Passing Your Driving Test with Steve’s Driving School

During Your Driving Test

During your driving test you will be required to complete one of four possible exercises: reverse parking, turn in the road, reverse around a corner or bay parking. You may also be asked to perform an emergency stop. As well as a manoeuvre you will also complete ten minutes independent driving where you will follow a series of verbal directions, supported by a diagram. You can stop at any time and request to see the diagram again. Alternatively you will be required to follow directional signposts for routes in and around Sheffield, Rotherham or Chesterfield.

If you go the wrong way during the independent driving segment you will not necessarily fail the driving test. Providing you are indicating correctly for the way you intend to turn, it will not matter if you take a wrong turn. The driving test is a test of driving ability and not a test of being able to follow directions. The driving test lasts for approximately 40 minutes unless you are taking an extended test which lasts for about one hour. Extended tests usually apply to people who have been disqualified for drink-driving, dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention.

The driving test currently costs £62 but price updates and further information can be found on the Driving Standards Agency website at www.dsa.gov.uk.

With Steve's Driving School, you can join the many others who have passed their driving test first time. Just call Steve on 0800 458 7449 or email drivingtuition@talktalk.net for more information on driving lessons in Sheffield and the surrounding area.

Driving Faults

Throughout your driving test your examiner will judge how well you drive by marking your performance and monitoring any faults you make.

Dangerous Faults

Dangerous faults are those that involve actual danger where the Driving Examiner has to intervene either with a verbal instruction or by using the dual controls. Depending on the seriousness of the fault, the examiner may decide to terminate the test and walk back to the test centre. You would have to remain with the vehicle and wait for your instructor to meet you there.

Serious Faults

Serious faults are those that involve the potential for another driver to have to take evasive action either by changing direction or slowing down. Also anything that may be breaking the law such as speeding, running a red light or failing to observe traffic signs. A Serious fault may also be recorded if the Examiner can see bad habits developing such as continuously failing to check your mirrors or your blind spot.

Driving Faults

Driving faults are less serious and involve things like missing a mirror check or a blind spot check or  minor lapses of control such as stalling or parking a little too far away from the kerb. These faults don't involve other cars and don't break the law.

You are not allowed any dangerous or serious faults and you are allowed up to and including 15 driving faults.

It should be noted that some faults may also be considered as not worthy. This means that the Examiner has noticed a fault, for example a missed mirror check but has decided it is not worthy of noting down as a fault on the marking sheet. However should the same fault occur again, it may be noted as a driving fault and repeatedly making the same fault may show a bad habit developing in your driving and will eventually occur in a serious fault.

The Vehicle

If you use your own car you must make sure it is roadworthy and that all tyres are legal and all lights and indicators are in a working condition.  If there has been a manufacturer’s recall on your car the fault must have been repaired and you must have a letter from your dealer.  If you use your own car it is your responsibility to make sure the car is legal and if it’s not the test will not be conducted and you will lose your test fee.

If you use your instructor’s car then they will make sure the car is legal and should the test not happen due to a defect with the car then the instructor should pay for another test as the car is their responsibility.  However, you would be liable for any additional lessons you decide to take.

The car must have rear seats as occasionally a Senior Examiner may sit in on the test. This happens rarely, but should it happen you may not refuse or you will lose your test fee.  Remember that the Senior Examiner is there to monitor your Examiner and to make sure the test is conducted fairly.

It is worth remembering that you can ask your instructor to sit in on the test as well but remember that they cannot interfere with the test in any way. The same applies if you have an interpreter with you.  If the examiner feels that you are being aided in any way he/she will terminate the test and you will lose your test fee.

If you have any questions about your theory or practical test or would like to book driving lessons in Sheffield then get in touch with Steve’s Driving School on 0800 4587449.