How to Drive and Pass a Driving Test | WHAT EXAMINERS WANT TO SEE

Summary

In this engaging video from DGN Driving, you'll learn how to approach various topics that could arise during a driving test. The host demonstrates critical skills required to pass, such as parking, moving off, signaling, approaching T-junctions, and negotiating roundabouts, while offering insights into what examiners look for when assessing driving competence. The video emphasizes the importance of preparation and displays practical driving scenarios, ensuring learners are familiar with the process before hitting the road. You'll also discover the benefits of the Ultimate Driving Course for comprehensive knowledge.

Highlights

• Starting and stopping on the road safely is crucial for beginning drivers 🚦
• Using the POV routine can effectively help in preparing to move off ⏳
• Understanding road positioning while turning right at various junctions 🔄
• Navigating both controlled and uncontrolled crossroads with ease 🚧
• Tips on using the dual carriageway and lane etiquette 🚙

Key Takeaways

• Master the basics of signaling, positioning, and using mirrors 🌟
• Understand the importance of clutch control during uphill junctions 🚗
• Always be aware of surroundings, including pedestrians and cyclists 🚶‍♂️🚴
• The two-second rule: Keep a safe distance between vehicles ⏰
• Get a head start by watching instructional videos before lessons 🎥

Overview

This instructional video by DGN Driving takes you on an informative journey through the essential skills required to pass a driving test. The approach is practical and easy to follow, demonstrating everything from parking and moving off to tackling complex junctions. Learners are treated to clear demonstrations, explaining what a driving examiner expects during a driving test scenario.

The video also touches on the not-so-discussed nuances of driving like clutch control on inclines, the importance of checking blind spots and mirrors consistently, and the best practices for signaling and positioning your vehicle in traffic. With each topic broken down into manageable segments, the content supports new drivers in building effective driving habits early.

Moreover, this tutorial introduces the Ultimate Driving Course, a resource designed to save you time and money by preparing you with the necessary knowledge before stepping into your driving lesson. This means learners can maximize the efficiency of their practice time with instructors, entering lessons with confidence and the right questions to further their skills.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:00: Introduction The chapter starts with a scenario where a driver is tuning from a main road into a side road. The process includes checking the center and right mirrors, signaling right, and positioning the vehicle close to the center white line. The driver then selects gear two and brings the clutch up while looking into the road ahead. This sets the scene for the video, which is focused on teaching viewers how to drive. The video promises to cover the main topics encountered in a driving test and provides guidance on handling different driving situations that an examiner would expect a driver to manage during the test.
• 01:00 - 03:00: Safe Parking and Moving Off The chapter 'Safe Parking and Moving Off' talks about the essential steps and considerations for safely parking a car and moving off during a driving test. It emphasizes the importance of wearing the correct footwear and wearing a seatbelt. The chapter guides learners through the process, noting that examiners will ask them to practice parking and moving off multiple times during a driving test.
• 03:00 - 05:00: T-Junctions and Emerging Safely The chapter focuses on the importance of finding a safe parking spot while driving, especially near T-junctions. It emphasizes avoiding parking too close to junctions or bus stops, and ensuring not to block any gates while parking. The driver should check the mirrors, signal appropriately, and position the car close to the curb while being cautious.
• 05:00 - 06:00: Turning at Controlled and Uncontrolled Crossroads This chapter discusses the techniques for handling controlled and uncontrolled crossroads during driving. Key points include approaching entrances by using the clutch and brakes properly, ensuring the vehicle is secure by engaging the handbrake and shifting to neutral, and recognizing entrance markers like a dipped curve. Additionally, it covers the procedure for safely moving off, emphasizing the importance of preparing and observing the surroundings by employing the POV (Prepare, Observe, Move) routine whenever instructed to proceed by an examiner.
• 06:00 - 07:00: Ultimate Driving Course Advertisement In this chapter titled 'Ultimate Driving Course Advertisement,' the transcript provides a brief guide to the initial steps of moving a car. It emphasizes the importance of preparing the vehicle by selecting the first gear, setting the gas, and finding the clutch's biting point to prevent rollback. The driver is also instructed to consider signaling for safety, though in the example given, a nearby vehicle prevents an immediate signal.
• 07:00 - 10:00: Handling Dual Carriageways and Lane Changes In this chapter on handling dual carriageways and lane changes, the emphasis is on the critical checks and sequences a driver must follow to safely move into traffic. It starts with assessing the safety of current traffic conditions using the center mirror. Once a safe gap is identified, such as after a white van passes, the driver should check the left blind spot, left mirror, and then proceed with checking the center mirror again, right mirror and shoulder before signaling. This thorough checking process is crucial before moving—releasing the handbrake, steering right while gently accelerating and managing the clutch. Continuous mirror checks are stressed as essential for speed adjustment and maintaining awareness of surrounding traffic.
• 10:00 - 12:00: Navigating Uphill Junctions and Parked Cars The chapter covers the steps for safely moving off and turning left at the end of the road, focusing on mirrors and signaling, following the curb, and approaching a closed junction with limited visibility by using first gear and carefully checking right, left, and right again to ensure safety.
• 12:00 - 14:00: Stop Junctions and Following Distance Rules The chapter discusses the procedures and rules for handling stop junctions and maintaining a safe following distance while driving.
• 14:00 - 16:00: Approaching and Exiting Roundabouts The chapter discusses the techniques of approaching and exiting roundabouts, emphasizing body posture and the use of the clutch.
• 16:00 - 17:00: Conclusion The chapter offers practical driving instructions focusing on safe turning techniques. It emphasizes checking mirrors and being cautious of hazards like pedestrians and cyclists while turning from a main road into a side road. The guidance is centered around ensuring safety and properly using the clutch and accelerator throughout the turning process.

How to Drive and Pass a Driving Test | WHAT EXAMINERS WANT TO SEE Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 Okay, tuning right from a main road into a side road. So center mirror right mirror signaling right. Positioning close to the center white line. So selecting gear two, bringing that clutch up, looking into the road. Hey, guys, welcome to another video. So in today's video, I'm going to show you how to drive. We're going to do most of the topics that you would come across in your driving test and what the examiner would expect when you deal with each situation. I'm going to cover most of the topics just like I said, and I'm going to talk you
• 00:30 - 01:00 through exactly what I'm doing and how to deal with it. So yeah, let's get started. And for those of you who are learning to drive, make sure you've got the correct footwear on just like I'm wearing here. And yeah, there's going to be a link to this footwear in and around this video somewhere. Okay. So obviously don't forget to put your seatbelt on. And yeah, let's get started with these topics. Now when you're driving test, the examiner is going to ask you to park up and then move off at least a couple of times.
• 01:00 - 01:30 So I'm going to park up now. So the first thing to do is look for a safe place to park up. So there's a junction here. I don't want to be too close to the junction. I can see a bus stop as well. And then there's another junction. So I'm going to drive past that junction before I decide to park up. So now I'm going to check my center mirror, left mirror. I'm going to signal left. Now I'm going to position close to the curb, cover the brake, and I don't want to block this gate here.
• 01:30 - 02:00 Entrance. I'm going to put the clutch down and now I'm going to gently brake. So I've passed the entrance. And now to secure the car, handbrake up into neutral and then take your feet off. Right. So there you could tell it was the entrance. As you could see, the curve was dipped. So I let the car roll until we reached the curve that was higher. So as soon as you pull up like this, then the examiner is going to say, could you move off when it's safe to do so. So to move off, we use the POV routine, which stands for prepare, observe.
• 02:00 - 02:30 Observe. Observe. Sorry. Prepare, observe and move. So the first thing to do when you prepare the car is select first gear, set the gas, bring the clutch up to the biting point so the car doesn't roll back and it will move as soon as you release a handbrake. So now you're going to think about signaling if it's safe to do so. Yeah, there's a vehicle overtaking, so I'm not going to signal yet,
• 02:30 - 03:00 and I can see, so I'm just checking my centimeter to start off with here. And clearly it's not safe, so I'm not going to bother with all the checks yet. After this white van, there's a safe gap to move off. So now I'm going to check my left blind spot. Left mirror, look ahead, check that center mirror again. Check my right mirror over my right shoulder. Now I'm going to signal, check that right shoulder again. Release a handbrake, steer to the right, gently accelerate, and come off the clutch. And then check the mirrors again as you speed up.
• 03:00 - 03:30 So that's how to move off safely. Turning left at the end of the road. So center mirror, left mirror, signal, left. Keep your normal driving position. Then we're going to follow the curb, genuine braking, clutch down, selecting gear one because it's a closed junction, haven't got the best of views. Following the curb and then checking right, left, right. Looking into the road again, making sure it's safe.
• 03:30 - 04:00 And then as you enter the new road, center mirror, right mirror before you speed up. Okay, so we're coming up to a T junction now, which will be emerging out here. Okay, so first thing to do is check your center mirror, right mirror, signal, right. Then get your position to the right, obviously normally next to the white line, but we've got the curb here. Gently brake, clutch down. And I'm going to select gear one because this is a closed junction, which means I can't see much at all.
• 04:00 - 04:30 So now I'm going to lean my body forward and use that clutch to creep forward. Keep looking both sides and I can see it's clear. And then clutch up slowly, gently accelerate. Check my center mirror and right mirror before I speed up. Turning left from the main road into the side road. So, center mirror, left mirror, signal, left position, keep it normal, gently brake. I'm going to select gear two because I don't have to stop here.
• 04:30 - 05:00 Bringing the clutch up, looking into the road, following the curb, still not accelerating once I've straightened the wheel. Checking on mirrors, centre mirror, right mirror, and then using the accelerator. So don't accelerate too much as you're turning in yet. Make sure you're safe. Make sure you look for hazards as you turn into the road. Could be pedestrians, cyclists, you got to watch out for them. Okay, turning right from a main road into a side road. So center mirror right mirror signaling right.
• 05:00 - 05:30 Positioning close to the center white line. So selecting gear two, bringing that clutch up, looking into the road and turning in not too early, so I'm not going across the other side of the road and not turning in too late either. And again, we saw there was a gap after that bus, so I could continue. If there was another vehicle approaching, I would have to stop here. So whenever you turn right from the main road, you have to give way to the oncoming vehicles. Right. Sorry for interrupting the video, but this is something really important
• 05:30 - 06:00 for those of you who are learning to drive or about to start. So on your driving lessons, it's your instructor's job to give you the correct knowledge of the topic before you go out and practice it. The driving instructor will take out their folder, iPad, tablet, or whatever they use and then start to explain everything about the topic that you're going to be practicing. So this is where some instructors, they don't explain enough. So you're basically doing a topic without the correct knowledge or some that go on for ages and waste a lot of lesson time.
• 06:00 - 06:30 Now, this is where the Ultimate Driving Course comes in. So there's a video on every single topic. So, for example, say if you're doing roundabouts, you watch the video on roundabouts before you go to your lesson. So you're entering the car with the correct knowledge and you know what you're supposed to be doing. This is obviously going to save a lot of time on your lessons, and most importantly, you're going to have the correct knowledge. So to save time, money, and get ready for your driving test a lot
• 06:30 - 07:00 quicker, I strongly recommend downloading the Ultimate Driving Course. That's it, really. Let's get back to the video. Okay, I'm going to be turning right at an uncontrolled crossroad. So center mirror, right mirror, signaling right, gently braking, getting my position into the center here, bringing that clutch up, and I'm going to stop for the oncoming vehicle. So I'm going to select gear one and looking into the new road. There's no incoming vehicle, so I can turn.
• 07:00 - 07:30 So I did see the vehicle waiting on the side here. I have priority over those. So I don't have to wait for the vehicles from the left or right. Just keep an eye on them. But you have priority over those. Now, we're coming up to a controlled crossroad and I'm going to be turning right at the traffic lights. So center mirror, right mirror, signal, right position into the right hand lane and we can see there's a couple of vehicles in front. So the key thing here is now. Yeah.
• 07:30 - 08:00 You know, when these vehicles move forward, make sure there's enough space behind them before you pass this stop line. So here's a line. There's not enough space for me to enter without blocking that crossing there. Yeah. So I'm going to stop here and wait for the vehicles in front to go. Yeah. So there's a vehicle in front of that van. If he gets a safe gap to go, the van will move forward.
• 08:00 - 08:30 Then I can enter in behind. So now, getting this position, you want to make sure you don't block any oncoming traffic. So I can see there's a safe gap after this vehicle. And again, after entering new road, check the center mirror and right mirror, make sure no one's overtaking. So here's another right turn where I'm going to get the chance to stop and show you the positioning. So like I said, don't rush to get your position.
• 08:30 - 09:00 I now know I can edge forward. I want to get as close as I can to the oncoming vehicles without blocking their path here. So this is the best position I can get at the moment. And again, this vehicle in front is blocking my view, so I can't really go. So only go when you can see it's clear. Don't risk it, whatever you do, because there could be oncoming vehicles that are approaching really fast here.
• 09:00 - 09:30 So if this traffic light turns red like it has done now, now the oncoming vehicles will stop. And again, still looking out for anyone that may be jumping the lights. And again, these pedestrians. That's why it's so important to look into the new road as well here. Okay, so now I'm going to be turning onto a dual carriageway. So when you're on a dual carriageway, you stick to the left hand lane.
• 09:30 - 10:00 If it's clear, build up to the speed of the dual carriageway. On this one, it's 40, and you only use the right hand lane if you want to turn right or overtake. And also if you're driving at higher speeds, you got to look out ahead and make sure you react earlier. So if you're driving at higher speeds, make sure you brake sooner and it's not too late. And when changing lanes. So check your center mirror, right mirror, then signal.
• 10:00 - 10:30 Right. Check the mirrors again. Make sure no one's overtaking or that you're not going to cause anyone to slow down before entering that lane and only then enter the lane. Okay, situation ahead, where the lane is closed. Again, it's all about noticing it early. Centimeter right, mirror signaling right, and it's safe to enter the right hand lane. See with that? Yeah.
• 10:30 - 11:00 If you notice it early, apply your signal early. You're most likely to get a safe gap here to go. If you notice it too late, you will have to stop here if there's not a safe gap. And after the roadworks finish, when the lane is clear, make sure you go back to the left hand lane. Do not keep driving in the right hand lane as the right hand lane, like I've mentioned earlier, is turning right or overtaking.
• 11:00 - 11:30 Now we're going to deal with a steep uphill junction. Yeah. And the key is on how you approach this. So we'll be turning right, centre mirror, right mirror, signaling right. And then I'm going to ease off the gas, cover the brake. I'm going to select gear one. I'm not going to fully stop. I'm going to bring the clutch up to the biting point. I'm going to use that to control the vehicle. Yeah. And again, checking both sides, only emerging when it's safe. Accelerating. Holding the clutch still there. Now bringing up all the way. Yeah.
• 11:30 - 12:00 Okay, so the key thing here is use that clutch control and don't rush off it. Okay, park cars ahead. So before overtaking the park cars, taking my center mirror right mirror moving over, keeping enough space for the vehicle doors to open. Yeah. And if there is an oncoming vehicle, I'll have to get closer to the park vehicles, so I'll have to slow down. So I'm going to be turning left at this stop junction. So center mirror left mirror signaling left, keeping my normal position. So I'm going to stop here just on the line
• 12:00 - 12:30 here now, and I'm going to use my handbrake. And I still haven't got the best of use yet. That's normally the case at stop junction. So I'm going to creep forward, lean my body forward, and now I can see it's safe. I'm going to enter the new road. So always stop at the stoplight, not too early like I see many people do. And then some of you don't stop at all. What you do is you keep creeping forward. You do check it safe, but you don't fully stop here.
• 12:30 - 13:00 So make sure you fully stop at the line and then move. Remember, when following other vehicles yet, do not get too close. Always use the two second rule when driving at these kind of speeds, which we're at 30 miles an hour. So when the vehicle in front gets to the bus stop, that's 1 second, two second, three second. And now I'm at the bus stop. So I've got a three second gap there. Yeah. So the minimum distance you need to keep is 2 seconds.
• 13:00 - 13:30 And when you're stopping behind the vehicle, make sure when you stop, you can see the back tires and a bit of road. We call that the tires and tarmac rule. Just in case that vehicle breaks down, you've got enough space to drive around it. And when you move off in traffic, check both the side mirrors. Make sure there's no cyclists as you move off. Turning left at a roundabout. So center mirror, left mirror, signal left.
• 13:30 - 14:00 Keep your normal driving position. Gently brake to around 20 miles an hour. Now selecting gear two. Bringing the clutch back up. Now looking to the right. Still keeping my position. It's safe to enter. Following the curve round and after entering the new road, center mirror and right mirror. Obviously, if it wasn't clear, I would have stopped and selected first gear. There. Going straight ahead at this roundabout, which is the second exit. So, checking all my mirrors here and now.
• 14:00 - 14:30 No signal required. Staying in the left lane, gently braking. Speed up to around 20 miles an hour. Selecting second gear. Bringing that clutch up after this vehicle is safe to enter. Keep into the left hand lane. Now I'm taking a second exit. So as soon as I pass, check the centre mirror, left mirror, signal left, and then cancel signal. Check my centre mirror, right mirror as I speed up. So the most important thing there is staying to your lane yet do not drift over from the left to the right.
• 14:30 - 15:00 Turning right at a roundabout. Yeah. Which is a third exit. So the first thing is to get into the right hand lane. So centre mirror, right mirror signalling right. And then moving over to the right hand lane. Don't slow down too much for the lane change. And now centre mirror, right mirror, right, signal still on. Gently braking to about 20 miles an hour. Selecting gear two. Bringing the clutch pedal back up. Looking to the right, it's safe to enter.
• 15:00 - 15:30 Keep into the right hand lane. That's exit one. Still in the right hand lane. As soon as you get to exit two, center mirror, left mirror signaling left. Make sure it's safe. And then moving over to the left. And as you enter the new road, center mirror and right mirror before you speed up. Okay, guys, so that was me demonstrating some of the topics there. Obviously, there's quite a few more topics here, and those of you who are regular viewers know that I always recommend the Ultimate Driving Course, which has a video on every single topic required to pass a driving test.
• 15:30 - 16:00 And it's a bit more detailed than these demonstrations. Guys, like always. Hopefully you found that video useful. If you did, please don't forget to like and subscribe and I will see you in the next video.