savvy.

You'll be fine.

One trick I was taught to alleviate the mirror issue, was to actually move the mirror slightly out of its natural position so you have to physically move your head, rather than just the eyes.

few tips needed on my driving test. I also got a foreign license (brazil) and got one of those provisional ones years back, still valid tho, whats the best way to get it started? in terms of money, what offers the best value out there, also quality would be a factor to consider. pretty tight time wise, and not really bothered about how long it takes, i dont even drive in the uk (I'm allowed to drive in europe with my brazilian license) but it might be useful, you never know...
any help appreciated
thanks

resurrecting this thread - I have driven on a provisional in various countries for over 10 years now, and consider myself a good driver, but I know there are probably things I need to relearn in order to pass my UK test. I've passed the theory, and need to get a course of lessons in order to pass my test. Does anyone know of a good instructor, who would do an intensive refresher course? I need to get my full license within the next month or so.

He's alive!

sure am, been off the bike with a badly broken arm for the past three months / winter / bought a Land Rover, so just been lurking for a bit!

http://www.lfgss.com/thread42703.html

thanks - booked a guaranteed pass course with Car Captain...

Bump!
The DVSA is currently consulting on changes to the driving test to increase the time drivers spend driving independently and changing the manoeuvres they are expected to demonstrate.

A group of cycling orgs are asking for drivers to be tested interacting with cyclists (where cyclists are present in the test location)
@Sparky

We understand that there may not always be people cycling in the driving test location so the points below may be guidance and optional. However, driver testers should be encouraged to seek out locations where there are people cycling.

This would give a greater opportunity for tested drivers to be observed interacting with people cycling. We would expect the driver to decide whether or not to overtake the person on a bike, choosing to remain behind them if overtaking would be unnecessary, illegal or risky. Should the driver decide to overtake we would expect them to give the rider at least as much space as they would if overtaking a car, and to pass at a speed only slightly faster than that of the rider only pulling in when well clear of the rider.

Should the driver encounter a person on a bike at a place where there is a chance that they may need to swerve to the right, such as when passing parked cars where a door may open or a pedestrian stepping out between the parked cars, the driver should be observed deciding not to overtake or demonstrate overtaking taking into account the possibility that a rider may swerve right. Similarly when moving through a location where the road narrows, a driver should be observed remaining behind the person cycling.

An extended independent driving section would also increase opportunities for the driver to be observed driving where there is cycling infrastructure such as advanced stop lines and cycle lanes, where they could be observed giving a rider in a cycle lane the same amount of room while overtaking as they would where the rider is using the same lane as the driver.

Further to the above, a longer period of independent driving would give a driver more opportunities to demonstrate that they look out for cyclists (as well as for other drivers) when pulling out of junctions, (especially when) turning left, and turning right through a queue of stationary traffic.

Where a driver does not encounter a single person on a cycle during their test the tester should check their understanding of some of the points above by asking them questions such as ‘Describe when and how you would overtake a person on a cycle’.

1 Attachment

• DVSA.DrivingTestConsultationaug2016.joint response.docx

Press release from The Association of Bikeability Schemes

http://www.tabs-uk.org.uk/news/

Press release from British Cycling
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/campaigning/article/20160824-campaigning-news-Drivers-should-be-observed-interacting-with-people-cycling-as-part-of-the-driving-test--say-cycling-organisations-0