[Music] Hello, I'm Chris. Alexis has a driving test coming
up soon and wants to take a mock driving test to see how ready she is. I've never met Alexis before
as she's come over from another driving school. So let's go and meet her. Thanks a lot for coming
today. Thanks for having me. That's alright. So you've got your test coming up soon then? Yes,
on the 7th of June. And how many lessons have you had? I've had 10 hours. In 2 hour blocks in 5
lessons. Do you feel test ready? I think so, yeah. So you feel pretty confident? Yeah. I think
I'm like a normal driver. Well shall we go for a little warm-up drive, so you get used to the car?
And then we'll start the mock test.
Alexis hasn't had much driving experience but is confident
and has a driving test coming up soon so we went for a quick warm-up drive and then started
the mock test. Tell me how would you check your brake lights are working. So you need to put
your foot on the brake after you've turned on the car and then like checking mirrors or windows
or ask someone to check if they're working.
Okay, thanks. Drive on when you're ready
then please. A good start to the test getting the tell me question correct.
A show me question will be asked later. Yes, press it to start. Just go when they're safe. I had to
use the foot brake as it wasn't safe to move off. Unfortunately,
this is a dangerous fault. Mistakes can happen at the start of
the test as that's when you're most nervous. Hopefully Alexis will start to relax. Good road position ready for a car emerging
out of the side road. Pull up on the left in a safe place please. Good checks of the mirrors
before signalling. Alexis was going to scrape the wheels on the kerb. She saw I was going to
help and steered more. This is a serious fault. Thanks. I'd now like you to follow directions
given by the sat nav please.
Drive on when you're ready. The examiner will tell you when the
independent driving is finished. Alexis raises the clutch too fast without enough gas causing
the car to stall. It didn't affect anyone, not worth a fault but she did forget
to check her mirrors properly and the blind spot. Alexis hasn't released the
parking brake, this is a driving fault. At this junction Alexis stares too long
to the right and almost hits the kerb. After 300 yards turn right, then take
the third left. Good road position. Turn right, then take the third left. Always check your mirrors before you
signal to make sure it's safe. Alexis tries to move off in third gear causing
the car to stall. You're in third gear okay. You need to press the button to restart.
All we can do now is wait for it to be safe to go.
Just wait for a moment. I gave
Alexis a little bit of help to get through the junction and now she needs to take
the next road on the left. She forgot to check the mirrors before signalling and took
this turn too fast and too wide. If I hadn't pressed the foot brake then this could have
been much worse. This is a dangerous fault. Good road position. I like the way she's keeping
a doors width away from these parked vehicles. Don't forget to check your interior
mirror before you slow down to see how close following vehicles are. Really
good judgement of the width of the car but Alexis is driving too slow in third
gear causing the car to stall.
You're in third okay? As there's vehicles
behind us, this is a serious fault. Good road position before moving back to
the left. Always check your mirrors first, especially looking out for cyclists. At the end of the road turn left, then
at the end of the road turn right. Alexis forgets to check the mirrors before signalling. This is a driving fault.
At the end of the road turn right. Alexis turns a bit wide on this
turn. She's already got a serious fault for steering so no more faults are
recorded in this category. Alexis changes from first gear to first gear resulting in a jolt. I'm really pleased that Alexis spotted
the yellow box and stopped before it.
At the end of the road turn right, then take
the third right. You would normally drive in the left-hand lane unless the road markings or signs
tell you otherwise or there's an obstruction, you're overtaking or turning right soon. We are
turning right a bit further up the road and it's quite congested so this position is okay. Alexis
didn't check the interior mirror before slowing down and brakes a bit too hard. Using the parking
brake makes hill starts easier but it's essential that you set their gas and find the biting point
or you could roll back.
Alexis has already got a serious fault for moving off under control, so
no more faults are recorded in this category. Alexis is turning right ahead and there are
two lanes for turning right. Unless you're overtaking or turning right straight after turning
right, then choose the one on the left. This helps traffic flow. Alexis already has a serious
fault for road position, so no more faults are recorded in this category. If you persistently
make the same driving fault, then it will eventually become a serious fault. Good checks
of the mirrors before moving back to the left. Good position for turning right. And a nice turn. Good road position. Don't forget to stay aware of who might be overtaking or driving too
close to you by checking your mirrors.
Good mirror checks before driving around
the park vehicles. After 300 yards cross the roundabout and take the first exit. Make
sure you check your interior mirror before you slow down. Although I'm glad that she did
slow down and choose second gear. Although she should have released the clutch to
avoid coasting. Alexis judges the width of the car really well and don't forget
apart from a ten minute warm-up drive, she's never driven this car before. Cross
the roundabout and take the first exit. After 300 yards cross the roundabout and take
the second exit. Now I'd like you to ignore the sat-nav just for a minute. Turn left at the
roundabout and take the first exit please. So it's only if the first exit? Yeah. Good
checks of the mirrors before signalling. I just wanted to slow this next part down for you
as it's a common mistake when learning to drive a manual car. Alexis is trying to change
to first gear too early before she slowed down. It won't let her change to first,
so she looks at it and then forces it in.
Only now releasing the clutch. You'd normally slow
down first and then change down to a gear that's right for the speed. For first gear it's below 10
miles per hour. Yes please. It should be nice and easy to change gear and you should never have to
force it. Before you move over to the right, check your mirrors first in case someone's overtaking
you, especially lookout for motorcyclists.
Before entering this car park Alexis should have looked
to the right. There might have been another driver, a pedestrian or even a cyclist.
This is a serious fault on observations. Just follow it round to the right again. Okay, the forward bay parking exercise. You
can use the bays on the left or the right, so you end up within the lines please. Make sure
that no one is going past you before you turn into a bay. You must check your mirrors and have a
quick check over your shoulder before turning. Lift up this little collar and then go
to the left and then forward.
I see. Have you finished? Okay, when it's safe,
I'd like you to reverse out round to the right please. Alexis could have reversed more,
steered left a little and then drove forward, straightened up and corrected it. But she said
that she's finished and we're out of the bay, so this is a serious fault. Don't forget, you
must check all around including the rear window before you reverse. Okay, just drive forward
towards the exit please where we came in. You can follow the sat-nav again now please. Alexis judges the width of the car really
well. After 80 yards take the first exit. Go left on the roundabout and take the first exit. Alexia waits for a good opportunity
to go at the roundabout.
When it's safe, can you show me how
you'd demist the rear window please. Thanks, I like the checks of the mirrors. It's important to make this a good habit so
that you know who's around you. Pull up on the left in a safe place
please. Alexis remembers to check the interior mirror but forgot to check
the left-hand mirror for any cyclists. She's parked close to the kerb and
parallel with it. Drive on when you're ready. If she'd stopped a bit earlier or
after the bend then it would have made it safer for others to go round her. Good
all-round checks but is she prepared to go? Before driving around parked vehicles, check
your mirrors first in case of anyone overtaking you. Especially look out for motorcyclists.
I'm
really pleased a Alexis slowed down for this bus but she chose second gear. First would've
been better for the speed she was driving. She's already got a serious fault for gears, so
no more faults are recorded in this category. If you keep making the same driving faults
then it will eventually become a serious fault.
Checking your mirrors at the
right time is really important and it should be second nature by the
time you take your driving test. Cross the roundabout and take the first exit. A
good opportunity to go at the roundabout. If you persistently keep making the same
driving fault, such as forgetting to check the interior mirror before slowing
down then it will become a serious fault. Alexis is doing well holding back waiting for a
safe chance to overtake but don't get too close to them. Don't forget they could fall off at
any moment good. Good opportunity to overtake.
Alexis is driving at a really good speed here.
Great conditions, good visibility, but we've just passed a 40 mile per hour speed limit sign.
Did she notice it? After 300 yards turn right. Turn right. Alexis notices the motorcyclist and gives
them time to move over but we're still on a 40 mile per hour speed limit road, will
she notice? Well we have good conditions, a clear road, Alexis should be
getting up to 40 miles per hour now.
This is a serious fault for appropriate speed, driving too slow which could
frustrate drivers behind. And we're back to a 30 mile-per-hour speed limit. Alexis has changed down to second gear
but is now holding down the clutch. This is called coasting. It gives you less
control and although the car is moving, it's not being driven by the engine. Instead,
we're freewheeling downhill. Alexis has to brake more as there isn't any engine braking. Only now
releasing the clutch. If the directions given by the sat-nav are a little confusing. The second
one. Then the examiner will often help you out. Turn left, then turn right. A nice turn and we've
just gone onto a one-way road. Hopefully Alexis has seen the sign. She's noticed that it's a
one-way road and is taking a really good position.
Unfortunately, Alexis has pulled out at the wrong
time and caused the driver behind to slow down. This would be a serious fault for observation.
She's already had a serious fault on observation, so no more faults are recorded in this
category. Alexis is following the road ahead at this roundabout and should be
in the left-hand lane. This would be a serious fault on road positioning but she's
already got a serious fault for this earlier, so no more faults are recorded in this
category. It's really important to keep in lane on a roundabout as there might
be someone next to you turning right. I'd like you to pull up on the left
reasonably close behind that car please. You can ignore the driveways for now. Try
and get reasonably close to it but leave enough room. Bit close to the kerb there.
Try and get reasonably close to the car but leave enough room.
You can stop there. To get
back out. Thanks. Drive on when you're ready please. Alexis was about to hit the kerb
and I had to intervene to save the wheels. Just steer more to the right okay? Bit
close to the car. Alexis moved off too quickly and steered too slowly. I
had to help the footbrake so that we didn't hit the car. After 200 yards,
bear right then, turn right. The sat-nav says to bear right and it's just a
bend that she has to follow around. This is just a bend, OK? Good road position, I'm pleased
that she's not cutting the corner. After 200 yards turn right. Turn right. Alexis turns with the
clutch pressed down, this is coasting. Pull up on the left in a safe place
please.
Just here if you can. Good checks of the mirrors. Time for a hill
start. Drive on when you're ready please. Alexis managed to move off on this big hill
but she should have checked her mirrors and blind spot before moving off. After 100
yards you have reached your destination. Turn right, then you have
reached your destination. Okay, that's the end of the independent
driving. I'll direct you from here. Just follow the road round to the right. Great control through here, it's really tight.
At the end of the road turn right please. At the end of the road turn left please. Good
checks of the mirrors before signalling. Driving a little bit too slow for second gear
but at least it didn't stall.
At the end of the road turn left please. Great checks
of the mirrors again before signalling, hopefully she'll make this a habit from now on. Pull up on the left in a safe place please. You can switch off now please.
That's the end of the test. Unfortunately Alexis wasn't successful today
but we've got to remember that at the time of filming Alexis was still learning to drive and
this mock test was just a small part of that process. We had a chat after and here are the
highlights. I know I definitely failed but you know I just need to calm down.
I just panicked.
Too quickly. Basically because the first few lessons I had. I was panicking like a lot, a lot.
For the first 4 hours maybe. I would stall like every time I panic. Like this if that one it's
just a key but this one's like so confusing. Hold the button. I didn't get it. I think I should
have checked the mirrors more. I think when I reversed when I was doing the parking part. Oh
yeah. I don't think I looked. No you didn't. When I looked, it was really late. What checks
should you have done before you turned into the bay? So, I was supposed to have checked who's
behind me. Should have checked all around. Yeah and your right shoulder check as well before
you turn right into the bay. When Alexis did turn into the bay, she ended up on the line
on the right.
You did have the option though, any idea what you could have done to
sort it out? Could have reversed out and went round and went in properly. You coud have
reversed out and then readjusted and went forward into the same one. Yeah that's it. What about
at the start of the test when you pulled away. Do you remember? Oh yeah a car came. I'm kind
of like figuring out how to move and like when I first checked the car was quite a way behind.
And when I figured it out, he was really close. We went on a one-way road earlier. I'm really
pleased you spotted the signs and moved over to the right-hand side of the road. That was really
good but what about when you pulled out of that road it was quite a big road wasn't it? You pulled
out in 2nd gear and there was a car coming from the right and the left. You definitely slowed
that car down that was coming from the left so that would have been a serious mistake there yeah.
So how are you feeling about your driving now and your test? Well, I've booked more lessons.
That's
good. I definitely need more. I've got a couple more lessons of the week of my test. My test
is on a Friday, so I've got lessons on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. So I should be okay. Oh
that's good. Well just practice those things we mentioned then and I'm sure you can do it. Just
put in the work and you should be fine. Are you quite happy you done the mock test today though?
Yeah, yeah I'm very happy I did it because then, it's just so different driving another car and in
a different area as well.
A big thanks to Alexis for taking part in this video. The good news is
that Alexis learned from her mistakes and passed the driving test with 6 faults. Congratulations.
Thanks also to you for watching. For free driving test tips and help to improve your driving,
have a look at our website, it won't cost you anything. If you found this video useful,
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thank you to everyone that's brought us virtual coffees.
Good luck if you have your driving
test coming up soon and bye for now! [Music].