Response to Covid-19.
What Will Learning To Drive Look Like After Lockdown?
Whether you were planning on learning to drive, had had a number of lessons, or were preparing for your test, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a lot of our learner drivers to change their plans. However, more and more lockdown restrictions are being lifted, which could see pupils finally getting back behind the wheel in the coming months. What can you expect from lessons in a totally changed world though?
BEFORE YOUR DRIVING LESSON
On the day of your driving lesson, your instructor will get in touch to ask you if you, or anyone in your household, has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the last seven days. They will also ask you if you have been in contact with a symptomatic individual within the last 14 days. If the answer to either of those is a yes, then your lesson will be cancelled.
The UK Government has introduced a contact tracing programme in recent weeks. The aim of this programme is to trace the contacts of infected individuals, and tell those contacts to isolate for 14 days to prevent the virus spreading further. If you get a call from a contact tracer, then it’s important that you cancel your driving lesson right away. Even if you feel well, you could be carrying the virus. Stay home and postpone your lesson until you have completed your 14 days of self-isolation.
Always check the current government guidelines for the most accurate and up to date advice.
BEFORE YOU GET IN THE CAR
If your driving lesson is able to proceed, then there are a few things you can do to prepare. Wash your hands for 20 seconds immediately before your lesson, and if you wish to, put on some disposable gloves just before you get into your car.
Your driving instructor will have a short conversation with you before your lesson begins. This will take place outside the vehicle. This is a chance for them to see that you aren’t displaying any symptoms and remind you to wash your hands if you haven’t done so. If you are a new pupil, you will be asked to hold up your provisional licence so they can check it electronically.
KEEPING OUR VEHICLES CLEAN
We always keep our fleet of learner driver cars in pristine condition, and we have stepped up our hygiene measures to meet current public health guidelines. Your instructor will clean the following before your lesson:
- Internal and external door handles
- Steering wheel
- Car keys
- Windows and mirror controls
- Seat and head restraints
- Seatbelts and buckles
- Gear lever
- Indicator and wiper controls
- Learning materials
DURING YOUR LESSON
Here at A2Z Driving Academy, we aim to deliver lessons that keep you safe without sacrificing on the learning experience. Your instructor will keep the windows of the car open to provide adequate ventilation – and air con will be used in the event of bad weather. Dress for the weather – you don’t want to be hot and uncomfortable during your lesson. When you get home, it’s a good idea to get changed and then take a shower right away.
During your lesson, your instructor will make sure that neither of you face each other directly when talking. Facing forward is the safest option in an enclosed space like a car. They will hold up any learning materials rather than passing them back and forth. If they need to perform a demonstration, they will wipe down the controls afterwards. They will give notes by text message or email so that you don’t have to share a pen. If you can, make your payment electronically rather than using cash.
PPE
PPE is a concern for many of our students. Wearing disposable gloves is something we encourage. If you want to wear a face mask and would like your instructor to wear one, please discuss this with them. We will always work in full accordance with DVSA, government and insurance company advice, and will update our PPE policy if needed.
GET IN TOUCH
While all of these measures may seem strict, they are there for a reason. It’s important to adhere to all of the new rules and regulations to protect your health, along with the health of your driving instructor and the other pupils that they teach. Our safety measures are subject to change in accordance to Government guidelines. If you want to find out more, then please do get in touch.
Drivers License.
According to the law, you must be seventeen years of age to drive a car, but if you want to ride a motorcycle or moped you only need to be sixteen. You can apply for your provisional licence provided you are at least 15 years and 9 months old.
To get your first provisional driving licence you need to be a resident of Great Britain, meet the minimum age requirement and meet the minimum eyesight requirement. If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the eyesight standard, they must be worn every time you drive, or you will be committing an offence.
It costs £43 to apply for a provisional driving licence from the www.gov.uk website (or £34 if you apply online). In order to complete your application you will need a valid UK passport or other form of identity, your National Insurance number and the addresses you lived at in the last three years. It usually takes between one and three weeks for provisional licences to arrive but will usually arrive sooner if you apply for it online.
Ways of applying
You can apply for a provisional licence online by visiting the Gov.UK website. Alternatively you can apply by completing the D1 application form which can be picked up at your local Post Office. If you are sending your application via the post, you will need to make sure you include original documentation that confirms your identity, a colour passport photograph, a cheque or postal order for £43 and the completed application. The address is DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD.
The two part driving license UK
If your provisional driving licence application is accepted you will be sent a green photo card. This photo card is important and will be needed in the future, so keep it in a safe place. You will need to take photo card of your driving licence to both your driving theory test and your practical test. Once you have passed your practical driving test, your green photo card will be sent off and replaced with a pink full driving licence photo card.
Rules for provisional drivers
Provisional drivers must have someone supervising them whilst they are driving. The person must sit in the front passenger seat and be fit to drive the vehicle. They should be aged over twenty one and have held a full driving licence for at last three years. Learners must display an ‘L’ plate on the front and back of their vehicles and they are forbidden from driving on a motorway.
The theory test
Before you can take your practical test you will need to pass the driving theory test. Once you are ready to take your theory test you can apply online. You will need your provisional driving licence number, an email address to get your booking confirmation and your debit or credit card. It costs £23 to book a car theory test on the www.gov.uk website.
Training programs.
Easy to understand and follow
We use a DVSA agency approved training program which has been specifically developed to ensure that our pupils reach the necessary standard, no matter what their previous experience or current driving ability, in as short a time as possible. A simple but effective teaching system enables pupils to quickly learn and remember new driving routines and techniques quickly and efficiently.
The use of simple diagrams helps pupils to understand what it is their trying to achieve in each new lesson. A simple 3 stage technique takes the pupil through the learning process for each driving topic until they can remember what to do without any assistance from their instructor. It is a simple but highly effective process!
You will also learn much more quickly because of the significant benefits of learning in an automatic car which will also further reduce the number of lessons which you are going to need. Check out our Why Automatic section for further information.
Theory Test.
When can I take my theory test for driving?
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Theory Test is one of the first things you should do to get full driving licence in the UK. You must pass this test before you can take your practical driving test, plus the work you do to prepare for the theory test will help you to become a better driver.
How old must I be?
In the UK, you must be 17 before you can book a theory test. You must also have a provisional driving licence. You can apply for this when you are 16.
What must I do before I can sit the theory driving test?
Provisional Licence. The first thing to do is to apply for your provisional driving licence. To do this, you must live in Great Britain and you will have to provide your addresses for the past three years. You must also meet minimum eyesight requirements (which will be checked at the start of your practical driving test). You can apply for a provisional driving licence online (www.direct.gov.uk), or you can pick up an application form from any Post Office.
Identification documents. However you apply, you will have to provide original copies of identification documents (e.g. a valid UK passport, or a birth certificate with supporting documentation), unless you have a biometric UK passport (where the photograph and signature are on the same page). In this case you can enter the 9-digit passport number online. A full list of acceptable ID is available here. You will also need to provide a passport sized photograph.
Your provisional driving licence application will cost you £50.
You should receive your licence within three weeks, although it can take longer (e.g. if they have to check medical records). Of course, you don’t need to wait for your licence to arrive before you start preparing for your theory test.
Booking driving test. The last thing to do is to book the actual test. You can only take the official theory test at registered DVSA Test Centres and you must book your test ahead of time. You can book a test online (at www.direct.gov.uk), and will need to provide your provisional driving licence number and an email address. Alternatively, you can book a test over the telephone (0300 200 1122 – English bookings, or 0300 200 1133 – Welsh bookings). The test costs £31, which must be paid when you book the test.
What do I need on the day of the test?
On the day of the test, remember to take both parts of your driving licence with you. If you have an old paper licence, you should also take your passport. You will not be able to take your test without these documents and your fee will not be refunded! Also, you are not allowed to take any notes or personal items into the test room, so don’t be tempted.
If you have prepared well, you should have no problem passing the theory test. Then you can move on to the practical test. Good luck!
Pass Students
Our students with PASS
