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 …
Driving lesson tips – hill starts
Hill starts are easy! Updated February 2026When new drivers have a problem with starting on hills, it is usually because they are worried about rolling back. If the car rolls back, even a little bit, they ‘panic’ and start tap-dancing with the pedals! But the truth is, if you can move off OK on a …
The UK driving test – what to expect
The big day has arrived! It’s time to take your driving test. How to tell if you’re ready to take a 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 …
How to remember stopping distances for your theory test
The theory test – how to remember stopping distances Updated June 2025 This article will help you remember stopping distances for the UK driving theory test and also help you overcome theory test nerves. A common question on the theory test is ‘what is the [overall stopping, thinking or braking] distance at 30 mph?’ etc. …
How many hours instruction will you need?
Updated June 2025The average number of hours instruction with a driving instructor that people need before they can pass their driving test is 45.1 Research also shows that people who combine their driving lessons with private practice are 50% more likely to pass the driving test and most people have 22 hours of private practice …
How to overtake…safely
Updated 6 June 2025 ——— Overtaking is an inherently risky manoeuver. A lot can go wrong if you don’t do it correctly! So when overtaking it’s important to follow these steps: Consider if it’s necessary. You may feel frustrated being stuck behind someone driving slowly and holding up your journey, but if you’re getting off …
The ten ‘most difficult’ theory test questions
Updated April 2025You can see some tricky theory test questions (and the answers) below. If you need any help with your theory feel free to drop me an email and I’ll try to help 🙂Want to save some money on your driving lessons? If you’re learning to drive you will learn much faster and need …
A pillar blind spots
An A-pillar blind spot is a smaller area in a vehicle that’s blocked from view by the design of the vehicle, specifically where the windscreen meets the side windows. A-pillar blind spots are smaller than the main blind spot over the driver’s right shoulder, but they can still be dangerous, especially in busy traffic. For …
Clutch control when moving off
The clutch….it’s a mystery to most new drivers! What does it do? Do I need to press it down? When do I press it down? Should I lift it up? All the way or just a bit? What’s the ‘biting point’ all about? Understanding how the clutch works and how to use it when moving …
How to react to emergency service vehicles
Should you drive onto the pavement to get out of the way of an ambulance? Go past a red light to make room for a fire engine? Is it ok to drive into a bus lane when there are blue lights behind you? Or do you stay where you are and risk blocking the emergency …
Parallel parking – a how-to-do-it guide
Parallel parking – a complete guide Parallel parking (reversing into a parking space behind a parked car) is not difficult…honestly! The step by step instructions below explain exactly how to do it safely. There is also a very good video that shows exactly how to parallel park at the end of this article. Parallel parking …
Left turns
A simple left turn can have many potential hazards, from tight turnings, badly parked cars, or cyclists and pedestrians that could be crossing your path. If you want to keep yourself and other people safe, it’s important to follow the correct procedure when approaching and negotiating the turn. How to turn left How to make …
How to move off…safely
Updated September 2024 Moving off? That’s not too difficult, surely? Well….many learner drivers fail their driving test because of mistakes they make when moving off, either through poor observation skills or the incorrect use of signals. Let’s clarify the technique for moving off and how to avoid the most common mistakes. Prepare, Observe, Move The …
Stalling On Your Driving Test
Do I fail if I stall on my test? No. Not automatically. It depends on many things, like where you do it, how many times, and how you deal with it. Stalling is NOT automatically a serious (or “major”) fault. If you stall once when moving away or stopping, then as long as you start …
Mirror…signal…
The hazard routine The hazard routine is a routine that you use each time you approach a hazard or before you carry out any sort of manoeuver. It’s a safe system of work designed to minimise the risks involved when you’re driving a car. Note: a ‘manoeuver’ is any change of direction. A hazard is …
Let Them Merge
We all get frustrated in traffic at one time or another. However, simply because traffic is moving slowly doesn’t mean that we can’t let another driver into our lane. One additional car in front of you isn’t going to make you arrive any earlier or later than you already would have. So the next time …
Which way is left?
Do you always go the right way when your instructor says ‘take the next road on the left please? Or do you sometimes go the wrong way? It’s odd, isn’t it, how someone who usually knows their left from their right gets really confused when they’re having a driving lesson! When you take your driving …
How to save money on your driving lessons
Before you start learning to drive, you need to research your local driving schools. Not all driving instructors are the same! If you want a reliable, friendly and patient driving instructor, (and one who is going to help you pass your driving test in the shortest time possible), ask friends and family for recommendations. If …
Traffic lights – what do they mean?
If you’re taking driving lessons, you really must understand what the different colour traffic lights mean! Standard traffic lights in the UK follow the same sequence – starting with red the sequence is: Red, Red and Amber, Green, Amber, Red. Read below to discover why green sometimes means stop! Red Red and amber Red means …
The emergency stop
About one in every three driving tests involves a controlled, ’emergency’ stop. How it works Your examiner will ask you to stop in a safe place then say: ‘when I say ‘stop’ and hold my hand up like this, I want to stop the car promptly and under control. Move on when you’re ready.” Although …