Hello, I'm Chris. Four in five people
taking their driving test will be asked to follow directions from a sat nav for
roughly 20 minutes. In this video we're going to have a look of what it's like
to follow a sat nav on the driving test and I'll be giving you some tips along
the way. The examiner provides the sat nav. If you
have your own one, then make sure it's switched off for the test. At the
start, they'll normally place the sat nav on the dashboard if possible, but if
it's not in a good position then you can just ask the examiner to move it a
little. You won't have to touch or program the sat enough yourself as they
will do it for you. Although the sat nav will be on during your driving test, you'll
only have to follow directions from it when the examiner asks you to.
Sat navs
on the whole are really useful but you still need to be fully aware of your
surroundings and make sure you're driving safely and legally. *SAT NAV* "Turn left at the end of the road." This is the same model of sat nav as they use on the driving test and at the time of filming it has the most
recent software update. It normally gives good clear instructions as you'll see
later on but there are some certain things you need to be aware of. The
sat nav shows you what speed you're driving but it shows a different speed
to what's on the car speedo, so don't take any notice of this, the examiner
won't either.
It also shows what it believes is the current speed limit but
don't look at this either as it's not always up to date. Instead keep a look out for
traffic signs like you normally do. *SAT NAV* "Turn right…" The sat nav
doesn't know about recent road closures and can direct you down roads you're not
allowed to drive. Although if this happened on your test then the examiner
would intervene and help you.
Don't forget, if this happens once you pass
your test and you drive down a road you're not
allowed, it won't be the sat nav that gets into trouble but you. Always check
where the sat nav is directing you and make sure it's safe and legal. As long as
the sound is enabled, sat navs verbally give directions, but they can sometimes
be a little confusing. Here I'm just going ahead at the crossroads.
*SAT NAV*
"At the end of the road turn right then turn left." But is it really right then left? *SAT NAV* "Turn right then turn left,
turn left." This shouldn't happen on your driving test as it's a clear
pre-programmed route, but it's a good example of how you should also occasionally
glance at the screen to see where you're going next. The sat nav can tell
you to bear left and it's a left turn off the main road where a left signal is
necessary. *SAT NAV* "After 100 yards bear left." But it can also tell you to bear left and
it's a bend to the left where you have to follow the road round.
*SAT NAV* "After 100 yards bear left, then go straight on." "Bear left then go straight on." "Go straight on." Remember not to just
listen to the sat navs instructions but also glance at the screen occasionally to see
where you're going next but only glance and don't stare. Don't let the sat nav distract you and
as usual keep planning ahead. If there are any confusing directions then
just ask the examiner to clarify where you're going. Let's now have a look at
part of an actual driving test route following directions from a sat nav. I'm
starting my test here and the examiner has asked me to follow directions from
the sat nav. For the first two and a half minutes of the drive today we'll concentrate on how what you see on the sat nav and hear relates to what you see
in front of you, then after that I'll show you what I'm doing with my feet, the
speed I'm driving and which mirrors I'm checking.
The sat nav can be a bit unsure
which direction you're pointing at first but as soon as you start moving it will
sort itself out. In case you didn't already know, you'll have to follow this
light blue line. At the top of the screen it shows you your next direction and how
far away it is. Really tricky to see to my right at this junction, emerging out
carefully and slowly, especially looking out for cyclists and motorcyclists who
are harder to see. The sat nav shows that in 800 yards I'll
be turning right at a roundabout. But not everyone is familiar with yards.
How far
is a yard? Well if it helps, one yard is equal to three feet. There's one thousand,
seven hundred and sixty yards in a mile, or if you prefer metres it's at the
bottom of the screen. On the driving test you don't need to
look at this, this or any of this, as we're only using the sat nav for
directions. The sat nav will give me spoken directions as I get closer to the roundabout. *SAT NAV* "After 300 yards go right on the roundabout take the third exit." As I get nearer to the roundabout, the
sat nav will tell me again where I need to go. *SAT NAV*"Go right at the roundabout and take the 3rd exit." approaching from the right Give way to any traffic approaching from the right. Check mirrors and signal to exit the roundabout. I can see a 40mph speed limit sign ahead. Before
accelerating I must check the mirrors first to make sure that it's safe and no
one's overtaking me. I've got a clear view of the road ahead and the
conditions are good but bear in mind that the speed limit isn't a target
speed but if it's safe and conditions allow then I'll try and make progress.
Always drive safely a speed that's right for the conditions.
The safety of others
and yourself depends on it. Being overcautious and driving too slow
can be a problem as you could possibly hold up traffic annoy other drivers and
they might take risky chances to overtake when it isn't safe. When driving
at higher speeds its important to look further ahead. If you're used to driving at
30 miles per hour then remember it's going to take you longer to stop.
According to the Highway Code, the overall stopping distance at 40 miles
per hour is 36 metres, which is 9 car lengths. The stopping distance is how far your
car travels from the moment you realise you need to brake, to the time your car
stops. A quick glance at the sat nav and I
can see that I'll be turning left at a roundabout in about in half a mile. It's easy to forget what the speed limit
is, but keep a look out for small repeater signs like this one that remind you. But
not all roads have these. If you miss a direction given by the sat nav on your
driving test then don't panic, as long as you're driving safely then you won't
fail your test or even get any driving faults.
If it's safer to miss a turn as
you've spotted it a bit too late then just go past it. If you do take the wrong turn, then the
examiner or sat nav will just redirect you back on route. I'm looking far ahead
as I approach the roundabout and it looks fairly busy. Some new drivers stall when
moving off at busy roundabouts, to help here's what I'm doing with my feet. Car
on my right, braking, clutch down, select 1st gear, a
little gas, raising the clutch to the biting point, creep slowly see my
opportunity, accelerate and raise the clutch. Up to 2nd gear, up to 3rd and a
thirty mile per hour speed limit. Only go when it's safe and don't take any
unnecessary risks.
Pedestrian crossing, no one's pressed the button so it should stay
green. Not giving it enough gas is a common reason for stalling at
roundabouts. When you need to move off quickly accelerating is so important.
Raising the clutch on its own will probably make the car stall or you'll move
off slowly which could be dangerous if the roundabout is busy.
If you struggle
with roundabouts then try and approach them a little slower just to give
yourself a bit more time to work out what's going on.
Of course, plenty of practice with a qualified instructor will definitely
help. After driving at 40 miles per hour, 30 feels quite slow now, especially on
this wide road. It's really easy to start driving over the speed limit
without realising it, so be careful and remember that it's thirty for a reason.
The sat nav is showing that in 600 yards I'm turning left a roundabout. I can see a
red traffic light ahead. If I start to slow down now, I might not need to stop
completely. Keeping in the left-hand lane will help the person behind overtake. Select 1st gear, gas and raise the
clutch slowly. The road narrows ahead. Checking my mirrors and a quick sideways
glance for anyone overtaking at the last moment.
The left-hand lane isn't always
for going ahead so keep a lookout for signs and markings. *SAT NAV* " After 300 yards go left at the roundabout
and take the 2nd exit." At the traffic lights back there, I tried to time it so that I didn't have to stop. You can't always time it but if you can then it's a
great way to save fuel. I'm taking the second exit, so I won't signal
until I've passed the first exit as I don't want to confuse anyone. Zebra
crossing ahead.
No one wanting to cross. Obviously it's
important to concentrate when driving and once you've passed your test
the sat nav, along with many other things can be a distraction,
including loud music, passengers in the car and of course your phone. A study
which looked at crashes involving young drivers showed that 12% were operating
or looking at their phone. The driver spent an average of 4.1 seconds out of
the final six seconds before the crash not looking ahead at the road. 4.1
seconds is a long time and this is what just over four seconds of not looking
feels like.
Driving while using a handheld mobile is
not only dangerous but illegal. Results from a number of studies have shown that
you're four times more likely to be involved in a crash. There's lots of
distractions inside and outside the car but when driving, it's important to stay
focused on driving. During your driving test you can expect the examiner to ask
you to pull up on the left numerous times. One of those times will be on a hill. they'll then ask you to drive on when you're ready. Well it's not safe to
go yet so I won't indicate and I first need to
prepare the car to go. Clutch down, select 1st gear, gas, biting point, check
mirrors, blind spot, signal and manoeuvre. As I'm driving uphill I need to change
up a gear later than if I was on a flat road. Build up momentum before changing up a gear otherwise the car will struggle.
To
avoid stalling when moving off uphill, it's important to give it a little more
gas than if you was on a flat road. Getting the biting point was also
essential, otherwise as soon as I'd released the parking brake I would have
rolled backwards. When you reach the top of the hill be
prepared to ease off the gas slightly if needed to avoid going over the speed
limit. The car will need less power than when you was driving uphill. Glancing at the sat nav, I can see that in two miles I'm turning left. Good dry conditions for driving today
and I've got a clear view of the road ahead. This is part of an actual driving test
route and hopefully this video will give you a rough idea of what a test route is
like but test routes get altered all the time and of course there's much, much
more to learning to drive than just going over test routes. Planning ahead I
can see the flashing beacons of a zebra crossing.
Check my interior mirror, check
the crossing no-one on it or walking towards it. That zebra
crossing had an island in the middle, so you treat it as two separate crossings. There was a sign back there that said in
half a mile the road ahead is unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles. Well I'm only
in a Fiesta so I'll be fine but it could mean that the road will get
narrow. Although I'm using the same model of
sat nav as they use on the driving test, you can practice using any sat nav as
they're all very similar. Another zebra crossing ahead. Check my interior mirror,
off gas slightly, check both sides of the crossing and it looks clear. The road is getting a bit narrow ahead.
This part of the road doesn't look as well maintained as the main roads. A sign warning me of a crossroads ahead. This road looks like it's getting tighter
and there's a good chance I could meet some oncoming vehicles in the centre of
the road.
Looking out for any passing places just in case I need them. Oncoming
car, now if I slow down in this space, change down to 2nd and I can continue
without having to stop. Another passing place on the left. There's another space on
a left that I could use here. Oncoming vehicles, off gas slightly, looks wide
enough. Keep planning ahead and look out for any passing places that you could
use. Can't see as much road ahead. Slowing down change to 2nd, keeping left for a
better view ready for oncoming. Signs warning me back there that the road will
narrow on both sides and accompanied horses or ponies likely to be in or
crossing the road. This road is tight, I'm keeping left but I don't want to hit the
kerb. Still looking out for passing places.
There's one there.
There's also some big ditches at the side of the road I need to be careful of.
Just slowing down, looks wide enough. I've got a space on the left that I could use. Let them pass through. It looks too tight ahead so I'm just going to wait in this
space watching out for the hole in front which could cause damage to the tyre or
wheel. Check my mirrors, avoid the hole. It speeds up so easily downhill. Braking
gently. Bend to the left ahead. I'm ready for any oncoming vehicles that might cut
the corner. Big hole on the left. Much better view of the road now.
Signs are warning
me of a side road, accompanied horses or ponies likely to be in or crossing the
road and the road is liable to flooding but not today.
So easy to speed when you go downhill so be careful.
The sign is now warning me of an uphill. The cars started to struggle a little
uphill and I can't see what's around the bend. Down to 2nd and now the car
feels like it has a bit more power.
My view ahead isn't great and the road is
getting narrow, always be ready for what danger might be round a bend.
*SAT NAV* "After 300 yards turn left." Hang on a second this is a small repeater sign
that reminds me what the speed limit is. This road had a 40 mile per hour speed
limit? Since when?The sat nav shows a 40 mile per hour limit but it's not always
up to date, I have to rely only on the signs and there wasn't a 40
mile per hour sign back there, it was definitely missing.
The last speed limit
sign I saw was 30 so I had to go with that. Being ready for what might be ahead.
There could be horse riders, pedestrians in the road or oncoming vehicles. If
you're expecting a clear road then you might get surprised by something. 30 mile
per hour speed limit and a bus. Thank you bus driver.
A junction on a steep hill. Approaching slowly, plan to go, ready to stop.
1st gear, looking right, left, right, left, double check and it's safe, no need to stop. Look properly at junctions, it's so easy
to miss something. Observe not just for the big vehicles such as cars and
lorries but also for cyclists and motorcyclists. Only go when you're
absolutely sure it's safe. The sat nav is showing me that in one and a half miles I'm going ahead.
Whichever sat nav you use, it's important
that you use it safely and legally. Position your sat nav so that it doesn't block
your view of the road and make sure that you program it before you start driving.
A 40 mile per hour speed limit ahead but be careful not to speed up when you see
the sign as it's the start of the 40 mile per hour limit where the sign is. Always
check your mirrors before you speed up just in case someone is about to, or is
overtaking you. The examiner has asked me to pull up on the left in a safe place.
You can expect this a few times on your driving test.
Parking brake on, select
neutral, cancel signal. The examiner has now asked me to move off again. The
vehicles behind me are driving quite fast and I've got to make sure that when I
move off that I don't cause anyone else to slow down, stop or swerve. I've got an
opportunity coming up here. Prepare the ca,r check my mirrors, blind spot, signal
when it's safe and manoeuvre.
The speed limit is still 40 miles per
hour. It's not safe to drive at 40 though
because at the moment there's a bend ahead, the road is narrow with parked cars and a
car in front. A car ahead is turning right, check
interior and left mirror, slow down a little, looks like there's room to pass. The car picks up speed so easily when
driving downhill. I can see a 30 mile per hour speed limit
ahead, check my mirrors, slowing down and don't forget the sign is where the new
speed limit starts so it's important to reduce your speed before the sign. Now
the speed limit is 30, it's more built-up, potentially more pedestrians, parked
vehicles, car doors opening, maybe vehicles reversing out of driveways and many
more hazards. *SAT NAV* "After eight hundred yards cross the
roundabout and take the first exit." During your driving test, the examiner
will ask you to do one reversing manoeuvre which will either be, pulling up
on the right hand side of the road and then reversing two car lengths or
parallel parking or forward bay parking.
Depending on the test centre, you could
be asked to reverse bay park, along with one of those manoeuvres, you might also
have to carry out an emergency stop. I can see the sign warning me of a
roundabout. I'm following the road ahead, the road markings show that I need the
left-hand lane to go ahead. I can see the blue circular mini-roundabout sign.
*SAT NAV* "Cross the roundabout and take the 1st exit." Clear to go and I don't need to signal to exit as
there's not enough time. 40 mile per hour speed limit. A bend to the left ahead and it has an
advisory maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. The two solid white lines in the
centre of the road mean that neither the oncoming vehicles or myself can cross or
straddle it. But there are certain circumstances when you are allowed as
you can see below. They have the lines here as it would be dangerous to
overtake. A bend to the right ahead. The speed
limit is still 40 but that's a maximum speed, it's certainly not safe to drive
at 40 here as I can't see round the bend.
*SAT NAV* "After 300 yards, cross the roundabout and take the 1st exit." Always drive at a speed that will allow
you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. I can see at the top
of the sat nav screen and on the sign that it's an exit to the left. The
indicator often goes off when you don't want it to on roundabouts so make sure
it's on when needed. The speed limit is still 40 miles per hour as I haven't
seen any signs telling me any different. 30 mile per hour speed limit ahead, check
my mirrors and slow down. *SAT NAV* "You have reached your destination." We
made it! This is where the examiner will now tell you that it's the end of the
independent driving and they will direct you from here. You won't need to pull
over, just continue driving.
If I was on my test now, I've probably got about another
ten to fifteen minutes left until the end. Well that brings us to the end of
the video. I just want to thank everyone that has subscribed to our channel, liked
our videos and even bought us virtual coffees. It means a lot and I really hope
this video and our others help you in some small way. We really appreciate you
watching and don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already to help us make
more. If you've got your driving test soon, or you might be watching this the
night before your test then good luck.
Don't forget that someone, most likely
your instructor is letting you borrow their car for the test, which must mean
that they feel you're ready to drive on your own and test ready. So be confident.
Take care on the road and bye for now..