Learn to Drive HP:Layout 1 19/3/09 16:03 Page 1 i LEARN to DRIVE ii This page is intentionally left blank Learn to Drive TP:Layout 1 19/3/09 16:02 Page 1 iii LEARN to DRIVE In 10 easy stages 4th edition John Wells and Margaret Stacey iv Publisher’s note Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate at the time of going to press, and the publishers and authors cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the mate- rial in this publication can be accepted by the editor, the publisher or any of the authors. First published in Great Britain in 1987 Reprinted 1987, 1988 (twice), 1989 Revised edition 1990 Reprinted 1991 Second edition published in 1993 Reprinted with revisions 1994 Reprinted 1995, 1996 Revised edition 1998 Third edition published in 1999 Reprinted 2001, 2002, 2004 (twice), 2007 Fourth edition 2009 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accord- ance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the publishers at the undermentioned address: Kogan Page Limited 120 Pentonville Road London N1 9JN United Kingdom www.koganpage.com © Margaret Stacey and Andrew Rice, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1998, 1999 © John M Wells and Margaret Stacey 2009 Illustrated by John M Wells The content of Part 3 including text and graphics has been sourced from the 2007 edition of The Official Highway Code. This material is Crown Copyright supplied by the Driving Standards Agency, the Department for Transport and the Controller of HMSO and is repro- duced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence from HMSO. All rights reserved. The Official Highway Code by the Department for Transport is published by the Stationery Office. Further information can also be accessed at www.highwaycode.gov.uk. The right of John M Wells and Margaret Stacey to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978 0 7494 5303 9 Typeset by Saxon Graphics Ltd, Derby Printed and bound in India by Replika Press Pvt Ltd v Contents About the authors x Acknowledgements xi Introduction 1 Part 1 Driving skills 9 Stage 1 Before you drive 11 The Highway Code 11; Who should I get to teach me? 12; Safe driving for life 13; Pass Plus 13; How often should I have driving lessons? 14; How much will it cost? 14; Are you learning already? 15; Ready for your lesson? 16; Are you fit to drive? 16; Practising with friends and relatives 17; Checkpoint 1 20 Stage 2 Get to know your car 25 The cockpit drill 25; The main controls 28; The importance of mirrors 35; Driving an ‘automatic’ 37; Checkpoint 2 38 Stage 3 Starting to drive 43 Starting the engine and preparing to move off 44; Moving off and stopping 46; Changing gear 48; Choosing a safe place to stop 51; More about signalling 52; Exercises 55; Checkpoint 3 56 Stage 4 Learning to plan ahead and gaining more control 62 Taking responsibility 63; The hazard routine – MSPSL 63; Safety margins 65; Passing obstructions 67; How to follow and pass cyclists safely 67; Dealing with hills 68; Exercises 68; vi Contents How to stop in an emergency 72; Exercises 73; Skidding 74; Planning ahead to avoid danger 75; Checkpoint 4 76 Stage 5 Road positioning and turning corners 82 Road positioning 83; Lane discipline 83; Dealing with bends 84; Dealing with junctions 85; Checkpoint 5 93 Stage 6 Manoeuvring at low speed 98 Exercises 99; Using reverse gear 100; Exercises 100; Making a U-turn 112; Checkpoint 6 112 Stage 7 Gaining experience and using common sense 117 Lane discipline at junctions 118; Dealing with pedestrian crossings 120; How to approach traffic lights 124; How to deal with crossroads 125; Dealing with roundabouts 129; Driving along dual carriageways 132; Turning right on to dual carriageways 132; Dealing with level crossings 133; Dealing with tramways 135; Checkpoint 7 135 Stage 8 Learning to anticipate problems and avoid accidents 140 Accidents cost lives 141; Concentrate on your driving! 141; Make good use of the mirrors 142; Be sensible with your speed 142; Be patient 143; Dealing with oncoming vehicles 144; Overtaking 146; Common dangers at junctions 148; Changing lanes in heavy traffic 149; Avoiding accidents with vehicles to your sides 150; Dealing with buses 150; Dealing with emergency vehicles 151; Vulnerable road users 152; Avoiding accidents on country roads 154; Make sure you can be seen 154; Avoiding accidents at night 155; Fog, snow and ice 155; Avoiding problems by reading the road ahead 156; Driving in windy conditions 157; Driving through floods and fords 157; Avoiding aquaplaning 157; Checkpoint 8 158 Stage 9 Driving at higher speeds, basic maintenance and dealing with emergencies 163 Planning your journeys 164; Lane discipline 165; Reducing the risk of breakdowns 166; Changing a wheel 168; If you break down 169; What to do at the scene of an accident 170; Reducing the risk of fire 171; Breakdowns in tunnels 171; Dealing with road works 172; Vehicle security 172; The driver and the environment 173; Checkpoint 9 173 Contents vii Stage 10 The driving test and the Pass Plus scheme 179 Applying for the test 179; Before the test 180; Your vehicle 180; Arriving at the test centre 181; The test 181; At the end of the test 184; After passing 184; If you don’t pass 184; The Pass Plus scheme and advanced driving tests 185; A final word 185; Checkpoint 10 186 Part 2 Driving theory test 197 About the theory test 199 What you can be tested on 199; Taking your theory test 207; Hazard perception test 208; Theory test practice papers 209 Theory test assessment paper 1 210 Theory test assessment paper 2 222 Theory test assessment paper 3 234 Theory test assessment paper 4 246 Theory test assessment paper 5 258 Theory test assessment paper 6 270 Theory test assessment paper 7 282 Theory test assessment paper 8 294 Answers to theory test assessment papers 306 Assessment paper 1 306; Assessment paper 2 307; Assessment paper 3 307; Assessment paper 4 308; Assessment paper 5 308; Assessment paper 6 309; Assessment paper 7 309; Assessment paper 8 310 Part 3 The Highway Code rules and appendices 311 Highway Code rules for car drivers 313 Appendix 1 Show me, tell me questions for car drivers 409 Appendix 2 Checkpoint answers and progress record 415 Index 424 viii Get going Buy 2 AA driving lessons, get 1 FREE* Don’t miss out! Call 0800 975 3685 quoting Code 342 Learn to Drive FREE AA DRIVING ESSON Driving School ix Your free AA driving lesson voucher With only fully qualified instructors, the new Ford Focus, block booking discounts and a FREE lesson when you buy your first two, you can be sure you’re in good hands with the AA driving school. Call 0800 975 3685 quoting Code 342 Learn to Drive. Buy 2 lessons, then simply hand the attached voucher to your AA driving instructor at your first lesson to arrange your free lesson. Grab your FREE AA driving lesson. Call 0800 975 3685 quoting Code 342 Learn to Drive. Buy two lessons, then simply hand this voucher to your AA driving instructor at your first lesson to arrange your free lesson. Your Name Your Pupil Number (Given on calling 0800 975 3685) (Instructor use only) AA Driving Instructor Name (Instructor use only) AA Driving Instructor Number *Offer closes 31st December 2010. Only 1 free hour of tuition will be given per pupil. Offer not available to existing AA driving school pupils and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer subject to instructor availability. AA driving instructors are self-employed franchisees and all contracts for the provision of driving tuition are between the pupil and the instructor. Only one voucher redeemable per pupil. This voucher has no monetary value. Full terms and conditions are available at AAdrivingschool.co.uk Driving School x About the authors Dr John Wells is well known in the driver training profession as a specialist author of training materials for driving instructors. Used nationwide by inde- pendent instructors and training establishments, John’s materials are recom- mended by the leading trade body in the industry, the Driving Instructors Association (DIA). John is managing director of the ORDIT-registered train- ing establishment AT Driver Training Consultancy Ltd, providing professional development courses for other ADIs. John has also provided a consultancy service for those wishing to register with ORDIT, advising on training tech- niques and quality. He is a member of the DIA Education Committee and adviser to BUSK, the school transport safety consultancy. Margaret Stacey was the co-author of The Driving Instructor’s Handbook and Practical Teaching Skills for Driving Instructors, both of which are pub- lished by Kogan Page. These books are recommended by the Driving Stand- ards Agency to those preparing for the Approved Driving Instructors’ exam and also to experienced instructors.