Too old to learn to drive?

Are you too old to learn to drive?

There are plenty of tricks you can teach an old dog: how to dribble on a sofa cushion, how to fart like an atomic bomb, how to ignore balls and chew orthopaedic slippers. But, as I nudge over The Big Three Oh (30), I do wonder if I’ve left if just a little late to …

How many driving lessons will I need?

How many hours instruction will you need?

In 2006, the DSA (now the DVSA – Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), published the results of a study that looked at how more than 48,000 new drivers had learned to drive and their experience of driving after they passed their test. Specifically, the aims of the study were: to investigate how people learn to …

Roundabouts

Roundabouts – how to approach and spot gaps in traffic

Roundabouts come in many sizes. They are circular junctions that are designed to allow traffic to keep moving, where possible, without necessarily having to stop, with all traffic travelling from right to left, clockwise. Basically, you should give way to traffic on the roundabout coming from your immediate right. They’re not easy to deal with …

Driving lesson in Scunthorpe and Brigg

The UK driving test – what to expect

The big day has arrived! It’s time to take your driving test. You’re bound to feel a bit nervous before you start but that’s good – a bit of nerves will help you perform well. But it’s important not to become too worried. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t pass – …

How to emerge safely at closed junctions

This is a summary of what you have to do on the approach to a closed give way junction like the one shown in the photo below. Hopefully, it will help you understand what to do with your feet and where to look 🙂 But don’t worry if it doesn’t make a lot of sense …

Clutch control at roundabouts

Not sure how to approach roundabouts? How to spot gaps? Worried that you might stall? This driving lesson video will help make roundabouts easy!!

Be ready to stop!

Children on their way home from school are often rushing and often don’t look both ways before they cross the road…as this video shows! Be ready to stop!!!

How to tell if a driving instructor is fully qualified

Check the badge in the driving instructor’s windscreen – if there isn’t one you should not take lessons in that car! The person sitting next to you might be pretending to be an instructor. They could be anyone. A green octagonal badge shows the instructor is fully qualified and an ‘approved driving instructor’. A pink …

Meeting vehicles and other road users – video

Meeting other vehicles (and knowing what to do when you meet them!) is often a bit of a worry for learner drivers. This video explains how to recognise who has priority when road users meet each other in narrow roads, when there are parked cars in the road and in other places, too. There are …

Checking driving licences

From 8th June 2015 you will no longer be supplied with a paper counterpart when your provisional licence arrives. The paper counter part used to hold information about any endorsements and driving bans. All driving instructors are required to check your licence before you can drive their car but you will need to provide them …

Common steering faults

Learning to drive? Steering not quite right? Here’s how to fix the most common steering faults. The shuffle Some new drivers have a habit of shuffling the wheel – only moving the hands a few centimeters rather than taking large sweeps when turning the steering wheel. This becomes a major problem during manoeuvres that need …

Emergency stop (in real life)

Just started a driving lesson in Scunthorpe and we’re on our way to a nice quiet road so we can practice the emergency stop… I’m saying ‘you never know when you might have to stop the car quickly’… Watch the Ford KA coming out of the multi storey car park…

Joining and crossing dual carriageways

Although there are many conventional T-junctions and crossroads on dual-carriageways, motorway-type slip roads are becoming more common. When entering a dual-carriageway from a slip road you will use the ‘acceleration lane’. The acceleration lane is an extra lane on the left for use when building up your speed before merging with traffic on a dual-carriageway …

Scanning – it keeps you safe!

The image on the left gives you an idea of where experienced drivers look, and what they look for… Imminent risks This is the immediate area around the car and is especially important near schools, playgrounds, pedestrian crossings, junctions, parked vehicles, etc. New drivers, however, often pay too much attention to this area. When you …

Cross hatch lines (chevrons) – can you drive on them?

White chevrons (commonly known as cross hatched lines) are often used to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right. There are 2 types: If the area is bordered by a solid white line, you should not enter it except in an emergency. If the area is bordered by a broken white line, you …

Who lives, who dies? It’s up to you…

Driving too fast, not paying attention to what is happening (or could happen) as you drive down the road, or just not caring…can have fatal consequences. This road safety video from the Northern Ireland DOE is worth watching.

Judging gaps at roundabouts

Judging a safe moment to emerge onto a busy roundabout can be very difficult for someone who is learning to drive. It takes experience and a degree of confidence to spot a gap and take your opportunity. Over-thinking is common – ‘is that a gap?’…’I think it is’…’I should go’…too late! The gap has gone. …

Pull push steering

Pull push steering? It’s not difficult…

Although you are allowed to cross your hands while steering – providing the steering is smooth, safe and controlled – pull push steering is the DVSA approved method because it is safer. Crossing your hands over the centre of the steering wheel enables you to keep both hands on the wheel at all times, it’s …