Practical Driving Test

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Dash driving have all the information you need about your driving test. Learn all about the test report - what's important and what's not . . . Hull learners can take a look at the DSA test centre at Chamberlain Road and you can see the up to date pass rates for all the UK's test centres.

Look at our extremely useful driving test advice. Why not print out the driving test advice page so you can refer to it whenever you want?

We have lot's of useful advice about the DSA test centre at Chamberlain Road, Hull, including photo's. Be warned that this page may take a short while to load up for ‘dial up' users.

Here's a full list of UK DSA test centres
for driving tests.

Here are the official DSA  test pass rates for the whole of the Uk.

Just a qiuck word about  test pass rates . . . as you'll see if you look at the figures, only about 4 in 10 people manage to pass. That's quite a low figure. By far the biggest single factor in test pass rates is how well prepared and test ready the candidate is.
 
We have had several pupils who started training with us after 1 or 2 test failures. What is clear is that those pupils were nowhere near ready to take the DSA test. By rushing your lessons along and without real understanding, you are not giving yourself the chance that you deserve.

Don't forget,the examiner is not there to give you advice . . simply instructions on which way to go and to assess your skills. You should be able to drive, unaided, making all your own decisions, before you even consider taking the test. It is not good enough to be able to drive a test route over and over again . . . you need to have real understandng of driving in varied traffic conditions..

Sorry if it disapoints you, but please don't expect to have a lesson or two with Dash and then take your test in our car! We will make sure that you are test ready, but we will be honest with you about your progress.

Follow this link for info on the DSA ‘Show me, tell me' questions with answers.

Have a look here to get an in depth look at the areas marked on your driving test report.

If you're a repeat visitor you can use these quick links to get to the information on this page that you need;

The driving test, booking your test, the test car, what you need, how the test is marked, cancelling your test, special requirements.

This section has plenty of advice for those about to take the DSA driving test, but before we get into specifics, let me ask you a question and tell you a couple of short stories . . .

The question is . . . Why do we bother having a driving test at all?

Have a think about that. Here are the short stories. Read through them and see what thoughts you have.

Story 1.

Pete is 23 and is taking his driving test today. He's desperate to pass first time so he can forget all about it but he's been spending a lot of time out with his friends and doesn't see the need to prepare too much. He turns up at the test centre with his instructor, but because of a fairly heavy nights celebrating at a wedding party the evening before, he arrives just before the test is due to start. In fact, the examiner is in the waiting area calling his name as Pete walks in. In his hurry to get there on time, Pete has left his driving licence in the car and has to rush out to get it. Having checked the paperwork, the examiner escorts Pete to the test car. The car is legal and roadworthy, but it looks a bit messy. There's mud all over the side panels, bugs stuck to the windscreen and the car doesn't look like it's been washed in a few weeks. They quickly go through the show me, tell me questions and the examiner asks Pete to get into the car. As Pete opens the door to get in, the examiner struggles to take down the details of the cars registration number because the muck is obscuring the figures. The examiner then gets in the car and notices that the interior hasn't been dusted or wiped over in quite a while. There are old cigarettes in the ashtray that desperately needs cleaning out. After initially briefing Pete on the test, the examiner asks him to move off when he's ready. Pete takes a deep breath, thinks “I can do this” to himself, then immediately starts the engine and pulls away without further thought or action.

Story 2.

Louise has her driving test this morning. She's been studying hard and has practiced all the routines, both in the car and in her head, countless times. She feels confident but understandably nervous. Her instructor has made her go through the cockpit drill and safety checks at the start of every lesson and Louise can now almost do them in her sleep! She has also practiced moving off properly and goes through the routine in her head whilst she sits in the waiting room. She has arrived 10 minutes early and uses the time to check that she has the right documents and to concentrate on how she will perform some of the manouvres. She pictures herself doing the reverse left, taking good all round observations and remembering all the advice that her instructor has given. The examiner comes to the waiting area to be met by a smiling Louise. Her documents are fine and they make their way to the car. The car has been cleaned and vacuumed in preparation for the test. It hasn't had a showroom valet, but it has been made to look more professional. The windscreen is clear and there is no rubbish inside. Lousie goes through the show me, tell me questions and then gets into the driving seat. The examiner records the details of the car before getting into the passenger seat. Louise receives a briefing on the test and is then asked to move off when ready. Louise takes a deep breath, thinks “I can do this” to herself, then quickly and efficiently runs through the cockpit drill and safety checks. She then starts the engine. Before pulling away she instinctively runs through the Prepare - Observe - Move routine that she has practiced and thought about so many times before.

Think about the differences in these two stories. In truth, the rest of the drive may be just as good for both Pete and Louise. They may both perform the manouvres equally well.

But if you were an examiner, what would you be thinking?

DSA test examiners are highly trained and very skillful at assessing a drivers ability. They are testing the competence of the driver to use our roads and to be safe and considerate. There is no ‘ticky box' for a minor error for not having a clean car. Just because your car is clean does not mean that you are a safer driver. Just because you can run through a boring cockpit drill in 10 seconds flat does not mean that you can drive better than someone who can't. Or does it?

Research has consistently and conclusively shown that a drivers attitude is the major contribution to road safety. Those with good manners who show courtesy and respect for others are far less likely to be involved in collisions than those who don't. Drivers who take care at busy junctions, maintain good lane discipline and don't race to get through traffic lights that might change are far more likely to live to a ripe old age than those who pay no attention. Some drivers are a little ‘jerky' on the gears and clutch and can't quite get the changes smooth. But they approach a junction and take good effective observations all round before safely emerging into traffic. They are not slow or hesitant, but they know that it's safe before they move. Some drivers are expert with the controls. They change gear effortlessly and operate the brake and gas pedals with a professional ease, and yet they can approach the same busy junction, take virtually no observations and pull out into the path of a motorcycle. The rest is left to your imagination.

“No one I know of has killed anyone by getting a gear change a little ‘jerky' now and again. I have, however, seen many very experienced drivers who regard themselves as ‘expert' pull out of junctions without looking with disastrous consequences”

Which do you think is more important to road safety? Developing the good attitudes that the careful, observant driver has? or the car control that lets us change gear smoothly? I don't think you need to be a qualified brain surgeon to work that one out!

DSA examiners are very quick to see the attitude of the test candidate towards road safety. In fact, your attitude toward road safety on the test could be the reason why you pass or fail. Can you be bothered to wait for that bus and then move off with all the appropriate observations? Do you even understand why we need to do those observations? Good observations are not just something that boring drivers do, they are essential. A major area of Advanced Driving techniques are developing observation skills and promoting good attitudes.

So, good attitudes are very important. Your attitudes come from your understanding and your habits. In a stressful situation like a driving test you will tend to go onto ‘auto pilot' as your habits and attitudes affect your driving. The way you drive is a reflection of the real you.

In the two stories above, who showed the best attitude to road safety before the wheels of the car were even turning. Pete or Louise?

Now I'll ask you that question again.

               “If you were the examiner, what would you be thinking?”

And, after reading the above, what about that very first question at the top of the page. . .

     Why do we bother having a driving test at all?

The Driving Test

The Driving Standards Agency practical driving test for cars is usually about 35 to 40 minutes long. During the test you will need to demonstrate your ability to drive on a wide variety of different roads. You may be asked to drive along high speed dual carriageways, busy but slow moving city centre streets or rural roads with the national (60) speed limit. On the test the examiner may ask you to perform two of the following manoeuvres and may also ask you to perform the emergency stop routine:

Turn in the road.                                                                                                Reverse (parallel) parking behind a parked car or reversing into a parking bay.
Reversing round a corner to the left or right.

The emergency stop is usually done on about 1 in 3 tests, so “yes”, before you ask, you still need to know it! I'm currently working on full tutorials for each of these manoeuvres and much, much more . . . check the news page and call back reglarly for details.
 

Booking your test
You can get a driving test application form (DL26) from your driving instructor or by calling the DSA test on                     0870 0101 372, between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.  Welsh speakers can book on 0870 0100 372. If you have hearing difficulties and need a minicom machine telephone 0870 0106 372. If you have a credit or debit card (such as Switch or Visa) you can book a driving test direct on the same numbers without the need to send off the form. You'll need to quote your driver number from your provisional driving licence, your theory test pass certificate number and your instructors ADI number. Once you've booked the test you'll be sent a letter within a few days confirming all the details. Check it! Mistakes can and do happen every now and again, so make sure your letter shows all the right information. Also, make sure that you tell your instructor if you haven't already done so.

The test car
The vehicle you use for your test must be legal and roadworthy. The car must have an MOT certificate if it's old enough to need one and it should be fully insured for you to drive it. The examiner will ask you to sign a declaration that the car is insured. You will not be tested unless you do this.

The car must also have a valid tax disc and L-plates showing at the front and the back. Your car must also have a front passenger seat with a head restraint and a seat belt fitted, and an additional interior rear-view mirror for use by the examiner. It's your test, so you need to make sure that the car you use is suitable. If you turn up in a car that's not of the required standard you will miss your test and lose your money.

Dash pupils have no need to be concerned with any of this as we ensure that our cars are all of the highest standards, fully insured for your use on test and fitted with all the accessories required by the examiners.

Don't forget that if you pass your test in an automatic you can only drive an automatic unless you take the test again in a manual car.

What you need
You must take the following documents with you to the test. The examiner needs to see them.

1. Your theory test pass certificate;

2. Both parts of your signed photocard driving licence or your signed old style driving licence along with photographic identification. Acceptable forms of photographic identification include:

a) Your photocard driving licence.
b) Your passport (which doesn't have to be a British).
c) An employers identity card or work pass with your photograph and name or signature.                                                                                                             d) Trade union card bearing your photograph and signature.
e) School Bus Pass with the name of the local authority and your photograph and signature.
f) A signed photograph with a written statement from an appropriate person. Acceptable persons who can certify you as being the person shown in the photograph are: Approved Driving Instructor's, Member of Parliament, medical practitioner, teacher (qualified), Justice of the Peace, police officer, civil servant (established), bank official, minister of religion, barrister or solicitor.
 

How the test is marked.                                                                                           On the test the examiner will note any driving errors that you make on the driving test report form (DL25). At the start of the test the form is blank except for your name. In other words, at the start of the test everyone is assumed to be the ‘perfect driver'. Only errors are marked - not anything that you do well. After all, as a competent driver, you should be doing just about everything well! There are three types of faults -  minor, serious and dangerous. The examiner marks each fault with a line ‘/' in the appropriate box. At the end of the test the examiner will count up how many minor driving faults there are under each heading and the total number of faults that there are overall. If you have more than 15 minor driving faults you will have failed the driving test. If you commit just one or more serious or dangerous driving faults you will also fail the test. For an in depth explanation of the various sections of the driving test report, click here.

We hear countless times of pupils who get part way through the test and feel as though they have failed because they are not up to their best, but then get back to the test centre and are delighted to find they have passed! The morale is simple . . . keep trying. Put all your errors behind you and concentrate on what's to come.

Each section of the test is like a ‘mini test'. You may make an error that you think is major - the examiner may think it wasn't too bad and has no intention of failing you. If you dwell on it too much you will find it hard to concentrate on anything else and you could completely spoil the rest of your drive. Always remember - the examiner is ‘assessing' your ability to drive safely. How you react after committing an error is part of showing that you can drive safely.
 

Cancelling your test.
You need to give a minimum of ten clear working days notice if you decide to cancel your test, or you will lose your test fee. If you are ill on the day of the test and have to cancel at short notice the DSA will refund the test fee, so long as you can get a doctor to verify this. A short letter from your GP should suffice.

Special requirements
You must tell the DSA about any special needs that you may have  when booking your test.
If you cannot speak English or you are deaf you are allowed to bring an interpreter with you who has to be at least 16 years old and cannot be a driving instructor. This is so that you can't cheat by having the instructor give ‘extra' instruction on the test!
If you are disabled you will have to do the same test, however, more time will be allocated to the examiner so that you can explain your disability and discuss any special equipment fitted to your test vehicle.

If you pass the test with special equipment fitted your licence will show this and you will always have to drive with the same equipment fitted, unless you take the test again.