This video is sponsored by Collingwood learner
driver insurance. Hello, I'm Chris. Natalie has a driving test coming up soon and wants to do a
mock test. I've never met Natalie before as she's come over from another instructor. So let's go and
find out more about her driving experience. Well, thanks a lot for coming today. So you've just
been telling me that you've had how many tests? This will be my fourth test coming up. Yeah.
And when is it? 12th of August. In about two weeks now. Yeah. And you said that your theory
test expires on the same day. So if I don't pass then game over. You have to redo the theory
again. You failed for a couple of things didn't you? The hill starts? Yeah, I failed
for the hill starts, elevated roundabouts, some observations, turning right. Yeah, yeah,
wide range. And what would you like to get out of today doing a mock test? Well I would like
to get more experience on the road and also the fact that I'm watching myself doing it
because when you do your test you obviously, the examiner tells you what you did wrong but
you can't physically see what you're doing wrong so I think looking back on it I'll be like
okay now I know what to do and what not to do on the test.
And how many lessons have you
had? I've had over like one and a half years experience. I cannot quote the hours right now.
No. But I've had a lot of experience, yeah. And you feel quite confident today? You feel like you
could pass it? I feel, I feel confident but then I don't feel confident because the thing about
driving, anything catches you out. So I'm like, I wouldn't say I'm that confident because I know,
like a cyclist could be in the corner something. Say I'm an average confident. I think it's only
fair that we go for a little warm-up drive because you don't know this area do you? Never driven this
car before? We went for a 10 minute warm-up drive, had a quick refresh on hill starts and then
started the mock driving test.
Tell me how would you check the power steering's working before
starting a journey. So, I'd switch on the engine and then I would steer to the left and to the
right. It shouldn't feel firm or heavy. It should feel light and it shouldn't really lock to any
side. Okay, thanks. The examiner will then say, throughout the drive continue ahead unless traffic
signs direct you otherwise. When I want you to turn left or right I'll tell you in plenty of
time. Although on this test, Natalie's going to be following the sat-nav straight away. Drive on when
you're ready please. As usual, during the test, I'm going to be giving you commentary at key
moments to help you understand what went right or wrong.
Natalie got the tell me question correct
and good all-around observations. Turn left. Although Natalie's failed three tests before, she
stands a better chance of passing the next one as she's worked on her weaknesses, she's got more
driving experience and she's really determined to pass this time despite the added pressure
of a theory test certificate about to expire. Good road position, ready for the oncoming
vehicles. Turn left. Natalie's been doing well with her mirror checks so far, I
really hope she keeps it up. Turn left. Natalie tries to move off in the
second gear but stalls the car, but restarts the car quickly and manages
to get the car going in second. These kind of mistakes are common near the start of
the test as you're at your most nervous. After 200 yards turn right, then go right
on the roundabout and take the second exit. Good checks of the mirrors before signalling.
It's a mini roundabout, but will she
try to drive around it correctly? Yes, she does but bear in mind, some mini
roundabouts are impossible to drive around properly because there's an obstruction
in the way such as a parked vehicle. Go right on the roundabout and take the second
exit. It's tricky to see at this roundabout. Natalie chooses first gear which is correct and
drives around the roundabout really well. Don't forget that Natalie doesn't know this area
at all and apart from a ten minute warm-up drive has never driven this car before.
Pull up on the left in a safe place.
Good parking and I'm pleased she didn't block
the driveway. Drive on when you're ready. Really good all-around observations,
including the blind spot and I really like the way that she waited for the
road to be clear before she signalled. Little bit early with the signal but it
hasn't confused anyone and it's not worth a fault. Really good observations. I like
the way that she checks and double-checks. After 300 yards, cross the roundabout
and take the second exit, then turn left. Cross the roundabout and take
the second exit, then turn left. Nice control. After 100 yards turn left. Before driving around a parked vehicle,
make sure you check your mirrors first, just in case someone's overtaking
you, such as a motorcyclist. She avoids the cycle lane and steers
around this tight turn really well. Natalie does well slowing down for the oncoming vehicles but she didn't need
to come to a complete stop. Natalie's checking the mirrors really well. After 200 yards, cross the
roundabout and take the first exit. Cross the roundabout and take the first exit.
We're going to go ahead at the next one as
well. Okay. The second exit. Yeah, I see. Cross the roundabout and take the second
exit, then at the end of the road turn right. The sat-nav didn't give very good
verbal directions back there with the two mini roundabouts. If this happens on your
driving test then the examiner will help you out with some directions. At the end of the
road turn right, then take the second left. Good use of the mirrors and I'm pleased
that she waited for the oncoming vehicle. Turn right, then take the second left. Turn left, then take the second left. A little bit
late with the signal but not quite worth a fault. I'm pleased that Natalie spotted a
20 mile per hour speed limit sign. After 200 yards, turn left, then go ahead at the roundabout. Okay.
The sat-nav is a bit confusing there. Turn left, then cross the
roundabout and take the second exit.
After 100 yards, cross the roundabout
and take the second exit. Good road position on this tight road, not too close to the vehicles on the left or the right. Cross
the roundabout and take the second exit. Cross the roundabout and take the first exit.
It's really difficult to see at some of these mini roundabouts with all the parked vehicles.
I like the way that Natalie is leaning forward to try and get the best view to the right.
It's really difficult to see at this junction, there's parked vehicles on the left and the
right. A little rollback, no one behind, not worth a fault. But as Natalie creeps out
she should be double-checking to the right, left, right as it was so hard to see.
This is a driving fault on observations. When it's safe, can you show me how
you'd use the horn please.
Thanks. Natalie realises that she's not turning left and
cancels the signal. She done the right thing. Take the next road on the left. At this junction
Natalie has a chance to go straight away but she wasn't prepared. As you approach the junction,
observe early, plan to go but be prepared to stop. After 300 yards turn left. Nathalie keeps a good safe distance behind the cyclist but when she overtakes,
she gets a little bit close. Turn left. Natalie observes well, ready for anything
there might be in this road. In case you didn't already know, let me tell you about the
different type of faults and how many you're allowed.
You're allowed up to 15 driving faults
during the test. Often called minor faults. These aren't potentially dangerous, but if you keep
making the same fault throughout your test then it could become a serious fault. A serious
fault is something that could potentially be dangerous and a dangerous fault involves
actual danger to yourself, the examiner, another person or property. If you get a serious
or dangerous fault then it's a driving test fail. Natalie is keeping a good distance
away from the obstruction. This helps her see further ahead and it's
also easier to manoeuvre around it. Good checks of the mirrors. Natalie's doing
really well on this tight difficult road. The sign says to give way to oncoming vehicles.
Natalie spots the sign and does just that. As usual, good checks of the mirrors. At the end of the road turn right.
Natalie signals a little too early which could be misleading to other road users.
For example, they might think she wants to park.
The roads clear. A good chance
to go, but Natalie's not ready. Hesitating at junctions and not taking
opportunities can be frustrating for drivers behind. This is a driving fault but if you
persistently kept hesitating on your driving test, then you would eventually get a serious fault.
A good check of the mirror before slowing down. After 200 yards, cross the
roundabout and take the second exit. I like the distance and Natalie's keeping from the
vehicle in front. This is important in case they roll back when they move off or if they breakdown
Natalie will be able to manoeuvre around them. Cross the roundabout and take the second exit. Natalie done well waiting for this red car. After 100 yards, cross the roundabout and
take the second exit. Cross the roundabout and take the second exit. I'm really pleased that
Natalie stops before the zebra crossing and not on it.
It's good that she was cautious of this
pedestrian in case he wanted to cross the road. Now at the roundabout, she
has to follow the road ahead, second exit. She will need to keep
in the left-hand lane for this. Really good position on the
roundabout and especially important as we briefly had
a motorcyclist next to us. Good hill start. I like the way that Natalie's checking the
crossing to make sure no one wants to cross. After 300 yards turn right. We're turning right at the traffic lights but
Natalie signalled a bit too early. There's another road on the right that other road users might
think we want to turn into. At the traffic lights turn right.
The car in front is slowing down to
stop and we should be going. Natalie was just a little bit slow to move
off as the vehicles on her left and right have already started to go
and we were almost in their way. After 300 yards turn left. Good checks of the mirrors. A little early signalling but it hasn't
affected anyone. Not worth a fault. After 200 yards turn right, then you have
reached your destination on your left. Turn right, then you have reached
your destination on your left. Okay, that's the end of the independent
driving. I'll direct you from here. Pull up on the left in a safe place please.
You have reached your destination on your left.
Good parking. Time for a hill
start. Drive on when you're ready. A tiny roll back but not worth a fault.
Good all-round observations. setting the gas and getting the biting point is
essential when doing a hill start. Pull up on the left in a safe place please.
Think carefully when you choose to signal just in case there's another road on the
left and you don't want to confuse anyone. Natalie's parked close to the kerb but the front
of the car is overhanging the driveway. This will be a driving fault. Okay, the reverse parking
exercise. I'd like you to drive alongside that red car.
Reverse back in within a space of
two car lengths and reasonably close to the kerb and parallel with it. You can ignore the
driveways on this occasion. When you're ready. Good all-around observations
before starting the manoeuvre. It's essential to check all around the
car before you steer into the space, as the front of the car will swing out and Natalie
remembers to do this. You're allowed to move the mirror down for this manoeuvre if you need to but
be careful not to stare at it. Don't forget that someone could walk out behind the car at any point
during this manoeuvre or even park behind you, so make sure you keep observing all around
and be careful not to stare at just one point. Have you finished? I know it's very wide. Can I try again? You won't be able to try again.
But have you finished? Yeah.
Drive on when you're ready please. Natalie parked a bit too far from
the kerb, resulting in a serious fault. But I was hoping that she was going to check all
around to make sure it's safe, pull forward, bring it in a little bit, correct it and if
that didn't work check all around again and then reverse back and try and bring it in that
way. It would have cost her a driving fault but she would have avoided a serious fault.
At the end of the road turn right please. At the end of the road turn left please. Some new drivers drive a little bit too slow
on this road which can be frustrating for drivers behind but it's really good seeing her
picking up some speed as it's safe to do so. At the traffic lights turn right to please.
Changing down to first gear on the approach
means that Natalie's ready to go straight away. Difficult to see oncoming vehicles at
this crossroads. I like the way that she's leaning forward and trying
to get the best possible view. Take the next road on the right please. Natalie's following the road
ahead at this crossroads. But positions the car a little bit to the left.
If there was a driver behind who is going ahead, they would probably assume that we're
turning left and drive around us. Good speed and position. Nice approach here with the oncoming vehicle and times it really well without
having to stop unnecessarily. Natalie's following the road
ahead again at this crossroads and has a better position than the previous one. Pull up on the left in a safe place please.
Natalie again lines up well with the kerb
but she's blocking a driveway. This is a driving fault. Okay, you can switch off now,
thanks. That's the end of the test. [Music] Unfortunately Natalie wasn't successful this
time. We had a chat after the test and here are the highlights. I think I, don't know, okay I'm
not too sure we're a bit dodgy with the clutch at times and yeah well I know. Well, on the whole
you did really well considering the conditions, being filmed, different car, different area.
The reverse parking. Yeah, that was very wide. Do you normally have success with that one? So
we normally have like a little sticker there. Oh yeah. So that's our kind of point of turn but now
I don't know. I kind of felt like if I go forward, then come back I would have done it right
but I was so far out. I could see from that left mirror. But yeah. I think the position and
everything was okay, but I was very wide. I could see it. Now on the test there the examiner
gave you a little hint because they said, have you finished? And when they ask that you know
that's when they give you a little chance and any idea what you could have done to correct it? I
could have gone forward.
I mean come back just to like make it perfect. And you would have passed
then. Yeah. As long as you're looking around a lot. On the whole though, good control of the car.
Really like your mirror checks. So many people forget to check the mirrors and you're really good
at that. Got some faults on hesitation. You was turning right and the oncoming car was slowing
down to stop and you was a little bit slow to go because the cars on the left and right, they were
moving, so a little bit slow on that. It could have been worse if they started to get closer to
you and you're still in the middle. There were a couple of junctions where Natalie stopped and
missed opportunities to move out. And I think you said about your instructor suggested sort
of observing as you approach the give way, just be a bit more ready to go rather than wanting to
stop.
A big thank you to Natalie for taking part in this video and thanks to you for watching. This
video is sponsored by Collingwood learner driver insurance. If you're looking for free driving tips
and ways to improve your manoeuvres then head over to our website. It won't cost you anything. Don't
forget to subscribe if you haven't already as it helps us make more videos. Thanks to everyone
that's brought us virtual coffees, it's really appreciated.
Good luck if you have your driving
test coming up soon and bye for now![Music].