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Learning to drive
Before you can begin to start taking
driving lessons you must acquire a provisional driving licence. Upon your first driving lesson, your instructor will ask to see
it. You may apply for you licence three months before your seventeenth birthday.
Once you have obtained your licence you must
ensure it is kept in a safe place, and make sure it is not likely to get
lost. You
will be required to show it on your first lesson and your driving
test.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses,
ensure you are wearing them in preparation for your driving lessons. On your
very first lesson, your Instructor will ask you to read the number plate of
a car (Either 20.5 metres away, if the car has an old style number plate such as
A111AAA or 20 metres if the car has a new style number plate such as AB51ABC).
While taking your driving lessons you will need
to think about taking your theory test. It is not possible to take your driving
test until you have passed this. A
good knowledge of the Highway Code
is required for this test. Once again, when you have obtained
your certificate for successfully passing your theory, make sure that
it is kept in a safe place so that you know where to find it on the day
of your driving test.
The theory test itself
will consist of 50 questions, 43 of which you must get correct in order to pass. The theory is accompanied by a Hazard Perception test, which
requires 44 out of the 75 marks to be passed. If you fail one of these tests, then you will not get your
certificate.
Those who pass their driving test have had, on
average, about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22 hours of private
practice (These are guidelines dependant on the individual's experience and
competence). The combination of professional training and private practice, do
better in the test. Your driving
instructor will tell you when you are ready to take the test as well as suggest a suitable date for your test to take place.
If you
are not ready for your test then you will not be put forward.
When you have successfully completed your driving test, you may wish to consider taking part in the PassPlus scheme.
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