Who Said Women Can't Park?

Today, for the end of the month, we have a funny video. This time, like the previous month, it's a parking video, but a different one. Today the video is about success.

Watch and learn:



I bet you can't park like this!
Have a great end of the month,
Nadav

nadavs

Yielding the Right of Way

Today is Tuesday, normally a great day. Since it's such a great day, I'd like to introduce you to the most important rule on the road: the right of way rule. It says who gets to go before the other. However, many drivers don't always keep it. Here is an article of mine explaining this issue:

Yielding Mistakes That Yield Failure On The DMV Driving Test

Yielding, or giving right of way, keeps the roads safe. Without that, chaos will rule the road and driving will be very unsafe. Each road has very specific rules about right of way and yielding. Road signs also indicate who should go first and who should wait. However, some drivers don't know about those rules and just drive in any way they like. During a driving test, such driving mistakes will lead to a failure in no-time.

Lane changes pose the greatest threat for right of way. Many driving students who want to change lanes take a short look in the mirror and move their car. Even if they see behind them a very fast car, they still move to the next lane. This is a clear violation of the right of way rules, and an examiner can mark that as a dangerous maneuver, a mark which will put an end to the test.

Intersections with stop signs are also places where right of way violations occur in masses. This is especially true to all way stop signs. Some student drivers don't notice other drivers or the order of arrival, and just get in the intersection when they feel like it. Doing this is not only dangerous, but will likely get the student a failing mark on the score sheet.

Yield signs are also widely ignored among driving students. This sign just means that cars should give the right of way to cars on the cross road. However, many driving students ignore this sign and don't take it into consideration when they decide to enter the intersection. The result is often deadly. During a driving test, the result is failure.

Traffic lights also give an headache to driving students with yield laws. In some places, left turns are not done directly, but cars have to enter the intersection and wait for oncoming traffic to clear. Some driving students don't wait and make their turn immediately as the light turns green. This habit is highly illegal and risky, and the examiner is not going to like it.

Yielding to other cars is very important when driving, and so is the studying of the right of way laws for the driving test. The best way to practice for the driving test is with a guide that shows everything a student needs for the test. A guide like this can get the driving student to the desired license easily.

Now go out on the road and practice your right of way rules. You have no idea how important they are.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

The Florida Learners Permit Test

The sunny areas of Florida offer great roads to drive on, but to drive on these roads, you need to get yourself a license. Before getting a license, you must also get a learners permit.

Want to see how to get that permit? Exactly for that I have here an excellent article by Kristin Stancato. This article will explain everything, from birth to the license. Well, from the age of 14 to your license at 16. Here it comes:

How to Get a Florida Learners Permit

Are you a first time driver? Then getting that learners permit can be exciting and daunting at the same time. This article will take you through the steps to get your Florida learners permit online with an extra emphasis on safety.

The Rules

Under Florida DMV guidelines, you must be 14 years old or older to sign up and complete the driver's ed learners permit course. You may not apply for your learners permit until your 15th Birthday.

When you turn 15, you are eligible to apply for a learners permit if you have completed the required driver's ed course mentioned above. You then must hold your learners permit license for at least twelve months before applying for a full license.

The Driver Ed Course

All first time drivers in the State of Florida are required to take a driver's ed class called the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse and Education course before applying for their learners permit. By taking this course, first time drivers learn how alcohol and other drugs affect their ability to drive, laws and responsibilities, about safe driving techniques, and how to increase their awareness on our roadways.

Luckily this course is offered 100% online, so you can take it using your home computer when it fits in your schedule! Once you complete this course you will be qualified to take the DMV Permit Exam which is also available online.

Prepare for the Written DMV Exam

The DMV Permit Exam consists of two written tests:

1. 20 multiple choice questions regarding the rules of the road. (You must answer 15 correctly to pass)
2. 20 multiple choice questions regarding road signs. (You must answer 15 correctly to pass)

All new drivers are encouraged to study for this written test so you don't take a chance on standing in line at the DMV Office only to go home empty-handed. The Florida DMV Handbook provides everything you need to know to pass the test. There are also practice permit tests available online where you can log on and test your knowledge with interactive DMV prep exams.

Take the DMV Permit Exam

The DMV exam includes the road rules and road signs written tests, a vision test and a hearing test. The written test is available online and once you pass, you can take your certificate to the DMV office where you will complete the vision / hearing tests and provide the documents required to obtain your learners permit. The written exam is also available at the DMV office, but many teens choose to take the exam online to save time.

Before you head to the DMV, make sure you have all of the following required documents to get your learners permit:

• Proof that you completed a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course
  DMV Exam waiver number (if you elected to take the exam online)
• One primary and one secondary form of identification, which must be original or certified
• Social Security Number, if issued
• Parental Consent Form, which must be signed in the presence of a driver license examiner or notarized if parent or guardian will not be present.
  

Teen Driving Safety

Florida is dedicated to teaching first time drivers that safety comes first. In fact, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Certified Chief Instructors developed the Driver Education Guide for Parents that that is designed to be a teaching tool for parents who are concerned with their teen's driving safety and understand the value of quality instruction. It provides a practical, step-by-step approach to instructing your teen how to become a Safe Driver through behavior, attitude, skills, and experience.

On the Road

When you first receive your learners permit license, you are only permitted to drive from 6 am until 7 pm with a licensed driver 21 years of age or older occupying the seat closest to the right of you. After three months, you are permitted to drive until 10 pm with a licensed driver 21 years of age or older occupying the seat closest to the right of you.

Once you turn 16, you may apply for your driver's license providing that you have held a learners license for at least one year without any traffic convictions.

Lowest Price Traffic School provides DMV approved online driver education courses required to obtain a Florida learners permit designed for both teens and their parents.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Long, but worth it. Thank you Kristin for making everything so clear.
To all Florida drivers-to-be and other future drivers, good luck on your permit test!
Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Car's Mirrors

Mirrors are one of the most important elements of the car. Without them we as drivers will have trouble changing lanes, backing up, and basically driving safely. So for your safety, here is a video about the mirrors of the car and what they cannot solve:



Hopefully you learned something new, or just enjoyed the video.

Have a great week,
Nadav

nadavs

My Permit Test Experience

Back when I was 15.5, I wanted to start driving. My parents signed me up for driving school. I took a very intensive driver's education program (two days of seven hours each), and the second day was mainly for permit test practice.

It turned out I was pretty good on those practice tests, scoring 100% on most of them (I am not showing off here, this is real). They pretty much repeated themselves, so eventually everyone managed to pass some tests (except some really dumb students who cheated off each other and failed almost all the tests).

I took my permit test on a Saturday, some day in October. I entered the DMV, waited in line (like in any government office), my picture was taken (terrible picture, by the way), I took a short vision test (read huge letters from a distance of one and a half meters), and then, finally, the permit test itself.

Since the test was in California, I had to answer 46 questions. But the practice on the driving school was so helpful that I was able to recognize the question by the answers. After about twenty minutes I give the test to the examiner, who, as I told you yesterday, gave me a 100% score ("What do you know, it's a hundred percent!") and printed my permit.

Exactly for this moment, the moment of printing the permit, I created Pass your Permit Test. It is designed to help people pass their permit test the first time. It costs much less than a driving school, but worth much more (as there are some very helpful tips that can help you answer ANY question, even if you have no idea what is the answer).

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

nadavs

Street Driving Mistakes

Today I have an article about street driving. It may seem trivial, but this simple driving fails many people on their test. Read here to see why:

Street Driving Errors That Can Ruin a Driving Test

Streets are usually quiet roads with little traffic. Driving on them is smooth and relaxed. However, during a driving test, some driving students can't drive according to the street driving rules and make many mistakes. Some mistakes are even critical errors which cause an automatic test failure. Sadly, some mistakes repeat more than others.

The most frequent mistakes are related to speed. The examined drivers often don't go at the speed limit and make one of two mistakes: driving too fast or driving very slowly. The mistake of speeding is clear to everyone, but not many realize the true dangers and the failing reason of slow driving. When the examinee's car's speed is too low, the test is over.

Go-through intersections also cause problems to many student drivers. Often they believe they should slow down to a crawl before any intersection, even if they don't have to stop. This often fails them under the reason stated above, slow driving. Another mistake related to intersections is not knowing the right of way rules. Some students just make up their own rules during the test, not giving a right of way when necessary and not taking theirs when given. This is a critical error and a test failure.

Controlled intersections are also serious "troublemakers" when it comes to driving tests. Sometimes the examined student is dreaming, and he forgets to stop at a stop sign or a traffic light. This is of course a serious and dangerous critical error, which ends the test on the spot.
A big issue is raised by street parking as well. The parking test is one of the toughest parts for drivers during their driving test, and even though they are given a simple street parking they make mistakes which cost them the entire test.

Pedestrians also end the tests of many students. Some students are not aware of pedestrians around them or at crosswalks and don't give them their right of way. Others don't notice when pedestrians start crossing the road from the opposite lane and don't stop for them. This is a huge mistake to make on the test and a sure re-test.

Another big problem students face on street driving is parked cars. These bring up two issues: keeping a safe distance and opening doors. Some examinees don't notice they are too close to a parking car and scratch it. This immediately stops the test. Others don't notice an opening door and make an emergency maneuver to avoid hitting it. This is another immediate test stop.

Street driving can be done very well if practiced. Every student should get a good practice of street driving before the driving test so he will know exactly what to do in each situation he may encounter during the driving test.

I hope you managed to read this far. This is one of my longest articles (almost 500 words).

Also, I want to tell you that I created another guide, this time about the written permit test. More information tomorrow. Meanwhile, you can take a look at the driving test site. It looks like it always looked, but if you scroll down a little you can find the permit test guide.

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Alexandra

Today we have another first time driver. This time it's Alexandra trying not to skid on the slippery road:



According to YouTube, this video was uploaded on November of 2007. This means that Alexandra, who was 16 at the time the video was uploaded, is now about 16.5 years old. In some places she could already have her license.

Whatever the situation is, good luck Alexandra!
Nadav

nadavs

UK Driving Test: Part 2

Today we have the second part of the UK driving test. Prepare yourself for another ten minutes of side-switching driving:



Next part: the end of the test. Will the student pass? Is the examiner nice? Is it possible to get a license in a country that drives on the left side? You'll have to wait two weeks for this one, since next week is April 30, the last day of April, which means we get another funny driving video.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Green Lights: Not Always a Go

What do you do when you see a green light? Rush to the intersection? Start going without checking other traffic? Hope that no one will run a red light? Well, green light doesn't always mean "go", and you should be prepared for that. Here is an article of mine about this issue:

Green Light - The Silent DMV Driving Test Killer


Green lights are the dream of every driver. The ability to just go through intersections without waiting for a red light to change fills drivers with joy. During a driving test, student drivers also prefer to have green lights all the way. This way they don't have to handle red lights and have the risk of making a mistake on it. However, green lights also have their problems and cause drivers to make mistakes. A driving test is the last place a driver would like to make those mistakes.

One mistake is related to lack of attention. Most driving students will go through an intersection when they see a green light. Almost all of them will not check for cross traffic or for possible red light runners. Staring on the road ahead and not checking for other traffic is not illegal, but it is dangerous. The examiner might mark a minor error for that, and many minors can combine to a failure.

Stopping unnecessarily on green lights is a serious mistake and a potential accident. A green light means "go", and if nothing prevents it, drivers should go. Some driving students stop unnecessarily on green lights, especially on right turns. They are not proficient enough in speed control, which makes them slow down to a speed of zero. This can also be a minor error, or a critical error if there is an accident because of it.

However, not all green lights mean "go". When driving through heavy traffic, drivers often forget that blocking intersections is illegal. Some drivers, especially driving students, take the green light as a sign to go ahead without paying attention to road conditions. Blocking an intersection is illegal and can end up in a test failure.

Traffic lights on some places give a green light to both directions of the road at the same time. This means that left turners have to enter the intersection, wait for oncoming traffic to clear, and then complete their turn. A green arrow on these cases gives drivers a "safe" turn. However, some student drivers are so nervous about these situations that they forget the meaning of a green arrow light and stop at the middle of the intersection. This calls the examiner to mark an unnecessary stop, which is a minor error.

All these green light errors can be solved easily. A guide that shows drivers the proper way to behave in intersections with traffic lights will help any driving student pass the driving test the first time. It's one of the best solutions for this type of driving mistakes.

You can find a guide for passing the driving test at the Pass Your DMV Driving Test area of Great-Info-Products.com, along with a free course about more driving test mistakes and tips.

Have a safe Tuesday.
Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Pass the Written Driving Test

Before taking the practical test, most states and countries require a written test. Usually I don't put that much emphasis on the written test, but it is still a vital part of the driving process (although it can be quite annoying).

Personally, I practiced the written test on the final day of driving school. They made us take 14 practice tests, almost identical to each other. There were times I could tell the question from the answers. The result: I got 100% score on my actual DMV test (seriously).

But since it's not really my field, I'm going to let a guest, Penny Rials, give some tips for written test takers:

Ways To Pass the Driving Test

Passing the written driving test is the first step to overcome before getting your driver's license. You may spend weeks or months trying to study your DMV handbook. Some people don't like to read or don't retain the information that they read. The DMV handbook is really boring and it's harder for some people to remember or retain all the rules of the road.

When it's time for you to take your written driver's test there are several ways to prepare. Today, generations learn from watching videos. A great place to go to watch videos on driving is youtube.com. Now, they also offer online study courses for driving. The best way I have found to pass the written driving test is from memorization. Taking a practice test with questions and answers, such as when making a turn, a driver should signal__ feet before turning. After selecting the right answer 100 feet, it stays in your memory. Remember, the written DMV test is aimed at knowledge of basic traffic rules and laws.

When taking your DMV written test it is very important to focus and concentrate on the driving test itself. This means if you have any personal or emotional problems wait and reschedule your test. This is an important day so leave any distractions at home.

Don't forget to have a positive attitude. A person with a positive attitude are more likely to pass than a pessimistic person.

Taking your written driving test can be very nerve racking. Even before you start taking your driver's test you may feel your heart racing. This is a very normal reaction. Nerves usually subside after the test has begin. Remember, relax and do your best.

Is it time for you take your written driver's license test or get your driver's permit. Do you need a practice test? Now, you can download 175 actual test question and answers. You will also identify traffic sign and traffic signals. Study today and pass the written driver's test tomorrow! Simple and Easy as 1,2,3... To view a few sample questions and answers.

Visit: http://www.passwrittendriverstest.com/

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Thank you Penny for this great article. I'm sure it will help many people.
Good luck,
Nadav

nadavs

Car Safety Controls

Today, because Sunday is usually a driving day, I want to give you a video about the safety controls in a car. Watch it here:



I hope you learned something, and be careful.
Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

A Driver's Worst Nightmare

Imagine this for a moment: this is the holiday you've been waiting for. You enter the car, exit your parking, go on the main road, accelerate to a nice 100 km/h, and then brake and stop. Ahead of you there are thousands of cars doing exactly the same thing: waiting. Welcome to the drivers' worst nightmare: a traffic jam.

Yes, this can be quite annoying. More accurately, extremely annoying. Even crawling traffic can make a driver go mad. Most accidents happen during bumper-to-bumper traffic, and for a good reason. Drivers lose focus. Moreover, cars are very close to each other. One second of turning the head, and your cars meets your neighbor's car.

I drove through quite a few traffic jams in my life, and I can tell you that it's really a driver's worst nightmare. Try to avoid them whenever possible.

So how do you avoid a traffic jam? Make sure you know what times are prone to congestion, and drive there before rush hour. Just try to be original with your time, otherwise thousands of other drivers will be there with you. And yes, this will cause another traffic jam. Not nice.

Have a great, flowing weekend!
Nadav

nadavs

Red Light Errors

Today I have another article of mine, this time about the red light of the traffic light:

Red Light Errors to Avoid During the Driving Test

Traffic lights come in many shapes and forms, but they all have one purpose: to regulate traffic flow in intersections. Without them, some intersections would turn into complete chaos and disorder. Any traffic light has three lights, and the boldest one is the red. It is also the light which causes many traffic law violations. During a driving test, it's important to know what can and can't be done on red lights to avoid trouble. However, not all driving students know how to handle several red light situations, which causes them to make many mistakes on their test.

The worst mistake that can be made on a red light is not stopping for it. This mistake is so serious that the driving student should not even hope for mercy from the examiner. Normally, traffic lights give plenty of time to stop. There is a yellow light in all of them, and some places even have flashing green light before the yellow, so there is no reason at all to run a red light. If it does happen, it's a critical error and a sure failure.

Another mistake on the driving test is entering the intersection when someone else runs a red light. Since the student has green light it is not illegal, but if someone else runs a red light it can be extremely dangerous. Many accidents happened because drivers did not notice red light runners. Entering the intersection on this situations can be a critical error, but that is up to the examiner's view.

Right turns also threaten licenses for examinees. On some intersections it is legal to turn right on red. However, the law requires to stop before proceeding. Some student drivers don't stop for the light and just turn. This is not only illegal, but also a critical error and a score sheet that says "fail".

Limit lines mark the stopping place for drivers. Some driving students don't realize that and stop wherever they want. A limit line violation is usually not a critical error, but that depends on how far the student proceeded into the intersection. If the student is too much in the intersection, it could count as a red light violation. Even if it's a minor error, it can make the difference between passing and failing.

Red light problems have an easy solution: a guide that shows driving students how to behave when seeing a red light, what to do on several occasions, and how to avoid those costly mistakes that cause nothing but depression and a new driving test.

You can find a guide like this at the Pass Your Driving Test area of Great-Info-Products.com, along with a free course about more driving test mistakes and tips.

Source: Red Light Errors to Avoid During the Driving Test.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Mary

Another Thursday is here, which means we have another video of a first time driving experience. Today it's Mary's time. Watch Mary driving for the first time, a very loud first time:



Can you still hear?

According to YouTube, the video was uploaded on April 24 of last year, which means Mary has already been driving for a year. In some places it's enough to get a license. Hopefully Mary's driving is more silent now, with less scary braking.

Good luck, Mary!
Nadav

nadavs

UK Driving Test: Part 1

After Chelsea, I need something that would fill the big gap that opened. For that, I bring you a full UK driving test in three parts. Yes, a full driving test.

A couple of warnings for the non-British viewer:

1) They drive on the left. I know, it's weird.

2) They pull the parking brake at each intersection. That's weird too.

These are two things you should not do if you drive on a right-side driving country that does not like to get its cars' brakes dead (unless required, of course).

Well, here is the video:



Don't get dizzy by looking at it. There are two parts to come.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Road Signs - Signs for Passing the Test

After yesterday's guest article, it's time for the home team to say its word. And today, my article about road signs that are being ignored during the driving test.

Ignoring Road Signs - A Driving Test Disaster

Road signs regulate traffic flow on the road. They tell drivers how fast to drive, where to turn, when to turn, and when not to turn. Reading and understanding them is very important for fitting in traffic and being a good driver. Driving students must know all traffic signs in order to pass their driving test successfully. However, some of them don't know all necessary signs, which causes them to make mistakes.

The most common ignored road sign is of course the speed limit sign. Many driving students just pass them without notice. The new speed limit can be either higher or lower than the previous speed limit, but it is still different. If the student's speed deviates too much from the speed limit, the test will end, unsuccessfully.

No entry signs are also a source for trouble. Examiners will never try to trick their examinees by telling them to turn to a one way street from the wrong way. However, if the student notices that at the end of the street there is a no entry sign, he should prepare to turn. Making a turn on the last moment or entering against a no entry sign can lead to a test failure.

Stop signs are also widely ignored among student drivers. Some are even brutally ignored and the student doesn't even slow down before them. Most of the times the driving student will notice the stop sign, but not make a complete stop. This is clearly a critical error and clearly a test failure.

Yield signs are also victims of ignorant driving students. Although yield signs don't force drivers to stop, they do require them to check the area before driving. Some driving students don't notice yield signs and take the right of way from cars in a dangerous way. Doing so can result in an accident and not getting a license.

Road signs need to be practiced. They are a part of the permit test, but it's often not enough for practical driving. Every driving student should get a guide that explains how to deal with certain road signs during driving. A guide like this is especially important for the test.

You can get a guide like this and a free course about driving test mistakes and tips at the Pass Your DMV Driving Test area of Great-Info-Products.com.

Source: my article, Ignoring Road Signs - A Driving Test Disaster, at EzineArticles.com.

Tomorrow you will see what video series will replace Chelsea's part in the blog. Keep watching.
Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Driving Exam Tips

Today we have an article from a guest author, William Berg. William wrote an article with some tips about behaving during the driving test:

Passing Your Drivers Exam

Taking your driver exam can be a very nervous experience but by thinking about a few common mistakes and learning from them you can considerable increase your chances of success, to get your coveted driver license.

On of the most common mistakes is to act cautiously and insecure. It is true that you should take care in the traffic but driving to carefully can make it seem like you don't know what you are doing and can actually make driving more dangerous. Being too careful can be dangerous in the same way as driving to recklessly can be dangerous. You might drive a little extra carefully as a result of the stress associated with the drivers exam but you should none the less try to drive with confidence. Avoid driving to slow, taking to long in intersections. This does however not mean that should be impatient or speeding as that is even worse. Do not take your drivers exam until you feel comfortable manoeuvring the car.

Another common mistake is not using the mirrors enough. You can never use the mirrors to much during a drivers exam, at least not as long as you are keeping track of what's happening in front of your car as well. Make sure to always look in the mirror before changing lanes, passing another car or leaving a parking spot.

Learn to park: Many find parking hard and it can therefore be worth training parking a little extra so that you feel secure parking before you take your driving exam.

Think ahead: An important part of the drivers' exam is to show that you can think ahead. Make sure that you choose the right line before an intersection right from the start so that you don't have to make last minute manoeuvring. Make sure to always use your indicators when you are changing lines.

Stay Focused: Many people relax when they have performed a task during the exam and forget that everything during the exam is a test. An example of this is when someone has completed a manoeuvre like an emergency stop to the side of the road and than relaxes and forget to enter the traffic again in the correct manner. They might forget using the mirrors and just recklessly drive out into the traffic again or forgetting to use their indicators. An error like this can very easily make the difference between passing and failing your drivers test. It is therefore very important to stay focused through the entire exam.

Learn to use the gears: Learning to use the stick correctly is very important and a common problem among those taking their drivers exam. Learn to use the gears correctly and when to change gear to increase your chances of passing your drivers test.

Shortcuts: Make sure not to take shortcuts across the road while taking your drivers exam. This is especially important when turning right since many drivers want to take a short cut through the intersections when turning right.

Passing your drivers exam doesn't have to be hard if you consider these common errors and make sure not to repeat them. Just stay focused through the entire exam and you'll have you drivers license soon enough. I am however going to leave you with one final piece of advice.

Relax! Relaxing will make your driving more natural and will help you avoid many common problems.

Your drivers license is the first step towards your dream car regardless of whether your dream car is corvette or a Military hummer!

Article source: EzineArticles.

Thank you William for these tips. I'm sure it'll help many drivers.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Blind Spots: Accident Magnets

You have probably heard about blind spots. These are the areas you cannot see when you look through your mirror, so you have to move your head to check if there is a vehicle at your side when you change lanes.

Here is a video that explains it:



Today is Sunday, so you have a great opportunity to practice. Go out there and check for blind spots.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

My Favorite Driving Time

Like last Saturday, I want to make this post a little more personal than usual. And today: my favorite driving time.

Well, I like driving at night. Really late at night. Not nine, but more towards eleven o'clock or even midnight. There is no better time than this to drive in my area.

And why is that? Because at that time, the road is empty. Totally clear. Traffic lights on the main road, which is close to where I live and runs until a big city 13 km away, have a sensor system. The sensor system detects where cars are present and gives a green light according to this data. For example, if no one wants to turn left on a particular road, then the left turn light will stay red and give oncoming traffic the green light.

At night, when the road is empty, the sensor system gives a green light to the main road. Driving on this road at night is a dream. No cars, no red lights. Driving from my house to the big city nearby can take no more than 10 minutes. Just like a highway.

What is your favorite driving time? Feel free to share!
Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Don't Dream and Drive

Today is Friday, which is the start of a weekend. It's time to relax, think, and dream. However, driving is not a place to dream. Here is what dreaming during driving can cause for driving test applicants, and in general:

Don't Dream and Drive

Dreaming is a wonderful experience - it clears the mind and the soul. However, when it comes to driving, dreaming can be deadly. Even lack of attention for a fraction of a second caused accidents around the world. During the driving test, drivers need to be alert and focused, or the license will get out of their hand. However, some of the examinees are not focused, so they make some mistakes that can cause them the test. Some of these mistakes repeat much more than others.

One situation in which lack of attention is common is lane changing. Some driving students don't focus on their lane change, which makes them signal forever and keep going straight. Sometimes they even forget about their turn signal and don't turn it off. If the student reacts too late and poses a threat, it's probably a test failure.

Dreaming on traffic lights is a very dangerous situation. If an examinee doesn't notice a green light and keeps standing, a minor error can be written for unnecessary stop. If the opposite situation occurs, where a student driver doesn't notice a red light and keeps going, failure is immediate, but the bad feeling lasts much longer.

Another risk caused by traffic lights is red light runners. Some students only notice their light, but pay no attention to other cars. When their light turns green, they only look straight and start going. If a car on the cross road is running a red light, they will probably miss it. This situation caused many accidents in the past. If the student is lucky, he will avoid the runner. If not, the runner will hit him. On both cases, no license will be given to that driver.

Pedestrians on crosswalks are also victims of dreaming drivers. Sometimes drivers don't notice pedestrians on crosswalks and just go ahead without stopping. On the driving test, examinees need to stop for all pedestrians. Missing one for dreaming will cost the entire test, and also a few weeks of waiting for a re-test.

Dreaming and driving is a dangerous situation which ruined many lives. To avoid it, any driver needs practice before going to his test. To get the best possible practice, every driver needs a good guide which will show him the proper way to drive.

You can get a free driving test mistakes course and also a guide about driving on the driving test on the pass your driving test guides area on my site.

Hope you enjoyed the article.

Have a great weekend and great dreams.
Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Lyndsay

It's Thrusday again, and that means it's the time to show another first time driver. Today it's Lyndsay, who is very, very nervous (but the video has nice music):



According to YouTube, this video was uploaded on March 2 of this year. This means Lyndsay has a long way until the license. Meanwhile, she could use a guide or a short mistakes course to help her.

Good luck Lyndsay!
Nadav

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Chelsea's Driving Test: Part 3

After having the exam, Chelsea returns with the result. What will it be? Watch the video to find out (don't read after the video until you finish to watch):



Well, what do you think?

Just like me, Chelsea got 6 marks on her score sheet for the California driving test. Which is, of course, a passing score.

Congratulations Chelsea!
Nadav

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ABS - A Life Saver

First of all, I want to apologize for a mistake I made yesterday - the third part of Chelsea's driving test will be here tomorrow, and not today.

And for today - the ABS system. ABS is an acronym for Anti-lock Braking System. It's purpose it to prevent the wheels from locking when the brake pedal is used. It may not seem that important, but it is a true life saver.

When the ABS system (a redundant term, since the S is for system. However, it sounds much better than ABS alone) detects that the wheels are locked, it releases them automatically to allow the driving some steering. Without that, the car could be as good as running into a wall.

During its work, the system may cause the brake pedal to shake. Drivers who are not familiar with this feeling may leave the brake suddenly in fear that something is wrong. However, it's important to keep braking as long as necessary. Those "shakes" are a part of the ABS system.

Two days ago I felt the effects of the ABS system. Believe me, this is not a good feeling, especially because of the maneuver that led to the system's activation. The feeling at the foot was strange, but I immediately understood what's happening and finished my turn.

To avoid the need for ABS, keep this simple rule in mind: slow down BEFORE turns, not DURING them. Braking during turns may lead to skidding and loss of control. High speed turns are not recommended, but sometimes they are better than braking during a turn (especially on high speeds).

Please - make turns at a safe speed. Don't get to the point of using the ABS.

Yours,
Nadav

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Is it Possible to Pass the First Time?

Today we have a guest article written by Robin Piggott. Robin wrote a quite long article, but it's very interesting to read. Here it is:

Is It Possible to Pass Your Driving Test First Time?


The simple answer to this question is that it is simple but not easy to pass your Driving Test first time out. Simple in as much as it’s not Rocket Science or Quantum Physics or Nuclear Fusion but a calculated sequence of techniques and checks that put together in the correct order should ensure success.

Planning is the key to success in anything in life and the Driving Test is no different …no different at all! You don’t Plan? ...You don’t Pass! ... it really is that simple! So what is there to plan you might well ask.

Before we look at all that we ourselves have to do let’s look at the Transport. For sure… what is there to be bothered with when looking at your Car? Quite a lot actually!

(1) You need to know your Car inside out. Quite literally. The new Technical checks to the Irish Driving Test were introduced on the 14th February 2005. They consist of three questions taken at random by the examiner out of 12 categories and will include all the major systems that you find under the Hood which we in Europe call the Bonnet! These include Oil; Coolant; Brake fluid; Screen wash; Power Steering Fluid; Tires; Lights; Foot Brake; Parking Brake; Brake Lights; Steering Wheel;

(2) Secondary Controls…all the knobs and switches that are present in every Modern Car and some that are not found in all models. You will not only need to know their respective functions but will be expected to operate all equipment adequately during the Test without taking your eyes off the Road. This is best described as Touchy-Feely!

(3) Paperwork requirements…which in Ireland are Road Tax…Compulsory Insurance…and in the case of all cars over three years old the NCT certificate (MOT) in the U.K. Not forgetting your Provisional License of course. If you have just bought a car in the lead up to your Driving Test the failure of a Garage to provide you with the necessary documentation to enable you to Road Tax your Car will not carry any weight. If your car does not comply with the legal requirements your Driving Test will not be carried out under any circumstances!

(4) Worse still you will lose your fee and be put to the end of the long waiting list. And it is long, very long and getting longer by the minute! Lack of attention to the details mentioned in this article is one of the main reasons for the lengthy delays in getting a Driving Test appointment.

(5) Changing a car at the last minute prior to your Driving Test is also a recipe that will prevent you from passing the Driving Test First Time. It takes even an experienced Driver quite some hours to acclimatize to a new car. A learner will take even longer and will not have the necessary skills set to cope with dramatic differences in a strange car. A Driving Test is difficult enough without shooting yourself in the foot.

(6) If repairs are necessary to your regular car during the lead up to a Driving Test then don’t leave things to the last minute since spare parts sometimes are not always available off the shelf and your beloved Motor could be sunning itself on the top of a ramp when you should be piloting it to your First Time Driving Test Pass. In an emergency it will take at least eight hours tuition and practise for a person who is absolutely ready for the Driving Test to switch cars and have a hope of passing. As a general rule no Professional Driving School will hire out a car for the test without having assessed the Pupil’s skills and then insisting on at least eight or ten hours practise to qualify for hire. If you are on the borderline in the skills department a Driving School may well decide not to offer you the car for hire for the Driving Test. There are safety and reputation implications to be considered in this scenario.

(7) You need to be very familiar with the general area where Driving Tests take place and should practise regularly at different times of day and different days of the week. You won’t know the significance of different traffic flows unless you do. If you are caught out in particular spot because it’s Friday afternoon and the whole Universe is heading down this particular stretch of road to get home after a gruelling week then you only have yourself to blame for making a mess of things. Here we have the planning aspect (or rather the lack of it) rearing its ugly head again. Any one badly or dangerously executed manoeuvre due to stress in heavy traffic will mean the dreaded Grade Three fault and a “Sorry you haven’t been successful this time “ remark from the Examiner when back to the Driving Test Centre. Guess whose fault this result is? It certainly isn’t the Examiners or the heavy traffic!

(8) If you have along way to drive to get to the Driving Test Centre then leave ample time in order to arrive at least ten or fifteen minutes early .Arriving early could mean that you will be taken out a little earlier which may prove to be beneficial and there again it may not. Either way if you are six minutes late (for whatever reason) its bye, bye Test and come back next year! Oh yes and that will be another 38 Euro please!

We haven’t even begun to talk yet about the various manoeuvres and the Techniques that will ensure your First Time Pass but we have covered the main elements of the Car requirements and certain protocols surrounding the Driving Test. We will discuss the various techniques and skills required to satisfy a Driving Examiner in an accompanying article.
Get all these things sorted out first!

Robin Piggott is a Professional Driving Instructor based in Limerick, Ireland. Visit his web site and Blogs for the inside track to safe Driving and successful Driving Test outcomes.

Hope you made it this far, and of course that you enjoyed the article.

Good luck,
Nadav

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Failure to Stop - Failure in the Test

Stop signs, red arrow lights, school buses and others all require a complete stop. However, some drivers just don't do it. When it comes to the driving test, it means a failure.

Here is a video by the California DMV that explains about this serious issue:



Now, armed with more knowledge, go implement it!
Yours,
Nadav

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My Ideal Driving Conditions

Today, on a more personal note, I want to tell you about my ideal driving conditions. The conditions that should be in the car when I drive.

1) Be alone. Sometimes I have to take someone with me, but the ideal for me is driving alone. This way I can set all my other conditions.

2) Low temperature. When it's hot, I'm getting sleepy, and that's really distracting from driving. When it's cold (but not freezing), I'm more awake and able to concentrate more.

3) Calm music on the radio. If the radio has loud music (like rap) or talking (like news), I tend to ignore it and my thoughts start to wander. When there is good music I'm more concentrated. No idea why, but it works.

These are the three conditions for an ideal driving for me. Of course, low traffic volume always helps.

How about you? What atmosphere do you like in the car when you drive (or practice driving)? Let us know.

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

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The Back Up Test

Today I want to talk about backing up. It's a mission that many drivers have trouble with, so here are some common mistakes done when backing up. Use wisely:

A Back Up Plan for the Road Test

Cars can move in two directions - forward and back. Forward driving is easy for most drivers, but backward driving is giving much trouble to many beginner drivers. Since it comes up on any driving test, it is a cause of many test failures and disappointments. It has been found that some backing up problems repeat more often than others on road tests.

The biggest mistake of backing up is steering. Some driving students just don't know how to steer their car when they back up. They try to move it left and right, but at the end they have no clue where they should turn the wheel. This shows lack of steering ability and lack of practice. This can be marked as a minor error, but it is taken seriously.

Another mistake of backing up is not looking back when doing it. Some drivers think that anything behind them will just move away, so they don't need to look. If a back up is done this way, even if nothing was hit, the failure in the test is almost guaranteed and well deserved.

Unlucky drivers who back up without looking back might hit something, or worse, someone. When that happens, the test is immediately stopped. If the examinee hit a car, he or she is required to leave details to pay for the damages later. If a person is hit, even slightly, it's not only illegal, but also feels very awkward and bad.

Improper mirror usage is also common in back ups. Some driving students look to the back when they back up, but look only through the rear window. They don't use the side mirrors, and sometimes miss something that will be hit from the side of the car. Like not looking at all, this is a critical error.

Backing up requires practice with a good guide. A regular, plain practice may be wrong and instill wrong back up habits that may be illegal and cause driving students to fail their test.

You can find a good guide that also deals with backing up at the Pass Your Road Test area of Great-Info-Products.com. This website also provides a free course about driving test mistakes and tips.

Article source: my article at EzineArticles.com.

First Time Driving: Cara

Today's first time driver is a girl named Cara (why are all first time driving videos about girls?). In her video you can see how nervous a person can be on his first drive:



See how slowly she goes when she backs up, and how inconfident she is when she goes forward.
According to YouTube, this video was uploaded on October of 2007, six months ago. If she practiced, by this time, Cara should be a much better driver.

Good luck Cara!
Yours,
Nadav

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Chelsea's Driving Test: Part 2

Today we have another part of Chelsea's driving test. On today's episode: Chelsea is making last-minute preparations before starting the test with a DMV examiner:



Next week: the third and final part of the driving test. Will Chelsea get her license? We'll have to wait and see.

Yours,
Nadav

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Mirror Mistakes on the Driving Test

Today is the first day of April, which is known as a day of lies. So for today I have an article about something that never lies - mirrors.

Avoid Mirror Usage Mistakes That Could Ruin a Driver's License Test

Mirrors are a huge part of driving. They allow drivers to know what is going on around their car without the need to actually look in that direction. As a result, the proper use of mirrors is tested on the driver's license test. Some drivers taking their driving test don't know how to deal with mirrors, and thus fail their test. There are some common mistakes that keep repeating on driving tests, yet students do nothing to avoid them.

Wrong mirror adjustment is one of the biggest mistakes that can happen on a driving test. When the mirrors are not aligned properly, the student driver is pretty much clueless about his surroundings on the road. This is a very dangerous situation. Examiners can notice when mirrors are not positioned well, and often fail drivers for it.

Another mistake made on the driving test is not using the mirrors. Drivers should glance in their mirrors every few seconds, but some just don't do that. There are also situations, like lane changing and braking, that require a quick look in the mirror, yet some drivers ignore that requirement. When it happens on the driving test, an examinee can fail for not using the mirrors correctly, or even worse, not using car mirrors at all.

Even when looking at the mirrors, some student drivers don't know how to interpret what they see there. Some of them just take a look at the mirror, see a car, and do nothing. That happens because they don't know how to estimate distances using their car mirrors. This is a serious fault in driving, and so in the road test.

Contrary to not using the mirrors, there are the student drivers who stare at the mirrors for too long. Looking in the mirrors is good, but when it becomes staring it can distract the driver from the road and cause an accident. Many accidents happened because of a fraction of a second of not being focused, and staring in the mirror is just that - not being focused on the road. This is a serious mistake and almost a guaranteed test failure.

Mirrors should be used in every driving practice. They are an essential part of driving and one of the most important safety devices of the car. Every driving student should get a guide that explains how to adjust the mirrors and use them correctly.

You can find a guide that will help you accomplish just that, using mirrors correctly, at the Pass your Driver's License section of Great-Info-Products.com. There is also a free course offered there with more mistakes to avoid and tips for the driving test.

Have a great month,
Nadav

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