Beyond the Driving Test
The driving test does not fully prepare new drivers for the realities of the road, a theme explored in this concluding episode of the miniseries.
Terry Cook emphasizes that while the test can introduce some pressure and unpredictability, it falls short in equipping drivers for various real-life scenarios they will encounter after passing. He highlights the importance of gaining practical experience and suggests that new drivers continue to learn and practice beyond their initial test. Terry also encourages ongoing education, such as revisiting the theory test and considering advanced driving courses to enhance skills and safety. Ultimately, the message is clear: the journey to becoming a competent driver doesn’t end with passing the test; it’s just the beginning.
The Driving Test Podcast is here to give you all the information and tips you'll need to help you pass your driving test. Whether you're learning to drive, getting ready to start, or helping someone else, this show will get you in the right gear.
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The Driving Test Podcast culminates its miniseries by addressing a crucial topic: the disconnect between driving tests and real-world driving experiences. Terry Cook, the host, delves into the limitations of driving tests, stressing that while they assess basic driving skills, they fall short in preparing new drivers for the unpredictable nature of everyday driving. He emphasizes the myriad of scenarios that can arise on the road, from encountering cyclists to navigating busy junctions, which are often not reflected in the structured environment of a driving test. This episode aims to equip listeners with insights on how to bridge the gap between passing the test and becoming a competent driver post-test.
Takeaways:
- The driving test prepares you for some pressures, but not real-world driving scenarios.
- You need more practice beyond the test to truly become a safe driver.
- Consider taking refresher lessons or advanced driving courses after passing your test.
- Always stay aware and engaged while driving to prevent developing bad habits.
- As a passenger, you have the right to refuse to ride with unsafe drivers.
- Regularly update your driving knowledge to stay informed about road safety changes.
Transcript
Welcome to the Driving Test Podcast.
Terry Cook:I am Terry Cook of TC Drive and I am here as your guide on your journey to passing your driving test and beyond.
Terry Cook:That's right.
Terry Cook:We also take a look at preparing you for all those wonderful journeys you're gonna go on once you've passed your driving test.
Terry Cook:Now, today we are finalizing our look at how the driving test doesn't prepare you for life on the road.
Terry Cook:This is the last day of this miniseries and we're looking more generally at how the test won't prepare you for real life driving.
Terry Cook:But just before we do, I want to remind you that I've done this miniseries Across Road Safety Week, which is run by break, a road safety charity.
Terry Cook:Now, BREAK helps support the families of those who have lost lives due to a road traffic collision.
Terry Cook:So if you have found these episodes all beneficial or interesting or useful, please consider donating.
Terry Cook:You can find a link to do so in the show notes to this episode.
Terry Cook:And I'm doing these as well to help keep you safe post test.
Terry Cook:Because the driving in test doesn't fully prepare you for a real world driving.
Terry Cook:So we've been looking at what you can do to get yourself ready.
Terry Cook:And as I said today, we're going to take a more general look because we've spoken a lot about how the test doesn't prepare you.
Terry Cook:So what is it, what is it for if it doesn't prepare you fully for real world driving?
Terry Cook:Well, you will come across a wide variety of driving driving scenarios because you can never really predict what's on that driving test.
Terry Cook:You know, you could have done a certain junction a hundred times, but when you get there on your driving test, it may be completely different.
Terry Cook:You may have a cyclist in front of you for the first time.
Terry Cook:There may be a horse and rider there.
Terry Cook:There could be a wagon coming from the right at that junction.
Terry Cook:It could be completely empty.
Terry Cook:It could be that every time you've done that junction, when you get there, it's really busy.
Terry Cook:But then a daily test is completely empty or vice versa.
Terry Cook:We never know what's around the corner.
Terry Cook:And you know, you think about when we're driving, when we come in towards a bend or a turn, we want to be thinking, what's around this corner?
Terry Cook:Because we don't know.
Terry Cook:So therefore, we have to judge a speed accordingly.
Terry Cook:And that applies to your test as well.
Terry Cook:We never know what's around the corner.
Terry Cook:And I've seen firsthand on driving, there's some really random stuff happen.
Terry Cook:So the one thing it does prepare you for is not knowing is not knowing what's coming up.
Terry Cook:It's not knowing where you're going or what you're doing or what's around that corner.
Terry Cook:So I do think it's really good for that.
Terry Cook:It also puts you under pressure.
Terry Cook:So it may be while you've been sat in the car with your parents or your instructor or whoever's teaching you, you may never really felt that pressure.
Terry Cook:Because if we think about the context of your drive, so when you're driving on a driving lesson, you're learning.
Terry Cook:That's consciously what you're doing.
Terry Cook:You're trying to learn and become a good driver.
Terry Cook:So there's, there's not that much pressure there, you're just learning.
Terry Cook:But when you go on your test, all of a sudden your license is up for grabs.
Terry Cook:So there is context there.
Terry Cook:The drive is different.
Terry Cook:You are no longer just going for a friendly driver instructor.
Terry Cook:You've got someone assessing you who will decide if you get that license.
Terry Cook:So it puts you under that, that pressure sometimes as well.
Terry Cook:So you can see the driving test does have its place.
Terry Cook:You know, this whole series hasn't been about saying it's useless, it's got its place, but it's not an accurate representation of what you will encounter post tests.
Terry Cook:We've looked at that across these episodes, looking at different weather conditions, driving the dark, dealing with distractions, all that kinds of stuff.
Terry Cook:So I'm not sitting here telling you to book one hundreds of hours with a driving instructor, but the simple fact is, the more experience you have on the road, the safer you will be.
Terry Cook:The better driver you will become.
Terry Cook:Think of anything else you practice, whether it's school or sports, gaming or learning the musical instrument, all these things, the more practice you put in, the better you're going to become.
Terry Cook:And it's the same for your driving.
Terry Cook:The more practice you put in, the better you're going to become.
Terry Cook:The more experience you have in situations like car parks or motorways or high speed roads or rural roads, the more practice and experience you have, the better you're going to be, the safer you're going to be.
Terry Cook:Now, let's be honest.
Terry Cook:I appreciate you're not always thinking, oh, how can I be the safest driver in the world?
Terry Cook:You want to have fun when you're driving and that's completely fine.
Terry Cook:But we also need to make sure you're not harming yourself or anyone else.
Terry Cook:So just to reiterate, the more experience you can get, the better.
Terry Cook:So the more hours you can have, whether it's in your Own car or an instructor's car.
Terry Cook:Building up to your driving test when you pass.
Terry Cook:A, it will help you pass that test, and B, it will help keep you safe after the test as well.
Terry Cook:Because as we've seen, the test doesn't mean you're the best driver in the world.
Terry Cook:It means you can complete these basic aspects.
Terry Cook:So what can you do once you've passed your test to keep safe?
Terry Cook:Well, firstly, I suggest taking a theory test.
Terry Cook:Every couple of months, you've probably got some kind of app.
Terry Cook:So looking back over that, just maybe once a month or once every couple of months to help keep you up to date with any changes that have gone on in the highway code and the rules, or just to keep up to date with your knowledge.
Terry Cook:Ten minutes a month, that's all it'll take.
Terry Cook:Keep listening to this podcast or other podcasts or other YouTube channels, whatever it is, doesn't have to be this one, but you're already listening, so.
Terry Cook:But if you can keep listening to these, it's going to keep you engaged and keep you focusing on that safety.
Terry Cook:Because what tends to happen is once you've been driving a while, if nothing bad has happened, maybe you start to relax a little bit too much.
Terry Cook:For example, if you check your blind spot when you're setting off from the side of the road 200 times in a row and nothing's been there, you run the risk of potentially thinking nothing will ever be there, when in fact what we're doing is we're checking it for the one time something is there.
Terry Cook:Now, hopefully nothing ever is, but the only way we know that is by checking.
Terry Cook:So keeping on top of stuff like that.
Terry Cook:Also you could sign up for some advanced driving, so you could do that with your driving instructor and do some advanced stuff.
Terry Cook:There's the option of PLASP Pass plus as well, or the specific organizations like the Institute of Advanced Motorists provide this advanced training as well to get you even better with your driving.
Terry Cook:Another thing that I suggest to a lot of my folks that pass a test is come back for an assessment lesson in about a year's time or two years time, and just come back every couple of years.
Terry Cook:Now all that could be is potentially you could book an hour or 90 minutes or whatever, you could go out and drive and that instructor can give you some feedback on your driving across the hour.
Terry Cook:Now it's up to you.
Terry Cook:Maybe you'd go, oh, can I come back for another couple of lessons to brush up on these skills?
Terry Cook:Or maybe just take on board what the instructor said.
Terry Cook:But again, it's that idea of not letting yourself become complacent.
Terry Cook:You know, imagine a pilot.
Terry Cook:You would never want a pilot to pass a pilot's test and never be retested and never do any further training.
Terry Cook:But that's what drivers do.
Terry Cook:They pass a driving test and they often never do any further training.
Terry Cook:They pick up bad habits and then they get retested.
Terry Cook:Do you want to be that person that passes and just drives for 50, 60 years with no checks on themselves?
Terry Cook:Are you going to be someone that actually raises the standard of driving on the road?
Terry Cook:Really would encourage do that.
Terry Cook:And then a couple of last things I want to touch on just recapping these.
Terry Cook:So don't be a passenger in a car with someone who isn't driving very well.
Terry Cook:Now, whether that's because of drink driving or drug driving or they're using their phone or they're just not very good.
Terry Cook:I just want to mention that as a passenger, you can refuse to be in that car.
Terry Cook:You can get out of that car at any point.
Terry Cook:Obviously, when it's safe to do so, I can refuse to get in there.
Terry Cook:So just some things that you can do post test there.
Terry Cook:And I hope you've enjoyed this this miniseries I've done on about the test and how it doesn't prepare you for real life.
Terry Cook:I know it's stepping away from driving test preparation, which is kind of what this podcast was about initially.
Terry Cook:But I hope you found this useful and please consider donating to break this week.
Terry Cook:You'll find a link for that in the show notes.
Terry Cook:But for now, make sure you subscribe to this driving test podcast because we'll be returning with a brand new format soon.
Terry Cook:But until next time, stay safe and drive safer.
