Driving Lessons Videos Test Tips and Advice

In a previous driving article posted on this website, I mentioned the fact that I was one of those Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) that was required to take the Hazard Perception Test to remain on the DSA's official register of fully qualified instructors, and thus continue to be able to receive money as a reward for teaching a learner to drive.

Well after many months of putting it off, and playing driving test games, I today went to a theory test centre, and took the hazard perception test for Approved Driving Instructors.

The test is similar to the hazard perception test taken by learner drivers, with 14 clips used, containing 15 scorable hazards, and a maximum of 5 points available for each hazard. The only major difference being that the pass score for the ADI test is 57 out of 75 as opposed to 44 out of 75 for the learner driver.

Well after about 25 minutes of tense moments, I came out the test centre with a PASS.

61 out of 75.

So now I don't have to worry about the threat to have me removed from the ADI register. I still see no reason for the requirement, and don't agree with forcing qualified ADI's to do it, but then I've done it.



The only advise I can offer any driving instructor that has not done the test yet, is to contact the DSA and request for a copy of the DVD 'Are you ready', this gives a detailed explanation of the test, and should help with passing this computer based theory assessment.

All the best to the rest of the ADI's yet to take the test, though I'm sure there will be some who will not have taken the test by the official DSA deadline of December 2006.

Recommended Driving Test Product
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, and was the product that I used to practise for my exam and pass.



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Let me quickly clarify an issue and immediately say that on the UK driving test, there are no minor or major driving errors, there are only driver errors as far as the DSA examiner is concerned.
The faults will either be classified as just an error (with a maximum of 15 allowed before the candidate fails) or it could be marked as serious/dangerous (failure).
To be sure of what is being marked by the examiner get a copy of the official dsa guide to the test especially if you were taught to drive by family/friends or you are a foreign driving licence owner about to take their first UK practical car test.

To pass the UK driving test, you are currently only allowed 15 driver errors, and none of these can be serious or dangerous driver errors. The less mistakes you are making in your lessons as you approach your driving test appointment date, the greater the chances of passing unless you are one of those affected by bad test nerves where things go rapidly downhill once the examiner gets in the car!

If you are taking your driving test at hendon or Mill Hill, you need to watch the video below to avoid some common failing mistakes.



Before I go into what is a serious or dangerous driver error, let me say that the best preparation and attitude to have if you really want to pass the driving test, is to go the driving test centre with the intention, knowledge and confidence that I will not be committing any major or minor driver faults during the test. If you know you have what you think is a slight problem (for example you tend to go wide on the left reverse round the corner), this could be your potential stumbling block, and you are relying on luck (hoping not to get that exercise) rather than skill to pass the driving test. It would best if you get your instructor to deal with this lack of skill or find someone else who can (that is what we get paid for, and not to blame you the pupil).

Any driver error has a potential of becoming a serious or dangerous error depending on circumstances, so don't think that you can't fail because it is a little fault. Don't get me wrong you probably will make mistakes during the driving test, but you must be confident that you have dealt with all the re-occurring problems that you are aware of. What is the point of presenting yourself for the test if you are constantly making the same mistake during the reverse parallel parking exercise, hoping that you don't get that during the test or that it will only be marked as a minor on the DL25 report sheet?



Take the example of a simple mistake of not putting on the handbrake while waiting in traffic. That would not be a driver error if your car remains stationary, or doesn't get too close to the vehicle in front or enter a junction. However if the car behind you accidentally bumps you, and your car surges forward a bit without hitting the car in front of you (because you had stopped far enough behind using tyres and tarmac rule), your little mistake is now a serious error due to what you would say is no fault of yours, and you will fail the test. Even if your car does not surge forward when bumped, you are certain to fail the test because your car was not secured when stationary.

Using the same example of the handbrake, if a pedestrian was to walk in front of your car while you were stopped in traffic, with the handbrake off, you COULD fail the test if you car rolled, because that minor error is now a dangerous error, since the pedestrian was at risk while walking in front of your car, especially if the vehicle was creaking with the biting point vey high. As you could see, you have failed the test by making a little mistake which went from being just a driver error to a test failing error in one moment, and the change of circumstances were not caused by you! Many would say that was bad luck, but the truth of the matter was that you made the mistake that ultimately failed you, irrespective of what happened outside the car. If you had the handbrake on those two external factors would not have changed the outcome of the test at that moment! Use your driving lessons whether they be with an ADI or family member to practice the right habits, and treat each training session as if it were the last one before a test, and don't do anything that could fail you if it were the dsa examiner sitting next to you.

Don't blame the examiner for being harsh or not using his/her discretion to let you off on that occasion, drive to the standard expected and leave no room for any doubt. While it would be a bonus to pass with zero minors, as long as you don't have any major, serious or dangerous errors staying with the 15 allowed shouldn't be a problem to anyone who has taken enough tuition and practise.

Mill Hill Driving Test Help
If you are taking your driving test at Mill Hill test centre, you might be interested in the video below, especially if you are not local to the area, as it covers the hardest route in use by the DSA examiners where you have to deal with the dreaded Apex Corner multi-lane roundabout during independent driving as well as the 70mph A1, turning right at sterling corner as well as some other tricky locations. The video has full commentary to point out the failing areas.


Download Video for £3.99

If you live or work in NW London and need manual cheap driving lessons in the Mill Hill Borehamwood or Hendon Test Centre areas, call me on 07956233032

Lanes and Signalling at Roundabouts


Q: How many major mistakes or errors are allowed on the driving test?
A: As I mentioned in the article, any fault that is classified as serious or dangerous will result in failing the driving test, so the answer is 1. Note there have been candidates who have failed for making just the one serious driver error (no minors as you would put it), which is very sad considering that the other 40 minutes where perfect, but that is the DSA rules for you, so don't let your guard down.

Jedward driving instructor quits!

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Have you passed your UK driving test, and could do with another challenge?

You think passing the UK driving test is hard?

Check out the link below, do you think you could do that?

I want to fly a hang glider across the UK.

Remember life is full of challenges, and the only one that stops you from fulfilling your dreams is you, not a driving examiner, your driving instructor, your spouse or parents.

Don't give up on the dream!

Dealing with Driving Test Nerves

A lot of pupils are fine when driving with their instructor, and can perform all the required driving test exercises without making any serious mistakes, but on the driving test date, they all go to pieces when the DSA examiner gets in the car. So why does this happen, and what can be done to help reduce or eliminate this trend.

Most people blame this on nerves, but is it really just driving test nerves?

First of all, we all know that the UK driving test is an examination, we might not think it is a fair way of determining whether a pupil is fit to drive un-supervised or not, but it is what is in place at the moment, so if we want to have that driving license, then we will have to pass the test. With all examinations, one of the keys to passing, is knowing what is required, and adequately preparing yourself for the driving examination. There is however one key difference between the driving test, and normal written or practical tests taken in a college or university environment, the results are immediate, and it is possible for you to perform very well in the first 39 minutes of the test, only to fail in the last minute due a serious driver error. Thinking about all this does un-nerve a pupil, but there is not much you can do about that, you just have to deal with it!

As a driving Instructor, I will not put a pupil in for a driving test if he/she is not ready (as in fully covered the syllabus or still making serious mistakes on a regular basis), but once I do advise a pupil, that he/she is ready, that is not a guarantee that they will pass! You still have to perform on the day, doing what you normally do, only with a different person in the car.

The DSA Driving Test Examiner

You should think of the examiner as an observer, whose job it is to check to see that you have been taught what is required for you to be allowed on the roads on your own. He/She is not there to trick you or to make you fail, the examiner is merely taking you on a drive observing your driving skills, asking you to do some set exercises, and at the end is there to confirm or not confirm that you have reached the minimum standard required to drive un-supervised. They can only form an opinion of your driving based on the 40 minutes that they are in the car with you, there should be nothing that happens within those 40 minutes that should come as a surprise to you if you are fully prepared for the driving test.

Part of being prepared, is to know what driving test conditions are like, so if you haven't had a visit to your local test centre before the day of your test, you should ask your instructor to take you there. Sit in the waiting room, see the examiners come out, observe them as they meet their candidates, do the preliminary paperwork before they go out to the car park etc. You are familiarising yourself with the test centre, and what the pressure might feel like on a test day.

If you know that you are not comfortable driving with strangers in the front passenger seat, then you need to deal with that, as the driving examiner will be a stranger to you on your test date, and you still need to perform at the same standard as if it was your instructor that was sitting in the car.

The easiest way for you to do this is by taking a Mock driving test with another instructor, and if possible with your instructor sitting in (this might always not be possible if your instructor is very busy), this will give you an idea of what it is like to have a stranger in the passenger's seat, and you can see what type of mistakes you make which might be out of character.

If you have an insured car, and can find a qualified friend or family member to supervise you, then go for a drive to somewhere, making sure you brief them that you are at test standard, and all you want them to do is direct you, and nothing else. If you are able to do this a couple of times without it affecting your driving, you are almost there. The thing with your instructor being beside you is that you have a bond, and at the back of your mind, you know if you make a mistake or get into a jam, you are confident he/she will bail you out without a serious repercussions, not so with an examiner, friend or family member, so your driving is much more relaxed with your driving instructor.

The more you are able to drive confidently with strangers, the better you are prepared for dealing with driving test nerves.

The unknown
The other major thing that people dread on the test date is what if something happens that I've never come across before?

By the time you are ready for the UK driving test, you would have had on average about 50hrs of tuition with your instructor/supervisor, and during that time you would have come across different driving conditions or situations which your instructor would have talked you through or explained what you should do, so it is virtually impossible for you to encounter something during the driving test that you haven't come across in one way or another. The question is have you prepared yourself to deal with such situations. I know of people who have gone for tests hoping that a child will not step onto a pedestrian crossing at a particular junction, or some traffic light would not change on a 50mph dual carriageway! You can not fluke a pass on the driving test! Whatever it is you have a fear of, you need to deal with, you attitude should be BRING IT ON! Take me to the busiest part of town, 70mph dual Carriage way no problem, parallel park on the high street - I'll show you. Pupils have been fortunate on tests, but are you willing to rely on luck to pass or skill? I have written a separate article about driving on un-familiar roads, so use the search button to find it, if that is one of your fears about the driving test.

If you are fully prepared for the test, have conquered the problem of strangers in the car, are confident of your skills, then you shouldn't have a problem passing the test.

If you don't make it this time, don't be discouraged, not everyone passes first time, learn from the mistakes you made, and if you are not fully ready, don't hope for a pass, wait until you are sure you can demonstrate you deserve a pass on the next driving test.

For this kind of driving behaviour!

This car was being driven with the drivers door not being properly secured on a 3 lane dual carriage way. Prior to meeting traffic, the car was travelling at over 30 miles an hour, even overtaking other cars! Many people seem to forget the trouble they went through to get a full UK licence!

By the way it is against the law to drive an un-roadworthy vehicle on a public highway. He probably got away with it and because of that he might do it again. While I'm not concerned about the driver's own safety, I do think he should think about other road users and consider what could be the concequences of his driving actions. It is drivers like these that cause the cost of car insurance to rise as they are not safe drivers and will eventully be involved in an accident.

As a learner driver, you should adopt an attitude of safety even after you have passed the driving test.

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