RED Driving School’ Category

It all starts here

Gaining your driving licence is tougher than it has ever been. It is not just a case of passing a short practical test. There are theory exams, hazard perception tests, mechanical demonstrations, manoeuvres, independent driving and that does not include the paperwork and revision that you will need to do. 

So to help all new pupils we are going to take a step by step route through applying learning and passing your driving tests. 

Today we begin our 1o step series with Applying For Your Provisional Licence. 

You can apply for your first British provisional driving licence if you: 

• are a resident of Great Britain
• can meet the minimum age requirement
• can meet the minimum eyesight requirement
• are currently not prevented from driving for any reason
• can pay £50.00 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card
• have a valid UK passport or another form of identity
• can provide addresses of where you have lived over the last three years

You can obtain a Provisional Licence application, called a D1 from your local main Post Office. Once its sent off it’ll take about 2-3 weeks for you to receive it. You will need a passport photo, proof of identity i.e. a utility bill and there is a £50 fee. 

Alternatively you can apply on http://bit.ly/provisionallicence_applyonline. Be aware that  you will need a valid UK passport, details of previous addresses up to 3 years and credit/debit card for £50 fee. Once you have completed the application they will endeavour to send it back within 10 days. 

You will need to present both the card and paper parts of you licence on your first lesson. If you have lost all or part of your licence prior to your first lesson you will need to replace this; you can do this online, by telephone or by post. 

Next Step  - Choosing the right Driving Instructor.

Last week, we began our series providing you with tips on how to pass your practical test. This week we will continue by discussing the two parking manoeuvres.

Photo by tim caynes

First of all, we will discuss reverse parking into a bay. Remember, this does not have to be perfect – the object of this exercise is to safely park the car in an available bay with smooth control of the car. It always helps to have reference points in your car to use as turning points, once you begin, keep thinking of how much you need to turn by, and when, to get into the space you’re aiming for.

You should continue with good, all round observations in order to stay safe. Pay particular attention over your shoulders, and check your side mirrors for white lines. If you feel that your car is not going into the bay, stop. Don’t be afraid to pull forward and make adjustments so that you can enter the bay, just remember the POM routine – Prepare, Observe, Move. Make sure that you do not bring the car too far back, and make sure you finish with straight wheels.

Photo by Adrian Short

The second parking manoeuvre you may be asked to do is parallel parking. Again, it is important to make sure you have smooth control of the car. It helps to have different reference points for this manoeuvre, and that you know what they are. Make sure you think about how much you need to turn and when you need to turn in order to park correctly and safely.

Again, you need to make good, all round observations, particularly over both shoulders when reversing. You should use you left mirror to check where the kerb is. You should come reasonably close to the kerb, but don’t allow yourself to mount it. Make sure you straighten up in time.

As with Bay parking, if you feel you are going off course, you can stop and adjust your position to make sure you do not hit the kerb or go too far back. Just make sure you follow the POM procedure so that you are performing safely.

Remember, practice makes perfect. If there is a manoeuvre that you are particularly worried about, speak to your instructor and ask for additional practice.

Next week we will be concluding the series by discussing the turn in the road and reversing around a corner.

Looking beyond the sensationalism of the term ‘on-the-spot fine’, we feel the most positive aspect of the new powers will be the opportunity to address some of the problems through education. We believe that for those less serious offenders who make genuine mistakes, education and not punishment is the way forward and therefore the most encouraging news announced within these measures is the intention to make much greater use of police approved education courses as an alternative to penalty points and fines.

 

The new powers will effectively be a fixed penalty notice, bringing it in-line with the way speeding offences have been dealt with for some time. Looking at the strategy as a whole, it provides the police with the powers to deal with what is a serious and persistent offence that endangers all road users, including pedestrians.

 

Unfortunately we worry that, yet again, this is all about headlines rather than substance – this strategy relies on detection and with the huge reduction in the numbers of road traffic police on the road over the last ten years, plus further reductions of traffic officers announced recently through the government funding cuts, the practicalities of policing this will be extremely difficult. However, if these can be overcome and it leads to better drivers, we believe this can only be a good thing.