Driving Lessons Videos Test Tips and Advice

I am one of those ADI's who was fortunate or is it unfortunate to have qualified as an ADI before the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) was introduced into the UK driving license syllabus.
The downside of this being that the Driving Standards Agency in its wisdom has decided that all ADI's must take the Hazard Perception Test to remain on the ADI register, and thus continue to be able to teach, irrespective of when they qualified and how much experience they have on the job!



In my experience, 99% of pupils will not ask their instructor to teach them how to pass the Hazard Perception Test preferring to buy widely available programs on CD ROMs and practising on their own, never minding the fact that very few Instructors will be carrying a Laptop in their car to do this properly in any case. The problem with the Hazard Perception Test is that it is slightly different from what happens in real life.
During the Test which is part of the theory test itself, and is taken at the same time, you are presented with a video clip, and you are required to observe and click on a hazard immediately you spot it. The problem is there is a 'window' with in which this happen, the earlier you click with this window, the higher your score. For an experienced driver this could be a problem, as he probably will spot the hazard before the 'window' opens, clicks (which doesn't count) and not click again or click at the latter part of the 'windows' thus getting a low score! He might also click multiple times if he is not sure if the click has been registered by the computer.
In real life if you spot a hazard, the earlier you react, the better, the car also responds, so you know instantly because you get feedback.

Anyway I've been putting off taking this for a long time now, and only have till the end of this year to do it if I still want to remain a qualified ADI, so I'm putting in some practise on the CD ROMs just to make sure I can play the computer game right! I'm booking a test for sometime next week.
I wonder how many ADI's will get taken off the ADI register for not taking this driving test game?

If you are in the UK, you might be interested in Focus Media's Driving Test simulator for the PC, which has a virtual driving test simulator.

If you want the latest updates about Mill Hill, make sure you follow me on twitter or join my UKADI facebook page, as I post updates when weather or local conditions affect DSA examiners ability to conduct practical assessments.

If you are concerned about independent driving on the test in the Mill Hill or Hendon test centres, then watch the video below, which helps with tips and advice on what to do, it does not however cover the independent driving test routes which the DSA is not publishing on the internet.




Free Driving Lesson Sept 16th 2009.

Here is some information about the Mill Hill test centre for those of you who are not familiar with the area or want to take your test there.

• Mill Hill test centre does not have a car park suitable for bay parking, so if you are taking the test there during week you are most unlikely to do bay parking. Examiners do have an option of using Hendon test centre, but they don't do so very often. If you do have your test on a Saturday or Sunday, you most likely will do a bay park, as the shared car park is less busy, and thus available.
  Update 2007: The car park at Mill hill test centre has now been refurbished and you will now be expected to do a bay park at the test centre.
  
• Mill Hill test centre does have a toilet, but only one shared between both sexes, so can be busy just before test times, and ladies might find the usual problem with the toilet seat.
  
• Grahame Park Way is a long road between Bunns Lane roundabout and Aerodrome road roundabout, this road used to have a lot of mini roundabouts, these have now been removed, so you need to be careful when driving on this road. First you need to make progress, otherwise you will get a lot of cars overtaking, but at the same time make sure you don't exceed the speed limit.
  
• You need to be confident with roundabouts if your are taking your test in this area, so practise both mini and large roundabouts. if possible visit the area before your test, and familiarise yourself with the Apex Corner roundabout in particular approaching it to turn right from Selvage Lane. You also might have to deal with roundabouts on dual carriageways travelling at 50mph.
  
• The A41 and A1 dual carriageways are close by so be comfortable with driving on them, up to the national speed limit if you have are going to the Mill Hill Test Centre.

The video below is of one of the test routes in use at Mill Hill test centre:



If you would like driving lessons in mill hill, or need an instructor to take you for a practical car assessment on the DSA routes used by the examiners in this area then give me a call on 07956233032, I don't have an automatic car, so can only offer manual tuition, but can give you lessons in your automatic car if you want, contact me for details.

Need cheaper driving lessons to pass at Bunns lane test centre NW7?


DSA centre phone numbers

Subscribe to Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles or get updates direct to your inbox by Email.

Additional Information
Taking an automatic driving test.
Dealing with Mini-Rounadbouts.