During their test, candidates will have to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both.

To help candidates understand where they are going, the examiner may show them a diagram.

It doesn't matter if candidates don't remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way – that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

From this date, car test candidates (category B) will have to complete one reversing manoeuvre rather than two. The manoeuvre will be selected at random by the examiner from:

• turning in the road
• reversing around a corner
• reverse parking (either on the road, or into a bay)

In addition a controlled stop is carried out on every test (this means stopping in a place specified by the examiner.)

An emergency stop exercise will still be conducted on one in three tests.

How's this for excellent speed control?

I don't know about you, but this would certainly slow me down !

People slow down and try to "straddle" the hole ….

This is actually a speed control device that is in use.

It is much cheaper than speed cameras.

Toyota
AYGO (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)
iQ (Nov 2008 – Nov 2009) The iQ is already considered unsuitable for test.
Yaris (Nov 2005 – Sep 2009)
Auris (Oct 2006 – 5 Jan 2010)
Corolla (Oct 2006 – Dec 2009)
Verso (Feb 2009 – 5 Jan 2010)
Avensis (Nov 2008 – Dec 2009)

Peugeot 107 (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)

Citroen C1 (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)

In total, Toyota and Peugeot Citroen are recalling around 320,000 UK-basedvehicles. As yet, VIN number ranges have not been released.

Using these cars on the driving test

If one of the vehicles affected is presented for test, it will only be conducted if either:

• the vehicle has a manual transmission gearbox and is fitted with dual controls to help the examiner control the car in the unlikely event of a failure
   
• documentation is supplied to show that the remedial work has been carried out – this will usually be in the form of the Toyota or Peugeot Citroen recall letter stamped by the respective dealer and containing written confirmation

Candidates who cannot proceed with their test should contact DSA customer services to arrange for their test to be rebooked once the remedial work has been done.

As there has been no prior warning of this action, if the test is not conducted the fee will be refunded or a free retest given on the first occasion that a specific vehicle is presented for test. Customers can ring DSA customer service on 0300 200 1122.

Source: http://www.dsa.gov.uk/

Visit www.thisistotalessex.co.uk to see photos of offenders and to post your comments about drivers who risk your safety by using phones to text and talk whilst driving.

According to Ben Leach in the Sunday Telegraphⁱ the Highways Agency has issued guidelines telling its staff they will no longer deal with motorists, only with ‘road users’ or ‘drivers.’

Other changes he notes are.

• "Winter maintenance" should be replaced with "agency winter services".

• "Off-peak hours" with "outside of peak hours."

• "The travelling public" with "road user”.

• The term “roadworks” are to be avoided as the word "works" is a general term instead staff are to "describe what is happening so the reader can visualise it".

• "Speed up" should be dropped in favour of "accelerate."

• "Manned" is to be dropped in favour of "staffed".

• "Access” should be replaced by "travel to."

• "Carriageway" by "lanes".

• "Improving congestion" by “reducing congestion."

• "Improve safety" to “make the route safer".

In general Agency staff are encouraged to empathise with their reader, acknowledge their feelings and show “we have them too…Include references to our concern for the environment where appropriate," and "Choose active verbs to make us sound involved. Passive words can make us seem more distant."

In a similar vein, Ben tells us that staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) have also been told to improve their communication skills. They have been given a list of words to avoid, which includes

"Unfortunately"

"I'm afraid …"

"Not possible"

"I can't".

"No problem",

"Yeah",

"Bare with me",

"What's your problem?"

"I will pop you on hold",

"Maybe",

"Probably"

"Basically".

Does this means that 2010 is the year that the DVLA ‘gets its act together’ so that its staff won’t have any unhappy customers to deal with?

Before buying a new car make sure you do your homework:

• Check around the bumpers to make sure that there are no cracks around the joins.
• Check that the paintwork matches otherwise your mates will notice and never let you live it down.
• If the car is not the original colour make sure it has been changed on the logbook and with the DVLA.
• On a small car even though big wheels look nice they can cause problems with the wishbones and the steering.
• Exhaust to see if it has been put on properly not bodged.
• Check the underneath of any body kit as it will give you a good indication whether it hits the floor or not.
• Make sure that anything that has been changed in the engine i.e. air filter has a receipt as they are prone to go wrong.
• If window tints, make sure that they are legal otherwise you will be the one looking silly when you have to sit at the side of the road and peel them off.
  You are liable to get three points per window if the front ones have any tints on them at all.
• If your back lights are tinted make sure they have reflectors on them or you could see yourself getting a £30 fine along with three points.
• Don’t decide straight away as the car may look nice but there maybe problems that the owner has not told you about so be careful.

THINK AND BLINK!!!
DON’T MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE!!!
 

"Not a VW Beatle as you can't see the corners when driving and will struggle to park it. A Fiat 500 1.2 is small, cute and fun, but not a brilliant drive. A Hyundai i10 1.2 is easy to park and excellant to drive. The Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo, Suzuki Alto and Nissan Pixo are OK to drive, have low tax, Group 1 insurance and good economy."

Further information on all things car visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/

This could result in the test needing to be re-booked for a different time.