INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRACTICAL TEST
If you have passed the Theory Test you may apply for your Practical Driving Test if you and your Driving Instructor both agree that your driving has reached the required standard. If you can drive and control your car safely and smoothly, with full awareness of other road users and consideration for the road, weather and traffic conditions, and can competently perform all the slow manoeuveres with only the bare instructions from your Driving Instructor then the answer is probably 'Yes'. The car you use for the Driving Test must be fitted with appropriate mirrors, headrests, L-Plates, Tax and the appropriate insurance. The vehicle aldo needs to be in a clean and good working condition capable of normal performance for that type of vehicle. If you are learning with Mike's School of Motoring you will normally have the opportunity to take the test in our car. Documents to take with you are your Theory Test Pass Certificate and both parts of your Provisional Licence (photocard and signed counterpart. If you do not have a photocard then a valid Passport of Great Britain is acceptable).
Arrive at the test centre in plenty of time and try to relax, do not turn the examiner into some kind of mystical monster. If you have trained with Mike's School of Motoring you will already be to a good standard so have confidence in yourself. All the examiner wants to see you do is drive without being a hazard to any other road user.
THE DRIVING TEST
After a brief introduction the examiner will ask you to read a number plate from a distance. The examiner will then run through the 'show me, tell me' questions and then do a spot check around the vehicle, and then get into the front passenger seat and explain briefly to you how the test works. You will be asked to start the car and move away when it is safe to do so, and your off! You have approximately 35 - 40 minutes in the car, that time includes two of the four manoeuvres ,
- Turn in the Road
- Reversing Around a Corner
- Reverse Parallel Park Behind a Car
- Reverse Bay Parking
You may also be required to demonstrate an Emergency Stop excercise. During the test it is also likely that you will be asked to demonstrate a Hill Start and an Angled Start. The rest of the time is taken up with general driving on the chosen test route. You will be expected to deal safely and competently with every situation that you encounter, but some minor driving faults are permitted. These are errors that do not in themselves create an actual or potential danger to other road users. They are recorded on the examiners test sheet and if you make 16 or more of these driving faults you will fail the test. You will also fail if you commit a serious or dangerous fault. This may sound an awful lot to do but if you have been trained to a good standard most of the above will be second nature. At the end of the test the Examiner will ask you to switch off the engine and tell you whether you have Passed or Failed. If you have Passed, your Driving Licence will be needed for the Examiner to fill in the Pass Certificate The Examiner will usually retain your Provisional Licence in order to have it updated to a Full Category 'B' Licence, which you will recieve in a few days. You can drive on your own in the meantime providing you keep a record of your 'Driver Number'.
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