Learning To Drive – Current Climate

March 28th 2023.

As things stand at the moment, getting a Theory or Practical test is very difficult. Due to the backlog from Covid-19, Strike Action and Bad weather, Practical Driving Tests are currently booking in September 2023.

It is really important that when you think about starting driving lessons then you also start to learn your driving theory. With the DVSA system (The people who conduct the tests) you need to have passed the Theory before you can book a Practical test.

When you start your driving lessons your instructor (Me), will be encouraging you to Study and Pass your Theory test as we know it is currently many months waiting time for a test. Learning the theory will also help you when you do your practical lessons.

At the moment, because of the long waiting time for practical tests I may advise you to book a practical test once you have passed your theory test (even though you may not be ready to currently take it) on the understanding that you will continue with the same regular lessons and work towards the practical test date. YOU MAY NEED TO MOVE THIS DATE SHOULD YOU NOT REACH TEST STANDARD.

The Order to do things.

1. Obtain Your Provisional License
2. Start To Learn Your Theory (Books and Apps are freely available to help with this)
3. Book your practical lessons and start to learn Driving On The Road
4. Only When your instructor advises – Book A Practical Test.
5. Continue with regular lessons
6. Private practice if possible (This gives you more road time experince)
7. Do Mock Test(s) with your instructor
8. Goto Number 4.

You will need to move the date of your Driving test back should you not be at the required standard. Your instructor (Me) will let you know if this needs to happen.

Darwen Driver Training – Our Rules For Taking A Test Using Our Training Car.

As registered instructors we agreed to obide by a code of conduct enforced by the DVSA.

We agree to train drivers to the required standard and maintain a safe learning environment.

We have a responcibility to keep our pupils safe, other road users safe and also not put any examiner at risk by presenting students for test that do not meet the required standards.

You will only be allowed to take your Practical Test using our training car if:

1. You have conducted all elements of our training sylabus
2. You can drive “Completly Independantly” ie “No help or prompting from the instructor”
3. You can drive consistantly without commiting any serious or dangerous faults
4. You have passed our Mock Driving Test assesments.

If you do not meet the above requirements you will not be allowed to use our car for the Practical driving test.

You will need to reschedule your Practical Test Date if your instructor asks you to.

Please understand that we do not like having to ask students to move their test date back as it can be dissapointing and cause them further delays in gaining their full license. Other things to consider when wanting to take your practical test : The DVSA test fee is currently £62. The two hour test session is currently £68. The waiting time for another test should you fail is currently greater than 6 months. You would need to continue taking regular lessons during this time to maintain driving standard and work on faults you commited causing the failed test.

Our Conclusion

Only Book Your Practical Test When Advised To By Us

Be Prepared to Move The Date Should We Ask You To

Only Take The Test is you feel 110% Ready

Car Has A Hat

New Teaching Car Arrived 26/01/2023

Ford Fiesta 1.0ltr Ecoboost mHEV 125ps – Titanium – 6 speed Manual

• LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights. Integrated fog lamp
• Ford SYNC 3 Navigation with 8” touchscreen, DAB radio, Emergency Assistance, Apple Carplay & Android Auto, 2 x USB & 6 speakers, & FordPass Connect
• Cruise Control inc. Adjustable Speed Limiter & Intelligent Speed Assist
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Traffic Sign Recognition, Auto High Beam & Driver Alert

Break In Service

CURRENT STATUS – OPERATIONAL

Service Update. (Outage).

Services affected – Website Access, Ability To Book, Abiity to Contact, Ability to download content.

Wednesday 21st September @ 23:35 – Website Down – Cause (Virgin Media Fault In Area)

Tuesday 27th September @ 7:00am – Website Operational – (Virgin Fault Rectified)

After more than 5 days in internet and website darkness thanks to the slow service from Virgin media, I can now say that “At the moment we are back on line and customers can now access the website as normal”.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you in booking lessons or downloading important information.

Kind regards

Andrew.

New Tuition Vehicle Ordered :-)

Arriving in Jan 2023

WhatsApp

WhatsApp Important Update Broadcast Group Now ACTIVE

From time to time we need to output updates to all our current customers. These may be Business operational changes, service disruptions or even special offers on last min lesson bookings. One of the best ways of doing this is by use of the ‘WhatsApp’ application. Almost 99% of mobile phone users have this app installed or have a compatible handset. This app is available for both Apple and Android devices. Just head over to the app store for your device to download it.

If you wish to recieve these updates please ensure you have the App installed on your device and as an active customer you will receive these updates. If you dont wish to receive them, please message us and we can remove your number from our broadcasted updates.

DVSA Covid-19 Update

Driver testing services – lifting of COVID-19 driving test restrictions

We are lifting COVID-19 restrictions affecting driving and theory tests in England from Tuesday 1 March in line with the government announcement that English restrictions ended on 24 February. The changes in England are: • face coverings will be a personal choice for practical and theory test candidates and examiners • driving tests will no longer end early unless the candidate’s driving is so poor it is a risk to their safety and that of other road users – in line with the pre-COVID-19 policy • instructors and accompanying drivers are able to sit in on driving tests • you no longer have to self isolate if you have COVID-19, but we encourage you to rearrange your test if you feel unwell for any reason You need to make your pupils aware of these forthcoming changes, especially if you have made their practical test booking for them. The current driving and theory tests safety measures in Scotland and Wales remain in place and we will let you know of any changes. DVSA guidance on GOV.UK will be updated shortly. Face coverings: Your pupil will have personal choice on whether they want to wear a face covering on their driving or theory test from 1 March in England.Candidates will no longer have to let us know if they cannot wear a face covering in advance of their driving test from 1 March. This also applies to bookings you make on behalf of your pupils. Our driving examiners can also make a personal choice to wear a face covering if they wish. Face coverings continue to be a personal choice for you and your pupils during driving lessons in England. Ending driving tests early: From 1 March, our driving examiners will no longer end tests early and they can continue after a candidate has committed a serious or dangerous fault to give them the full-test experience. Tests will only be terminated early if the driving examiner assesses that the candidate’s driving is so poor it risks their safety and that of other road users. This is in line with our pre-COVID-19 policy. ADIs sitting in on tests: We are lifting the restriction on ADIs and accompanying drivers to sit in on a driving test from 1 March. This means that driving examiners will ask your pupil if they want someone to:sit in the back of the car during the test be with them for the result and feedbackADI standards checks and ADI part 2 tests The lifting of restrictions for wearing face coverings on tests from 1 March also includes ADI part 2 tests and ADI standards checks. Standards checks will continue to last for 40 minutes. Clean vehicles: We will no longer be cancelling driving tests if the inside of a vehicle is not clean. However, we continue to encourage you to clean and tidy the inside of your vehicle when presenting it for a driving test in line with good hygiene. It will be optional for examiners to wipe down surfaces in test vehicles or ventilate these vehicles during tests. Pupils testing positive for COVID-19: We encourage candidates testing positive for COVID-19 up to 5 days before their driving test not to attend their test to reduce the spread of the virus. You or your pupil should email us at customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk with the subject title ‘COVID-19 short notice cancellation’ to rearrange their test. You or your pupil will need to include the following information in the email:their driving licence number, their driving test booking reference number. We will then contact you or your pupil to help rearrange the test. Your pupil will not have to pay again. Taking rapid lateral flow tests Until 1 April, we continue to ask your pupils to take a rapid lateral flow test before their driving test if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. We are asking that they do this on the day of their driving test, before they leave home. Find out more about taking a rapid lateral flow test before taking a driving test. Thank you for your support: We know this has been a very challenging period for the driver and rider training industry. The changes we have made to our services have had an impact across the industry but you have shown resilience, supported our colleagues and responded positively to our engagement. We want to thank you for taking the necessary action to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, and protect our colleagues.

Updates

Lesson Prices – Lesson Prices Being Changed From May 1st 2022.

Unfortunately due to a continual increases in business running costs, I have had to make a small increase to my prices. Prices can be found on my “Prices” Webpage. Block bookings and voucher structure will also be changed from this date. (26/04/22 – Andrew)

Face Masks During Lessons & On Driving Tests.

As Covid rules start to relax around the country, it has been decided that Face Masks are no longer a requirement during driving lessons. However, it is still recommended that they be worn in confined spaces where there is significantly more risk of the virus spreading. Face Coverings are STILL REQUIRED for your driving test and whilst on the DVSA premises. Candidates arriving for test NOT wearing a mask can still be refused a test and your test fee will be lost.

New Highway Code Changes.

By now as a responsible driver/rider/pedestrian you will be aware that there have been some recent updates the highway code. These latest changes have altered priorities and responsibility between Pedestrians, Cyclist and Other road users, at Junctions etc. Please make yourself familiar with these changes. They came into effect at the end of this month (Jan 22)

Updated Rules On Face Covering

As you can see below, the rules have changed in regard to wearing a face covering. This is taken from the GOV.UK website.

From this point in time, until further notice YOU WILL NEED TO WEAR A FACE COVERING when on a driving lesson or during a test.

Rules on face coverings are being updated in England

The public and staff in public facing areas will be required to wear face coverings in these settings from 4am on 30 November 2021:

• shops and supermarkets (places that offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
• shopping centres (malls and indoor markets)
• auction houses
• post offices, banks, building societies, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses
• estate and letting agents
• premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (barbers, hair salons, tattoo and piercing studios, nail salons and massage centres)
• pharmacies
• premises providing veterinary services
• retail galleries
• retail travel agents
• takeaways without space for consumption of food or drink on premises
• public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams, buses, coaches and ferries), taxis and private hire vehicles
• transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
• any car or small van during a professionally delivered driving lesson and practical driving test
• during all HGV lessons and tests, during all professional driving lessons and formal driving tests, and during any practical test for giving driving instruction

Updated guidance will be published soon.

Christmas Hours

AMC School of motoring will be closed for Lessons and Driving Tests between the following dates.

Closed : Friday 24th Dec – Sunday 2nd January

Your Driving Test Appointment (Cancelled?)

If you currently have your driving test booked, please ensure that you keep an eye out for Messages or Emails from the DVSA in regards to your appointment.

Unfortunately in our area at the moment there seems to be a big increase in Driving test appointments being changed or rescheduled by the DVSA. This is usually due to the “Examiner no longer available”.

Lesson Booking Information

Since launching the updated website, there have been a few changes to the booking system.

• Access to the booking page
• Payment For Pre Arranged Lessons

Access to the booking system.