Driving & Texting.....Not The Best You Will Have
We have all seen that driver we pass or who passes us on the road busy having an in depth text conversation....but consider the outcome should they not react to a driving incident in time. The results are indeed horrifying. A recent experiment was carried out to document what could happen:
http://theshrug.com/she-started-texting-during-her-driving-test-what-happened-next-is-something-you-have-to-see/
Just In Time
A massive congratulations to Alasdair Austin who today passed his driving test in Currie with a very good drive. Alasdair left it late to pass as he's away to London this week for university! Well done again Alasdair, well deserved and remember to stay safe out there.
The Wait Is Over!
After some taster screen grabs and pictures of those involved we are delighted to finally announce our WebAd has been premiered. Lots of positive feedback and shared posts has started to help spread the word about us. It's not going to stop there, we have more ideas for Ads and future competitions for lucky posters to be involved in them. Please keep reposting, sharing and talking about us in order to help us teach as many safe and able potential drivers out there. Thanks so much for your continued support.
Show Me, Tell Me Questions Guide
Are you worried about the show me, tell me questions you’re going to get on your driving test? Perhaps you feel you don’t know enough to get you through. The examiner is going to ask you two questions out of 19 and you won’t know which one he’s going to ask.
We’ve collected the most popular questions most people ask about this aspect of their driving test to help put you at your ease.
Is it possible to fail your driving test completely for not getting the show me tell me questions right?
No, you won’t fail the test based on these questions alone. However, you will incur one minor. There are 15 altogether and if you were to get 16 minors all together then this would mean you’d failed your driving test. It is usually serious faults that cause a driver to fail his test, not by the amount of minors.
The question combinations – how does it work?
There are 13 possible combinations from 19 questions and the driving examiner could ask you any one of them to test your knowledge. Each of these combinations will naturally have one Show Me question and one Tell Me question. The Show me Tell me questions will be relevant to each other.
A Show Me question will involve you actually showing the driving instructor something inside the car engine, or on the dashboard, or beneath the car, in order to demonstrate your knowledge of how a car works and to prove you know what to do in an emergency.
Driving Instructors in Edinburgh – Compass ProDrive
If you choose a driving instructor in Edinburgh from Compass ProDrive you’ll be tested on the type of questions you’re likely to get from your driving examiner. We’ll make sure you’re fully versed in how your car works and ask you the type of questions you’re like to be asked when you sit your test.
So as well as having your driving lessons in Edinburgh with us, you’ll be well prepared for your Show me, Tell me questions.
Do you have any questions I can practice with and some possible answers?
Yes, here at Compass ProDrive we won’t just go over it with you during live lessons, we’ll also provide questions and answers on our website. You can read them through in your own time at leisure, and this way you’ll be able to prepare yourself for the test.
Edinburgh Driving Lessons with Compass Prodrive
Here at Compass ProDrive we are all fully qualified driving instructors and we believe it’s important to prepare our students for the day they sit their test. Driving alone is not enough, it’s also important to understand how your car works and what to do in an emergency, so that you, your passengers, other drivers and pedestrians are safe when you drive.
We make it our business to ensure the safety of all our students and turn them into competent drivers who are prepared to go on the road. That includes full instruction and guidance on your car and preparation for the Show me, Tell me questions. So get in touch with us now and book your driving lessons in Edinburgh.
Finally Using Twitter! @CProdrive
Well we have decided to delve into the world of Twitter! We will have massive news soon regarding our exciting new project....an actual advert!
This will be getting launched both on Facebook and Twitter so please add us to be the first to see our cheery happy selves on celluloid 😉
@CProdrive....go on...follow us, you know you want to!
Tips for Choosing Your Driving Instructor
Naturally, when you start taking driving lessons you want someone you can get on with and feel comfortable with. However, there are other factors of equal importance that should be considered before you start. So what should you look for in a driving instructor in Edinburgh?
Qualified to Teach
Make sure your driving instructor in Edinburgh is fully qualified to teach you. They have to pass 3 tests to be fully qualified, each one as hard as the last. This ensures they’re fit to teach. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will also check the ability to instruct and as well as that, they carry out a criminal record check. Take a look for any badges, there should be a green one if they are fully qualified and if they have a pink badge, this means they’ve still got a final exam to sit. If they don’t pass this they can’t take anyone out on driving lessons.
Personal Qualities
You need to know you can rely on your driving instructor. You’re learning to drive and therefore, your instructor is your key to success. Do they turn up on time? Do they try to put you at your ease? Can they explain things clearly and make sure you understand instructions? They should also have a car that’s in good condition. If your instructor ticks all these boxes, then you’ve found yourself a reliable driving instructor in Edinburgh, someone you can trust.
What Type of Lessons are Available
Find out all you can about the price per lessons and whether you can pay for bulk driving lessons at the same time, at a discount. A good driving instructor in Edinburgh will be able to tell you clearly what the prices are and whether you can bulk buy your lessons.
Are there intensive lessons on offer? If you take an intensive driving course, you can sometimes take your test at the end of a week of intensive lessons. Your driving instructor should be able to tell you all about this.
Your driving instructor should be rooting for you, constantly giving you encouragement as well as pointing out areas for improvement. It should be a two way relationship, where you both can speak your mind, and where your instructor will listen, as well as give advice.
Compass ProDrive For Driving Lessons in Edinburgh
If you’re looking for driving instructors in Edinburgh and you’ve not found them yet, then perhaps you could consider Compass ProDrive. We have high pass rates, discounts on block booking, and well qualified and Driving Standard Approved instructors. Get in touch today to book your lessons.
Only Three Months!
A huge congratulations to Robert Vint who today aced his test in under 3 months with only 3 minors! Brilliant drive and thoroughly well deserved. Enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.
Pats The Way To Do It...
A massive congratulations to Craig Paterson who today passed his test with minimal minors. A great drive saw Craig walk away with smiles and bad music taste. Well done again, remember to stay safe out there.
The Practical Driving Test
PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST
Once the theory test has been passed, the next stage is the practical driving test. Before the test begins the examiner will conduct an eyesight test which must be passed in order for the test to proceed.
Unless you are converting a foreign license, it is necessary to have passed both components of the theory test before sitting this exam.
PASSING THE PRACTICAL TEST THEN ENTITLES YOU TO HOLD A FULL UK DRIVING LICENCE.
The practical driving test is taken on the road, with a professionally trained DSA examiner directing the candidate around a pre-determined route.
The examiner marks the candidate for driving faults, serious faults, and dangerous faults. A candidate will fail the test if he or she accumulates any serious or dangerous faults, or more than fifteen driving faults. If a candidate accumulates several driving faults in the same category, the examiner may consider the fault habitual and mark a serious fault in that category.
The test usually lasts 38 to 40 minutes in a standard test, or approximately 70 minutes when the candidate is taking an extended test after having had their licence revoked.
EYESIGHT TEST
Before getting to the car, the examiner will ask the candidate to read a car's number plate at a distance. The distance required is 20.5 metres for an old-style plate (A123 ABC) and 20 metres for a new style plate (AB51 ABC).[12] If the candidate needs glasses to do this then these must be the ones worn whilst completing the rest of the test.
If the candidate fails to read the first number plate correctly, then the examiner asks the candidate to read a second number plate. If the candidate cannot correctly read the second number plate, then the examiner must use a tape measure to measure the correct distance between the candidate and a third number plate.
If the candidate cannot read the third number plate, then the candidate is deemed to have failed and the test will not continue.
VEHICLE SAFETY QUESTIONS
Before the candidate is taken out onto the road, the examiner asks two questions about car maintenance and safety. These are phrased in the form "Show me..." and "Tell me..."; as such, this component of the test is often known as "Show me, tell me". For example:
Show me how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.
Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil.
A failure to answer one or both of these questions correctly would result in a driving fault being marked against the candidate. The questions that may be asked are changed from time to time.
CONTROLLED STOP
The controlled stop, more commonly referred to as the "emergency stop", is an exercise which determines the ability of the candidate to stop the vehicle promptly yet under control during a simulated emergency.
The simulation is performed by the examiner raising his or her hand and saying, "STOP!". The exercise should be carried out on approximately one out of every three tests, but must be carried out on every extended test. During dangerous weather conditions, such as rain and snow, this test can be left out for safety reasons.
MANOEUVRES
During the test, the examiner will ask the candidate to carry out one manoeuvre from the following list:
"Turn the vehicle to face the opposite way, using forward and reverse gears". This is colloquially known as a "3 point turn", although more than 3 positions may be used.
Reverse around a corner
Reverse park into a space either parallel (on road), oblique or right-angle (in a marked bay in an off-road car park)
Manoeuvres are selected at random by the examiner depending on the route chosen and conditions on route.
GENERAL DRIVING
Generally, the candidate must demonstrate an ability to drive in various road and traffic conditions and react appropriately in actual risk situations. The conditions typically encountered on test include driving in urban areas as well as higher speed limit roads where possible; this includes dual carriageways but not motorways as motorways in Britain can only be used by full licence holders.
The object of the test is to ensure that the candidate is well grounded in the basic principles of safe driving, and is sufficiently practised in them to be able to show, at the time of the test, that they are a competent and considerate driver and are not a source of danger to themselves or to other road users.
The drive will include two or three normal stops at (and moving away from) the side of the road on level roads as well as on gradients, in addition to a demonstration of moving away from behind a stationary vehicle. The regulations state that the on-road driving time must be no less than 30 minutes.
If at any point during the test, the examiner has to intervene with any controls, this will usually result in failure and could be marked on the test report as a dangerous fault.
INDEPENDENT DRIVING
The practical driving test includes a 10 minute section of ‘independent driving’.
During the independent driving section, candidates have to drive by either following:
a series of directions,traffic signs ora combination of both
To help candidates understand where they are to go, the examiner may show them a route diagram. It does not matter if candidates do not remember every direction, nor if they deviate from the intended route unless they commit a driving fault.
If there are poor or obscured traffic signs, the examiner will give the candidate directions until they can see the next traffic sign. Candidates will not need to have a detailed knowledge of the area, but will not be allowed to use satellite navigation for this part of the test.
We hope you found this quick guide helpful, if you have any questions or would like to book lessons get in touch with our friendly team today.
Eco-Driving Tips
Looking to start driving lessons in Edinburgh, or are you already taking driving lessons with someone else, but you’re considering a change to a new instructor?
Here at Compass ProDrive we pride ourselves on our well trained and qualified instructors and our eco-friendly cars. In this post we’re going to talk about how we can ensure all our cars are kind to the environment, as well as giving you the best start with your driving.
When you start driving yourself, once you’ve passed your test, you’ll probably want to continue driving in an eco-friendly way, and there are things you can do make sure your car does as little harm to the environment as possible.
Naturally, with eco-friendly driving you’re not just kind to the environment you’re also saving on money and fuel.
Cutting down on fuel consumption can be done easily and efficiently if you take on board the following tips:
Make sure your car is serviced regularly and this way, your car will always operate efficiently.
Check your tyres regularly by making sure they’re inflated properly, also check the tyre pressure and you’ll reduce the friction of your car on the road.
You don’t need a roof rack on your car all the time, this will make your car heavier and drag, which means you’ll use more fuel.
Leave on time for any appointments, and don’t leave your engine running.
Hard as it can be, try not to get lost, you’ll spend an awful lot on fuel.
Combine as many short trip as you can into one trip, and you’ll save money.
How You Drive
I’m sure that if you’re having driving lessons in Edinburgh, or thinking about it, you haven’t passed your test yet. Perhaps you’re too nervous right now to consider how you drive. But once you’re driving properly, you can pay more attention to how you do it, and make some positive changes. Take a look at the ones we’ve listed below:
- Try not to accelerate or brake too quickly, do both as smoothly as possibly.
- Try not to rev your engine especially when it’s in low gears.
- Make sure you switch off your car lights when you don’t need them
- Switch off the air conditioning when you don't need it.
Compass Pro Drive and Eco-Friendly Driving
You’ll be pleased to hear that at Compass Pro Drive, we take eco-friendly driving seriously, and we take on board all the suggestions we’ve made here, and use them every day we go out on the road - and that includes when we take you out on driving lessons in Edinburgh.
We also care about the environment and we want you take that away with you when you start your own driving. We’ll encourage you to make small, but important changes to your driving habits and show you how you can be eco-friendly and help the environment, and still enjoy your independence.
If you have any questions about eco-friendly driving or any other aspect of driving, or if you’re thinking of taking up driving lessons in Edinburgh, then get in touch today.
Take the Scenic Route After Passing Your Driving Test
If you’re taking driving lessons in Edinburgh at the moment and you can’t wait to see the end of it, perhaps you’re feeling a little jaded, it’s that middle bit where you’re entirely sure you want to continue, or you’re fed up with the lessons and feel that you’ll never pass.
Trust us you WILL pass, and everything you’re doing right now is the right way to getting your driving license. There’s plenty to look forward to once you’ve passed your test, one of them is being able to drive ANYWHERE you like. That’s something you can’t do right now, you can’t drive to remote locations and see some of the most scenic parts of Scotland because you’d need to catch a bus, or there is no bus and there’s probably parts of Scotland you haven’t even seen yet.
Once you’ve passed your test and finished with the driving lessons in Edinburgh, all that will change and you’ll get to see parts of Scotland you didn’t know existed. Let’s take a look…
Balloch and the Trossachs & Glasgow to Fort William
The beauty of driving puts you in charge and allows you to take spontaneous trips on the road to explore so much of what’s beautiful about Scotland.
How about Balloch and the Trossachs? Starting with Loch Lomond and passing the A82 you can take in the Arrochar Alps and Crianlarich. You’ll soon get to see some beautiful Scottish waters and the drive will have been worthwhile.
If you take the Glasgow to Fort William route you’ll get to see the historic Fort William via the A82, a great road that millions have driven along many times in order to see some of the most beautiful landscapes Scotland has to offer. Carry on and you’ll soon see the Loch Lomond and Glencoe ahead.
A93, Perthshire and Royal Deeside
You can also do the A93 in your car once you pass and test what you learnt on descents (brakes!), you won’t want to drive too fast because you’ll be wanting to take in the views of Cairngorm National Park, the Glenshee ski resort and the Ancient Caledonian Forest.
Isle of Arran
How about visiting the 7th largest island in Scotgland along a circuit that just keeps on giving the entire route with breathtaking landscapes and beautiful castles such as the Lochranza and Brodick. A waterfall, the Glenashdale and the Machrie Moor stone circle all promise to impress. There’s plenty of places to eat and drink along the way such as cheese sampling, seafood restaurants and brasseries, and plenty of ice cream, beer, whiskey and other delicacies for you sample along your route.
So there you have it, there’s plenty to look forward to when you pass your test, and although perhaps you can’t see that far yet, keep it in the back of your mind, let it motivate you to success. You may not be able to make these journeys yet, but you will, and the other side of your driving test is there, just on the horizon, so don’t give up, you have so much to look forward to!
Get in touch today if you want driving lessons in Edinburgh to take the first steps towards passing your driving test and exploring Scotland and beyond for yourself.
Keeping Calm For Your Driving Test Tips
Battling Driving Test Nerves
No matter how well you know your driving skills, no matter how much practice you’ve had, you may be one of those people, and there are many of us out there, that get very nervous at the mere thought of sitting your driving test. This may be your first time, or your second or third, but you’re worried that perhaps nerves may get the better of you.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
We’ve put together some tips that might just help you get through that test without getting so nervous you can barely breathe, never mind sit through your driving test successfully.
Driving Test Nerves Tips – The Compass Prodrive Way
Mind over matter helps – remember you must have been good enough to have got this far. Your driving instructor has decided that you’re good enough to sit your test – if for one single moment he didn’t believe you were ready, you certainly wouldn’t be where you are now – ready to sit your driving test. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you ARE ready and you CAN do it.
Don’t tell anyone
Don’t let anyone know you’re sitting your test, the last thing you need to worry about is letting people down, or people emailing you and texting you afterwards to ask how well you did. Keep it quiet and then when you do pass, make a surprise announcement.
Watch What You Eat
Eat well and make sure you eat properly before you sit your test. It’s important to make sure you take care of yourself, if there’s one thing that’s going to impact on your concentration, its lack of food, or not eating the right foods. Aim to eat something that will give you energy and help keep yourself focused.
Arrive Early
Arrive early and ready prepared, you don’t want to turn up flustered and sweating because you’ve only got there just in time with seconds to spare, make a good impression and help yourself to stay calm by arriving focused and ready for your test.
Test Day – Relax
Don’t try to do too much on the day of your test. If you’re working, take the day off so you have the whole day to rest. Spend the time relaxing and don’t use it to agonise over aspects of your test and whether you’ll pass, have a quick practice, but don’t dwell on things. You’ve spent weeks and months preparing – you know it well enough.
No, It’s Not Your Test
Tell yourself it’s not the test, but a mock. If you convince yourself it’s just another practice run, you’ll be more relaxed and less intimated by the whole event. You won’t be doing anything you don’t already know, or done a million times before.
Make Sure You Go to the Bathroom
Don’t turn up bursting for a visit. Make sure you’re ready and relaxed. Bathroom visits should be done beforehand.
Coffee is a No No
Stay off the caffeine, you need to be focused but not hyperactive, this could contribute to anxious feelings, so stay away from the coffee jar. Drink plenty of water, but not enough to keep you in the loo, drink enough to keep you hydrated and calm.
Take Your Time Over Manoeuvres
Take your time over manoeuvres you’re asked to do, it’s not a race, you’re not trying to break the world record for reversing round a corner, and you won’t win any medals for carrying out parallel parking in record time. The driving examiner knows exactly how much time is allocated for each task, it’s all been worked out beforehand. It can all be fitted in nicely into the time it takes to sit your test. Don’t worry, just take your time.
Fail?
No, you won’t fail. But if you do, it’s not the end of the world. Don’t beat yourself up about something that you might feel is terribly important, but isn’t really something that defines you, because you’ll survive if you don’t pass your test.
And try, try again, because you will pass. It doesn’t matter whether you pass first time, or whether it takes more than one attempt. When you do pass, all that will matter is that you can now drive on the road, no one will remember how many times it took you to get there.
Get in touch with Compass ProDrive if you want to learn with instructors that will help you arrive a calm and confident driver on test day.
End of Hat Trick Week
Delighted to announce that Claire Louise passed her driving test with only 4 minors! Great drive and great result. Looking forward to you joining us on the roads. Enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.
Start of Hat Trick Week
I'm delighted to say a huge congratulations to Lily Delimata who today passed her test with no fuss at all. A great drive saw Lily walk away with her new licence. Enjoy the new opportunities out there and remember to stay safe.
Hat Trick Week
A massive congratulations to Alexandra Gray-Renfrew who today passed her test in Currie in record time with only 2 minors. Alex took only 3 months to complete her course and was complimented by her examiner on a good drive. Well done again, enjoy the USA and remember to stay safe out there
Important Pupil Information
It has come to our attention from recent enquiries we have had that some potential pupils are wanting us to teach them in their own cars. As a policy we do not do this for a few reasons:
1. Our public liability insurance does not cover us or the vehicle for tuition therefore it leaves us wide open to being sued in the event anything should happen
2. Your insurance does not cover you to be taught by an instructor that receives payment for lessons
3. It's simply quite dangerous. Your car is not equipped with the necessary dual controls to ensure a safe lesson. This is particularly problematic when initially learning as your control is not as good as it would be when you're more experienced. We promote a safe learning environment and teaching a pupil in their own car does not allow us to maintain our high standards of safety
I hope this clears a few things up but this is simply for pupil safety
Thanks for reading
Steve and Al
Why Take Refresher Driving Lessons?
There's always more to learn about driving. Your ability constantly increases as you gain experience and spend time on the road. Sometimes brushing up on your technique and skills can help you become a safer, more confident driver. Refresher driving lessons give you the chance to familiarise yourself with being behind the wheel again, brush up on things you've forgotten, and erase bad habits.
There are many ways you might benefit from taking refresher driving lessons in Edinburgh.
Time Off the Road
Various things could have happened to keep you off the road for a long period of time. Accident, financial restraints, or simply having no need for your own transport, could all see you coming back to the road a little rusty. Refresher driving lessons help you get back behind the wheel and start driving again as though there has been no break at all.
Over 70s
Once you get to 70, you'll have to renew your license every three years. It's down to your personal judgement whether you still want to be driving. It helps to keep your driving skills in the best possible shape to ensure that you still have the confidence and skills required to be on the road. A few refresher driving lessons can give you the assurance to keep your car.
Continue Learning After Passing Your Test
Your driving test checks your ability to drive, but passing doesn't automatically give everyone the reassurance to be in the road by themselves. You may still be nervous following passing your test, which is perfectly understandable. Refresher driving lessons in Edinburgh help you to develop confidence in your driving ability. Keep learning until you are sure you've got all the skills you need to drive safely and confidently.
Non-UK Residents
If you are used to driving on the right when at home, it can be confusing getting used to doing things the opposite way around. Refresher driving lessons are a great way for non-domestic drivers to become familiar with the UK regulations and laws. Use these lessons to become a competent driver in the UK much quicker than you would if you tried to get used to it on your own.
Refresher Driving Lessons in Edinburgh
Whatever reason you have for sharpening up your knowledge, refresher driving lessons have plenty to offer you. Brush up on manoeuvres, build your confidence, and drive happier. Get in touch with us today for refresher driving lessons in Edinburgh.
Play it again Sam
Another success.
Sam Bancroft from Pathhead drove a blinder and passed his test today with only 2 minors.
a great result for him and us. Well done!
Like a broken record!
An absolutely huge congratulations to Johnny Lynch of Lost Map Records.
3 1/2 weeks ago he got behind a steering wheel for the first time.
today he passed his first test at Currie with only 4 driving faults.
thats the quickest I have taken a new driver from lesson 1 to test - I'm as happy as Johnny.
Well done mate - see you for pass plus soon (and a beer tonight at summerhall) :)
Free at last
Massive congrats to Ryan Coyle from Niddrie
a great test pass today At Musselburgh despite extreme nerves.
Alan the examiner got a shock when Ryan put him in a headlock and started kissing his head after hearing he had passed!!!
i guess he was kind of happy :)
well done Ryan
