Driver vs. Parking Lot

Once again a month ends, and we need to celebrate that with a funny video. Instead of a first time driving video, we have a video of someone who drives like a first timer.




Enjoy!
Nadav

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Fifth Gear at The Italian Job: Part 1

Many years ago, some Fifth Gear people were involved in the making of The Italian Job (a great movie). Today we start a video series showing how they were involved.



Enjoy!
Nadav

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BBC News Tips

The BBC News website has an article related to this blog from time to time. For example, here is an article with tips for new drivers. Read and learn.

BBC News Tips for Young Drivers

Enjoy!
Nadav

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A Major Cause of Failure

Phill Godridge has some articles in this blog, and today he's going to have his third. This time, it's about bad positioning, which causes many failures in the driving test.

Bad Road Position Causes 64,000+ Candidates to Fail the UK Driving Test Every Year!

Position the vehicle correctly during normal driving.

Correct and safe driving is all about dealing with a continuous series of situations, each requiring a routine which needs to be followed and usually a decision to be made. The outcome of this decision is inevitably the difference between pass or fail.

The situations you may be faced with are numerous and widely varied. They include junctions, hazards, other cars, pedestrians, crossings, road marking variations, etc. The list could go on. But there are times when there would appear to be nothing to do except drive in a straight line.

When this is the case, I always tell my pupils - "When there is nothing else to deal with, deal with your speed and position". This ensures that you will always be concentrating on something, rather than nothing.

However, each year there are over 64000 cases of UK driving test failure due to bad positioning.

The driving test report states: "You should position the vehicle sensibly, normally well to the left. Keep clear of parked vehicles and position correctly for the direction that you intend to take. Where lanes are marked, keep to the middle of the lane and avoid straddling lane markings. Do not change lanes unnecessarily."

So what could be wrong with your position that could result in a serious or dangerous fault on a driving test?

I am not talking about driving on the wrong side of the road, or mounting the pavement - if you are doing this, you shouldn't be going for a driving test yet. But there are some very common examples of incorrect driving position which can cost you your test, which, with a little concentration and planning can be avoided altogether.

In my experience, there are four usual suspects when this fault has been given.

1. Driving too close to the kerb can be extremely dangerous given the wrong set of circumstances. Debris collects in the gutter which could easily damage your tyres, especially if there is broken glass or sharp stones. This debris could be flicked out by your tyres and cause injury to pedestrians or property.

When it's been raining, puddles form in areas of poor drainage. It is now an offence to splash a pedestrian; you can be booked for common assault! Besides the fact that the puddle could be concealing some other form of trouble; hidden debris or a pothole for example.

2. On the other extreme, driving too wide can be equally undesirable. The closer you get to the centre line, the closer you are to oncoming traffic. Actually crossing the centre line would put you directly in the path of traffic and could easily cause a head-on crash if the other driver isn't paying attention. There are of course times when it is necessary to straddle or even cross the line, when passing parked vehicles for example, but when this is the case, extra care needs to be taken to ensure the manoeuvre is carried out safely.

If you are on a dual-carriageway and happen to stray too close to the dividing lane line, you are putting yourself in danger from the vehicles approaching to overtake you. The slightest tap at higher speed could cause both you and the passing vehicle to leave the road.

The correct position for normal driving is 1 metre (or 3 feet) from the kerb. This puts you in a safe position, away from danger on either side. Naturally there will be times when you have to adjust this position, to deal with hazards, pedestrians, parked cars, etc. But you must always return to this safe position once the hazard has been passed.

3. I have heard the explanation of this fault given as cutting a right hand bend. This is where the road ahead curves to the right, different from cutting a right hand corner into a side road. I have heard several of my pupils refer to this as "The racing line"...! It may be alright in Formula 1 but not on the public road.

If the road curves to the right, the chances are that the view of the road ahead is blocked by the corner. If you were to take the short cut across the corner, you wouldn't see someone coming the other way until it was too late.

Again, you should remain in position 1 metre from the kerb and drive around the outside of the curve. I ask my pupils to imagine a bus coming around the corner towards them... that keeps them over to the left.

And finally...

4. The most common cause of incorrect position in my experience: Straight-lining a roundabout. This involves cutting across the roundabout rather than driving around it.

When you are dealing with a multiple lane roundabout, you have to imagine where the lane markings would be if they were painted all the way around. Sometimes they are, but usually the markings end at the give-way line. The rest is left to the imagination.

If there are two lanes approaching the roundabout, there must be two lanes going around it. Where there are three or more lanes approaching, there are three or more lanes going around. It is very important that you stay in your lane position as you travel around the roundabout so as not to move across in front of another vehicle.

OK if you are turning right at the roundabout, you will need to move across to the left side of the roundabout before exiting. But this is done carefully, with effective use of the mirrors. Faults are given out when unplanned movements are made without due care and attention.

Phill is an experienced driving instructor who's been running his own driving school for 14 years. But it's not all work. He enjoys using his underwater digital camera in its underwater camera housing most weekends.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Thank you, Phill!

Nadav

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Removing Rust from a Truck Bumper

Rust on your truck's bumper can be quite un-esthetic. To remove it, just follow the instructions on the following video.



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Auto Driver

Driving on autopilot is something that happens to everyone. Sometimes it can get really scary. For example, yesterday I drove to the movie theater, and I didn't remember the way. I was concentrated on my thoughts, and I didn't pay too much attention to the road, because the way was on autopilot.

This is not a good situation, and next time I drive I'll try to solve all bothering issues before I get behind the wheel. This definitely wasn't such a pleasant experience.

Did it ever happen to you? Feel free to write about it in the comments.

Nadav

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3 Critical Mistakes to Avoid

It's another Friday, which means it's time for more tips. Today we have here 3 critical mistakes that you should never make on your test, or you'll be better off by signing up for a new test.

Passing Your Driving Test - 3 Mistakes You Should Never Make

People who have sat for their driving tests severally may help create an impression that the tests are extremely hard. On the other hand, they may say that the tests are very easy but the people examining you are the ones who are usually very eager to punish you. However, the truth of the mater is that a lot of the examiners are not eager to see you succeed. In fact, a good number of them are usually will to forgive mistakes that usually come with the confusion or anxiety of the day. However, there are some mistakes that are likely to hand you a failure if you commit them. These are the blunders that come as a result of carelessness rather than fear, and which are likely to be a danger to the other road users or even to you. Although there are a couple of them, I have taken the liberty of outlining the three of them to ensure that you have an idea of some of the blunders that you must avoid like the plague.

The first blunder or mistake that you must never make is speeding. If the speed limit is 35mph, ensure that you are well below that limit so that you can show the examiner that you are a careful driver. On the other hand if the lower speed limit is 20mph, then you need to drive higher than this, but make sure that you do not drive at very high speeds. When determining the speed at which you should go, it is important that you make a sober judgment on what you need to do based on the situation on the ground. This means that if you are on an icy road, then you should keep your speed low, even when the upper speed limit is high.

The other mistake that you should never do if you really want to pass your driving test is the mistake of being reckless. Reckless driving where you do not give way to oncoming traffic, or where you are simply a careless road user, will definitely earn you a complete failure.

The third mistake that you must avoid if you want to pass your test is to be absent minded. When you are on the road, you must make every effort to ensure that your mind is present and that you are fully aware of what you are doing. The reason for this is because absent mindedness can easily cause you to bring about an accident.

Having said all these, it is important to note that this list is not comprehensive. However a general guide on the mistakes to avoid is to ensure that you should not commit any blunder that will bring you out as a potentially careless driver.

Success is something that so many people yearn for. However, what most of them fail to realize that if one is filled with fear during the test, one cannot achieve much. If you want to pass your driving test, you must be able to master your fear. You can read more from this driving test guide for more information.

I hope this articles was useful for you,
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Sacha

More laughing than driving - that's how I can describe Sacha's first time driving. The quality of the video is not great, but you can easily see that driving wasn't a major part of it.



This video was uploaded on September 14, so Sacha still has a very long time until she gets her license. Hopefully by then she'll be a little more serious.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Fifth Gear Land Rover G4 Challenge: Part 3

The third and final part of the Fifth Gear Land Rover G4 challenge is here. Watch who won, and try to guess what will be on next week.



Next week - something new.

Nadav

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No Computers? No License

Our society relies on computers for many tasks, and sometimes this reliance leads to halting of important procedures because computers are stuck. That's exactly what happened to Connecticut's DMV.

A computer problem is preventing DMV's around the state to issue licneses, but other services are working well (except written tests).

Hopefully this will be solved soon, so Connecticut's citizens will be able to drive and become licensed drivers again.

Nadav

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How to Practice for the Written Test

The written test is the easier part of the driving test, but it's still important. To learn for it, you need to practice and know the rules of the road by heart. Here is an article by Bernie Lesch about this topic.

Free Practice Written Tests Can Help Get Your Driver's License

Whether you're getting your driver's license for the first time or you need to get a new one, you will need to take a written test at the DMV. If you pass this test the first time around, you will walk out of the DMV with your new license and legal ability to drive. If you fail the test, you will have to wait to take it again and repeated failures could result in an extended delay.

It would seem logical that traffic laws would not be very different from state to state and in general, this is true. However, each state may have its own traffic rules and regulations that a new resident may not know about. It is for this reason that studying for the written portion of the driver's license test is a wise consideration.

In addition to getting a new license, there are certain types of motor vehicles that require multiple permits in order to legally operate them. People driving motorcycles and commercial vehicles often need separate and in some cases, several different, permits in order to lawfully drive their bikes or trucks on the road. And just like a basic driver's license, the laws governing the operation of these special vehicles may differ from state to state. Being able to pass the written tests that are required to get these special licenses and permits will require some studying before the official test is taken.

Taking a written practice test for the state you wish to obtain a license in is the best way to secure a passing exam grade. Practice tests are available online and some of these tests are free. It would behoove anyone who is getting a new driver's license to take these free written practice tests and to consider the option of purchasing additional tests if special permits are needed.

When getting a new license to drive you can either step into the DMV unprepared and wing it or study beforehand and ace it. A passing grade means no further testing and no delays in obtaining your new license. The choice is yours; good luck!

Bernie Lesch is a contract writer for various businesses.This article written on behalf of http://www.freedmvpracticetests.com

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Don't forget that after you pass the permit test, you need to still pass the practical test, so it's better to get a driving test guide for that.

Thank you, Bernie!
Nadav

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Dry Your Car's Carpet

Spills are common in cars, and your precious carpet can rarely stand it. To dry it, watch the video below. It'll show you exactly how to dry your car's carpet.



Hope you learned something,
Nadav

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A Time to Regret

Today is Yom Kippur, a Jewish fasting day. On this day, Jews are supposed to torture themselves (by not eating, drinking, showering, etc.) in order to ask for forgiveness for their sins.

This is your time: have you done something to your car that you regret? Did you hit other drivers? Have you done anything that you should regret about?

You don't have to fast, you just need to write a comment.

Nadav

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Why People Fail

Failure in the driving test is not a pleasant experience, but usually it has a great explanation. Here is an article I wrote about the reasons for failure.

Why People End Up Failing Their Driving Tests

Failing a driving test is one of those things that usually leave a very bad test in one's mouth once one realizes about it. And despite the fact that a lot of people offer advice on the same, it is as if every other day, people continue to fail for one reason or another. However, to say the truth, passing your test should not be something that is so stressful. It is something that you should actually find fun in because it gives you a chance to show off your driving skills. It is therefore important to note that if you would really want to be successful in this area, you must be willing to spend some of your time to get understand some of the reasons why a good number of people do end up failing this seemingly simple driving test. Once you have come to an understanding as to why they do, it will then be much easier for you to succeed.

Panic

The first reason why people fail to pass their driving tests is because of panic. There are some people who if happen to tell them to do something as someone else watches how they are doing it, they may simply freeze because of the same. There are others who will panic not because of their personality, but simply because they have heard of the stories of so many people who have failed their tests up to three times. This panic may cause someone to do poorly even when the person was a very capable one.

Little Practice

The saying that practice makes perfect couldn't make better sense away from the location of the driving test. Some people desire to get a driving license, but it is as if they are not as eager to practice so that they can drive properly along the roads. If you are the kind of person who would not want to spend his time practicing, then it is very important that you know that you are likely to pass your example. On the other hand, people who take their times to practice for the exam, whether the theory or the practical exams, are definitely going to succeed.

All in all, if you want to pass your driving teats, you must make sure that you focus on it. On the other hand, if you do not want to pass, then you simple need to lack focus and not practice.

Success is something that so many people yearn for. However, what most of them fail to realize that if one is filled with fear during the test, one cannot achieve much. If you want to pass your driving test, you must be able to master your fear. You can read more from this driving test guide for more information.

I hope this article helped you get ready for the test,
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Nicolas

It's Thursday again, and it's time for another fantastic first time driver. Today it's Nicolas' turn (she's a girl). She's driving in Australia, slowly and loudly. Enjoy watching her, and watch for your ears.



This video was uploaded last month, so Nicolas still has a long way to go until she gets her license. Hopefully she'll lower the volume by then.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Fifth Gear Land Rover G4 Challenge: Part 2

Last week I accidently put the wrong video for the Land Rover challenge, but now it's fixed. Here it is.

Today the series continues with the correct video, part 2.



Enjoy!
Nadav

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Cruel Insurers

Insurance companies are not the most sympathetic institutions in the world. The less you have, the more you have to pay them. This is especially true for teens who just passed their test.

For example, M&S insurance company simply terminated a contract to a guy named Mike Ford (17) because he passed his driving test. Why? Because now he's a big risk.

Insurance companies usually bump up the cost of the policy for new drivers, but abandoning a driver and leaving him uninsured is something new. Hopefully they will get themselves together and realize that doing this only harms them.

Hopefully everything will be OK for Ford.
Nadav

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The Benefits of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are a great solution to the energy shortage we have in the world. Although it still requires energy (from the power station) and still pollutes (at the power station), it keeps our streets relatively clean and quiet.

Here is an article by Thomas L Clark (who already has an article her) that shows you the benefits of those cars.

Why Choose an Electric Car? Top 5 Reasons

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the advent of electric cars and the capabilities that these will offer, as well as a significant improvement on environmental factors - but even with all of this, there is a still a lot of mystery and controversy surrounding them.
Below are the top five reasons to purchase an electric hybrid car over a standard natural gas alternative.

5 - Emissions - Cars fueled by petrol are infamous for their emissions and impact on the environment. However, emissions produced by the burning of gas to produce electricity in a generation plant are significantly less than when natural gas is burned within an individual vehicle. It will also be easier to implement emission-reducing measures in a plant than in every individual car

4 - Resources - Unlike electricity there is only a finite amount of oil and there are no method for renewable sources to be implemented in petrol cars. Whilst natural gas may offer a short-term solution, electricity is a long-term resolution.

3 - Developments - As it is still in a new stage, there will be a greater focus on developing methods of increasing efficiency within these electric cars. Whilst sources such as solar and wind power are still in its infancy, there is a great deal of potential power to be harnessed.

2 - Existing transport structure - Much of the existing transport infrastructure is powered by electricity thus proving it to be an extremely renewable option. Whilst the main issue right now is usability and current models, it would be far more cost-effective to improve the electric generation process than implement environmental measures in every existing vehicle.

1 - Cost - Simply, powering a vehicle with electricity is far less expensive than powering a petrol alternative. The price of electricity will also be able to remain a lot more stable than the ever-fluctuating price of petrol.

With a slew of electric cars on the horizon, such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt and Fisker Karma, all expected in this current year, electric cars would appear to represent the future of automobiles worldwide.

Thomas Clark is a journalist specialising in automotive technology on behalf of http://www.centralcontracts.com/.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

It is important to remember that you need a driver's license to drive any car, so you better invest in a good driving test guide for that.

Nadav

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What is a Governor

Safety is important to everyone. To some car makers it is so important, that they limit their cars' speed artificially, with a computer. The governor is a device that prevents the car from going over a certain speed. Here is a video about this.



Hope you learned something,
Nadav

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The Biggest Disaster

It's September 11, a date which automatically gives a feeling of disaster. For this day, I want to ask you: what is the worst thing you ever did to a car while driving?

For me, it was scratching the passenger side doors for about 30 cm (one foot) because I miscalculated a U-turn in a parking garage.

So, what is the worst thing you ever did to a car?

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Prepare For Your Driving Test

Taking a driving test requires preparations. If you come unprepared, you will probably fail. Here is an article I wrote about how to prepare for the driving test.

How To Prepare For Your Driving Test

If you want to pass your driving test, it is pretty obvious that you prepare for it. Without preparation, you are going to be one of those people who go to take the test in fear. You will not be sure of yourself, something that can easily lead you to start panicking about the whole thing. In this article, I am going to outline the several areas where you need to prepare if you would like to pass the driving test.

How To Drive

The first area where you need to prepare yourself is in the real act of driving the car. At the end of the end, the whole purpose of the driving test is to see whether you can move a car from one place to another, and not only move it, but do it safely while taking into consideration the well-being of other road users. In this area, you need to understand the technical areas of braking, starting the car, and making three point turns among other things.

The Theory

The other area in which you should train yourself is the area of the theory. Despite the fact that this you will do when reading the notes, what you will learn from this you will be able to apply in the real world roads. This area enables you to be able to understand the rules of the roads and other things.

Psychological Preparation

This is not something that you will prepare yourself within one day. The reason for this is because there are two main areas of psychological preparation that you will be required to tackle. The first area deals with your mental attitude about the test. This does not need a lot of time and it basically involves developing a positive attitude about the test. The other area deals with learning to control yourself while driving. This means that you should know how to control your anger - in case someone else annoys you on the road, how to deal with the traffic jam, red lights and so on. This is something that will require you to asses your habits before you make the final push. As you may know, changing your habits may require a lot of time and that is why you need to start this area of preparation early.

As you continue to prepare yourself, it is important to realize that you will need to be consistent and focused in your preparation. Doing this is what will guarantee you success come the day of the test.

Success is something that so many people yearn for. However, what most of them fail to realize that if one is filled with fear during the test, one cannot achieve much. If you want to pass your driving test, you must be able to master your fear. You can read more from this driving test guide for more information.

Hopefully this article helped you.
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Rebecca

Today's nice date (9/9. In 31 days we'll have 10/10/10) is a perfect time to show a first time driver. Rebecca did quite well until she nearly crashed on something (not really clear what). Watch her drive and panic.



This video was uploaded 9 days ago, so Rebecca still has a very long way to go. Hopefully she won't hit anything on her way to the license.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Fifth Gear Land Rover G4 Challenge: Part 1

Today we start a new Fifth Gear series, this time about Land Rovers. Watch their amazing challenge of going through places you never imagined.



Enjoy!
Nadav

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Bad Karma

Karma can be a pretty big problem for some people. For example, take this girl who apparently gets signs from above about her driving. Her car was crashed by a lamp post about one hour after she passed her driving test.

She said the lawn mowers hit the lamp post while mowing the grass, and then it fell on her 11-year-old car. Her insurance is going to cover the damanges, but she still needs to pay about £900 to fix the car - more than its original cost.

Better luck next time.
Nadav

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The Extended Test

Your first driving test will be the easiest. If you will be disqualified from driving, getting your license back will require a very hard test. Here is an article by Phil Cope about this.

The Extended Driving Test

If you have been disqualified from driving you may be ordered to return to being a learner driver, and take an extended practical driving test.

The extended test is longer and more demanding than the standard L test.

To regain your full driving licence at the end of your disqualification, you will need to:-

Apply for a provisional driving licence and drive under learner driver regulations,

Pass a theory test for the category of vehicle in which you intend to take an extended practical test,

Pass the extended practical test.

The practical test lasts for about 70 minutes and covers a wide variety of roads, usually including national speed limit single & dual carriageways.

You will be asked to carry out the emergency stop exercise as well as two reversing exercises.(this will change to just one reversing exercise from 4th October 2010)

You are allowed to make up to 15 driver errors-the same as the standard driving test.

The driving examiner will not expect you to drive like a learner driver, due to you having more driving experience.

The main things to watch out for during your extended test are, not exceeding speed limits & not approaching hazards too quickly.

You do not need to worry about crossing your hands when steering-this is fine as long as you steer safely.

It is advisable to prepare by taking suitable driving tuition from an approved driving instructor (ADI).

If you decide to also get some private practice with a friend or relative, then remember that they must be over 21 & had a full driving licence for a least 3 years.

Also you must display L plates on the front and rear of the car and you are not allowed to drive on the motorway.

Extended driving test fees are higher than the standard test, so you will need to state this when booking your extended test.

Phil Cope is a successful driving instructor & offers Extended Test Preston

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Thank you Phil!
Nadav

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Reset the Check Engine Light

Every car has a "check engine" light which means, as you can guess, that you need to check your engine. However, making it disappear is not as easy as to get it on. Here is a video showing how to make it go. Remember: if you are not sure about something, take your car to a certified mechanic.



Hope you learned something valuable,
Nadav

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Over-Optimistic Parking People

Some people are naturally optimistic. They believe that the future is going to be great, and there is nothing to worry about. However, some people are over-optimistic, especially when it comes to parking.

Parallel parking is not an easy skill to master, and it requires a good estimation of the space available between two cars. Some people overestimate the space and try to squeeze their car in a space that is clearly too small.

From there, there are only two possible scenarios. One, parking using the sound method, which is backing up until you hear a boom. The second (and smarter) option is giving up and looking for a better place to park.

Until people learn to estimate correctly, you can keep looking and laughing when it happens. The end of month videos in this blog show an endless variety of people who couldn't estimate correcty, or just couldn't park.

Have a great weekend!
Nadav

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Top 3 Reasons for Failure

Failing the driving test is a hard feeling, but it happens to over half the population. However, when analyzing the failure reasons, three of them show up more often than others. Here they are.

3 Reasons Why People Fail Their Driving Tests

Every so often, you hear of people who have gone to the driving test with the hope of possessing a driving license, only to come out disappointed because they failed the driving test. If you want to pass your driving test, you must know what pitfalls have caused other to fall so that you may be on the lookout for them. There are many reasons why people fail their test, but in this article, I would like to look at three of those reasons:

Lack of Proper Use of Mirrors

If you have been practicing driving in a secluded area -you have probably been very concerned about how to handle the steering wheel, hold the brakes, and so on. You have been more concerned about your performance. Once you get to the road test, the examiner wants to know what kind of road user you will be - how you will deal with other road users. One of the areas where a driver needs to use so as to deal with other road users is the mirror. If you fail to properly make use of the mirror, you are likely to come out of the road test with dejected.

Lack of Confidence

Another thing that costs people who go to look for licenses is their inability to make a final decision. They hesitate at junctions, not sure whether they should go or stop. Such things show that you are not yet a mature in driving and hence can cause you to fail.

Driving Too Slowly

Over speeding, which is major cause of concern among our roads, has never been an issue in driving test centers. The biggest problem is caused by people who since they do not want to make a mistake, end up driving too slowly to the extent of drawing attention to their inabilities.

These three signs are pretty common in many people. If you want to pass your driver's license test, you must learn how to ensure that they do not come out while you are driving.

Driving test success is something that so many people yearn for. However, what most of them fail to realize that if one is filled with fear during the license test, one cannot achieve much. If you want to pass your road test, you must be able to master your fear. You can read more from this driving test guide for more information.

Hopefully this article helped you to get ready to the test.

Good luck!
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Elizabeth

Laps around a parking lot are great for beginner drivers. That's what Elizabeth's parents thought would be best for her. Here are the results.



This video was uploaded two weeks ago, so Elizabeth still has a very long way to go until she gets her license. However, the confidence and lack of stupid questions (like "Which one is the brake?") shows that she'll have no trouble in the test.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Fifth Gear Top 10 Ferraris: Part 3

Today is the third and final part of Fifth Gear's top 10 Ferraris. Hopefully September that started today will be a luxury car for everyone.



Next week - something new.

Nadav

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