The Hardest Reverse Ever

It's another month gone by, and as you know, no month, even September, can be ended without a funny video. Today's video is about parking, or more accurately, getting out of a parking spot. You may wonder how hard it can be, but apparently some people find it very challenging. Enjoy.



Have a great end of the month,
Nadav

nadavs

Texas Truck Drivers - Get your License

Last week I brought an article about trucks and said that I won't bring any more of them. But due to the surprising popularity of that article, here is another one, this time by Calli Smith, about driving a truck in Texas.

How to Start Your Texas Driving Career

Are you ready to begin a new career in as little as three weeks? Many who have grown tired of their 9 to 5 jobs have found an enjoyable carrer on the road, driving eighteen wheelers throughout the great state of Texas. You may be thinking, "getting started means finding a school, filling out a lot of paperwork-that's too much work!"

Getting started is easy! All you need is:
- a valid Texas driver's license
- the ability to pass a DMV physical
- to be drug free
- a good driving record
- a willingness to learn

That doesn't sound too bad, does it?

Once you have, or are, all of the above, it's time to begin your search for a Texas truck driving school.

What will you learn at a Texas truck driver school?

Passing the CDL test is no easy task. You must pass with 80% or higher. A truck driving school prepares you to successfully take the Texas CDL written exam. You will also have time behind the wheel, so that you are ready and able to pass the driving test.

As you are going through a Texas truck driver school, you will want to consider a few things that will help you once you begin your new career.

1. Long haul or short haul?

If you live in Dallas, for example, do you want to make stops in the Dallas Fort Worth area, or are you more inclined toward longhaul driving, maybe to Laredo or El Paso, or even out of state?

2. Tank or no tank?

Texas is well known for its oil wells. If you are going to haul oil, or any other liquid, you will need some extra training. In order to haul liquids, you must have a tank endorsement, which means you must pass another test.

3. Do you want to work for yourself, or for an established trucking company?

There are benefits to each of these options. If you own your own company, and are successful, there is more potential to earn a high income. If you work for an established company, they provide health and insurance benefits, as well as a tractor and trailer.

Once you have completed your studies at any one of the several Texas truck driver schools, and have determined where you want to drive, and what you want to haul, you are well on your way to a successful truck driving career.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Well, no more truck articles. Next week we go back to cars.

Enjoy,
Nadav

nadavs

Trucks and the "No Zone"

Trucks are, as you know, huge vehicles with increased visibility over other, lower vehicles. However, they have much more blind spots than any other vehicle on the road. Here is a video by the California DMV showing these blind spots, or as they are called: the "No Zone".



Beware of trucks. They are involved in more accidents than they should.

Be safe!
Nadav

nadavs

Annoying Lane Hoggers

Lane hoggers are a major annoyance on the roads of today. They never know when to move, and when they get stuck in the left lane, it's madness. However, there are two other forms of lane annoyances.

One of them is two slow cars driving at the same speed at the same place, one on each lane. They form a block that cannot be passed in any way. This drives me insane. They have no consideration for others.

The other type of lane hoggers is even more annoying. They come in opposite directions of the road, stop, and start talking. These people should have their license taken, otherwise they'll continue to do that and annoy others.

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

nadavs

Dangerous Road Conditions and You

The road is a dangerous place, and that's on an ideal day: sunny, clear, with good vision. When dangerous conditions come, the road can become much more deadly. Here is an article I wrote about this subject.

Road Conditions That Fail Drivers On Their Driver's License Test

Handling various road conditions is vital for good driving. No driver can be on the road without the knowledge of how to handle a traffic congestion or rain. During the driving test, some student drivers encounter some of these special situations without the ability to handle them. There are some common mistakes that repeat more than others on those driver's license tests.

One mistake is having no ability to deal with heavy traffic. When some students enter slow traffic they become anxious or angry, resulting in a very poor driving ability. If they start to drive like beginners on those stages, the examiner will probably show no mercy for them and mark a big X on their score sheet.

Another mistake drivers make is driving too fast on school zones. Most examiners are extremely strict around schools, and going even a little over the speed limit can fail any applicant on these situations. Other students do not stop for flashing red lights on a school bus, which is a definite critical error and a sure re-test.

Rain is a major cause of failure among many students. When it starts raining, some of them keep their current speed like nothing is happening. Worse than that, some of them don't even bother (or don't know how) to turn on their windshield wipers. If the examiner intervenes and tells them what to do, they can be almost sure that they will pay another visit to the DMV.

Although night driving is extremely rare on driving tests, there are some times of a dark environment, like a cloudy day, or on more rare occasions, a solar eclipse. When this happens, some driving students just don't know what to do. Some of them even don't turn their headlights on, which puts them in a very dangerous situation.

All these special driving conditions are easy to drive on with the proper practice. A good practice will not come from just anyone, but form a good guide with a dedicated chapter for special driving conditions.

You can find a guide just like this on the Pass Your Driver's License Test area of my site. There is even a short course offered with more driving test mistakes students make and other tips for the driving test.

Read it carefully. It can save your life.

First Time Driving: Kelly

Being scared and nervous when driving for the first time is natural, but some people, like Kelly, take it to an extreme. Watch how she reverses and turns back in the most nervous driving ever seen on the first time driving section of this blog.



According to YouTube, this video was uploaded on September 18 of this year, so Kelly still has a long way to go until she gets her license. Hopefully she will be able to accelerate smoothly by then.

Good luck Kelly!
Nadav

nadavs

British Leyland: Part 3

Comfort is very important when driving a car, so the three Top Gear guys go out to check how comfortable the cars of British Leyland are using the egg test. I think you can pretty much guess the answer.



Enjoy,
Nadav

nadavs

Don't Text and Drive

Texting can be fun, but not while driving. A research conducted in Britain reveals that texting while driving can be deadly, according to The Age.

The researchers found that while texting, steering skills become 91% worse(!) than regular driving. For comparison, smoking cannabis showed only a 35% decrease in steering ability. Texting seems more than twice as dangerous as smoking marijuana.

Reaction time was also affected, with texting slowing it by 35%, alcohol (the legal limit) by 12% and cannabis by 21%. Scary.

The conclusion: leave your cell phone alone when you drive. If it's urgent, pull over and send the message. Don't die over a text message.

Nadav

nadavs

Oregon CDL Test - Be Prepared

Trucks are usually out of my interest and my knowledge, but this is a driving blog, and trucks are driven too. Just for today, truckers get a special treat in the form of a (long) article by Ty Mathers explaining about the Oregon CDL test. At the end, they also get a job offer.

Preparing For The Oregon CDL Exam

DMVs and good memories probably don't go together. In fact, you may dread the DMV. After all, you had to go and take a test in order to get your license, and then wait in line to get your picture taken, and then wait, and wait. If you are trying to obtain a commercial driver's license, there are a few things that you can do in order to make your trip to the DMV a little more pleasant.

First, you can arrive with plenty of time to finish what you need to. Give yourself at least an hour to take the necessary exams. If you arrive at the DMV within an hour before closing, they won't even let you take the test. This means that you will want to take time off work, and give yourself enough time to arrive at the appropriate location.

Second, you should be prepared. If you have gone to a commercial truck driving school, you should know everything you need to pass the written exam, the pre-trip inspection, and the road test. But there is more to being prepared than knowing how to back up an eighteen wheeler. Being prepared means that you bring your application (filled out), and two forms of identification with you. One of the forms of identification should be a picture identification. You should be prepared to pay all fees. The DMV doesn't take credit cards, so bring another form of payment.

If you are nervous about passing your test-maybe you don't test well-then give yourself enough time to retake the test. You can take it twice in a day without paying an extra fee. If you fail it a second time, you can come back and take it another day.

You should prepare for your written exam by going over questions and answers, as well as taking sample tests. You should make sure that you have enough behind the wheel training to feel comfortable enough when taking the road test, and you should know how to perform a pre-trip inspection.

If you are applying for any endorsements -air brakes, HazMat, tank, etc. -make sure that you have filled out the appropriate paperwork.

So, while following these guidelines won't turn your trip to the DMV into a relaxing mini-vacation, they should take some of the stress out of your visit. Remember to give yourself plenty of time, prepare for the exams, bring appropriate paperwork and identification. Doing so will help you leave some of the stress at the door to the DMV. Doing so will help you get one step closer to finding an Oregon truck driving job!

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Good luck, truck drivers!
Nadav

nadavs

Stay Safe With a Good Following Distance

Driving behind a crazy driver is something everyone will go through more than once in his life. Being a good driver means being smart enough to know how far from the driver to be. The California DMV made a short video about this which explains what is a safe following distance and the three second rule.



Hope you learned something. Be safe!

Nadav

nadavs

Driving While Sleeping

It's another weekend, and recent changes in my life have have once again shown me the importance of not driving when tired. No, I did not have any accident and everyone I know is safe, but I am now going through something that makes me tired. Very tired.

I did a huge mistake a few days ago and drove when I was tired. This is a very unpleasant experience, since I struggled to keep myself alert and didn't have enough energy to enjoy driving. Luckily, the road was not congested, because I was really out of focus.

Stay alive. Don't sleep and drive.
Nadav

nadavs

Speeding and its Consequences

Speed, as you know, is a major issue in driving tests and fails many driving students. To see the common mistakes, I wrote an article about this subject.

Pass Your Road Test - Speed Issues

Cars have one major purpose: to get people from point A to point B, and fast. For speeds of 4 kilometers per hour (or 2.5 miles per hour) we have our feet. For speeds of 15-30 km/h (10-20 mph) we can ride a bicycle. For speeds like 100 km/h (about 60 mph), we need a car. The only problem is that the human race was built for walking speed, not driving speed. That is the cause of speed issues and accidents.

It may surprise you, but the most disturbing problem that many driving students have is driving too slow. Slow driving causes a safety hazard since drivers expect other drivers to drive as fast as possible to keep traffic flow. Some students are told "drive slow on the test and you will be fine". There is nothing further from the truth. Most examiners have a maximum allowed speed derivation from the speed limit, and from there it's an automatic fail. For example, in California it is 10 miles per hour. If a student drives at 25 miles per hour in a 35 zone, the test is over.

The other issue with speed is of course too much speed. Fast driving is very enjoyable, but just like everything in life, overdoing it can become the most unenjoyable experience in your life. During the driving test some examinees go over the speed limit, which is an automatic fail in some places and a warning in others. After the test, speeding is a major issue the police face every day, and it can become deadly very fast.

Approach speed on intersections is another problem with most beginner drivers. Some of them approach an intersection too fast and cannot stop behind the limit line, which can be marked as a failure to stop and an automatic test fail. Others slow down too much ahead of the intersection, causing traffic delays and annoyed drivers.

One of the more annoying speed issues is the lane change speed problem. Some drivers, especially when nervous, tend to signal for a lane change and wait forever. They see a driver next to them, so they cannot change their lane, but they don't slow down or accelerate to find a good entry point. They just wait for a miracle. This can cause dangerous maneuvers by them later to get to their turn or freeway exit on the last minute.

Like any other problem with driving, speed issues can be easily solved with practice and confidence. With the practice you will get the confidence and the "feel" of the proper speed in every situation you encounter.

To see how to handle speed the proper way and pass your driving test the first time, get your guide at Pass Your License Test section of my site.

Hope you found it useful.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Marie

As usual, the first time driving part of the week consists of a girl driver. Because of this, nothing beats this video. It has a girl, named Marie, driving to a girl's biggest dream: a shopping mall. Here is Marie.



She's pretty good, isn't she?

According to YouTube, this video was uploaded on August 12, so Marie still has a long way to go until her license. She's pretty good, so it won't be a problem for her.

Good luck!
Nadav

nadavs

British Leyland: Part 2

On this part, the three men continue their attempt to prove that British Leyland occasionally made a good car.



Enjoy,
Nadav

nadavs

Another In-DMV Crash

Last month, a woman showed how ready you need to be before taking your driver's test. According to FloriDUH, the woman tried to pull into a traffic space of the Jacksonville, Florida DMV, but she hit the gas instead of the brakes. She went over the curb and hit the office building.

Please, make sure you can operate your car before taking the test. Killing the examiner won't help you pass. Really.

Nadav

nadavs

The Driver's Ed Test

Driver's Ed, or driver's education, is a mandatory part of learning to drive. Like every skill, you must first master the rules of driving before you go on the road. The written test frightens many students, but Eddie Tobey was smart enough to write an article to clam down the nervous students.

Driver Education Tests

Driver Education tests are mandatory for students who want to prove that they are safe drivers and are qualified to get a driving license. There are three driver education tests conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles or DMV. They are knowledge test, the vision test and the skill test. Students must pass all three in order to get their license.

The knowledge test is a written examination that consists of multiple-choice questions. Students are required to score 80% or better in order to pass. This test evaluates the student’s knowledge of the traffic laws, safe driving practices and recognition of road signs.

There are many knowledge test tutorials and driver license handbooks available for students preparing to take the DMV written exam. Many websites on the Internet also provide students with online guides and practice tests that are guaranteed to help them.

For the visual test, students are tested and must have a visual acuity of 20/40 with or without corrective lenses. Those with a visual acuity of less than 20/40 will be referred to an eye specialist and must then reapply for the test. There are different visual acuity standards for different states.

The skill test is the most crucial as it measures a student’s ability to drive a specific type of vehicle. Here the examiner will monitor the student’s skill in controlling the vehicle and how well they obey traffic laws. Students have to pass the knowledge test first in order to qualify for this skill test. Students are placed in a test car and required to drive in regular traffic with an authorized examiner who will ask them to perform certain driving maneuvers. These include starting and stopping the vehicle, using mirrors, controlling the vehicle, parking and pulling out of parked positions, backing out, defensive driving, obeying traffic signals and signs, etc. They will also be asked to do emergency stops and demonstrate the proper use of arm signals and automatic signals.

The examiner will grade the student on every aspect of performance and if he/she scores 80% a license is granted.

Drivers Education provides detailed information about driver education, driver education online, driver education classes, driver education schools and more. Drivers Education is the sister site of Truck Driving Schools.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Hope you're now ready for it.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Rain, Fog, and Darkness

Rain driving, driving in fog, and generally driving when conditions are not ideal is not safe. For that, the California DMV created a video that explains what to do in these situations (hint: slow down).



Hope you learned something,
Nadav

nadavs

The Radio Decision

To turn on or not to turn on the radio, that is the question many beginner drivers face when they drive. This is done for a good reason: the radio can be very distracting for a new driver. However, when getting used to it, it's great.

The radio is the only thing that keeps me focused when I drive. It sounds funny, but it's true. When it's turned off, my thoughts start to wonder and I am heavily distracted. When the music comes back on, I am once again focused on driving.

So, what is your favorite station? Feel free to leave a comment and tell everyone.

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

nadavs

The Limits of Limit Lines

Limit lines are a big annoyance when it comes to driving tests. Going over them counts as minor errors, but they can add up fast. Here is an article I wrote about this topic to help you avoid this error.

Limit Lines - A Limiting Factor On Driving Tests

Limit lines tell drivers where to stop on intersections. As such, they are very important to traffic control, intersection management, and road safety. Without them, drivers would not know where and when to stop on an intersection, and a big confusion will arise. During driving tests, it is very important to stick to limit lines. However, some driving students ignore them or make mistakes regarding to them that cost them the entire test.

The most common mistake regarding limit lines is stopping after them. Limit lines mark the limit of advancing into an intersection, yet some driving students don't notice them or just don't care, and stop after limit lines. If it is done moderately, the examiner is most likely to mark a small minor error. But if the student stops deep inside the intersection, the examiner will not be happy at all and can easily put and end to the test.

Stopping too early is another big mistake regarding limit lines. Some student drivers are so nervous about stopping on the right place that they stop too much before the limit line. This is not the smartest maneuver to do, and the student can get a small mark for an unnecessary stop. If this early stop causes something like an accident from an unprepared driver, the test has reached its end.

Without limit lines many driving students are completely lost. Some intersections don't have limit lines at all, so student drivers must know where to stop. However, many of them are so used to limit lines so they don't know how to handle intersections without them. Some of them just don't stop where necessary, others don't stop at all. This confusion makes many of them fail miserably.

There is an easy solution to all of these mistakes - a guide that shows exactly how to behave with any intersection type, whether or not there is a limit line there. A guide like this can easily boost any driver's chance of passing the driving test on the first time he takes it.

You can get a guide like this at the Pass your Driving Test area of my site, along with a course about more driving test mistakes and tips.

Hope it helped you.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Giannina

Driving around the farm is a great way to start driving. Calm music also helps a first time driver relax (or drives him insane). Here is a video of Giannina driving for the first time. I must say she is very good. Finally no screaming and no "Wow! It's moving!".



According to YouTube, the video was uploaded on July 26, so Giannina still has quite a way to go. She is 18, so she only has to practice enough and take her test.

Good luck, Giannina!
Nadav

nadavs

British Leyland: Part 1

British Leyland (BL) was a vehicle manufacturing company in the late 1960s, and for some reason got a reputation of not-so-good cars. However, the guys who brought you the best driving road now want to prove that BL made some good cars. Here is the first part, see how many malfunctions these cars have.



Don't you just want one of these cars?

Nadav

nadavs

Road Rage Dangers

KPTV.com posted a story about the dangers of road rage. A man was driving behind a Jeep that was going under the speed limit, and there were no passing lanes. When the man tried to pass, the Jeep sped up and didn't let him pass. After a while the Jeep turned to a side street, came back to the road, and its driver pointed a gun at the man.

The gun pointer was arrested because he was not allowed to carry a gun. However, he claimed that the other man was tailgating him. Whatever the story is, beware of such things. Step away from any possible road rage.

Be safe!
Nadav

nadavs

The Big Failure Reasons

Failure is not a nice feeling, but it's a part of life and the driving test. Although many people already know why they fail, they keep failing. Tommy Connolly brings us another list of failure reasons for you to check.

Top 10 Reasons Why People Fail Their Practical Driving Test!

Reasons why people fail the test:-

On average those who pass their driving test first time, have had around 45 hours of professional training, along with about 22 hours of private practice.

Learners who have combined professional instruction with private practice have had a more successful pass rate than those who do not.

Form June 2004 studies it showed that the pass rate was only 43%, and for first time candidates, it is even lower.

Below is list of the Top Ten reasons to why people fail their driving test:

1. Inappropriate speed - travelling too slowly or being hesitant

2. Reversing around a corner - ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy

3. Moving away safely - ineffective observation

4. Observation at junctions – inefficient observation and judgement.

5. Lack of steering control - steering too early or leaving it too late

6. Reverse parking - ineffective observation or a lack of accuracy

7. Incorrect positioning to turn right - at junctions and in one way streets

8. Use of mirrors - not checking or not acting on the information

9. Incorrect use of signals - not cancelling or giving misleading signals

10. Incorrect positioning on the road - at roundabouts or on bends

This list is not in the order of importance, it is just a list of the top ten reasons of why people failed their driving test, as from a study of the 12 months of 2004. Also these reasons are why other people have failed their test, for you it could just be down to that you are just not ready yet or nerves on the day, so the best advice is to wait until you feel 100% for the test and not to rush straight into it.

For more information on the practical test visit DRIVINGwise

For 17 Handy Tips when choosing your insurance

Source: EzineArticles.com (links removed for being broken).

Hope it helped you,
Nadav

nadavs

Choosing the Right Speed

Speed is one of the biggest issues driving students have when they take their test or drive in general. Everyone knows how to read speed limit signs, but following them and knowing what they stand for is the key for a successful test and being a good driver.

The California DMV made a video about that (they make a lot of videos, don't they?), but be careful: unless you live in California, don't take precise numbers from the video, because they may be different in your area.



To gain a good control over speed, read my driving test guide which has a whole chapter about speed and speed control.

The Manual-Automatic Transmission Debate

Since the dawn of the automatic transmission, there has been a long debate about which type of transmission is better - the manual or the automatic.

It appears that the answer varies from country to country, but it appears that Americans prefer automatic cars while Europeans prefer manuals. When I was in Germany, over 90% of the cars I saw were manual.

Each side has advantages and disadvantages, of course. Manual transmission allows more precise control over the car, which in turn translates into a better gas mileage. However, a manual transmission requires a better driving skill, something that is not required with an automatic transmission. Even more, an automatic transmission is good for city driving, since many gear shiftings are required. But on top of everything, the manual transmission fans claim it's just more fun.

I personally drive an automatic car, but I'd really like to drive a manual one. You know, for the fun.

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

nadavs

Stop Signs and Their Related Mistakes

Everyone knows what to do on a stop sign - stop. Still, many driving studnets and experienced drivers fail to do that simple task. During a driving test, it means automatic failure. Here is an article I wrote about this subject to help you perform better.

Stop Sign Mistakes to Avoid for a Great DMV Driving Test

Stop signs are like a "breeding ground" for driving test mistakes. Since they require a good coordination and understanding of road conditions, many driving students get their score sheets marked on these intersections.

Limit lines are the biggest issue when it comes to stop signs. Many drivers, even those with a driver's license, don't know where to stop on a stop sign. On the driving test, some students stop behind the limit line. This is a minor error in some places, but a major in others. Also, many minor errors add up to one big re-test.

Some students don't even stop after the limit line at a stop sign intersection. They don't stop at all. They just "slide" through the intersection, hoping nobody will come. Others don't even slow down for the stop sign. This is of course a critical error and an immediate end to the test.

All way stop signs are very common in the United States, and they cause many problems to the driving studnets. These special intersections should be very easy for the students, but in reality they are a source of many test failures. When some drivers stop at the intersection, they don't know when is their turn to go. They wait until the intersection is completely empty before they enter instead of knowing when is their turn. If the examiner tells the student driver when to enter the intersection, the test is likely to be a failure.

Lack of confidence is also a test-killer when it comes to stop signs. When the driver is asked to turn left, he needs to look both ways, make sure it's clear, and go. Some students have trouble doing this simple maneuver. They wait forever until they are absolutely sure there is no car coming their way. But when they do enter, they already failed.

Stop signs can be very easy if practiced well. Any driver practicing for the driving test should get him/herself a good guide about the driving test and all required maneuvers.

You can find the appropriate guide for you at the Pass Your DMV Driving Test area of my site. All guides have a special chapter about stop signs and how to deal with them.

Don't forget to stop,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Candice

The car alarm is very important, as you can see in Candice's first time driving video. If I remember correctly, she is the only first time driver who went over the speed limit. Very impressive.



This video was uploaded on November of 2007, so Candice probably already has her license or she is getting ready to take her test. Anyway, good luck.

Drive safely!
Nadav

nadavs

Britain Road Rage: Part 6

In this sixth and final part of Britain Road Rage, a cyclist shares her story of a near-death, London is once again filled with weird bikes, mothers of school children protest, and a brief summary of everything.



Enjoy,
Nadav

nadavs

The Not-So-Perfect Crime

Stealing a car is not very hard these days. However, you need to know which car to steal, and how. Here is a story from Charleston.net that will show how thieves can be rather stupid sometimes.

Jeff Metts is the owner of an old car from the 1980s, and he wanted to sell it. One night he contacted an interested buyer, and they met at a gas station. As Jeff went around the car to the passenger seat, the driver locked the doors and drove away. However, he made a fatal mistake.

When someone steals a well known and new car, the only way to catch him is with the license plate number. The thief in this story stole a very rare car, one that can be easily identified. Hopefully it will be identified soon.

I hope you learned your lesson: don't forget to take all safety measures to make sure your car won't be stolen when you give someone a test drive.

Nadav

nadavs

The Eight Must-Haves of the Driving Test

Robin Piggott, as avid readers of this blog know, likes to write long articles about the driving test. This time, he wrote about eight things you must know before taking your test.

Practical Driving Test Preparation Tips for those Sitting the Test for the First Time

Sitting your Practical Driving Test need not be the ordeal that it is for many of you. There are many simple and very easily accomplished tips and strategies that will stack the cards in your favour and give you a higher than average chance of passing first time.

We know that life goes faster and faster with each passing day and that there are just so many things that distract you and cause your focus to wander. That said, if you want to pass your Driving Test first time then there are no short cuts… only commitment, hard work and plenty of practise a month before the Test not one week before. We are assuming here that you already know how to drive and have been taught the basics by an Instructor who is qualified to pass on the necessary skills.

Those persons who are not qualified to teach you the skills that you will need to stay alive first and foremost and to then be successful on your Driving Test are to be found on every street corner. Some of them even do a pretty good job of masquerading as professionals but are found out sooner or later.

Enlisting the services of a skilled Driving Instructor who has your interests at heart would be a very good start to the process of passing your Driving Test first time. Once you have begun to master all the basics and have built up your confidence, by all means enlist the help of a family member.

Will this cost you hard earned money? Of course it will; but the alternative is a protracted and painful odyssey.

For a chance of passing the Test first time into today’s hectic driving environment you must forget about Boyfriends, Girlfriends, Sisters, Brothers and the ever present Mother or Father. None of these persons have the necessary up to the minute information that will ensure a first time pass! For sure they will be useful in helping you to practise but only in conjunction with paid tuition.

Here are Eight practical Driving Test Preparation Tips to help you on the way. Are there more? You Bet. Get these under way and sorted first. Then you can begin to feel that you are heading in the right direction.

Is your car fully checked out? Especially tyres, lights and all secondary controls.

Hint:-If you are unsure what will be the required standard Call Instructor not the Garage.

Do you know what is required of you on the day of your Driving Test?

Hint:-Read your Test Appointment Letter carefully.

Do you know the area where your Driving Test will take place?

Hint:-Spend time both at and near to your local Test Centre

Have you checked out all the Hot Spots immediately prior to the Test?

Hint:-Your Driving Instructor will highlight these for you.

Do you have all your documentation in order?

Hint:-There are four documents that without which you won’t be sitting the Driving Test.

Have you mastered your reversing skills?

Hint:-Your Instructor is the only person for this advice. Practise follows after learning the correct Techniques.

Can you identify and answer all the expected Technical Check questions?

Hint:-If you have not learnt how to open the bonnet (hood) you will be in trouble.

Do you possess some degree of confidence?

Hint:-Without having Driving Lessons you won’t be able to conjure this up to order.

Is there more? Yes of course. First things first. Get a complete handle on the above before you do anything else and you will already be ahead of the posse. The detailed answers have been deliberately left out for two reasons.

First of all to get you thinking and into the frame of mind that you will need to adopt if you are to pass the Driving Test. Second of all to persuade you to take on the responsibility yourself for passing or failing and not expecting anyone else to shoulder the burden.

It’s very easy to come up with at least twenty excuses in the event of failure but there is only one real person responsible for the end result and that is you the Driver, no one else.

Robin Piggott is a Driving Instructor in Ireland who brings four decades of experience to his Astral Driving School based in Limerick. His newly refurbed web site can be found at http://www.astraldrivingschool.ie/ Here you can find a treasure trove of everything for the Learner Driver and also pages for the visitor who is contemplating Touring Ireland by Car. Pick up a free seven part mini course "Passing the Driving Test First Time" and stack the cards in your favour.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Please notice that some parts of this article are only relevant to Ireland. As far as I know, knowing what's going under the hood is not required in California's driving test.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs