If you’ve been learning to drive, passing your driving theory exam, and are making a reservation or have booked a practical driving test, I’ve put together some of the best advice I’ve had over 7 years as a driving agency-approved driving instructor. Management Standards (DSA) ADI and condensed it into these main tips for getting rid of driving test cancellations.
Start before you book your exam. Think about the best time for your practical test; this will be determined by you (do you perform well when driving in the morning or are you more of an afternoon person?) And your local area (are there many schools in the area that would do it? Cause congestion at certain times of the day, for example?)
I generally recommend a mid-morning to mid-afternoon driving test to most of my learner drivers during the school period, as this allows the morning rush hour to decrease, so there is a better chance that there will be less traffic and don’t have to worry about traffic controllers or small walking hazards! However, on school vacations, this rule don’t have to apply to your driving test – in fact, taking your driving test first is a good thing because most people leave a little later during school vacations.
Adequate preparation and practice. There is no substitute for this. The Driving Standards Agency expects you to demonstrate high quality driving on your driving test and can be very strict with your brand. Just because you have navigated the theory does not mean you have to be complacent about the driving test, it is a completely different test style, and it is very easy to get a serious mark through a span of concentration.
The driving test is also very expensive; this test fee, along with the instructor fees, means that you will generally spend over £100 on your exam, so make sure you get it right. Don’t skip on training sessions with your driving instructor before your exam; in fact, I encourage you to make sacrifices for more driving lessons. I’ve had the students cancel my driving classes because they say they can. ‘I can’t afford it, but I tend to find out that they’ve been out of the game all weekend. Think a little about your priorities; you may be sacrificing your DSA driving test fee if you miss your driving lessons, and your friends still won’t be out after your driving test?
Document verification! Your instructor will do this for you when you pick you up for your driving class the hour before your exam, but make sure you have them beforehand. The DVLA is quite efficient, but if you do not have both parts of your driver’s license, it will not go to the test, and it will take approximately 2 weeks for the DVLA to send you a new one, so review your documents well in advance of your practical driving test reservation.
Forget about it. Once you start your driving test, try to forget the fact that you are being tested. Stay focused on your unit, and don’t worry about anything the examiner might be doing with your clipboard. Make sure your first turns are correct and try to drive head-on. Examiners will look for the kind of boost your instructor has encouraged you to do, with no last-minute changes in technique.