Practical Driving Test Hints, Tips and Advice

RDS provides the following driving test hints and tips:

1. Richmond Driving School (RDS) can provide quick and last-minute driving tests, including access to cancelled test slots in the local London area. This allows learners to book a test date sooner than with most other schools.

2. RDS have preferential access to driving test dates at many local London test centers like Croydon, Hither Green, Isleworth, Morden, Mitcham, Tolworth, Wallington, and Sutton. This increases the chances of securing an earlier test slot.

3. If a learner has recently failed their test due to a minor mistake, RDS can swiftly book them an emergency retest date, sometimes within a couple of weeks.

4. Before a rescheduled test at an unfamiliar test center, RDS offers a refresher lesson to familiarize the learner with the local area, hazards, and test routes. This can help boost confidence and preparedness.

5. There are lengthy waiting time for a test date elsewhere, contacting RDS can potentially get you a date in the next couple of weeks or sooner.

So in summary, the key driving test tips revolve around RDS's ability to book last-minute and short-notice tests, provide refresher lessons on local routes, and secure early test dates at various London test centers through their preferential access system.

Please use this blog and forum to ask, provide hints, tips and helpful advice for passing your practical driving test or any other aspect of learning to drive in London. 

Common Driving Test Mistakes

Here are the most common mistakes to avoid during the driving test:
1. Poor Driver Observations at Junctions
Poor Observation is consistently cited as the top reason for failing the driving test. Learners often fail to properly observe left and right when approaching junctions, roundabouts, slip roads, and crossroads before proceeding. Ensure you check your mirrors, blind spots, and creep forward if needed to get a clear view before emerging.
2. Not Checking Mirrors When Changing Direction
Failing to check mirrors before signaling, changing lanes, turning, or overtaking is another frequent mistake. Get in the habit of checking your mirrors regularly, especially before any change in direction or speed.
3. Incorrect Vehicle Positioning
This includes not being in the correct lane, straddling lane markings, cutting corners, and improper positioning when turning right at junctions. Practice maintaining the proper road position in different scenarios and at different junctions and road layouts.
4. Improper Response to Traffic Lights and Road Signs
Learners often fail for running red lights, ignoring stop/yield signs, speeding, driving in bus lanes illegally, or not following signs and their instructions. It is recommended to study road signs and markings thoroughly.
5. Poor Vehicle Control
Common issues include stalling, coasting, harsh braking, mounting curbs, not having control during maneuvers like reverse parking, and lack of steering control around bends and roundabouts.
6. Moving Off Unsafely
Not performing proper observations with mirrors and blind spot checks before moving off is a very frequent fault.

By being aware of these common driving test mistakes and practicing to avoid them, you can increase your chances of passing the driving test on the first attempt with RDS.