Drive down the cost of passing the (now even tougher) test
THE driving test has just got tougher for motorists, but if you carefully prepare for the challenge you can still remove those ‘L’ plates without spending a fortune.
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, which sets the test, introduced new guidelines earlier this month.
The test still requires someone to do around 40 minutes of driving, but the ‘independent driving’ section has now doubled from ten to 20 minutes.
During this period you will now be asked to follow a sat-nav and not take commands from the instructor.
You may also be led down more challenging roads – such as winding rural lanes – and asked to drive either forwards or backwards into a parking space.
Another addition is a check on your understanding of what all the knobs and buttons do on the dashboard. It means the instructor may ask you to wash the windscreen or turn on the hazard lights.
Rebecca Ashton is head of driving behaviour at charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists RoadSmart. She says: ‘It is good the test has been adapted to meet the motoring demands of the 21st Century. There is no reason for learners to panic.
‘It should not cost any more money to pass a test. There are plenty of ways you can drive down the cost of learning to drive without compromising on motoring skills.’
Rebecca, a driving instructor herself, believes a good way for learners to start is to have a friend or relative accompany them on drives – but they must be able to offer the right support.
Many who have already passed their driving test have bad habits, such as crossing arms on a steering wheel, coming up to junctions too quickly and not using their rear mirrors enough. This can result in bad driving tips being passed on.
IAM RoadSmart offers £49 lessons for experienced motorists to sharpen their skills which can then be passed on to learners.
Rebecca adds: ‘The most important recommendation for all learners is to get plenty of practice – experiencing a wide range of driving challenges as well as different weather conditions, traffic and night and day motoring. Having someone sitting alongside you who knows what to look for really helps and it need not always be an instructor.’
At some point it will be necessary to dip into your wallet and get an approved driving instructor. These should provide you with all the fine-tuned details required for passing a test.
You can find a local instructor through the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency at gov.uk.
The instructor will either be grade A – ‘showing a high standard of instruction’ – or grade B – simply passed the registration test.
Rebecca says: ‘Cost should not be the prime consideration.
‘You can have lots of cheap lessons but what you really need is to find someone who will ensure you become a competent, safe driver.
‘Find someone who you feel you can have a rapport with and fully trust. If you can, opt for a grade A instructor.’
The average hour-long lesson costs £24 but you might be able to negotiate a discount if you buy a block of lessons in one go.
The minimum you should budget for is between ten and 20 professional lessons.
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency believes that 43 lessons is the average needed – but by practising when not with an instructor you might cut a £1,000 total bill in half.
The cheapest time to take a test is before 4.30pm on a weekday, at £62. After 4.30pm, the fee rises to £75, which is also the charge on Bank Holidays and weekends. The average pass rate is 47 per cent and the best time for success is 7pm to 9pm. The worst time is between 11am and 1pm.
Where you drive appears to have a bearing on the chance of success. Almost 53 per cent of motorists in Norwich pass after an average of 24 lessons.
But fewer than 35 per cent of those taking a test after the same number of lessons in Leeds are successful.
Focusing on tackling the main reasons for failure is a good approach to prepare for a test.
Key points include looking ahead when at a junction, using the mirror when changing direction, showing control with steering, moving off and parking.
Before you even sit behind the wheel you can start preparing by revising for the theory test, which takes just under an hour and is held at a local test centre. You pay £23 and must get 86 cent of the answers correct.
There is no excuse for failing the theory test because you can practise answering multiple-choice questions for free through a website link at gov.uk.
There are also plenty of books to help, such as the £14.99 Official DVSA Theory Test for Car Drivers and the £9.99 AA Driving Theory Test. The Official DVSA Guide to Hazard Perception can also assist.
Bear in mind you can take practice tests online – on a laptop or mobile. These can be downloaded for £12.99 at the DVSA website Safe Driving for Life.
Lesley Young, chief driving examiner at the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, says: ‘The new test better assesses a motorist’s ability to drive safely and independently.
‘Changes were required to keep up to date with new technology and challenges.’