Hello, I'm Chris. Some learner drivers
search for it and some know it already. What exactly is the secret to
passing the UK driving test? Well, if you promise not to repeat it
to anyone else I'll tell you. [Music] Actually there isn't a secret, there never
has been any. To pass a driving test just takes hard work, practice, determination
and most importantly experience on the road. To give you a better chance of passing the driving
test though, I'm going to give you my top 5 tips. Tip number one. Anticipate what will and
might happen next and plan ahead. Driving is unpredictable and you never know what's around
the next corner. Which also makes the driving test unpredictable. But there are certain
things that you can expect and you shouldn't be surprised by it, such as pedestrians
wanting to cross at pedestrian crossings. Especially look out for zebra crossings as
they're not controlled by traffic lights.
Try not to just think about what
you need to deal with right now but also what's next such as this zebra crossing.
Not only do I need to creep out to get a better view when it's safe but I also need to scan both
sides of the crossing carefully for pedestrians. You might have heard of someone failing
their driving test before because a car came out of nowhere and they didn't brake in
time. Believe it or not but cars don't come out of nowhere. You just need to be prepared and
don't drive as if you're the only car on the road. If you can't see around a corner then approach it
slowly ready for the worst such as a bin lorry. At a closed junction where you can't see very
well, emerge carefully, observe properly and don't assume it's clear. In fact, always expect
the worst. Effective observations are so important because your life or somebody
else's life could depend on it. When meeting oncoming traffic, don't just
think about the space you need to go into but how are you going to get back out too.
Constantly try to think and
be prepared for what's next. Not only have I got to think about what
these lorries might be hiding from my view but also the mini roundabout
and what's after the roundabout. If I was driving faster, expecting a
clear road then I would have had a problem and probably would have had to reverse.
Always plan ahead and expect the worst. Keep up your awareness and look
out for any potential hazards. Signs and road markings are all there to help you. Here I can see no entry signs and the road
markings show that I have to turn right. It takes a lot of concentration and awareness
to be a good safe driver on the road. Plan ahead for what might happen next
and try to be ready for anything. Take in all the information that's around
you including what you see in your mirrors and keep scanning the area ahead. Look well ahead and try to spot signs early
so that you have time to think and react.
All it takes is to miss
these signs and road markings and you could end up driving over the
speed limit or even driving too slow if the speed limit raises and it's safe
to drive faster but you haven't noticed. If you're unsure what the speed limit is,
then look out for smaller repeater signs. I'm anticipating that the bus
could stop at the next bus stop. Has anybody pressed the button
at the pedestrian crossing? Is it safe to go around the bus? Any
pedestrians near the front of it? Plan for what might and will happen next.
In fact, it's so important to
keep anticipating and planning that I can promise that as soon as you stop
doing it mistakes will start to happen. You've probably got the message by
now how vital it is to plan ahead, but it's worth reminding you that regular
checks with your mirrors is essential so that you know what's going on behind and react
safely to what you see.
It's also important to know when to have a quick sideways glance into the
blind spots, for example before changing lanes. Tip number two. Don't assume
you failed your driving test. You might make a mistake that totally puts
you off, such as stalling when pulling up. "Why did I do that? I don't normally stall.
I've definitely failed for this. I'm going to have to book another test. Pay loads more money. I
can't believe it. What's the point in continuing, I know I've failed." Anyway, you carry on with the
test, dwelling on what you think was a big mistake only to make more serious mistakes as you're
still thinking about what just happened and aren't concentrating. The mistakes start
to snowball and you just want to go home. The driving examiner sees it quite differently.
The examiner noticed you stalled and restarted the car but there wasn't any actual or potential
danger and you didn't affect any other road users so you haven't failed, but you might get a driving
fault or a minor as they're commonly called. If you do make a mistake on the driving
test then forget about it for now. Recover from it, think about what's next and
just concentrate on your driving.
There's no point dwelling on mistakes and definitely
don't think you failed or give up during the test. Because what you think was a serious
mistake could be a driving fault to the examiner. Tip number three. Don't be distracted by
what the examiner is doing on the iPad. The examiner might occasionally tap on it,
but you won't be able to see what's on their iPad as they have a privacy screen, so there's no
point trying to have a peek as it could distract you from your main job which is to drive at your
best. The examiner doesn't always mark bad things, so stay focused and positive. The examiner might
also chat to you when there's not much going on which might help you feel more relaxed but
remember to also stay focused on your driving. This can be a bit more challenging,
especially if the weather is bad or there's something else distracting going on. Tip number four. Don't assume. Don't assume
the road you're on still has a 40 mile per hour speed limit for example or to go ahead at the
roundabout you'll always need the left hand lane or you can never drive in bus lanes.
Going back to tip number one, plan ahead
and look out for road signs and markings. The driving examiner isn't there to trick you
or catch you out. All the information is there, it's just up to you to see it. If you don't and
something serious happens then unfortunately you'll fail your driving test and have to come
back as you need more practice and experience. Tip number five. Try to have an early night
before the day of your driving test.
Waking up and feeling tired won't help your concentration
levels and will put you at a serious disadvantage. There's obviously more to driving than just
these tips but I really hope they help. If you're looking for tips on
how to do each of the manoeuvres, then have a look at our other videos as you
might find out something you didn't know. Unfortunately, there isn't a shortcut
or magic way to pass the driving test. For the best chance of passing, it's simple, just practice lots, build up your experience
on the road and learn from any mistakes. Some people go for the driving
test when they're not really ready. If you're constantly making serious or dangerous
mistakes during your driving lessons or failing mock driving tests in a big way then you're
probably not really ready for the driving test or for driving on your own yet.
Consider delaying
the test and get some more practice but don't go for the experience, mock driving tests are good
for that and they're cheaper than the real test. Go for the driving test because you feel
confident and not only have you proven to your instructor that you have the skills
for driving safely but also to yourself. When you begin your driving test stay calm.
Remember that you just need to show one more person what a safe driver you are and
most importantly believe in yourself. Thanks a lot for watching our video. If you have
your driving test coming up soon then good luck. Please subscribe for our latest videos. Keep
safe on the road and see on the next video!.