Learning to drive is a lifetime skill that should be completely mastered before taking your driving test.

Our driving instructors in Preston follow a syllabus that is recommended by the DVSA, some of the main parts of this syllabus are as follows:

Eyesight & Licence Check

You will be asked to read a number plate at a minimum distance of 20.5 metres (approx 67 feet) If you need to read this with glasses or contact lenses then you must also use these whilst driving

Cockpit Drill

A cockpit drill is a procedure that all drivers should do as soon as they jump in the drivers seat. Firstly make sure all doors in the vehicle are completely closed, then make all the necessary adjustments to your seat so that you are comfortable and can reach and operate all controls properly, then make any adjustments to all your mirrors so that you get the best possible views to the rear and sides of your vehicle, then put on your seat belt correctly. The order of mirrors before seat belt or seat belt before mirrors is no problem providing you make sure your doors and seat are done first.

Vehicle safety checks

Even before jumping in a vehicle just have a visual look and make sure everything looks safe, look at your tyres, the cars bodywork, the light clusters, number plates, fuel cap closed, clean windows etc

Once inside the vehicle and before driving off just check things like fuel gauge, any warning lights on, windscreen washers, lights, heater controls etc

Car controls

The main controls of a vehicle are split between hand controls such as, steering, gears, handbrake and indicators, and also the foot controls, the accelerator (gas pedal) the footbrake and the clutch pedal.

During the course of your lessons our instructor will teach you how to operate all these controls smoothly and safely, including the use of all the ancillary controls such as headlights, windscreen washers, demisters etc

Moving off / Stopping

Our instructor will teach you how to move away from the side of a road on a flat road and also uphill, downhill and at an angle from behind a stationary car. You will also be taught how to move away quickly where necessary, such as when a gap in traffic occurs on a busy road.

Road positioning

One of the most important skills for a driver is to make sure they are always in a correct position on the roads, generally this would be slightly closer in to the left however a drivers correct position will depend a lot on other factors such as the widths of roads, positioning of other vehicles, the safety of pedestrians, road markings, and even occasionally massive puddles and potholes etc

Use of mirrors

Just looking in your mirrors is not enough, you must also act safely in what you can see. You certainly need to check them before approaching any type of hazard and especially if you need to slow down or change your direction. There are many times you need to check your mirrors but some of the main times are, before signalling, moving off, changing direction, stopping your car, overtaking and also before opening your door.

Think of your mirrors as an extra set of eyes at the back of your head that never close, this should mean that you never get caught by surprise

Use of signalling

There are a number of ways that a driver can communicate with other road users, the main ones are your direction indicators and your brake lights, however you can also show your intentions with, reverse lights, your road position and where necessary arm signals.

A competent driver should consider if a signal is really necessary before moving away, pulling up or passing stationary vehicles as there are times when this may not actually be necessary. Drivers should also avoid using any misleading signals such as waving to pedestrians to step off the kerb or failing to recognise when a signal has failed to cancel or even cancelled prematurely.

Awareness / Anticipation / Planning

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING HAPPENS ON UK ROADS

Excellent drivers are aware of everything that can happen on the roads, it’s like driving with a built in defence system. This awareness leads to them being able to anticipate what may happen next which then allows them to make any necessary plans or actions to deal with things safely. These actions are continuous and in time will just become second nature for you to drive in this way.

Use of speed

Most accidents are usually connected to speed. Drivers need to be aware of their speed, even 10mph can be too fast at the wrong time. A good safe driver will always be driving within the speed limits and also at a speed where they could easily pull up safely within the distance they can see to be clear, this also includes driving in adverse conditions such as rain, snow, ice, fog and at night.

Junctions

At all types of road junctions you must use the Mirrors - Signals - Manoeuvre procedure. You also need to consider your road positioning, your approach speed and your effective observations skills. There are many types of junctions, some are quite basic and easy to deal with and some can be quite complex and will require a lot more care especially when dealing with crossing the path of oncoming vehicles and also emerging onto major roads where your vision may be restricted by parked vehicles. You must be extra careful in poor light and adverse weather conditions especially looking out for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Pedestrian crossings

You need to be able to identify all types of pedestrian crossings and take the correct actions. You have to know and obey all the rules around pedestrian crossings and also pay attention to your approach speed so that you can stop smoothly and safely.

Rural roads

During your training you will be taught how to drive safely on country roads, this will include learning how to negotiate right and left hand bends correctly, various speed limits, hidden dangers, limited signage and road markings, hump back bridges, farm animals and machinery, pedestrians in the road, cyclists, motor cyclists, horses etc

Fast roads and dual carriageways

All drivers need to be able to drive safely at speed especially on fast dual carriageways and motorways. You need to be able to judge correct speeds and keep safe distances when following other vehicles. You also need to be able to overtake safely, follow route directions from either signs or a satellite navigation.

Reverse manoeuvres

During your training you will be taught how to reverse safely. There are a number of reverse manoeuvres that you could be asked to perform on a driving test. On a basic learner test you will be asked to perform just one manoeuvre, this could be either, pulling up on the right hand side of the road and then reversing back a couple of car lengths, driving forward into a marked bay and then reversing out of the bay accurately and safely, revering into a marked bay either on the right or left, reversing around a stationary vehicle.

Controlled stop (emergency stop)

All drivers need to be able to stop their vehicle very quickly as if an emergency situation such as a child suddenly running into the road. This needs to be performed in a quick controlled way. Drivers should also need to know how to avoid and correct skidding and how ABS anti lock braking systems work.

Fuel efficient driving

This is all about driving in a fuel efficient style which can help to protect the environment, save wear and tear on your vehicle and also save you money at the fuel pumps. Drivers should be able to plan their driving by using the appropriate gears, avoiding heavy braking, over revving the cars engine, making use of anything fitted to your car such as the stop start function and cruise control.