Show Me Tell Me Questions & Answers

       Show Me Tell Me Questions & Answers

You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions during your car driving test.

The examiner will ask you one:

·         ‘tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving

·         ‘show me’ question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving

You’ll get one driving fault (sometimes called a ‘minor’) if you get one or both questions wrong.

You’ll fail your driving test if your driving is dangerous or potentially dangerous while you answer the ‘show me’ question.

‘Tell me’ questions

1. Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

Brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Brakes should be tested as you set off. Vehicle should not pull to one side.

2. Tell me where you would  find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.

Manufacturer’s guide, use a reliable pressure gauge, check and adjust pressures when tyres are cold, don’t forget spare tyre, remember to refit valve caps.

3. Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.

The head restraint should be adjusted so the rigid part of the head restraint is at least as high as the eye or top of the ears, and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable. Note: Some restraints might not be adjustable.

4. Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.

No cuts and bulges, 1.6mm of tread depth across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre, and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre.

5. Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), then walk round vehicle (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights).

6. Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.

Warning light should illuminate if there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system.

7. Tell me how you’d check the direction indicators are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), and then walk round vehicle (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights).

8. Tell me how you’d check the brake lights are working on this car.

Explain you’d operate the brake pedal, make use of reflections in windows or doors, or ask someone to help.

9. Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

If the steering becomes heavy, the system may not be working properly. Before starting a journey, 2 simple checks can be made.

Gentle pressure on the steering wheel, maintained while the engine is started, should result in a slight but noticeable movement as the system begins to operate. Alternatively turning the steering wheel just after moving off will give an immediate indication that the power assistance is functioning.

10. Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use it/them. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

Operate switch (turn on dipped headlights and ignition if necessary). Check warning light is on. Explain use.

11. Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on.

Operate switch (with ignition or engine on if necessary), check with main beam warning light.

12. Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient oil.

Identify dipstick/oil level indicator, describe check of oil level against the minimum and maximum markers.

13. Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant.

Identify high and low level markings on header tank where fitted or radiator filler cap, and describe how to top up to correct level.

14. Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.

Identify reservoir, check level against high and low markings.

You need to open the bonnet and tell the examiner how you’d do the check if you’re asked question 12, 13 or 14.

DVSA PLANS TO REDUCE DRIVING TEST WAITING TIMES

 

DVSA sets out NEW plan to reduce Driving Test Waiting Times

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has today (Wednesday 18 December 2024) set out a 7-point plan to reduce driving test waiting times, and get new drivers on road.

Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, said:

Passing your driving test is a life changing opportunity for millions – but sky-high waiting times for tests in recent years have denied that opportunity to too many people.

No one should have to wait six months when they’re ready to pass, travel to the other side of the country to take a driving test or be ripped off by unscrupulous websites just because they can’t afford to wait.

The scale of the backlog we have inherited is huge, but today’s measures are a crucial step to tackle the long driving test wait times, protect learner drivers from being exploited, and support more people to hit the road.

1. Recruit and train 450 Driving Examiners

DVSA will recruit and train 450 driving examiners across Great Britain.

2. Review and improve the Rules for Booking Driving Tests

DVSA will review and improve the driving test booking system to make sure that learner drivers can book their driving test easily and efficiently.

To do this, DVSA will follow these steps:

1.   Launch a call for evidence about the current rules and processes, which DVSA has done today (18 December 2024).

 

2.   Analyse the evidence and develop proposals to improve the rules and booking system.

 

3.   Run a consultation on the proposed improved rules.

 

4.   Introduce the improved rules - changing the law if necessary.

This work will take time to complete, and it will take some time for learner drivers and driving instructors to see improvements. But it will help to make the system fairer for learners and better protect them from being exploited.

3. Introduce tougher terms and conditions for the service driving instructors use to book and Manage Car Driving Tests for their Pupils

These new terms and conditions will come into force on 6 January 2025.

They set out that only driving instructors or businesses that employ driving instructors can use the service to book car driving tests.

The new terms and conditions make it clear that driving instructors and businesses must not book driving tests on behalf of learner drivers they are not teaching.

They also stop driving instructors and businesses from using a learner driver’s details to book a driving test that they have no intention of that particular learner driver using. This is sometimes done to create a placeholder so the test can be swapped to another learner driver later.

If anyone breaks the terms and conditions, DVSA can:

·         issue them with a warning notice

·         suspend their account

·         close their account

4. Consult on new proposals to increase the amount of time people have to wait to book another test in certain situations

DVSA will run a consultation on new proposals to increase the amount of time people have to wait to book another test if they either:

·         make multiple serious or dangerous faults during their driving test

·         physically or verbally assault their driving examiner

·         fail to attend their driving test without telling DVSA - and consider charging them a penalty

Learner drivers currently have to wait 10 working days before being able to book another test. The consultation, which will launch at a later date, will set out the full details of the potential options.

5. Increase the amount of notice you need to give to change or Cancel a Car Driving Test without losing the fee

DVSA will increase the amount of notice people need to give to change or cancel their car driving test without losing their fee to 10 clear working days.

It’s currently set at 3 clear working days. DVSA consulted on proposals to increase this in 2022.  

This change will:

·         encourage people to change or cancel their test sooner if they’re not ready

·         give more chance for appointments to be used by someone else

DVSA is working to bring in this change from spring 2025. The exact date has not yet been confirmed. DVSA will let learner drivers and driving instructors know when the date is confirmed.

Learner drivers will still be able to apply for a refund in cases such as illness or bereavement.

DVSA will continue to pay out-of-pocket expenses for any car driving tests it cancels with fewer than 3 clear working days’ notice while it conducts a review of its out-of-pocket expenses process.

6. Explore changing the current 24-week limit on how far ahead car driving testscan be booked

DVSA will explore ways of changing how far ahead car driving tests can be booked. This is currently set at 24 weeks.

Any changes DVSA makes will be made so it can better understand how many people want to take a driving test at each test centre.

7. Encourage learner drivers to be better prepared for their driving test through the ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign

DVSA will continue to run its ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign, which 95% of users rate as useful, to encourage learner drivers to take the right action to prepare for their driving test.

Research from DVSA shows that about 23% of learner drivers take their first attempt at the driving test within one month of starting driving lessons.

The campaign aims to change this behaviour, and focuses on helping learner drivers to:

·         understand what skills they need to have mastered

·         prepare for their test by giving tips on managing nerves

·         take a realistic mock driving test

·         understand what will happen during their driving test

It also encourages people who are not ready to pass to move their test back.

Reducing waiting times

The actions being taken will help DVSA to provide 1.95 million car driving tests between April 2024 and March 2025 and to reduce the waiting time to 7 weeks by December 2025.

BEATING DRIVING ANXIETY ON YOUR DRIVING TEST

Beating Anxiety on Your Driving Test

1. Put any thoughts of drinking alcohol or taking drugs – at least the night before your driving test – out of your mind.

 

2. Have some food and stay well hydrated. There’s nothing worse than having the jitters before and during your test and focusing on a growling stomach will disturb your concentration.

 

3. Take an hour long driving lesson with your Driving Instructor before your test. This’ll give you the chance to have a last-minute practice, brush up on manoeuvres and warm up for your Driving Test.

 

4. It’s perfectly acceptable to let the examiner know if you have any additional support needs. Examiners give instructions in good time but if you don't understand ask them to repeat.

 

5. During your test, make safety your number one priority. If you’ve been told to go left, but you are in a right only lane for example, go where the lane takes you. You might have to pull over and allow your Examiner to reroute, but what is important is that you demonstrate your ability to follow traffic rules and are always aware of your surroundings.

 

6. After your test, whether you pass or not, pay close attention to your examiner’s feedback. This is what will be most useful to you afterwards.

 

7. Finally, stay safe, trust yourself and your instructor and treat your test as a learning experience, regardless of the outcome.

DRIVING CONVICTIONS

 What is Dangerous driving conviction?

Lets see here what constitutes a driving conviction, and how you can avoid a increase in your insurance costs because of one.

What constitutes as dangerous driving?

All motoring offences determined by magistrates or at a crown court will lead to a criminal conviction and it can can be anything from causing death by dangerous driving or driving under the influence of alcohol, to speeding or failing to wear a seatbelt.

All these offences can lead to a fine, penalty points on your licence, disqualification and, in extreme cases, imprisonment.

But it’s not just the manner of your driving that can lead to convictions. You may be committing an offence if you are driving a defective vehicle, perhaps driving at night with no rear lights, or driving without insurance or a valid licence or MOT. These offences can also lead to a driving conviction.

The rules are the same, whether the person pleads guilty, or is found guilty by the court.

However, offences that are committed but dealt with by way of a fixed penalty notice, do not lead to criminal convictions. The fixed penalty notice is served because the authorities believe the offence is serious, but not serious enough to be considered by a court of law.

Here are some of the examples listed by the police as to what constitutes as dangerous driving, but not limited to:

• Speeding, racing, or driving aggressively
• Ignoring traffic lights, road signs
• Overtaking dangerously
• Driving under the influence of drink or drugs, including prescription drugs
• Driving when unfit, including having an injury, being unable to see clearly, not taking prescribed drugs, or being sleepy
• Knowing the vehicle has a dangerous fault or an unsafe load

Distractions are also causes of dangerous driving, for example:

• Using a hand-held phone or other equipment
• Reading, or looking at a map
• Talking to and looking at a passenger
• Lighting a cigarette, selecting music, tuning the radio

Do I have to declare my driving convictions?

You will need to declare your convictions, both motoring and criminal when getting a quote for an insurance policy. If you fail to do so your insurance may be invalid and your insurer may cancel the policy. 

In the event of a claim you may not be paid, and if you have already been paid for a claim and a previous conviction becomes apparent, your insurer can ask for its money back.