FAQ & Driving Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
As a busy driving school we get asked hundreds of questions about learning to drive.
We have picked out a selection of the more popular questions along with our answers and thoughts. If you have any questions that are not covered below please call us for advice.
How much are your driving lessons?
Please see the page on this website marked ‘Prices’ for the latest prices along with any special offers.
Can I start driving lessons with an instructor before I pass my theory test?
We recommend that you take practical lessons while preparing for your theory test. The combination of practical experience with theoretical learning should help you perform better at your theory test.
Are your Quick Pass Courses a set price?
No, the Quick Pass Courses, which are sometimes called Fast Pass, are priced on the number of hours that we think you will need to get you up to the required standard to take your test. To begin with you will need to take a one-hour assessment lesson priced at just £10 with one of our instructors, at the end of the lesson the instructor will then be able to give you advice in three ways:
- If you are suitable to go on a Quick Pass Course.
- How many hours you are likely to need to reach the required standard.
- A training plan usually spread over one to six weeks.
Are there any guarantees that I will pass my test?
The only two people that can guarantee that you pass your test are you and your examiner and don’t let anybody else tell you any different. We often see some driving schools trying to entice new pupils by stating that they offer a ‘guaranteed pass’ Only the very gullible people believe this, it is impossible for any school in this country to guarantee that you will pass your test. What they often mean is that they will take enough money from you in the beginning that if you were to fail they will then give you some extra training or pay for a new test, but unfortunately you have already paid for this so called guarantee therefore if you were to pass first time you have paid well over the going rate. Our advice is for you to think before you part with your money.
The Driving Instructors at Expressway The Driving School are guaranteed to be true professionals who give 100% effort on every lesson to train you to the best of their ability. That is the best guarantee in this industry !!!!!
Are all your training cars dual controlled?
We only use the latest model training cars that are all fitted with dual controls for your safety along with air conditioning and power assisted steering for ease of driving.
What car will I use for my driving test?
You will take your test in the same car that you have for your lessons, in fact once you have been allocated to an instructor you will stay with that instructor and car all the way through training except in circumstances beyond our control such as illness or renewing of vehicle etc.
Can you give me help with my theory training?
Yes, all of our instructors have available a selection of home study items such as books, dvd’s, cd’s etc these can usually be loaned from the instructor whilst having lessons with us.
Do examiners have to fail a certain number of candidates each week?
No, there are no limits to pass rates, as long as you are good enough you will pass. You should remember that it is you that fails your test not the examiner. At the beginning of your test you have a clean sheet and it is up to you to keep it clean.
Can you help me I’m just looking for cheap driving lessons?
So are thousands like you !!!
Its very surprising how many parents ring up for lessons for their sons or daughters and ask ‘how much’ when they mean, ‘how cheap’ can I get the lessons. As parents it should be ‘how good are you' because I want the best training possible for my children. After all, if you need to buy a new washing machine or TV, very few people will go and buy a second hand one, but when it comes to your loved ones, i.e. your children, it seems ok for you to want to skimp on lessons to save a few pounds. Please remember that learning to drive properly can save lives, but learning to drive on the cheap could be your worst nightmare.
Driving Tips
Each year there are thousands of people killed or seriously hurt on the roads in the UK. Statistically many of these people are drivers under the age of 25, but there are also a good percentage of experienced motorists getting hurt as well.
Being a good safe driver is one of the most important skills that you will learn in your life, this is even more important today because our roads are getting more congested with more and more drivers taking to the roads than ever before.
There are a number of important skills and qualities that make up a good safe driver, you must have the right attitude, control skills and awareness along with a sound knowledge of defensive driving techniques.
As instructors teaching new drivers we often teach people with the KISS routine, no we don’t mean kiss kiss we mean
Keep It Short and Simple.
If every driver on the road used just a handful of skills whilst driving along there would be a massive reduction in accidents.
Think of it as five fingers on one hand.
- Always be at just the right speed for the situation.
- Always be in the correct position for the situation.
- Always be in the correct gear for the situation.
- Know what is behind and around you, and how this may affect you.
- Know the rules about what you are approaching.
Sounds easy when you put it like this but if every driver adopted this policy they would all get home safely.
However this little piece of advice is not going to change the world so what you need to do is adopt a defensive nature in your driving. Here are some tips that may help you.
- Think of other road users as unpredictable and likely to make mistakes, and then it’s a bonus when they don’t but you are ready when they do.
- Keep a good distance from vehicles in front so that if they stop suddenly you will be able to stop smoothly over a greater distance, otherwise what often happens is that when you stop sharply so does the person driving behind you and you then find that person is now sitting in your boot.
- Switch your mobile phone off. Surprisingly to some people there was life before mobile phones were invented.
- Use your mirrors properly. Set them up before every journey. Use them in the safest way by using the Mirrors Signal Manoeuvre routines. Get in the habit of using them in pairs such as when going right use the interior mirror and then check your right hand door mirror and vice versa when going left. Have a life saving check in the appropriate door mirror just before you make a turn because sooner or later you will be being overtook on the right or the left, don’t learn the hard way.
- Make sure everybody in your vehicle is correctly strapped in even if its not your legal responsibility, they could be the ones that kill you in an accident by flying through your windscreen and taking half of you with them. Also the Police will always have a word with the driver.
- Live with people making mistakes on the road, what’s the point in making a drama out of it, try and help by giving more room etc. Often the ones that make the most fuss are very poor drivers themselves but they seem to think they are perfect.
- Learn to move your eyeballs. Sounds silly but research has shown that drivers who continually alter their field of vision are safer drivers. There is no set way but by looking long distance, middle distance, immediately in front, mirrors, the cars gauges then over and over again you shouldn’t be taken by surprise.
- When emerging from a junction where your view is blocked ‘think once, think twice and think motorbike’ Move forward slowly to improve your view and never go until you can see enough of the road.
- When driving up side streets keep your speed down and keep looking defensively for anything unusual up ahead such as parked vehicles with any type of lights on, look for boot or bonnet lids open, feet under the cars, delivery vehicles, say to yourself where there’s a van there’s a man, and above all look out for children playing behind vehicles. Therefore take your foot off the gas a bit and be ready for the unexpected.
- Look out for situations where there is not enough room for two vehicles to pass safely and be ready to hold back or stop. Know the rules about priorities on the road but remember you only have the priority if the other driver knows the same rules and some of them seem to have read a different rule book.
That’s enough for now but if you want more tips on defensive driving just give us a call and book a driving lesson and one of our experienced driving instructors will be glad to help you.