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| NON-UK DRIVER | If you have never driven in Britain before, it is a good idea to take refresher driving lessons to familiarise yourself with the road systems and traffic signs. 07875718457
Here is some information about the documentation you will need: | Driving in the UK with a Non-UK Driving Licence | Subject to certain conditions, you can drive in the UK for 12 months with a valid driving licence issued in another country, and as long as you fulfil the minimum age requirement (17 for motorcars and motorcycles). | EC Driving Licences | | With a valid European Community licence, you are authorised to drive in the UK. You can if you wish apply to exchange it for a UK licence. | | EC and other countries | All driving licences from countries and economic areas listed below are entitled to drive for up to 12 months in the UK, provided the licence is valid. If you want to continue driving in the UK after 12 months, you must apply to exchange your licence for a British one before the 12 month period ends. Northern Ireland
Malta
Jersey
Gibraltar
Monaco
Guernsey
Australia
New Zealand
Isle of Man | Barbados
Republic of Cyprus
EC
British Virgin Islands
Republic of Korea
European Economic Area
Canada
Singapore
| Falkland Islands
South Africa
Hong Kong
Switzerland
Japan
Zimbabwe |
To exchange your driving licence, complete application form D1 (available at Post Offices) and return it to the DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BT with your current licence and the correct fee.
| | Other non-UK driving licences | If you hold a driving licence from a country other than those listed above, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident in the UK, providing the licence is still valid. If, after 12 months, you wish to continue driving in the UK, you must apply for a Provisional British licence and pass a Driving Test before the 12 month period ends. If you receive your Provisional licence before the end of 12 months, you are not required to follow some conditions applicable to Provisional UK residents (e.g. displaying ‘L’ plates, being supervised by a qualified driver, prohibited from using motorways).
Be warned: if you do not apply within this time period, you must stop driving and obtain a Provisional Licence with a view to passing a Driving test and full Provisional Licence conditions will apply. If you do not pass a test within the 12 months concessionary period, you will not be allowed to drive as if you are a full Driving Licence holder, and Provisional Driving Licence conditions will still apply.
| | Information | The information above is intended as a guide only. The DVLA’s information leaflet D100 gives a fuller explanation. Their leaflet INF38 covers driving in Great Britain as a visitor or a new resident. Both are available at the Post Office. “Don't feel confident driving on the left hand side of the road ? Motorway driving and roundabouts are bewildering. If you take a course of lessons to gain confidence and experience in a dual-controlled car. Make driving in the UK more confident and enjoyable.” call 07875718457 |
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Ten Driving Test Myths & Mistakes | | * Common mistakes made by learner drivers * Harmful driving test myths * 10 Most common reasons for driving test failure | | Myth: Driving examiners are only allowed to pass a certain number of pupils per week. This is just not true. Perhaps this myth originates with those embarrassed by failure trying to come up with a convincing reason for family and friends. If you are up to test standard you will pass. It’s not meant to be easy, and the fact is that over 50% of candidates are just not up to the standard required. Driving examiners don’t fail you: you fail yourself. | | Myth: Driving examiners enjoy failing learner drivers. Examiners are professionals: their personal feelings do not enter into their assessment of you. Also, they have their bosses to report to – an unusual or inexplicable number of passes or failures would be looked into. It’s easier for an examiner to give good news rather than bad, and a pass means less paperwork for them. | | Myth: There is a particular examiner who has tested me at the same test center several times and failed me because he does not like me. It would be easy to blame a ‘personality clash’ for failure, but again, driving examiners are professionals. Personal feelings or prejudices are irrelevant. An examiner whose work record showed an inclination to fail, for example women or a particular ethnic group, would soon be spotted. We would all like to blame someone else for our mistakes. The only way you will eventually pass is if you take responsibility for your performance and work hard to correct your faults. |
Mistake: Taking the driving test in your own car.
This might seem like a good idea, but in fact it isn’t. The pupils who turn up in their own vehicles are usually those who have had no professional driving tuition, or are so dangerous the driving school has not let them use their vehicle. The examiner will be aware of this from the beginning and it is likely to make him or her nervous. In addition, the car will not have a dual braking system, which may mean the driving examiner might be inclined to intervene, verbally or physically, prematurely. Intervention by the examiner means failure, so you don’t want to increase the chances of that happening by using a car without the dual brake. |
Mistake: Delaying the learning and taking the test until you are older.
There is no time to lose: younger candidates outperform their seniors in passing the test. In 2004-6, the pass rate for 17 year old boys was 51% and for girls 48%. Pupils ten years older at 27 had pass rates of 43% and 36% respectively. At aged 47 the rates when down further to 35% and 25%. But also in that period, the oldest successful candidate was female. The DSA says a pupil needs 2 hours driving tuition for every year of life. In other words, if you are 17 you will need about 34 hours, and if you are 20 you will need 40 hours. All in all, it is easier and cheaper to learn at the youngest age possible. Anyone who has been ‘back to school’ or learnt a new skill knows that learning becomes more difficult as you get older |
Myth: My father tells me he took only 8 hours of driving tuition and passed first time.
This may have been possible in the dim distant past, or perhaps he has ‘competitive dad’ syndrome. The test has grown to match the changing conditions on the roads. There is an ever larger number of cars, more complicated traffic conditions and signs and routes to follow. There is now also the theory test,parking manoeuvres and the ‘show and tell’ section. Years ago, a candidate would just be asked a few questions on the Highway Code. Older drivers often acknowledge that they might have difficulty these days passing a test. The Driving Standards Agency estimates that a new learner driver needs a minimum of 40 hours professional training with a further 20 hours of private practice. You can console yourself that with a more serious, complex test, you will be a much more competent driver in a shorter space of time than your father. As soon as you pass, take him out on the road and impress him! |
Myth: If you stall the car, you will fail.
Stalling happens. If it happens in a dangerous situation, say, on a roundabout, you could be in trouble. If it happens on a normal stretch of road, the important thing is how you deal with it. Panicking is not a good idea. Just take a deep breath, start again, and it is unlikely you would be failed on that one thing alone. |
Mistake: Setting the mirror slightly ‘off’ so the examiner can see you move your head which makes it more obvious you are checking the mirror regularly.
Driving Examiners are trained to look for those small eye movements and are likely to be less than impressed by a mirror set at the wrong angle. Moving your whole head all the time will just distract you from effective observation. |
Myth: Driving Schools make you take more lessons than you really need.
It is not in any school’s best interests to have lots of learners taking lesson after lesson with no end result. I would like to see my pupils to spread the word about their success! I will give you advice, and if you want an independent rough guide: you are ready to take your test if you can drive for an hour without the verbal aid or assistance of your instructor. The DSA says that most people fail simply because they take the test before they are ready. | | --------------------------------------------------------------
The best advice I can give you is: Drive to the best of your hability, remember what you have learned, trust the examining system and Trust the examiner as a professional. Treat him or her with respect. If you have any issues or problems about a failed test, talk to me and I will investigate if appropriate. Never tackle the examiner directly. | | | 10 Most Common Reasons for Failure | | Examine these closely and try to avoid them. As you can see, most are concerned with observation | | 1. Observation at junctions – ineffective or bad observation and judgment. | | 2. Reverse Parking – ineffective observation and/or lack of accuracy. | | 3. Use of Mirrors – not checking often enough, and/or not acting on the information. | | 4. Reversing Round a Corner – ineffective observation and/or lack of accuracy. | | 5. Incorrect use of Signals – giving misleading signals, or forgetting to cancel them. | | 6. Moving away Safely – ineffective observation. | | 7. Incorrect Positioning on the Road – particularly at roundabouts and on bends. | | 8. Lack of Steering Control – steering too early or too late. | | 9. Incorrect Position for turning right – at junctions or one-way streets. | | 10. Inappropriate Speed – driving too slowly or too quickly |
The Driving Test is changing Candidates for a driving licence may soon have to drive to named destinations, such as a railway station or hospital using only road signs. They would not be given directions by the examiner, nor would they be permitted to use satellite navigation. This is because the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is looking at ways to enhance the 50-minute test, in order to improve road safety.
The DSA believes that learner drivers rarely go through all aspects of driving in their tuition or test, and so they may not be ready to drive alone at first. The DSA also thinks they may not be able to drive properly while following road signs or talking to passengers, even though they may know how to control the vehicle.
AA President, Edmund King, said such a test would push the current generation to the edge since they are so reliant on computers.
Many young drivers rely so much on sat-nav that they can no longer drive safely while thinking about the route to take. The test will certainly become more demanding.
However, Mr. King expressed some doubts since a candidate who knows the area well could have an advantage.
Driving instructors were also pleased about the possible change.
The Transport Research Laboratory is studying the results of tests at seven centres across the UK to determine how the test can be upgraded for the first time for many years.
A spokeswoman for the DSA confirmed that following road signs during the test was one of various ideas being looked at. The Highway Code online Online version This version has been adapted for online use from the Department for Transport's current printed version of the Highway Code. In any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, only the Department for Transport's current printed version of the Code should be relied upon. In my opinion you should read and understand the Highway Code as it will be based on your knowledge of it and the way you apply it to your driving that you will be examined when it comes to your Driving Test as well as your diving skills.
An explanation of the rules and wording found in The Highway Code Rules for pedestrians, first aid on the road and more…
Using the road, road users requiring extra care and more… Rules about animals, road users requiring extra care and more…
Rules for cyclists, you and your bicycle, first aid on the road and more… Rules for motorcyclists, motorcycle licence requirements, driving in adverse weather conditions and more...
Rules for drivers, waiting and parking, breakdowns and incidents, safety code for new drivers and more… Signals to other road users, warning signs, signals by authorised persons and more...
Full contents of The Highway Code, from the introduction to signs and markings Motoring      C A R L O S P.- D r i v i n g L e s s o n s 07875718457 | |
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