Theory Test - From Jan 2012

From 1st January 2012, the Driving Standards Agency is making changes to the UK driving Theory Test. From this date onwards, the DSA will add new multiple-choice Theory Test questions to the test. The DSA will not let anyone publish these new Theory Test questions, so they will not appear in any product, nor on any website. However, the DSA will continue to release official DSA Theory Test revision questions, and these will be published in all Driving Test Success products.

What’s the difference between DSA revision questions and the “real” Theory Test questions?

Simply that the “real” DSA Theory Test questions will, from 1st January 2012, start to include new questions that will not be published.

How many official DSA revision questions are published in Driving Test Success All Tests?

It depends on which vehicle licence is being applied for, but approximately 1,000 Theory Test questions.

So if a pupil takes a test before 1st January 2012, the revision questions in Driving Test Success will be the same as the ones I’ll be asked in the Theory Test?

Yes they will. The DSA will only start introducing new, unpublished questions from 1st January 2012.

Is the second part of the Theory Test, the Hazard Perception Test, changing too?

No, the Hazard Perception Test will not change at all. You should use a revision aid that accurately and interactively simulates the DSA Hazard Perception Test, such as Driving Test Success from Focus Multimedia.

Will the DSA be adding more Theory Test questions from 1st January 2012?

No, the structure of the Theory Test isn’t changing. For car drivers there will still be 50 multiple choice Theory Test questions, including 5 case study questions, and then Part Two consists of 14 Hazard Perception Test questions.

Why is the DSA changing the Theory Test?

The DSA has decided, after taking advice from organisations including UK driving schools, that it wants to discourage learners from “learning by rote“. This will, the DSA feels, lead to a better understanding of the actual study materials, in particular the Highway Code.

Do I need to get any practice for the new 2012 Theory Test?

Yes, it’s as important as ever to get plenty of practice before sitting the driving Theory Test. In fact, very little will change when it comes to preparing for the new 2012 Theory Test. We recommend that as a candidate you should:

• Study the Highway Code and gain a thorough understanding of it. A digital version of the Highway Code is included in all Driving Test Success products.
• Use a reliable, up-to-date Theory Test practice tool like Driving Test Success All Tests (available for PC and DVD) or Driving Test Success Online. Focus Multimedia’s revision aids closely mirror the real DSA test, providing you with a chance to answer revision questions under realistic exam conditions. They also include the official DSA “knowledge and understanding” text, which offers explanations of the answers. By getting plenty of practice with Driving Test Success, a learner will understand how the test works, become more familiar with the kind of questions that will be asked, and have a better understanding of the subject matter.
• Try the interactive sample case study questions included with Driving Test Success. You will still be asked 5 case study questions as part of your Theory Test multiple choice element, so it’s important to understand how this section is structured.
• Attempt as many interactive Hazard Perception Test video questions as possible, to prepare for the second part of the Theory Test. Driving Test Success products contain a huge amount of interactive Hazard Perception video clips.

Left Reverse Around A Corner

What the driving test (dsa) requires:

You should be able to reverse your car...

Smoothly

Correctly

Safely

Under full control

With due regard for all other road users

How the examiner will test you:

Your examiner will normally

ask you to pull up just before a side road on the left
point out the side road and ask you to reverse into it
As you drive past the selected side road, check for any obstructions or children playing that could make your manoeuvre unsafe. Also look to see how sharp the corner you will be reversing around is.

Using MSM drive past the corner and stop about 2 car lengths from it and about a foot from the kerb. The sharper the corner the further out you will need to be. Apply the handbrake and select neutral. Make sure if you needed to signal to pull in you do so as you drive past the corner, otherwise, signal too early and other road users could become confused and think you are turning in.

Turn slightly in your seat to make control easier, you may remove your seatbelt if you feel restricted but you must remember to put it back on before you drive off!

Assess the position of your vehicle in relation to the kerb through the rear window. This is the approximate position you need to end up with when you have finished reversing.

Select reverse gear, set the gas to a steady hum then bring the clutch pedal to biting point and check all around. Keep the clutch pedal at, or near the biting point for the duration of the manoeuvre depending on the incline of the road. Keep the vehicle moving slowly by making proper use of the clutch brake and accelerator pedal. The combination of the controls will depends on the slope of the road if any.

You must be looking out of the rear window as you take the handbrake off. (Having done all round observations) Begin moving slowly back until the rear wheels are level with the corner. You can use quick glances in the nearside door mirror to check on your position throughout the manoeuvre.

At this point pause for a moment to have a good look around for other road users as the front of your car is about to swing out into the road, at this point you will present the greatest hazard to others. So ensure you check your right blindspot lastly before you move again to start the turn. Wait until you will not cause other road users to slow down, stop or swerve before you complete your turn around the corner itself.

As a general guide you should be able to follow the kerb as it disappears from view in the back window and reappears in the side window. The amount of steering required will depends on how sharp the corner is Generally ¾ of a turn to one turn on the wheel should suffice.

If your manoeuvre is going to affect other road users remember they have priority. Let them make the decision to proceed or wait for you to complete your manoeuvre if they are appearing behind you as you reverse into the junction. Do not panic and put the car into first trying to rush around the corner again and out of the way. The other road user may pull around you and use the junction so wait until their intention is clear before you proceed to either wait for them to go around you, if they wait behind you there may be little choice other than to go back round to your starting position.

Keep checking all around as you complete the manoeuvre, keep steering to the left until you see that the car is straight in the new road. Keep looking well down the road through the middle of the rear window. This will help you judge whether the car is parellel with the kerb. Glance in your nearside door mirror before you stop to check you are happy with your finish position.

Make sure you finish your reverse in a safe place about 2 to 3 car lengths from the junction to allow other road users to use it safely.

Remember:
Keep on the lookout all the time for other road users particularly pedestrians about to cross behind your car and vehicles approaching from any direction. If a pedestrian is walking near the junction stop and wait for them to reach safety on the other side before you continue moving.

Faults to avoid:

You shouldn’t...

mount the kerb
swing out wide
reverse too far from the kerb
be inconsiderate to other road users
take more than a reasonable time to complete the manoeuvre, creating a hazard for other road users
steer harshly while the car is stationary

Turn In The Road

(Turn In The Road - AKA 3-point turn)

In this manoevure, you turn the vehicle around, using forward and reverse gears, so that it ends up facing the opposite way down the road. You would usually use this manoevure when no convenient side road is available to reverse into.

Before starting you should select a suitable place - it should not cause too much inconvience to other road users, so avoid busy high streets! Make sure that it is legal so don't do it in a one-way street for example. You should also make sure that you have sufficient room to carry out the manoevure, and that there are no obstructions on the road (ie. parked cars) or on the pavement (ie. trees,lamposts, etc.). Finally be sure that it is safe and that you have a clearview up and down the road for a good distance.

The key to carrying out this manoevure successfully is to keep the car moving slowly (using good clutch control), at walking speed or less, but to steer briskly. You should also be aware that some roads have a camber (they bow up in the middle) which will require preparing for a hill start when moving off, and dipping the clutch whilst controlling speed with the footbrake as you approach the kerb. Thorough observation should be carried out throughout the manoevure, and the car should be stopped before approaching vehicles arrive until they have either passed or you are certain that they will wait. The manoevure will be carried out in 3 or more phases:

1.You should start the manoevure on the left, reasonably close to the kerb as if parked. Put the car into 1st gear and prepare the car to move, you should then perform a 6-point observational check (left blind-spot and door mirror, road ahead, rear-view mirror, right door mirror and right blind-spot) and when it is clear with no approaching vehicles or pedestrians move slowly forward whilst steering briskly to the right as far as the wheel will turn. As the car approaches the opposite kerb slow it down, steer a bit to the left just before stopping near the kerb.

2.Engage the handbrake, then reverse gear, prepare the car to move and carry out a 6-point check as before, when safe start reversing looking out the rear window over your left shoulder whilst steering all the way to the left, about halfway across the road look over your right shoulder to see the approaching kerb, just before reaching the kerb steer right a bit and stop.

3.Finally, engage the handbrake and first gear, prepare the car, 6-point check and move off when safe, steering to the right and continue down the road. If it is not possible to continue without hitting the kerb, stop just before the kerb having steered left and repeat phases 2 & 3 above.