It is most people’s aim to one day be able to drive. A full driving licence is for many people, a life changing skill. Your quality of life can be very positively influenced when you are legally entitled to drive. Some employers and jobs require that you have a full licence. You can start learning to ride a motorcycle from the age of 16 and a car from the age of 17.

Fully qualified instructors – often have several years of experience and have a high level of confidence in dealing with a wide range of student abilities. Check to see if there are Driving Instructors in Braewick

Cars have been around for a very long time and technology never stops developing easier ways in which the car performs many functions such as road holding, braking etc. You would think then that most people would choose the easiest form of driving, automatic cars, but in the UK this is just not so. In America however most people do drive automatics.

A feature that attracts many people to learning in an automatic is the fact that they do not have a clutch pedal. This fact alone is common to all automatics and it means that you only need one foot for the pedals. This is convenient for people with certain disabilities. Automatics however do have different features and these will be covered elsewhere.

Semi automatics are not treated the same as automatics for the purposes of a driving test. This is because although there is no clutch, the driver still needs to select a gear via the use of a gear stick or lever.

Learning to drive appears to many to be quite complex but in fact once you understand what is required of a good driver, learning what you need to becomes easier. To help understand what you need to know, I have inserted into this document, elements taken from the Driving Syllabus, The Theory Test, Driving skills and Show Me Tell Me questions.

Driving Skill:- Can you turn the car around using forward and reverse gears whilst safely observing all around you? One of the manoeuvres you could be asked to perform is a ‘turn in the road’. It is important that you practise effective observation whilst maintaining control of the car.

Skill Element – There is so much to learn when learning to drive. Your dsaadi.com Driving Instructor will teach you all about Crossroads.

Who has priority at an unmarked crossroads.
What routine you should use for approaching and/or turning at crossroads.
Why it is important to check crossroads even if you have priority.
What you must be careful of when turning right at a crossroads.
How you should pass an approaching vehicle at crossroads if you are both turning right.
What the purpose is of a yellow box junction.
Where you should position to go ahead at a crossroads.
When you should position towards the centre of the road to go ahead at crossroads.

Your dsaadi.com Driving Instructor will help you with all of this plus a lot more.

Hazard Perception Element – What is the Hazard Perception Test? The Hazard Perception Test (HPT) became part of the Theory Test in 2002, it makes up the second half of your theory test and involves watching a series of video clips and clicking the mouse when a hazard is identified.

Hazard Perception Element – What is a Hazard? A Hazard is anything that would cause you as a driver to change speed or direction, as you gain experience through your driving lessons you will be aware of situations that may develop in to a hazard

Show Me Tell Me Question:- Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine coolant level and tell me how you would check that the engine has the correct level.

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

Show Me Tell Me Question:- Show me / explain how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

Answer – If the steering becomes heavy the system may not be working properly. Before starting a journey two simple checks can be made. Gentle pressure on the steering wheel as you turn the ignition on.

Syllabus element:- Emergency Stop – If you have to brake in an emergency remember to brake evenly and progressively and try to avoid locking the wheels. Remember that in wet weather it can take twice as long to stop safely. If you are riding a motorcycle you must make correct use of the front and rear brakes to make sure that you stop the machine as quickly as possible.

THEORY QUESTION

As a driver what does the term ‘BLIND SPOT’ mean? Choose one of the following.

a) An area covered by your right-hand mirror.
b) An area not covered by your headlamps.
c) An area covered by your left-hand mirror.
d) An area not seen in your mirrors.

Answer – d.
THEORY QUESTION

Question – In daylight, an approaching motorcyclist is using a dipped headlight. Why? Choose one answer from the following:-

a) So that the rider can be seen more easily
b) To stop the battery overcharging
c) To improve the rider’s vision
d) The motorcyclist is inviting you to proceed

Answer – a.

Learning to drive is something that most people can do but there are no shortcuts. As the saying goes – practise makes perfect.

Dsaadi.com has a search feature in which you can insert your postcode or location. If there are driving instructors registered for your area you may view the profiles. There may be a driving instructor that you would choose to provide driving tuition.

The process of learning to drive is quite involved and there is a lot to learn. All DSAADI instructors are fully qualified, very experienced Driving Instructors. All DSAADI Instructors are registered with the Driving Standards Agency and are classed as Approved Driving Instructors.

It is possible that one or more Driving Instructors have registered stating that they provide tuition in Brightlingsea

You would think that without the need to learn how to use a clutch, more people in the UK would drive automatic cars. In fact this is not the case. The majority of British drivers choose to drive a car that has a clutch and manual gearbox.

Nowadays, automatic cars are available with features that were not present a few years ago. It used to be that all automatics would pull forward when in gear, commonly referred to as ‘drive’. This is no longer the case.

Car makers like Toyota are developing safer cars that have many functions. Known as multi modes, these automatics afford you choices that conventional automatics do not such as the ability to select any gear if so desired.

There are three categories of driving tests for cars, manual, automatic and semi automatic. The reason for this is that semi automatics, although they do not have a clutch pedal, still have the need for you to select gears. Due to this the DSA treat semi automatics differently from automatics.

Having made the decision that you want to learn to drive it is important to have some idea of what is required.

Throughout this article are references to Driving Skills that you will need to acquire, items from the Driving Syllabus that you will need to learn, questions from the Theory Test you will need to pass and questions from the Show Me Tell Me part of the Driving Test. You will be asked two Show Me Tell Me questions at the beginning of your Driving Test.

Driving Skill:- Do you concentrate properly and avoid distractions? Can you read the road and anticipate potential hazards in good time? These are both driving skills that good drivers possess.

Skill Element – Learning to drive comprises many skills. Your dsaadi.com Driving Instructor will teach you all about Road Positioning, Hesitancy and Making Progress.

He or she will show you:-
How to position your vehicle for normal driving.
Where you should position to turn right.
Where you should position to deal with either a left or right bend.
Why it is so important to exercise ‘Lane Discipline’.
What is meant by ‘Hesitancy’.
How you can avoid ‘Hesitancy’.
What things determine the maximum safe speed you can drive at.
What the danger is of driving too slowly for the road and traffic conditions.
How to judge a safe separation distance between you and a vehicle ahead.

When you choose a dsaadi.com Driving Instructor you are assured of expert tuition in the above and all of the other skills needed to be a safe driver.

Hazard Perception Element – What is the Hazard Perception Test? The Hazard Perception Test (HPT) became part of the Theory Test in 2002, it makes up the second half of your theory test and involves watching a series of video clips and clicking the mouse when a hazard is identified.

Hazard Perception Element – Hazardous situations could be – Pedestrians crossing the road – Cyclists – Weather Conditions – Meeting oncoming vehicles (country lanes, narrow roads)

Show Me Tell Me Question:- Open the bonnet identify, where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has enough oil. Answer – Identify the dipstick, pull it out and check the oil level against the min/max markings.
Show Me Tell Me Question:- Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil.

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

Driving Syllabus

Learning to drive involves undergoing training in a structured manner. The Driving Syllabus is comprehensive and some of the skills you need to learn are signaling, driving in traffic, pedestrian crossings, anticipating and planning, junctions, dual carriageways, use of speed.

THEORY QUESTION

When following a large vehicle you should keep well back. Why? Which one of the following should you choose?

a) It allows you to corner more quickly.
b) It helps the large vehicle to stop more easily.
c) It allows the driver to see you in the mirrors.
d) It helps you to keep out of the wind.

Answer – c.
THEORY QUESTION

You are approaching traffic lights that have been green for some time. Which one of the following should you do?

a) Accelerate hard.
b) Maintain your speed.
c) Be ready to stop should the lights change.
d) Brake hard.

Answer – c.

Vision allows you to see further down the road…Focus allows you to enhance what is on the journey, but ACTION is the only thing that will get you there!