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.

 

Pros and Cons of Learning to Drive in Automatic Car.

The latest data from the DVSA reveals that automatic driving tests are at an all-time high. There was an increase of  40%  in new drivers taking automatic driving tests since last year.

Here are some differences that should be taken into account when deciding whether to learn in automatic car or manual car.

When learning how to drive, there’s are many  decisions to be taken , one of them being the type of car you want to learn in. And it’s important to make the right decision for you.

The key difference between a manual and an automatic car is how much work you will need to do as a driver. In a manual car, there are three pedals – accelerator, brake, and clutch, using the gears to increase or decrease your speed.

In an automatic car, there are only two pedals – an accelerator and a brake, with the automatic gearbox doing the hard work for you.

So, with automatic cars seems doing all the hard work, it’s important to understand the pros but also the cons of learning in an automatic before taking final decision.

The pros of learning in an automatic car

1. No clutch control required

Being able to stop/start the car without the added stress of using the clutch can be beneficial for new drivers. As an automatic car will change your gears for you, you don’t have to worry about gear changes in busy traffic.

2. Automatic cars are more inclusive

Automatic cars are a great choice for those learning to drive who have physical disabilities or medical conditions. Especially for those who have limited mobility, the two-pedal option is a great choice instead of 3 and gear box.

3. Less risk of stalling

Something that is really common when learning to drive is stalling. There is very little risk of stalling an automatic as there is no clutch, which some learners prefer.

4. Easier to drive

An obvious pro is of course, that an automatic is easier to drive. With the car changing gears for you, this gives you more time to focus on manoeuvres and other aspects of the driving test.

The cons of learning in an automatic car

1. Higher car costs

Automatic cars are usually more expensive to buy than manual, so be prepared to pay a little more when it comes to buying your first car.

2. Expensive Driving Lessons

Generally  driving lesson rates for automatic cars are higher than manual cars and you can  pay around £10-20  per hour more for driving lessons in an automatic car.

2. More expensive to repair

With more advanced technology and complex mechanics, automatic cars are usually more expensive to repair. So, these costs are definitely something to budget in when planning to purchase your first automatic car.

3. Limitations in the future

If you choose to learn in an automatic, this does limit you to only driving automatic cars in the future. While electric cars continue to rise in popularity, passing your driving test in a manual car still offers more flexibility, as it allows you to drive both manual and automatic car models in the meantime.