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Want to Pass your driving test?

Let us tell you what the driving examiners don't want you to know!

Whatever your driving needs , we have the best plan for you!

Regular Lessons may be just the key for you if you have work or child care commitments. Each lesson is especially designed for you to help you pass faster and become a safer driver for life. Lessons can be fitted in around your work, college and family life to suit you!

You can be picked up or dropped of anywhere and times can be adjusted to suit you!

Lessons can be anything from 1 hour to 4 depending on your needs. You can have 1 or 7 lessons a week, its totally up to you! Bumpers is totally flexible and can fit in around you.

There are so many options depending on YOUR needs, so why not call us and tell us what you want, and let us make you happy.

On this page we have tried to answer most of the more usual questions, but if there is anything you need to ask, just call!

We are here to help, so just ask. We are totally honest and will give you advice to help you, not just to get you into the car!

At Bumpers You'll find superb Learner Lessons, great value intensive courses and the very best help and advice for your DSA theory and practical driving test

Call now for details of Learner Lessons, Pass Plus, Intensive Courses and some fantastic discounts and special offers So if you want to learn to drive in Hampshire, just call us and we'll get your driving lessons started as soon as possible!

If you can't see the course here that fits your requirements, please call us now to discuss your needs and we will be able to arrange a course of lessons that will be just right for you and your budget!

All you need to get started is a valid Provisional Licence. You don't even need to have passed your theory test before you start your driving lessons!

We will be pleased to discuss the options that are best for you, and we can even arrange a 'one off' assessment lesson so that I can carefully structure the very best course for you. Take a look at our range of courses here . . . but call now for a chat so that we can help you to get on the road . . . FAST!

*** Update *** Changes to the driving test from October 2010.

Independent driving explained

From 4 October 2010, learner drivers will be tested on independent driving as part of the practical driving test.

During their test, candidates will have to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both.

To help candidates understand where they’re going, the examiner may show them a diagram.

It doesn't matter if candidates don't remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Some newspapers have claimed that independent driving would lead to a fall in the driving test pass rate. This claim is based on early research where conditions did not reflect the eventual design of the new element of the test.

Subsequent trials with a larger number of participants and more closely reflecting the conditions in the planned new test showed no significant fall in the pass rate

The length of driving tests and test fees will not change when independent driving is introduced in October. Driving test fees can be found at Driving Test Fees

Manoeuvres

From October, car test candidates (category B) will have to complete one reversing manoeuvre rather than two. The manoeuvre will be selected at random by the examiner from:

Turning in the road

Reversing around a corner

Reverse parking (either on the road, or into a bay)

In addition a controlled stop is carried out on every test (this means stopping in a place specified by the examiner.) An emergency stop exercise will still be conducted on one in three tests.

Routes, directions and sat navs.

If the candidate goes off-route during the independent driving section, the examiner will get the candidate back on route and continue with the independent driving section wherever possible. The test won’t be terminated.

If the candidate looks like taking a wrong turning, the examiner will control the situation as they do now and preferably step in before the candidate goes off route. If that’s not possible, the examiner will help the candidate get back on route as soon as possible by guiding them with normal directions.

Independent driving is not a test of the candidate’s orientation skills. If the candidate goes off route, but does not commit a fault, there’s nothing to assess. Any faults that did occur would be assessed under the circumstances at the time - as usual. There is no change to assessment

There will be times when, due to poor or obscured signage, the examiner may have to intervene. If this happens the examiner would say, ‘There are no signs here. Just continue ahead please’ and then, ‘Now, carry on following the signs to ……’

If the candidate asks for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will be happy to confirm them. Driving independently means making your own decisions and, just like when driving with friends, this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation on where you’re going.

Independent driving is designed to test the learner’s ability to drive unsupervised and make decisions without guidance and in unfamiliar contexts. DSA is therefore taking the opportunity to review the appropriateness of current route publication practices.

The independent driving section of the test is approximately 10 minutes when you will be asked to drive making your own decisions. A sat nav gives directions in much the same way as the driver trainer, or the examiner, so it’s not appropriate to use for independent driving.

 

Helpful Videos and Links.

The Driving Test Explained.

 

Independent Driving Explained.

The Highway Code

Taking your instructor on test.

The driving test - are you ready?

 

 

 

 

Your First Lesson.

The thought of your first driving lesson may be quite a frightening prospect - or you may just be "raring to go".

There really is no need for you to have any worries. If you have never sat behind the wheel of a car your instructor certainly won't expect you to get in and drive at the start of the first lesson.

They will drive you out to a nice quiet stretch of road, talk to you to put you at ease, and explain in easy stages what the various controls of the car do and how you use them.

Your first practical task will very likely be to make the car move off and stop again a little way down the road.

There are techniques to learn about all of the car's controls: the clutch, gears, brakes - and very importantly - the steering wheel.

You will learn the techniques in easy stages and will not be expected to take in everything at once.

Take your time and don't worry!

Getting Started

Before you can start your driving lessons you need to have a provisional driving licence.

Therefore, if you do not have one you will need to apply for one from the DVLA. Click on the link below to apply.

Apply for a Provisional Driving Licence 

You can apply for your provisional car driving licence up to three months before your seventeenth birthday .

Provided you have a valid provisional driving licence you can start your driving lessons before you take your theory test.

Thus, combining your theory study with the early part of your driving course.

This gives you the added advantage of being able to consult your instructor on various matters relating to the theory test and your theory study.

Once you are driving you can complete your Theory Test and then train towards your practical driving test.

Useful Links;

Apply for a Provisional Driving Licence

Book a Theory Test

Book a Practical Driving Test

Online Practice Theory Test

Bumpers Online Theory Training

Book a Lesson with Bumpers

Driving Test Tips:

Tips to help you pass the Driving test.

Show Me, Tell Me Questions