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At the moment a learner driver can decide if they want their instructor to sit in the back of the car during their practical driving test or have a friend accompany them if they are using their own car on the test, that choice may soon be removed, and if the goverment gets it's way, all candidates will have to have an accompaning driver with them during the 40 minutes practical assessment.

This new change could be introduced in october of 2010, and is as a result of the learning to drive consultation that the driving standards agency carried out early on this year. According to them, they said that the study revealed having an accompaning driver in the back sit (either your ADI or family member or friend who taught you) was very beneficial to the test candidate!

So how would you as a learner driver react if your instructor, dad, mum, fiancee had to go out in the car with you while you tried to keep your wits about you to pass an already tough driving test?
It would be interesting to hear your comments and views on what could not only be a major change to the UK driving test, but another way of affecting the current low pass rate.

One thing I do know is that the pass rate is probably initially going to rapidly fall below the current 40% as all those nervous test candidates make more mistakes with those additional prying eyes looking over their shoulder.
Another effect is that all those foriegn licence holders who drive themselves to the driving test centre put 'L' plates on their car, will now have to find someone to go with them. I don't know if the dsa examiner will be checking the particulars of these passengers (probably not, but I don't know for sure at the moment).

The move has been backed by the minister for transport, so it looks likely to go ahead.
There is currently a petition by some driving instructors who are opposed to this compulsary requirement to sit in on their clients test, on the number 10 downing street website, which other ADI's are welcome to sign.

I believe learner drivers who are residents of the UK can also add their names to the petition as well. While October 2010 is still a few months away, this is probably a good reason for a lot of you to get that practical driving test out of the way, if you leave it till tomorrow, you might just be one of the first candidates who will have to carry passengers in the car on the dsa practical car assessment!

More Reading
ADI number not required to book test.



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If you are an international driving licence holder, and have booked a UK practical car test, here is some important information to help you pass the test.



As a driving instructor who has been doing this since 2003, I've seen a lot of people from different nations (China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa) with international permits come to this country and do the same thing and the outcome is always the same. They take the theory test, and pass both parts including the hazard perception with flying colours, go on to book a practical test without doing any research about what the dsa driving examiner will be expecting including how many mistakes can be made or taking driving lessons with an ADI and end up either not taking the test because their car doesn't meet the requirements or are surprised at the end of the 40 minutes of the practical assessment to be told "That's the end of the test, I'm sorry but you have not passed".

You can not just come to this country with your many years of road experience (no matter where: Japan, Phillipines, Isreal) and expect to pass one of the world's hardest car driving tests without going through the proper preparations. The dsa examiners are looking for more than your ability to move a car from A to B, they want you to be able to drive safely and carry out some pre-defined exercises to a particular standard, something that you might never have done before.

Do you actually know what the DSA's definition of safe is? Every single international driving permit holder that has taken tuition with me has exibited the following unsafe habits: Driving/steering with one hand, never using the handbrake except when parking and about to leave the car, coasting to stop in neutral gear, reversing or doing driving maneuvers using only the 3 car mirrors, breaking the speed limit (even if by only 2mph). If you use any of the above mentioned skills on the UK driving test, you are not likely to pass.

There is a saying, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'. If you want to get a full UK driving licence you need to drive the British way, whether you agree with the principles or not, and it is not going to be a matter of just taking one driving lesson to get rid of habits that you have developed over ten years.

Driving Lessons are not necessarilly the only way you can get yourself prepared for the UK driving test, in fact I would recommend that every international driving permit holder who is serious about passing first time to read the DSA (the driving standards agency are the people who conduct the test and thus the ones who will pass or fail you) guide to preparing for the pratical test. With your driving experience, it will not be hard to understand what the requirements to pass are, the real hard work will be in getting rid of your bad habits and being able to drive the proper way for the 40minutes duration time the dsa examiner will be in the car with you.

The best example I've seen of a person with an international permit preparing for the driving test is an American who not only read the dsa book, but had started practising in his car everything that had been suggested for a couple of weeks before booking an assessment lesson with me to confirm he was doing things right prior to going for a practical test booked for the next week in Borehamwood.
On the 2hr lesson, I didn't have much work to do as this person had obviously done his homework, a few minor issues which I gave advice on, and all we did was familiarise ourselves with the local routes, go over show me tell me, and that was it.

The following week I got a text to say he had passed with 2 driving errors, one of which wsa committed at the end in the test centre car park! It doesn't have to cost you a lot of money to pass the driving test, but it will take a lot of your time practising in your car to get to the dsa standard, and there is nothing stopping you from getting confirmation from a good driving instructor that you are on the right track.

If you are based in the north west part of London, or have a driving test booked in Mill Hill, Hendon, or Borehamwood, and would like help as an international driving permit holder, then give me a call on 07956233032.


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Have you recently finally passed the driving test, you might be thinking thank God I don't have to take no more driving lessons, and I can now relax and start enjoying my status as a full British licence holder. Well it is not quite over yet, and while there are no legal reasons why you should take any post driving test tuition, I'm going to advice you to seriously consider going on a pass plus course.



The most common reason driving instructors give to new full driving licence holders for taking pass plus driving course is that they can get insurance discounts, especially if they are young and aged between 17 and 25. This isn't a bad idea, but you shouldn't be taking advanced driving lessons just because it might save you some money, you should seek to improve your skills after passing the driving test because it would make you a better/safer driver, could save your life, or the life of someone close to you.
Many new drivers don't fully appreciate the full responsibility of what being in control of a car actually means. Think of this, the lives of up to 7 other people could literally be in your hands as you travel at 70mph on a dual carriageway to a holiday destination, wedding, party or on the way to visit family or friends. One mistake (it might not even be yours), could lead to consequencies that you would have to deal with for the rest of your life. Consequencies that could cost you more than the £200 or so that you might have saved by not taking the advanced driving lessons or pass plus. Money you can easily replace even if you have to beg to get it, but can you replace a life, limb, eye or someone's brain?

Pass Plus is about developing the right driving attitude, gaining extra experience, always thinking about being safe even when it might cost you time, your pride or make you seem weak in the sight of other drivers or friends.
You also get to do some motorway driving lessons which will teach you how to cope with the high speeds involved, as well as being safe despite the many unsafe things that other 'experienced' drivers might be doing out there. So having these advanced post test driving lessons will be a step in the right direction of avoiding penalty points and risking losing your licence and going back to learner status as you will be more aware of speed limits because you want to abide by the road traffic act laws and would not be caught trying to run red lights.

If you've passed the driving test recently, why not take pass plus and see how it will change your driving attitude, there are not tests, and you'll be getting tuition without having to display "L" plates.
The 6 modules will cover topics like all weather driving, urban and sub-urban driving, motorway tuition, and are usually conducted in 2hr lesson slots though you can have longer sessions if you want.

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I had a Bad lesson day b4 my test.

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