| Attitude is best summed up by a review of what | | | | we all are. It is just as easy for a candidate to |
| you have done so far, to reach a certain standard | | | | create a poor first impression as it is to achieve a |
| in your driving. Have you taken advice from | | | | good one so why not do your homework and |
| friends, relatives or acquaintances or have you | | | | give yourself a head start over those candidates |
| taken the whole thing much more seriously and | | | | who don't take the Test seriously enough. |
| picked up the phone and booked lessons with a | | | | An Examiner is not looking for perfection but a |
| Professional Driving School? | | | | reasonably high degree of competence allied to |
| A Professional School will equip you with the skills | | | | good action and reaction times in all situations. If |
| needed to survive, stay safe and enjoy | | | | you have not taken the trouble to familiarise |
| trouble-free Motoring. Passing the Driving Test will | | | | yourself with all the various hotspots which may |
| be achievable providing you learn to drive first. | | | | be temporary or permanent, scattered |
| Preparing for a Driving Test should only | | | | throughout the general Test Route area then it is |
| commence when you have reached a certain | | | | very likely that here is where you will come a |
| level of Driving Skill and will be so much easier | | | | cropper. "Oh but I only made that one error |
| than doing it the other way round. A Driving Test | | | | because I didn't know the new road layout was |
| Pass is only the beginning of your Driving career | | | | about to be implemented, and it wasn't there |
| not the end! | | | | yesterday ".This type of mistake in an unusual |
| There are several every day driving skills that are | | | | situation leads to numerous grade three faults on |
| essential for safe motoring but which are not | | | | Driving Tests and as we know one grade three is |
| tested on a Driving Test. Would you ignore these | | | | a disqualification. Grade three type difficult |
| because they will not be encountered on your | | | | situations are commonplace in every day driving |
| Test? I hope not. | | | | and if strict marking was not in force then there |
| What are they? | | | | would be many more first time Test Passes but |
| (1) Driving on Country Roads. | | | | many more Write-Offs with the attendant misery. |
| (2) Driving on the Carriageway at full speed. | | | | Obviously nerves can play a big part on the day |
| (3) Driving at Night. | | | | and some candidates are better at controlling |
| (4) Driving in adverse Weather conditions. | | | | these emotions than others. If you can reduce |
| (5) Emergency Stop. | | | | this stress by telling yourself that it will not be the |
| (6) Reverse around a right hand corner. | | | | end of the World if you don't pass this time then |
| (7) Reverse Parking into a tight space. | | | | you will probably be more relaxed and will drive |
| (8) Driving in log-jammed Rush hour Traffic. | | | | much better. Remember it is you who has to do |
| A number of these manoeuvres are currently | | | | your homework and be confident that you can do |
| included on the U.K. Driving Test and will one day | | | | all manoeuvres, not the Examiner. With this |
| form part of the Irish Driving Test when we | | | | confidence will come competence and you will do |
| finally come up to European Standards. | | | | a much better job on the day. |
| Attitude to the Driving Test. | | | | Not enough homework, not enough practise and |
| There are many myths and legends surrounding | | | | not enough lessons all conspire to produce an |
| the Driving Test; lets examine some of them The | | | | unsatisfactory result. Taking lessons two weeks |
| right attitude for a new beginner Driver should be | | | | before your Test just won't prepare you |
| a non confrontational one and a realisation that | | | | sufficiently to be successful and to build up that |
| you the Driver are responsible for the result, be it | | | | level of confidence that is needed. |
| positive or negative. | | | | Take care and Take lessons. Driving Schools are |
| Examiners do not have a quota of passes or fails | | | | not there to fleece; you they are there to help |
| to be achieved. Yes they are human and subject | | | | you achieve a satisfactory level of Driving Skill |
| to outside influences such as first impressions, as | | | | and to enable you to arrive alive! |