The DVSA have today under all the glitch and glam of social media launched their 'READY TO PASS' campaign. This is the next step towards reducing the waiting list for tests. The aim is simple. If more people pass the driving test then more tests will become available. It seems fairly clear that we cannot get back to pre-covid levels of availability certainly not within the next 12 months. Its just near impossible to cover the time that driving examiners took off work due to the pandemic. Even before covid in many areas the waiting list was 6months, but you had movement of tests which were much easier to find at short notice. The war of so called Cancellation Apps still continues, which my opinion is are a valuable tool for people without the time to sit on a computer all day checking. The DVSA want everyone to have a fair chance of finding a driving test. The theory is we should eventually not need to spend hours checking on a computer as the waiting list will reduce to manageable levels. I personally predict this will not happen until late 2023 at the earliest. These are the key concerns coming from the DVSA's findings. 1 in 10 people say the main reason they failed their test was because they were too nervous
1 in 5 people say the main reason they failed their test was because they made a silly mistake
1 in 5 people incorrectly thought they had failed because they were marked too harshly
‘Ready to Pass?’ provides advice on:
You need to be dealing with every part of driving consistently, confidently and independently – without any prompting from your driving instructor.
It’s best to take driving lessons with a driving instructor and have private practice with family or friends. Driving instructors are road safety experts, trained to help you learn to drive.
People who have a combination of both do best when they take their driving test.
1 in 5 people who fail their driving test say the main reason they fail is because they made a silly mistake on the day.
Take mock tests with your driving instructor to:
get used to how the driving test works
understand the standard that’s expected
understand how the marking works, so you’re not left thinking you were marked too harshly during the real thing
1 in 10 people who fail their driving test say the main reason they failed is because they were too nervous.
Everyone is nervous to some level when they take their driving test.
Driving examiners expect that. They’ll do their best to help you relax.
Being able to control your nerves is a really important skill – and not just for your driving test. You might be nervous the first time you:
drive in an unfamiliar city on your own
have to deal with a really complex roundabout
drive on country roads at night
So learning how to control your nerves is a vital skill for new drivers.
Talk to your instructor about mindfulness training. Mindfulness can help you to manage anxiety, feel relaxed and stay focused.
On average, more than 9,000 driving tests get cancelled every year because people:
forget to take the right documents with them
take a car that does not meet the rules
arrive late for their appointment
go to the wrong driving test centre
Don’t be one of them.