ABC Driving School

07/12/2025

The Transport Secretary has just announced further action we’ll be taking to reduce waiting times‼️

We're aiming to get more tests into the system by:

Increasing our training capacity to get more qualified driving examiners testing. 📈

Asking for qualified volunteers to supplement our regular testing capacity. ☝️

Making incentives available to maximise the number of tests that can be carried out. ✨

We’re also fast-tracking our consultation on measures to stop the exploitation of learner drivers and we're determined to create a fairer system for everyone learning to drive.

Keep an eye out for our announcement in May on how you can have your say on the consultation.

Share with someone who needs to know. 👥

28/11/2023

Know Your Traffic Signs illustrates and explains the most common traffic signs that road users are likely to encounter. It's an accompaniment to The Highway Code.

If you entered a web address please check it was correct. You can also search GOV.UK or browse from the homepage to find the information you need.

28/09/2021

Changes to the theory test service

As part of the roll out of DVSA’s new theory test service, the locations of many theory test centres are changing.

When we wrote to you on 19 July we were not able to confirm the location of some of the new test centres.

We can now confirm more new theory test centre locations.

Region C (East Midlands and South East)
The new test centre in Bethnal Green will be located at:

Unit 3, Ground Floor, 1-4 Corbridge Crescent, London, E2 9DS.
The new test centre in Morden will be located at:

Second Floor, Athena and Apollo House, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5BE.
Booking a test
Tests can now be booked online for this new centre at GOV.UK.

Earlier tests
If your pupils need a test before this date they can find other theory test centres in their local area by looking on the ‘find your nearest’ theory test page on GOV.UK

Thank you for your support and patience as we introduce our new service.

26/09/2021

Examiners vote to strike over plans to increase tests per day

PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) members working for DVSA as driving examiners, and their line managers, have voted to support strike action and action short of strike in defence of their working terms and conditions.

92% of members voted for strike action on an 80% turnout with 95% voting yes to action short of a strike.

DVSA have notified examiners that they intend to implement the new 8-test schedule from 11 October 2021, despite union opposition. PCS have stated they have concerns around both the wellbeing of members and the health and safety implications to the public of introducing an additional test to an already time pressured schedule.

Members’ meetings will be held on 28, 29 and 30 September and PCS members working as driving examiners, along with their line managers, will be considering strike action.

PCS remains open to talks with DVSA management, if the imposition of the 8-test schedule is suspended before the strike date.

DVSA have acknowledged pupils and trainers will have concerns on how this will affect driving tests and have said they will provide further information as soon as possible.

In response to the threat of industrial action DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder said:

“The country has endured so much as a result of COVID-19 and we have been in regular discussion with Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) on how we can support the recovery of our services, so it is disappointing that the PCS has chosen to take this course of action.

“Safely reducing driving test waiting times will contribute to the national recovery effort and we are taking steps to provide thousands of learner drivers with the vital driving tests they need to access employment, education, health and social activities.

“As part of our plans to increase the number of tests available, we have trialled examiners carrying out an additional test per day, during their normal working hours. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues is paramount. We continue to work with colleagues and PCS on these proposed changes.”

20/09/2021

THE HIGHWAY Code has changed TODAY - with 33 updates to rules and two new laws being added.

Here's all you need to know before you hit the road...

The Highway Code on its own is not law
5
The Highway Code on its own is not lawCredit: PA:Press Association
What are the new Highway Code rules 2021?

The new version of the Highway Code include a "hierarchy of road users".

This will ensure that people who can cause the most harm in a collision, such as those in vehicles, bear the "greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others".

So, a lorry driver will have a greater responsibility to those driving a car or motorcycle, and likewise people cycling would have a greater responsibility than pedestrians.

The hierarchy will be, in order of priority: pedestrians; cyclists; horse riders; motorcyclists; cars/taxis; vans/minibuses, with large passenger and heavy goods vehicles at the bottom.

Pedestrians will have priority on pavements and at zebra crossings.

A new rule makes clear that at a junction, drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or, or out of which, they are turning.

Cyclists will have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead.

And there is also guidance on safe passing distances and speeds.

The new Code makes it clear that 20mph speed limits must not be exceeded by drivers.

Also:

Electric vehicle drivers are advised to park close to charge points and avoid cables creating trip hazards.
Cyclists should give room when passing pedestrians on shared cycle paths.
For motorists who get annoyed with middle lane hogging on motorways, a tweak to the rules in 2021 says "you should return to the middle lanes and then the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so".

The Code already runs to more than 150 pages with over 300 rules.

The aim of the changes is also to improve guidance for drivers using motorways, including what to do during a breakdown or incident.

This follows concern over dozens of fatalities on so-called smart motorways, where there is no hard shoulder or the hard shoulder can be converted to live traffic.

Here is some of the new, additional or amended text for the Highway Code 2021 in bold:
Rule 91

Get sufficient sleep before embarking on a long journey.

If you feel sleepy, stop in a safe place. Do not stop in an emergency area or on a hard shoulder of a motorway.

Rule 97

Before setting off. You MUST ensure that you have a valid licence and insurance to drive the vehicle you intend to use.

You SHOULD ensure that:

• You have planned your route and allowed sufficient time for breaks and possible delays.

• You have sufficient fuel or charge for your journey, especially if it includes motorway driving.

It is recommended for emergency use that:

• You have a mobile telephone containing emergency contacts (e.g. breakdown assistance), and have high-visibility clothing.

Rule 124

A speed limit of 30mph (48km/h) generally applies to all roads with street lights (excluding motorways) unless signs show otherwise.

Drivers can be prosecuted for disobeying the traffic laws associated with the Highway Code
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Drivers can be prosecuted for disobeying the traffic laws associated with the Highway CodeCredit: Alamy
Rule 126

Stopping Distances:

Allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on high-speed roads and in tunnels where visibility is reduced.

The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and up to ten times greater on icy roads.

Tailgating is where the gap between you and the vehicle in front is too small for you to be able to stop safely if the vehicle in front suddenly brakes.
Tailgating is dangerous, intimidating and can cause collisions, especially when driving at speed. Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front gives you time to react and stop if necessary.
Dangerous and careless driving offences, such as tailgating, are enforced by the police.
Rule 138

On a dual carriageway with three or more lanes, you may use the middle lanes or the righthand lane to overtake but you should return to the middle lanes and then the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so.

Rule 234

Before entering fog, check your mirrors, then slow down.

If ‘Fog’ is shown on a sign but the road is clear, be prepared for a bank of fog or drifting patchy fog ahead.

Rule 230

You MUST NOT stop or park on:

The carriageway, an emergency area or a hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.
A pedestrian crossing, including the area marked by the zig-zag lines.
Clearway; taxi bays; cycle track
A tram or cycle lane during its period of operation
Roads marked with double white lines, even when a broken white line is on your side of the road, except to pick up or set down passengers, or to load or unload goods.
An urban clearway within its hours of operation, except to pick up or set down passengers.
Red lines... unless otherwise indicated by signs. Any vehicle may enter a bus lane to stop, load or unload where this is not prohibited.
There are also new rules to take 'smart motorway' changes
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There are also new rules to take 'smart motorway' changesCredit: Alamy
Rule 253

Provisional car licence holders MUST NOT drive on the motorway unless they are accompanied by a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and are driving a car displaying red L plates (or D plates in Wales) with dual controls.

Prohibited vehicles. Motorways MUST NOT be used by pedestrians, holders of provisional motorcycle licences, riders of motorcycles under 50 cc (4kW), cyclists, horse riders, certain slow-moving vehicles and those carrying oversized loads (except by special permission), agricultural vehicles, and powered wheelchairs/powered mobility scooters.

Rule 257

Amber flashing lights. These signals warn of a hazard ahead. You should:

• Reduce your speed, be prepared for the hazard.

• Only increase your speed when you pass a signal that is not flashing, or a sign displaying a national speed limit or the word ‘END’, and you are sure it is safe to do so.

Rule 258

Red flashing light signals and a red ‘X’ on a sign identify a closed lane in which people, stopped vehicles or other hazards are present. You:

• MUST follow the instructions on signs in advance of a closed lane to move safely to an open lane.

• MUST NOT drive in a closed lane.

Where the left lane is closed at an exit slip road, this means that the exit cannot be used.

Rule 261

You MUST NOT exceed a speed limit displayed within a red circle on a sign.

Rule 263

Unless directed to do so by a police or traffic officer, you MUST NOT:

• Reverse along any part of a motorway, including slip roads, hard shoulders and emergency areas.

Rule 264

Keep in the left lane unless overtaking.

• If you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so.

Rule 266

Approaching a junction. Look well ahead for signals, signs and road markings.

Motorists need to know about the new rules
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Motorists need to know about the new rulesCredit: PA:Press Association
Rule 269

Hard shoulder (where present). You MUST NOT use a hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, traffic officers or a traffic sign.
Hard shoulder (where used as an extra lane). The hard shoulder is used as an extra lane on some motorways during periods of congestion.
A red ‘X’ or blank sign above the hard shoulder means that you MUST NOT use the hard shoulder except in an emergency.
You can only use the hard shoulder as an extra lane when a speed limit is shown above the hard shoulder.
Where the hard shoulder is being used as an extra lane, emergency areas are provided for use in an emergency.
Rule 270

Emergency areas are located along motorways with no hard shoulder or where the hard shoulder can be used as an extra lane (see Rule 269) and MUST only be used in an emergency.

They are marked by blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol and may have orange surfacing.

There are also new rules about what to do in an accident
5
There are also new rules about what to do in an accidentCredit: Alamy Live News
Rule 271

You MUST NOT stop on any carriageway, emergency area, hard shoulder, slip road, central reservation or verge except in an emergency, or when told to do so by the police, traffic officers, an emergency sign or by red flashing light signals.

Do not stop on any part of a motorway to make or receive mobile telephone calls, except in an emergency.

Rule 275 (NEW RULE)

If you need to stop your vehicle in the event of a breakdown or incident, try to stop in a place of relative safety... where you, your passengers and your vehicle are less likely to be at risk from moving traffic.

The safest place to stop is a location which is designed for parking. On motorways and other high-speed roads, the safest place to stop is a service area.

Other places of relative safety include lay-bys; emergency areas; hard shoulders.

Be aware that hard shoulders provide less protection than other places of relative safety because they are so close to high-speed traffic.

You and your passengers should, where possible, keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic.

Otherwise moving traffic could collide with your vehicle, forcing it into you and your passengers.

Also, exit your vehicle by the side furthest from traffic:

Put on high-visibility clothing if you have it.
Get behind a safety barrier where there is one.
DO NOT stand in a place where your vehicle could be forced into you if moving traffic collides with it.
DO NOT return to your vehicle even if it’s raining, cold or dark.
Remain alert and aware of vehicles or debris coming towards you.
DO NOT place a warning triangle on the carriageway.
Animals MUST be kept in the vehicle or, in an emergency, under control on the verge.
Rule 283

If you are involved in an incident or collision or stop to give help:

If possible, stop in a place of relative safety.
Ask drivers and passengers to stop smoking.
Contact the emergency services on 999.
DO NOT move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger.
DO NOT remove a motorcyclist’s helmet unless it is essential and you are trained to do so.
Be prepared to exchange details.
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Stephen Edwards, interim chief executive at Living Streets, said: "The Highway Code currently treats children walking to school and lorry drivers as if they are equally responsible for their own or other people's safety.

"These changes will redress that balance.

"Road users who have potential to cause the greatest harm should take the greatest share of responsibility to reduce the danger they pose."

18/09/2021

Isaıas Sales,

thanks to abc driving school for your precıous teachıngs and confıdence that I could get it

Gracias!

14/09/2021

Changes to the Highway Code: rules on using motorways

As a trainer or instructor, we know you’re well aware of the need to stay up to date with the Highway Code.

From today there are changes to the rules on using motorways, so it’s as important as ever that you and your pupils “check the Code” – and continue to do so on a regular basis.

Most recent changes
The changes made as of today refer to guidance on smart motorways. A total of 33 existing rules will be amended and two new rules introduced, with a number of amendments made to the additional information annexes.

These include:

clearer advice on where to stop in an emergency
the importance of not driving in a lane closed by a Red X
the use of variable speed limits to manage congestion
updated guidance on key factors that contribute to safety-related incidents, including unroadworthy vehicles, tailgating and driving in roadworks
How to stay updated
It’s easy to keep up to date with the Highway Code, and any other future changes, online.

GOV.UK includes a list of the latest updates that have been made, so it’s quick and easy to see what has changed. You can also sign up for email alerts whenever the Highway Code is updated.

The Highway Code on GOV.UK allows you to:

search for key words and phrases within The Highway Code
quickly move between related rules
follow links to the original laws that the rules are based on
print sections more easily
There’s also an official Highway Code app.

Help spread the word
Now’s a great time to remind your pupils about the importance of staying up to date with the Highway Code throughout their lifetime of driving.

We’ll post on social media about the most recent changes to the code. Follow The Official Highway Code on Facebook to see our latest posts and share them with your pupils.

Future changes and print editions
Over the coming months we anticipate some further changes to the Highway Code; we will keep you informed of these by email, on GOV.UK and on social media.

We will write to you again with further details about the next, new printed edition of The Official Highway Code in 2022.

Thank you for your support,

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

12/09/2021

How to have a query about driving tests or MOTs?

If you have a query about driving tests or MOTs contact .

DVLA is not responsible for driving tests or MOTs.

09/09/2021

James Karl Mohammad,

My drıvıng Instructor was so amazıng I passed my exam today because of hım. I wıll recommend hım to all my other frıeds and I wıll say 10/10 DRIVING Instructor thanks for the prayer so much Apprecıate ıt.
God bless!

05/09/2021

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE TEST?

There are 5 parts to the driving test:

an eyesight check
‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions
general driving ability
reversing your vehicle
independent driving
The test is the same for both manual and automatic cars.

How long the test lasts
You’ll drive for around 40 minutes.

You’ll drive for around 70 minutes if you’re taking an extended driving test because you’ve been banned from driving.

Eyesight check
You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of:

20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate
New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as AB51 ABC.
You’ll fail your driving test if you fail the eyesight check. The test will end.

‘Show me, tell me’ questions
You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions.

You’ll be asked the:

‘tell me’ question at the start of your test, before you start driving
‘show me’ question while you’re driving
Your general driving ability
You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways.

The examiner will give you directions that you should follow. Driving test routes are not published, so you cannot check them before your test.

Pulling over at the side of the road
You’ll be asked to pull over and pull away during your test, including:

normal stops at the side of the road
pulling out from behind a parked vehicle
a hill start
You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
Reversing your vehicle
The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:

parallel park at the side of the road
park in a parking bay - either by driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic
Independent driving
You’ll have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:

directions from a sat nav
traffic signs
The examiner will tell you which you have to follow.

They’ll set the sat nav up for you. You cannot use your own sat nav.

If you cannot see traffic signs
If you cannot see a traffic sign (for example, because it’s covered by trees), the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one.

Going off the route
The examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning.

They’ll help you get back on the route if you do.

If you make mistakes during your test
You can carry on if you make a mistake. It might not affect your test result if it’s not serious.

Your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre if the mistake you made means you’ve failed. The test will end early.

Other people at your test
Your driving examiner’s supervisor might sit in on your test to watch your examiner’s performance. If you refuse, your test can be cancelled and you’ll have to book another test and pay again.

17/08/2021

Driving test waiting times - getting back on track

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) needs learner and driver training industry support to help us build the nation back better.

Safely reducing the current waiting times for a driving test is a matter of national importance to enable people to drive and access employment, education, healthcare and social activities. You have a crucial role to play in this.

We want you to know we fully appreciate how difficult the past 17 months have been for your businesses, lessons and pupils getting tests. We know how frustrated and disappointed your pupils feel. We therefore want to share some of the results of the lesson demand research you helped with and explain what we’ve done to reduce test waiting times, what the next steps are and what this will mean to you and your pupils.

Driving lessons research findings
Thank you to those of you who completed the survey.

The research findings reveal that 8 out of 10 driving instructors who responded to the survey currently have a waiting list – and almost half of those have 11 or more people waiting to start driving lessons.

We will use these findings to help us understand more about the demand you’re facing for driving lessons and the future demand for driving tests.

Communication research findings
The research findings reveal that many of the driving instructors who responded to the survey said they’d find local test centre engagement events useful.

As a result of this, we are planning to trial a series of these in a number of locations over the autumn.

We will share more information about this trial as soon as we are able to.

Helping those driving instructors who need it most
We want to help those driving instructors who find it difficult to meet the standards. This will allow us to prioritise those instructors who need the most support.

High-quality instruction leads to high-quality learner drivers who’ll be better prepared to pass their test first-time. Reducing the number of candidates who need to retake their driving test will really help to tackle the waiting list.

We will be sharing more details about how this will work with you very shortly.

Increasing the number of test appointments
The latest phase of the new driving examiner testing framework trial has now concluded, and we are now planning to extend this to more locations ahead of agreeing a final roll out date.

When we roll this out across Great Britain, it will increase the number of available test appointments by an average of 15,000 to 20,000 each month.

We’ll share more information about the next phase of the trial as soon as we can.

Measures to help learners fully prepare for the test and further modernise the driving test
We are also developing a range of other regulatory measures aimed at making every test count. They will encourage learners to be fully prepared and modernise further elements of the driving test.

Any measures will be subject to consultation. We will give more details on these as soon as possible, but the measures being considered include:

increasing the number of days a candidate must wait before applying for a further test if they have failed
increasing the number of days notice a candidate must give to cancel or reschedule their test without losing their fee
changing the way the eyesight element of the test is conducted
introducing a digital test pass certificate
Exploring ways to help learner drivers and their families understand how long it takes to learn to drive
Over the summer we will also be surveying the friends and family of learner drivers to gather feedback to help develop messaging to manage their expectations and encourage them not to take their test before they are ready.

This will be supported by the research we carried out in 2019 with learner drivers and driving instructors to help understand what would encourage learner drivers to take more driving practice.

26/07/2021

Trial to increase the number of driving tests starts at 30 test centres

30 driving test centres across England, Wales and Scotland will be trialling a new testing programme to increase the number of tests driving examiners carry out per day from Tuesday 27 July.

The trial will run up to and including Friday 30 July at these driving test centres:

Barking
Birmingham Kingstanding
Bolton
Boston (Redstone Industrial Estate)
Bristol Avonmouth
Burgess Hill MPTC
Burton on Trent
Cambridge (Brookmount Court)
Chadderton
Dorchester
Dunfermline
Durham
Enfield MPTC (Innova Business Park)
Glasgow Baillieston
Goodmayes
Greenford
Hither Green
Horsforth
Kirkcaldy
Knaresborough
Luton
Mill Hill
Newport Gwent (Stephenson St)
Reading
Sale
Sheffield (Middlewood Road)
St Helens
Stoke on Trent (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Tilbury
Warwick
If the trial is successful, the new programme could increase capacity across the national network and help reduce waiting times.

DVSA is committed to reducing driving test waiting times as quickly and safely as possible.

Change to testing programme for trials
The test centres taking part in the trial will have some of their test start times changed to allow for the new testing programme.

We will not cancel any tests to accommodate the trial, but the original scheduled start time of tests at the centres taking part in the trial may be brought forward. This could be by a maximum of 30 minutes.

We will email affected candidates to let them know as soon as possible. If a test you have booked on behalf of your pupil is affected, you need to let them know of the change to the time of their appointment.

If you or your pupil are not able to make the new test start time, whoever made the test booking must contact the DVSA Customer Service Centre on 0300 200 1122 as soon as possible. They will need the driving licence number and test reference number when they call.

Keeping you, your pupils and our driving examiners safe is our top priority. The trial is being carried out in line with our additional COVID-19 safety measures.

Keeping you updated
We will update you on the outcome of the trial and the next steps when we can.