Steering faults on the driving test
Losing
control of the steering, either in normal driving or during a manoeuvre. This
can be because you have allowed the steering wheel to 'spin through your hands'
Friday, 8 January 2016
Driving at night for the first time
Driving at night can be a bit strange, so this short video has tips and advise to help you. Hope you like it.
www.drive-travis.co.uk
Thursday, 7 January 2016
Mirrors, signal and blindspots
This short video starts at Stowe School and heads to Buckingham. We recorded it to look back on and review areas that could be improved. Moving off and checking the blindspots to emerging at junctions using the correct observations.
www.drive-travis.co.uk
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
On my way to Stowe School
I was on my way to Stowe School to collect a pupil for a driving lesson so I recorded the last bit of country road from Buckingham to Stowe School. While driving I talk about the hazards of driving on the country roads. Hope you like it.
www.drive-travis.co.uk
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Junctions. Open or closed
A great little video on junctions. Approaching to emerge left or right. The video was filmed in Newport Pagnell in Milton Keynes.
Monday, 4 January 2016
Moving off on your driving test.
Moving away from stationary positions.
The most common reasons for failing your driving test are; moving off in the wrong gear; forgetting to turn the indicator off if you've used it; rolling back if you're moving off on a hill; or not looking around to make sure its safe go.
The most common reasons for failing your driving test are; moving off in the wrong gear; forgetting to turn the indicator off if you've used it; rolling back if you're moving off on a hill; or not looking around to make sure its safe go.
Friday, 1 January 2016
Apply for the provisional driving licence
Get your first provisional driving licence for a car, moped or motorcycle from DVLA online. Apply using your Government Gateway ID. If you don’t have one or need to re-register, you’ll get an ID as part of your application.
Start nowon driving licensing onlinehttps://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licencewww.drive-travis.co.uk
Get your first provisional driving licence for a car, moped or motorcycle from DVLA online. Apply using your Government Gateway ID. If you don’t have one or need to re-register, you’ll get an ID as part of your application.
Driving licence changes
From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA. The counterpart was introduced to display driving licence details that could not be included on the photocard. These details include some vehicle categories you are entitled to drive and any endorsement/penalty points.
Please note, this does not affect photocard licences issued by DVA in Northern Ireland.
What this means for you
Customers with existing paper counterparts
If you already hold a paper counterpart, after 8 June 2015 it will no longer have any legal status. You should destroy your paper counterpart after this date but you still need to keep your current photocard driving licence.
Customers with paper driving licences
Paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.
If you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.
Penalty points (endorsements)
From 8 June 2015 new penalty points (endorsements) will only be recorded electronically, and will not be printed or written on either photocard licences or paper driving licences. From this date, if you commit an offence you will still have to pay any applicable fine and submit your licence to the court but the way the court deals with the paperwork will change.
For photocard licences, the court will retain the paper counterpart and only return the photocard to you.
For paper licences, the court will return it to you but they won’t have written or printed the offence details on it.
This means that from 8 June 2015 neither the photocard driving licence nor the paper licence will provide an accurate account of any driving endorsements you may have. Instead, this information will be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can be viewed online, by phone or post.
The courts are unable to respond to queries about the destruction of your paper counterpart. Any concerns about this process should be directed to DVLA.
How to view your driving licence details
Our free View Driving Licence service lets you see what details are on your licence, including what vehicles you can drive and any penalty points you may have.
Taking your theory or driving test
From 8 June 2015, you won’t need to take your paper counterpart with you when you go for your theory or driving test. You must still take your photocard, or your old-style paper licence - your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if you don’t.
Confirming your driving record to an employer
If you drive for a living and you’re asked to provide evidence of your driving record (entitlements and/or penalty points), you can do this online for free by accessing our Share Driving Licence service. The service should be used by both paper and photocard driving licence holders. You can generate a ‘check code’ to pass to the person or organisation that needs to view your driving licence details.
If you cannot generate a code online then you can call 0300 083 0013 and DVLA will provide you with a code.
Alternatively you can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated person/organisation.
We’ve designed a step-by-step guide to help you share your driving licence information.
How to view your driving licence details
Our free View Driving Licence service lets you see what details are on your licence, including what vehicles you can drive and any penalty points you may have.
Taking your theory or driving test
From 8 June 2015, you won’t need to take your paper counterpart with you when you go for your theory or driving test. You must still take your photocard, or your old-style paper licence - your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if you don’t.
Confirming your driving record to an employer
If you drive for a living and you’re asked to provide evidence of your driving record (entitlements and/or penalty points), you can do this online for free by accessing our Share Driving Licence service. The service should be used by both paper and photocard driving licence holders. You can generate a ‘check code’ to pass to the person or organisation that needs to view your driving licence details.
If you cannot generate a code online then you can call 0300 083 0013 and DVLA will provide you with a code.
Alternatively you can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated person/organisation.
We’ve designed a step-by-step guide to help you share your driving licence information.
Check Driving Licence
If your organisation regularly checks the counterpart for entitlements or endorsements, you can use the Check driving Licence service to check the licence using the code provided by the driver. With the driver’s consent you can view the details on a driving licence, eg the vehicle categories they’re entitled to drive and any endorsements or penalty points. This service also gives you the option to print or save a copy of the information.
To help companies or employers who use the new service we’ve created a step by step guide.
You can make a check by phone if you don’t have a check code to use with the online service. You’ll need to ask the driver you’re doing the check on to call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for the check.
You can then call DVLA on 0906 139 3837 (calls cost 51p per minute) to check the driver’s details after they’ve given their permission.
Hiring a vehicle: how to prove your driving record after 8 June 2015
From 8 June 2015, you may wish to check with the hire company what they need to see when you hire a vehicle. If you’re asked for evidence of what vehicles you can drive or confirmation of any penalty points, you can request a unique code from GOV.UK which allows you to share your driving licence details or you can download a summary of your driving licence record. The code lasts for up to 72 hours and will allow the hire companies to make any necessary checks.
If you cannot generate a code online then you can call 0300 083 0013 and DVLA will provide you with a code.
Alternatively, you can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated hire company. This also applies if you have a paper licence that was issued before 1998.
Not all vehicle hire companies will ask for this information and we advise that you check with your hire company.
Why is the counterpart being abolished?
The decision to abolish the counterpart was as a result of the government’s Red Tape Challenge consultation on road transportation. It also aligns to DVLA’s Strategic Plan which includes commitment to simplifying our services.
From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA. The counterpart was introduced to display driving licence details that could not be included on the photocard. These details include some vehicle categories you are entitled to drive and any endorsement/penalty points.
Please note, this does not affect photocard licences issued by DVA in Northern Ireland.
Customers with existing paper counterparts
If you already hold a paper counterpart, after 8 June 2015 it will no longer have any legal status. You should destroy your paper counterpart after this date but you still need to keep your current photocard driving licence.
Customers with paper driving licences
How to view your driving licence details
Paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.
If you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.
Penalty points (endorsements)
From 8 June 2015 new penalty points (endorsements) will only be recorded electronically, and will not be printed or written on either photocard licences or paper driving licences. From this date, if you commit an offence you will still have to pay any applicable fine and submit your licence to the court but the way the court deals with the paperwork will change.
For photocard licences, the court will retain the paper counterpart and only return the photocard to you.
For paper licences, the court will return it to you but they won’t have written or printed the offence details on it.
This means that from 8 June 2015 neither the photocard driving licence nor the paper licence will provide an accurate account of any driving endorsements you may have. Instead, this information will be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can be viewed online, by phone or post.
The courts are unable to respond to queries about the destruction of your paper counterpart. Any concerns about this process should be directed to DVLA.
Our free View Driving Licence service lets you see what details are on your licence, including what vehicles you can drive and any penalty points you may have.
Taking your theory or driving test
From 8 June 2015, you won’t need to take your paper counterpart with you when you go for your theory or driving test. You must still take your photocard, or your old-style paper licence - your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if you don’t.
Confirming your driving record to an employer
If you drive for a living and you’re asked to provide evidence of your driving record (entitlements and/or penalty points), you can do this online for free by accessing our Share Driving Licence service. The service should be used by both paper and photocard driving licence holders. You can generate a ‘check code’ to pass to the person or organisation that needs to view your driving licence details.
If you cannot generate a code online then you can call 0300 083 0013 and DVLA will provide you with a code.
Alternatively you can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated person/organisation.
We’ve designed a step-by-step guide to help you share your driving licence information.
How to view your driving licence details
Our free View Driving Licence service lets you see what details are on your licence, including what vehicles you can drive and any penalty points you may have.
Taking your theory or driving test
From 8 June 2015, you won’t need to take your paper counterpart with you when you go for your theory or driving test. You must still take your photocard, or your old-style paper licence - your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if you don’t.
Confirming your driving record to an employer
If you drive for a living and you’re asked to provide evidence of your driving record (entitlements and/or penalty points), you can do this online for free by accessing our Share Driving Licence service. The service should be used by both paper and photocard driving licence holders. You can generate a ‘check code’ to pass to the person or organisation that needs to view your driving licence details.
If you cannot generate a code online then you can call 0300 083 0013 and DVLA will provide you with a code.
Alternatively you can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated person/organisation.
We’ve designed a step-by-step guide to help you share your driving licence information.
Check Driving Licence
If your organisation regularly checks the counterpart for entitlements or endorsements, you can use the Check driving Licence service to check the licence using the code provided by the driver. With the driver’s consent you can view the details on a driving licence, eg the vehicle categories they’re entitled to drive and any endorsements or penalty points. This service also gives you the option to print or save a copy of the information.
To help companies or employers who use the new service we’ve created a step by step guide.
You can make a check by phone if you don’t have a check code to use with the online service. You’ll need to ask the driver you’re doing the check on to call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for the check.
You can then call DVLA on 0906 139 3837 (calls cost 51p per minute) to check the driver’s details after they’ve given their permission.
Hiring a vehicle: how to prove your driving record after 8 June 2015
From 8 June 2015, you may wish to check with the hire company what they need to see when you hire a vehicle. If you’re asked for evidence of what vehicles you can drive or confirmation of any penalty points, you can request a unique code from GOV.UK which allows you to share your driving licence details or you can download a summary of your driving licence record. The code lasts for up to 72 hours and will allow the hire companies to make any necessary checks.
If you cannot generate a code online then you can call 0300 083 0013 and DVLA will provide you with a code.
Alternatively, you can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated hire company. This also applies if you have a paper licence that was issued before 1998.
Not all vehicle hire companies will ask for this information and we advise that you check with your hire company.
Why is the counterpart being abolished?
The decision to abolish the counterpart was as a result of the government’s Red Tape Challenge consultation on road transportation. It also aligns to DVLA’s Strategic Plan which includes commitment to simplifying our services.
The theory test
Theory Test
The theory test is taken in Milton Keynes.
The first part of the Theory Test consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Each question has 4 possible answers of which only 1 is correct.
You are allowed 57 minutes to complete the test in which you must correctly answer 43 questions out of 50 to pass.
The Hazard Perception section of the test is made up of 14 hazard video clips.
You have 15 hazards to spot. Once you have found each hazard you must click on the mouse. You will need to score 44 or more out of 75 to pass.
You will need to pass both the theory questions and the hazard perception section of the test at the same sitting to pass.
You CANNOT book your Practical driving test UNTIL you have passed the theory test and hazard perception test.
This is designed to help ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers.
In September 2011 DVSA will change the format of books and other learning materials available to help people prepare for theory tests, at the same time as more challenging case studies are introduced to car theory tests.
Then, from 1st January 2012, DVSA will create theory tests using questions which will not be published.
Practice questions and answers, not used in the actual theory tests, will still be available to help candidates with revision.
Black box in cars.
Telematics car insurance - also known as black box insurance, GPS car insurance, smartbox insurance, pay-as-you-drive insurance and usage-based insurance - works either through a small black box device that's fitted to your car or a mobile phone app which can collect the following type of information:
- The speed you drive
- Braking and accelerating habits
- Distance travelled
- Time of day you travel
- Types of roads you travel on
Your premium will be calculated depending on the data gathered, with drivers who meet or exceed the agreed criteria benefiting and those who don't suffering.
Furthermore, if you have a black box it can act as a tracking device, so if your vehicle is lost or stolen, you (or the police) can find it sooner.
Some policies will give you access to an online dashboard where you can review your driving and learn to improve it.
Telematics has traditionally been seen as an attractive option for safe, young drivers looking for affordable premiums, but it has the potential to offer benefits to good drivers of any age - you can read more about telematics for experienced and older drivers
How does telematics work?
Your insurer will either ask you to use a mobile phone app, or will install a small device known as a 'black box' on your vehicle.
A black box is typically about the size of a smartphone and should be installed discreetly, perhaps under the dashboard.
The app or black box will use telemetry and satellite technology to record and transmit data about your driving habits back to your insurer.
What sort of data is captured?
Different companies will be interested in different things and will monitor and measure your driving accordingly, but typical things would be when and where you're driving; the type of road; how fast you're going whether you're within speed limits; how forcefully you apply the brakes; how you take corners.
Drivers who exhibit safe driving habits will then get better deals than those whose statistics highlight problems, or those who use their vehicle in ways deemed to be a higher insurance risk.
Some telematics policies will give an initial bundle of miles as a kind of driving 'allowance', but may penalise you if you go over that limit.
With such policies, more miles can be purchased should they be required, while certain providers will reward safe driving with an additional mileage allowance.
Telematics benefits
Fairness and price may be seen as benefits of telematics policies - your premium will be based on your driving skills and habits, thereby benefiting some groups and penalising others.
Rather than waiting for renewal to see the benefits of good driving, your premium price may be reassessed on a more regular basis, perhaps every few weeks or months.
Beyond price and fairness, a black box device (which may be installed for free, or for a small fee) can help to track a vehicle if it's stolen - stand-alone security tracking devices may cost several hundred pounds.
There may also be benefits in the event of an accident. Some telematics providers will receive an alert if this happens and - if your car is stationary - they may try to contact you on your mobile phone to check that you're ok.
If the data collected suggests a more serious collision, the insurer can alert the emergency services.
Information gathered from an accident or incident can also be used in the event of an insurance claim, providing an impartial source of data that, it has been suggested, will help to cut the spiralling cost of insurance fraud.
Some policies will offer an online portal for you to study - and, hopefully, improve - your driving skills.
This could potentially be used by parents to monitor the driving behaviour of their newly qualified motoring offspring - although it's possible that the child will not see that as a benefit!
The negative side of telematics
As already noted, the fact that premiums will be based on driving skills and habits will negatively impact on some motorists.
While there may be little sympathy for dangerous and unsafe drivers, depending on the policy you may also be penalised just because you regularly drive to work during rush hour, or late at night.
Check out these links on black box insurance.
Your premium will be calculated depending on the data gathered, with drivers who meet or exceed the agreed criteria benefiting and those who don't suffering.
Furthermore, if you have a black box it can act as a tracking device, so if your vehicle is lost or stolen, you (or the police) can find it sooner.
Some policies will give you access to an online dashboard where you can review your driving and learn to improve it.
Telematics has traditionally been seen as an attractive option for safe, young drivers looking for affordable premiums, but it has the potential to offer benefits to good drivers of any age - you can read more about telematics for experienced and older drivers
Your insurer will either ask you to use a mobile phone app, or will install a small device known as a 'black box' on your vehicle.
A black box is typically about the size of a smartphone and should be installed discreetly, perhaps under the dashboard.
The app or black box will use telemetry and satellite technology to record and transmit data about your driving habits back to your insurer.
What sort of data is captured?
Different companies will be interested in different things and will monitor and measure your driving accordingly, but typical things would be when and where you're driving; the type of road; how fast you're going whether you're within speed limits; how forcefully you apply the brakes; how you take corners.
Drivers who exhibit safe driving habits will then get better deals than those whose statistics highlight problems, or those who use their vehicle in ways deemed to be a higher insurance risk.
Some telematics policies will give an initial bundle of miles as a kind of driving 'allowance', but may penalise you if you go over that limit.
With such policies, more miles can be purchased should they be required, while certain providers will reward safe driving with an additional mileage allowance.
Fairness and price may be seen as benefits of telematics policies - your premium will be based on your driving skills and habits, thereby benefiting some groups and penalising others.
Rather than waiting for renewal to see the benefits of good driving, your premium price may be reassessed on a more regular basis, perhaps every few weeks or months.
Beyond price and fairness, a black box device (which may be installed for free, or for a small fee) can help to track a vehicle if it's stolen - stand-alone security tracking devices may cost several hundred pounds.
There may also be benefits in the event of an accident. Some telematics providers will receive an alert if this happens and - if your car is stationary - they may try to contact you on your mobile phone to check that you're ok.
If the data collected suggests a more serious collision, the insurer can alert the emergency services.
Information gathered from an accident or incident can also be used in the event of an insurance claim, providing an impartial source of data that, it has been suggested, will help to cut the spiralling cost of insurance fraud.
Some policies will offer an online portal for you to study - and, hopefully, improve - your driving skills.
This could potentially be used by parents to monitor the driving behaviour of their newly qualified motoring offspring - although it's possible that the child will not see that as a benefit!
As already noted, the fact that premiums will be based on driving skills and habits will negatively impact on some motorists.
While there may be little sympathy for dangerous and unsafe drivers, depending on the policy you may also be penalised just because you regularly drive to work during rush hour, or late at night.
Check out these links on black box insurance.
Eye sight check on the driving test
The eyesight check
First things first, the driving test examiner will want to make sure that you can see well enough to take the test. You will be asked to read a standard car numberplate at a distance of around 20 meters.
If you are unable to read the numberplate, you'll be given a second chance on another numberplate. If you fail to read that one, you'll be given a final chance with the distance accurately measured out. If you fail again, that will be the end of your test.
If you wear glasses or contact ensues to take the eyesight test, you're required by law to wear them whenever you drive a car or ride a motorcycle. That includes wearing them for the remainder of your driving test.
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I was on my way to Stowe School to collect a pupil for a driving lesson so I recorded the last bit of country road from Buckingham to Stowe ...
