The Parker

It's the end of another June, which means the first half of the year has gone by. To celebrate that, we have a funny commercial showing that some people can be very untalented and very unlucky.



For a great July,
Nadav

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Important Information About the Driving Test

In some countries, people are taught to drive by parents or other relatives. However, in some countries, a driving instructor is a must. Here is an article by Theodor Cartman about this issue to help you understand how good your instructor is.

Driving Lessons - Information You Need to Know

If you want to learn the basics of driving, you have to dive into the experience of it rather than theory. There is no way to successfully learn how to drive a car other than getting behind a wheel and driving. But this should not be conducted in a haphazardly manner but a certain semblance of seriousness should be observed in order to succeed in your driving lessons. That is why it is essential to learn a few basics about driving lessons.

Driving lessons are critical because they provide new drivers with the necessary experience and additional knowledge to be able to drive successfully and safely. With this information, accidents can be averted and drivers who are armed with road safety awareness become better drivers than other drivers.

Getting a driving lesson is an ideal first step towards acquiring a driving license. In most countries and indeed states, before one can acquire a driver's license they have to sit for a written exam. This usually involves reading and then attempting an oral or multiple choice series of questions usually revolving around traffic laws and regulations. If one fails to pass this test, there is usually a second try after some days, weeks or months depending on the particular rules and regulations of that particular country or state. Once one passes the written driving exam they are then free to schedule an actual driving exam. For many, passing this exam is critical and they therefore secure driving lessons as a guarantee that they will pass.

There are some countries where it is necessary to obtain some sort of certification from a credited diving school before they can be deemed qualified to obtain a driver's license. This may or may not include passing both the written and actual driving test that is administered by the Department of motor vehicles.

In most cases, driving lessons are conducted in open surroundings far from any buildings, other humans or other cars. Favorite places are schools which have their own unused fields especially when school is out. In a professional driving school the car that is used for driving lesson is custom-made and may resemble any other car on the outside but on the inside it may have modified controls which give both the student and the instructor control of the vehicle. This is necessary because the instructor may need to step in and control the car when the student has made a mistake.

Before a student can embark on driving lessons, they must be taught some basic classroom instructions which involve traffic awareness and techniques of driving. The students are also furnished with the entire curriculum so that they have a grasp of what will be required during the entire course. It is also good to mention here that driving lessons are not just for those who are seeking to acquire a driver's license for the first time. Seasoned drivers who have been driving for many years may also go back to school for a refresher.

Halifax Driving School can teach you to drive in quick time and at very competitive price. They offer driving lessons in Watford, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and all surrounding area. See more information at http://www.halifaxdrivingschool.co.uk/

Source: EzineArticles.com.

I hope this article helped you. Don't forget that a driving test guide is always helpful, even if you have an instructor.

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Avoid Hits on the Rear

One of the most dangerous accidents is a rear-end collision. It happens when a car hits you on the rear end, or when you hit another car. As scary as this sounds, you can minimize the risk with a series of simple steps. Here is a video that explains it well.



Be careful!

Nadav

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Police Story

Today I heard a police story. Not one that belongs to me, but to someone else. She was driving a wide road, two lanes each way and no separation between lanes. After a big turn she was stopped by the police for speeding.

She asked the officer why was she stopped, and the officer said "speeding". "Why?", she asked. "It's a 90 km/h road", she said. "No, there is no lane separation. It's an 80 km/h road". "Oh, I see. I didn't know that".

Well, she got out with only a warning. However, any more violation in the next two years will lead to a big fine.

Know the rules of the road around you. It's a must if you want to survive there.

Nadav

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Easing the Driving Test

When you want to invest in stocks, you need some information, tips, and secrets. The same goes for the driving test. However, many people don't even have basic information. Here is an article about this painful topic and how to resolve it.

Your Driving Test Won't Be Hard at All If You Know All the Secrets

Passing your driver's test doesn't have to be as hard as some people make it out to be. All you need is practice and an understanding of all the rules. The written test is actually pretty easy, just as long as you spend some time looking over all the material. Practice tests are available on the internet. Some of them have the exact same questions as the actual tests.

While practice is the best way to prepare for the road test, it's also important for you to know exactly what will be expected of you. The only way to ensure that you're totally prepared is by knowing exactly what your examiner will be looking for. One of the reasons many people fail is because they let their nerves get the best of them.

There is plenty of information online about how to get through your entire road test. You can look over a step by step guide filled with tips and secrets on how to impress your examiner. These interactive guides aren't boring either. They are designed to make your learning as interesting as possible. Even if you already have guidebooks and other study materials, you can supplement your driver's education with a good, interactive online program.

Take the time to learn from home and you will find yourself feeling more comfortable with learning. E-courses can be interesting, informative, and easy to understand. You will learn so easily and effortlessly that your confidence level will rise a great deal; and, since you'll know every single thing you'll be tested for, you'll find yourself less nervous during your test.

More than half of first time examinees fail their driver's test. If you've never taken yours, then you can ensure that you are part of the smaller group that does pass the very first time! If you have taken your test and failed, you won't ever have to worry about failing again, just as long as you go with an informative, easy to understand online program.

Hope it helped you,
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Mädchen

Yes, the first time driving day is going to Europe. Today we have a European driver, Mädchen, who drives through a farm. Watch her as she goes and speaks what seems to be German.



This video was uploaded two months ago, so Mädchen still has a very long way to go until she gets her license (it's really long in Europe).

Good luck!
Nadav

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Top Gear Police Challenge: Part 2

Without further words, here is the second part of the Top Gear police car challenge.



Enjoy,
Nadav

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The Sad Malta Passing Rates

If you have just failed your driving test in Malta, you are not alone. According to their transport minister, only 44% of people that took their driving test passed it the first time since January 1, 2008.

Even more from this article, we can understand that about 28% passed on the second time and 27% on the third. The other 1% are probably still paying for tests.

Too bad that Malta people don't get driving test guides. I'm sure it could've helped them.

Nadav

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Know When you are DUI

DUI, or driving under the influence, is a serious offense, sometimes even criminal, in some states. In order to avoid this situation, you need to know what you consume, and when you can drive. Here is an article about this topic by C Dreyer.

Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs

You most likely know that DUI, or driving under the influence, is a serious problem that results in about 37% of all traffic fatalities in the United States. Like many people, you would never knowingly drive under the influence. What you may not know is that DUI does not only apply to driving under the influence of alcohol. You can also be stopped for driving under the influence of prescription drugs. If you take prescription medications, you should be aware of the possible pitfalls of driving after taking your medications.
1. Be aware of medication side effects.

Prescription medications can cause drowsiness, inhibit your coordination, and reduce your reaction time. It's important to read labels carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist about any potential medication side effects. Also realize that these side effects are not limited to just prescription medications. Though people think of over-the-counter drugs as safe, they also carry risks of side effects.

Unfortunately, you will not know how a particular medication may affect you until a little while after you have taken it. When in doubt, it's best to wait and see how the medication affects you before driving while on medication

2. Even if you pass a breathalyzer test, you could still be arrested for DUI.

During peak DUI season, like the Christmas and New Year holidays, July 4th, and other times when drunk drivers are out in greater numbers, you may be stopped for random testing even if you show no signs of impairment. Some medications can even result in a positive breathalyzer test, as well as cause partial impairment that may show up on one or more field sobriety test measures. You can be arrested for DUI if you test positive on any of these measures, even if you haven't consumed a single drop of alcohol.

3. Realize that two or more medications may interact with each other.

Just because each medicine that you take individually carries no risk of causing impairment, combining two or more medicines may cause unexpected reactions in the body. Again, be sure you talk to a doctor or pharmacist about how certain medications will react. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications may put you at risk when taken in combination.

4. If you have a chronic condition, carry medical information with you.

In some cases, people may experience life-threatening episodes of diabetic shock, heart attack, or stroke while driving. Officers may mistakenly interpret this disorientation or lack of ability to respond as drunkenness. Carry with you at all times information regarding your medical condition. Many people wear a medi-bracelet with their name and important medical information. Without this vital information, you could be arrested and taken to jail for drunk driving, wasting precious time when you should be receiving emergency medical treatment.

Before you take to the roads, make sure you understand what medications you are taking, and how they may interact with each other. When in doubt, stay off the roads to avoid being arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Be sure to carry medical information with you in case of emergency. Above all, do not drive if your medications hinder your ability to stay safely in control of your vehicle.

California dui lawyers can explain to you the major differences between a dui misdemeanor and felony charge. In addition Arizona dui lawyers are very experienced in criminal proceedings such as dui.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

I hope this article will help you avoid uncomfortable situations.

Nadav

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Handling Brake Failure

One of the scariest situations a driver can handle is brake failure. When the hydraulic (foot) brakes fail, it seems like you are doomed. However, you can handle the situation. Watch this video and remember.



If you have an automatic transmission, just shift to gears "2" (or "S") and "1" (or "L"). This is the same as lowering the gears on a manual transmission.

Remember this lesson - it can save your life!
Nadav

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The Three-Pass Day

Yesterday I went on my regular Friday driving, but something really annoying happened - I got stuck behind two ignorant and annoying people who drove so slowly I had to pass both of them (I usually don't pass on roads with one lane in each direction, but this was too much).

Later on I encountered something even more annoying - someone going 30 km/h below the speed limit for no reason at all. The road was straight, we were out of a residential zone, and there were no special weather conditions. I had to pass this one too.

I never had to pass three people like this. Maybe it means people are getting more and more annoying.

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

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Reduce the Driving Test Stress

Stress before the driving test can be a killer factor that will prevent you from getting your license. However, there is a solution. Here is an article I wrote about this topic, for you to learn.

Learn Driving Secrets and Lessen Your Stress During the Road Test

One common tip you'll receive with regards to your driving test is to "stay calm". This is obviously easier said than done, as you will be under a great deal of scrutiny. For thirty to forty minutes, your every move will be observed and evaluated. Needless to say, being in a situation like that can be stressful for anybody!

The only way you can ease your nervousness is by being wholly prepared and confident. The only way you can be confident is by making sure you know everything you need to know in order to pass. You'll have to be aware of every single thing you will be tested on. Acquiring all the knowledge of the rules of the road may seem like an impossible feat, but it's really not.

Of course you'll need a lot of practice. Make sure you spend at least a few hours a week out driving with your family during the six or eight weeks leading up toward your test. And, as much as you may dread doing so, go over your study material thoroughly every single day.

If you find your local DMV guidebook to be boring or even lacking in some aspects, you can take a driving course online. There are programs filled with all the information you'll need in order to pass. They are designed with the purpose of teaching you and helping you learn all you need to know in a simple way. In other words, preparing for driving test can be effortless, just as long as you choose the right program.

Learn tips and secrets about the DMV and what your examiner will be checking for during your road test! You will need to know more than just the basic rules mentioned in your guidebook. By knowing inside secrets, you'll definitely feel less stress and pressure than most people during your test!

Hope you found it useful,
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Bailey

Sometimes being young doesn't mean knowing how to drive. Watch Bailey, a new driver, not understanding a thing about what to do with the car.



Bailey still has a long time until she gets her license. Hopefully by then she'll know what to do with the wheel.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Top Gear Police Challenge: Part 1

I tried it before, and I'll do it again. Last time I tried to post the police car challenge, I discovered I don't have a second part. Now I have, so I'll bring it once more.

This is the famous police car challenge of Top Gear, where they try to create the best police car on their own. Watch and (don't really) learn.



Enjoy,
Nadav

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The Effectiveness of Chicago Cameras

One of the most common topics to complain about in Chicago are red-light cameras. They are annoying, they cost money, and their effectiveness can be doubted.

However, a new study shows that they might just be working. Why? Drivers learn where the cameras are and stop running lights. Does it stop them from running other lights? No. But it stops them from running specific lights, which are very dangerous.

Overall, the number of accidents in intersections with cameras has dropped 20% city-wide. Not bad at all for a large city.

Hopefully those cameras will become useless soon.

Nadav

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What Car to Bring for the Test

When you take your driving test, you will probably bring your own car. However, this car must meet certain standards in order for you to use it in your test. Here is an article by Julia Cleanthous about this topic.

Requirements That Your Car Must Meet to Be Used For the Driving Test

The time for the trial has finally come. After having grasped what you need to do with driving lessons, you're now facing the test that's necessary to obtain your driver's license. This involves a lot of preparation, most of which is psychological. You'll want to ensure that you feel physically and mentally ready for making good on being judged, and that you remember to adhere to the principles of proper road conduct.

There is more to this than just that, though. The other part involved is your vehicle of choice. In a good driving school, you'll be instructed on what you must do to be ready for the driver's test. They'll cover more than just driving lessons - they'll tell you what a car needs to have to meet the requirements.

If you're bringing your own vehicle to the test for a driver's license, be certain that it meets certain standards. The first and most important is that it has valid inspection stickers. This is something almost every driving department will check, and if you have a car that is out-of-date inspection-wise, then they can refuse you the test. Even if they don't do this, it's generally safer to assume they will. Also, keeping your inspections updated means that you'll have covered several other aspects involved in determining your vehicle eligibility.

The next thing to confirm is the functionality of your car horn. It may seem useless to you in most cases, but this is still a tool that has a proper purpose for the right time, and a test judge will see to it to ensure your horn is functional. If you don't have a working horn, you can expect your car to be refused the test, unfortunately.

Tire treads are usually checked as well for grip and pressure. Make sure you stop at a petrol station before going to the test to make sure all 4 tires are in good condition and pressurized.

Without mirrors, lights, or signals, you simply will not qualify at all. The other things may not always be looked at, but these three elements will never be overlooked. That's guaranteed. A severely damaged or missing mirror will count towards disqualification - there's just no safety present in having blind spots, and the lack of a functional mirror adds to them. No test judge will allow you to drive with a car lacking the basic elements of providing vision, and for obvious reasons. Burnt lights may not seem as important, considering that you'll be doing your testing during the day. However, they represent visibility for other divers. This is especially true for signals. While you may have the rare fortune of not having your headlights examined, the signals will always be checked because every test requires that you use them accordingly. Fortunately, all of these things are cheap, so getting them replaced is a fairly simple and affordable process.

The last thing they want to see is not as obvious. For plenty of tests, your seats are going to be checked for their ability to adjust. This is simply due to driver and passenger safety concerns. A seat that lacks proper adjustable features due to damage or faultiness may indicate worse problems with the structure, which is a bad sign for test-giver.

Ensure that all these things are met, that you pay attention during driving lessons, and you'll be certain to pass that test. Good luck!

Learn how to drive step by step with Driving Plus Driving School. For more information on Driving Plus and their instructors visit Driving Schools Sydney.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Hope you found it useful,
Nadav

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Choosing a Fuel

Fueling your car is the second most frequent action you do with your car (the first one is, of course, driving). Knowing that, you should be an expert in giving your car the right fuel. Here is an explanation about gas types and what you should choose.



Hope it was useful for you.
Nadav

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Another Long Time of No Driving

Some times, for some reasons, I have long periods in which I don't drive. I just can't or don't want to touch the car. This causes many problems.

Usually, after such a long period of no driving, I need to take a really long drive, when my driving skill is still quite "weak" (I regain it during the drive, but it's still hard sometimes). I had some scary situations because of that.

I really need to start driving more often. Practice makes perfect, as I always say.

Nadav

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Low Cost Car Insurance For Teenagers

After you pass your test, the real expenses begin. You need to pay for a car, a payment which goes much beyond just buying the car. One of the biggest expenses is insurance, especially if you are a teenager. However, there are some ways to lower this cost. Here is an article I wrote about this topic.

Tips For Finding Low Cost Car Insurance For Teenagers

Car insurance for teenagers doesn't have to be all that expensive. While it does cost more, there are ways in which it can be lowered. The reason why vehicle insurance is more costly for teenagers than for adults is because the former are involved in more accidents. They are considered high risk drivers. In order to save money, obviously, teens need to prove they're responsible.

To begin with, most companies will give out discounted car insurance for teenagers. They can take drivers' education classes, make good grades, and keep their driving record clear. Students who stay on the honor roll are considered to be less risky. Young drivers who are responsible are usually eligible for discounts on plans with some companies.

The type of car also plays an important role in low cost car insurance for teenagers. Fast, sporty cars can be very costly. This is because they're more likely to be involved in accidents and are also at high risk for theft. Old cars that are paid in full are less reckless to drive and therefore cheaper to insure.

Another way to make car insurance for teenagers cheaper is for parents to encourage them to drive safely at all times. By avoiding tickets and accidents, young drivers can save a lot of money in the long run. Each clear year that goes by, a teen's insurance costs will lower some. As for whether parents should buy their teens separate policies or add them to the family policies, it depends on the type of vehicles the family owns as well as other factors that vary from plan to plan.

There is plenty of information online concerning car insurance for teenagers. If you wish to save your family some money, read all you can about lowering the plan costs for your teen. You can find out all you want to know by reading online tips and requesting free online quotes.

The link in the article leads to a page with many car insurers, so make sure you get a quote from every possible company on that page to see which company offers the best insurance for you.

Nadav

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First Time Driving: Ashleigh

Today's video is the longest driving video ever brought here. It's ten minutes and it belongs to a girl with an extraordinarily long name. However, she drives quite well. Watch her.



This video was uploaded a month ago, so Ashleigh still has a long way to go. She'll do fine, I'm sure.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Top Gear vs. Germany: Part 2

Here is the second part of the battle.



Enjoy!

Nadav

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Crashing Motorbike Learners

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) invented a new, brilliant idea to annoy people: the "swerve test". In this test, the rider has to reach 50 km/h (about 30mph) and swerve in a specially designed track.

What's so bad about it? It causes people to fall from the motorbike. People brake and swerve, which causes them to feel the laws of physics work against them. It's not smart, and it's not helping, especially on wet roads (which Britain certainly has).

Hopefully the DSA will understand their big mistake and cancel this test. Until then, use a helmet.

Nadav

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The Real Truth About the Biggest Driving Test Conspiracy

Today's post title can easily differentiate between people who are learning to drive and those who don't. As everyone knows, the biggest driving conspiracy is about limiting the number of people who pass their test. Colin John Brown, a driving instructor, wants to show us the truth. Read what he has to say.

Driving Test Pass Limits?

As an Approved Driving Instructor since 1996, I'm very used to being asked certain questions regarding the driving test. One of those regularly asked questions is; can driving examiners only pass a certain number of driving tests a week? This is a question I can remember asking my driving instructor some 26 years ago. I could just answer this with a simple yes or no, however that would lead to a very short article and may not completely convince you. So let's look at some facts.

The average (overall) pass rate for UK driving test centers is normally around 45-50 %. However if you look around the country you will find widely differing pass rates. These differences may be due to the difficulty of the roads or volume of traffic near to the test center. Also the affluence of an area can make a difference, as the learners may be able to afford more lessons prior to taking their driving test.

Here are a couple of examples:

-Birmingham (Kings Heath) a very busy area, has a pass rate of 30.13% for the year 2007-2008.

-Gairloch (Highlands, Scotland) a rural area, which for the same period had a pass rate of 70.59%.

If there were driving test pass limits, then shouldn't they have the same pass rate? Now the question has possibly changed to have particular test centers got set driving test pass limits? Let me give you a recent personal experience. At the beginning of the year (2009) I had a run of 10 tests all passing in a row (most 1st time). Then I had a fail and then another couple of passes. If my local test center had a set pass rate, then wouldn't I have had some of my first 10 tests fail, as the normal pass rate for this test center is close to the national average?

However, as is often the case, there may be some, if possibly only small, element of truth about driving test pass limits. First imagine you are a driving examiner. You know that over the course of any given week/month or even year, the test centers pass rate is normally around 45-50%.
However you know that you have recently been passing a lot higher % than this. This may lead you, or senior examiners to wonder if you are marking the tests differently to the other examiners at the same test center. The examiner may, in this instance decide to adjust their marking slightly as they believe they are being too lenient. This does not however mean failing someone who has done nothing wrong. Instead it may be that in a slightly grey area, which could be either a driving fault or possibly a serious/failure mark, the examiner decides to be stricter and puts down as a failure mark!

Please remember that this is only my opinion; however it is one gained from experience, having listened to a great number (hundreds) of debriefs at the end of the driving test, as well as sitting in the back during dozens of tests over the years. So what do I mean by grey areas and how can you avoid them? Grey areas will be situations where different people could view the learner's actions differently, such as one person/examiner feeling that a learner is traveling slightly too close to parked cars and another simply too close. It is down to the examiner's own perception of the situation and, as in most situations this can be slightly different from person to person.

So how can a learner avoid falling the wrong side of this decision? Well the obvious answer is to drive correctly. However one of the key areas to look at is what the examiner believes the learner's attitude is to their driving and other road users. If the learner appears to be trying to drive well, using good observation, planning well ahead and considering other road users, then the examiner is much more likely to give the learner the benefit of the doubt if there is a decision to make. In conclusion, if the learner drives correctly then they will pass the driving test and they don't need to worry about possible driving test pass limits. The better prepared the learner is the greater their chances are of passing the driving test.

For more details on learning to drive, together with lots of practical information and advice please visit us at. http://your-online-driving-school.co.uk/ Online learning to drive resource

I have been an Approved Driving Instructor since 1996 and own my own driving school based in Norfolk, England. Recently I started by own internet based driving school (Your Online Driving School) providing free online learning to drive information and advice, together with a number of excellent e-books and downloads. http://www.your-online-driving-school.co.uk/

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Relaxed yet?

Once again, a definite proof that driving well, learning with a driving guide, and doing everything right is the key to success in driving.

Nadav

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Starting in Cold Weather

Cars run using internal combusion engines, which have many moving parts, so it must warm up before you can use them. This is why you need to treat your car in a special way on cold weather. Here is a video showing how to start your car in a cold weather and not ruining the engine.



Hope you learned something.

Nadav

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An Oven Car

The summer is here, and the first sign of it is cooking cars. Not people cooking them, but the cars cooking people.

It's so hot outside, that the cars act like ovens. They keep heat, and the temperature there can even go over 40 degrees Celcius (104 Farenheit). It makes entering cars a real nightmare.

Yesterday I took an afternoon drive, and I nearly fainted when I entered the car. It was so hot I could barely touch the wheel. I had to drive with the air conditioning on maximum power all the way, and it still wasn't enough.

Be careful!

Nadav

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Tips For Getting Through the Test

Everyone wants to pass the driving test, but only some can do it properly the first time. To help you, I have some good tips that can maybe boost your chances.

Tips For Easily Getting Through Your Driver's Road Test

It can be hard for some people to pass their driver's license test on the very first try. Some people end up taking it two or three times before finally passing. If you want to pass on your very first try, you need to study some tips and tricks.

Your local DMV guide book will only take you so far. Although you should still study it, you need to look over some additional resources as well. There is plenty of material online, including instruction guides, videos, and even software for you to check into. You can obviously learn a lot about driving without leaving your home!

Still, practice makes perfect. Take the information you learn online and use it all as you practice driving. Before you know it, you should have everything down pat! Still, you need to be careful when you're actually taking your test. Careful, yet confident. Stay focused, but don't allow yourself to become too relaxed.

Whatever you do, whatever---don't panic! Try your best to keep your nerves down. Being calm is very important. This is why you need to study and practice a lot before taking your test; the more experience you have, the more calm you'll be. This is basically common sense. Still, many new drivers do have trouble staying calm.

Don't think for a moment that you won't be tested on minor things. You will be tested on every single aspect that goes into driving. From the moment you open the car door to begin to the moment you return to the DMV---you will be tested. Just as long as you practice everything beforehand, you should hopefully do all right.

In order to successfully pass your driver's test, you need to look over the resources available online. Use these along with your DMV guidebook and, just as long as you get a lot of practice in, you should pass your test!

Hope you found this information useful.
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Vanessa

Driving a manual transmission for the first time is not really easy, but there are some people who do quite a good job. Vanessa has the potential to drive well, but she insists on screaming and getting scared from the phone instead of driving well (really, mute your speakers before you watch. It can get painful).



Vanessa says this video was shot on March 4 of this year, so she has some months left until she can take her test. Hopefully she doesn't scream like this on her test.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Top Gear vs. Germany: Part 1

This week and next week I'm bringing you one of the best parts ever shown on TopGear: the battle against the Germans. I don't want to ruin it too much, so I'll go straight to the video.



Hope you enjoyed it. The next part will be next week.

Nadav

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Re-Failing the Practical Test

Last week I had here an article about the GMAC written test pass rate, and today it's another survey, this time about the pass rate of the practical test for experienced drivers.

The survey found that nearly 50% of people will have difficulties if they had to take their test now. Why? Because they don't remember key points and important maneuvers, because they forgot them.

Perhaps it leads to another conclusion: the driving test is not really how people drive. Where I live, there is a huge difference between what's required to pass and reality. Nearly nobody drives like required in driving tests.

Will the system change? Never. Should it change? Definitely.

Nadav

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Vicky's Driving Story

In this driving test blog I like giving tips and optimistic stories. Today I have another one, which starts off very sad. It's the story of Vicky Hueber, a driver who passed her driving test after many lessons, a huge expenditure, and a great disbelief.

How Someone Who Has Failed Their Practical Driving Test Can Pass the Next One

Are you learning to drive? Have you already failed one, or two, or more practical test attempts? Do you feel as though you will never be the owner of a shiny pink card with your mug on it?
A few years ago, while I was learning to drive, I was sitting on the bus (yay) on the way home from work when I overheard some loud-mouthed know-it-all thug chatting to some woman sitting in the seat in front of him.

"People should only need twenty driving lessons before they pass their driving test. And they should pass it first time, otherwise, they shouldn't be on the road."

The most frightening thing about that statement is, I don't think he's alone in that train of thought. He is of course, absolutely, one hundred percent wrong.

I started learning to drive at the age of seventeen, when most people do. However, it wasn't until I was twenty-one that I actually passed my driving test, on my fourth attempt. This was after the expenditure of thousands of pounds, two theory tests, literally about a hundred driving lessons, four different instructors and of course, four years of blood, sweat and tears.

I did pass eventually. However, it needn't have been that difficult. The reason it took so long, and so much, was not because I was an incompetent driver. It was because I had no self-confidence. That, my friends, is the key to why so many people fail their tests.

I am going to ask those of you who have been booked in for driving tests; do you really think your instructor is daft enough to book someone in for a test who they don't feel is ready?

Instructors have years of driving experience.They have had to take driving tests themselves, on numerous occasions to keep their qualifications up-to-date. They know who is ready to receive their driving licence.

So, how did I pass my driving test in the end? It was actually a number of elements.

1. I decided to buy a book called "The Girl's Guide To Losing Your L Plates" by Maria McCarthy. I thought it was very sensitively written and I could relate to it. I'd strongly recommend it to all learners, but if you're not the bookish type, here's basically what I did.

2. I started to tell myself I could do it. In fact, every morning, from when I booked my test to when I took it, I would wake up and say "I can do it."

3. I told my family I was going to pass my driving test.

4. I stopped caring about it. Honestly, this is the funniest part about it. I'd failed three times so you can imagine how upset I'd been about not passing, but I just thought to myself "if I fail, I'll just go to the pub with my mates afterwards and sit it again in a few weeks' time; if I pass, I'll go to the pub with my mates afterward and not sit it again in a few weeks' time.

5. I wore red, green and white. This may sound silly, but I'd heard on the learner grapevine that these were lucky driving colours and lots of learners had passed wearing these. I decided to give it a go. I think it just gave me that little boost of confidence.

And that's it really. Honestly, I didn't pass because I'd suddenly transformed into The Stig and after four years my driving magically improved. I was already a great driver.

When I eventually became in possession of a car and was able to give people lifts I actually received comments like; "you're such a smooth driver". I had seriously believed I was the worst driver in the world when in fact I drive quite well.

I believe it's because I had so many lessons, and because I failed my test three times.

The author's blog - http://www.cherubtattoo.blogspot.com

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Congratulations, Vicky. You are a living proof that driving is not only for those who passed the first time.

Nadav

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