Pass with Peter B

30/05/2026

And here is what another Driving Instructor thinks about DVSA and the mess it has created

30/05/2026

The DVSA is doing its best to spread disinformation. Lots of stories about what it is doing to make things better, and lots of stories about how the problems for learners are the result of others.
Not true.
Have a look at this from the Driving Instructors Association

06/05/2026

From May 12 2026 these are the rules for changing a practical driving test appointment

You may be able to swap your car driving test with another learner driver by phone if you both already have a test booked and want each other's test slot.

16/03/2026

It's not all about "passing the test".
It is all about being a safe, capable and confident driver.
The statistics for young drivers are chilling. Some of the risk comes from a lack of experience.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has produced a new information leaflet to help parents support newly qualified drivers during the highest-risk months after passing their driving test.

The “Help your young driver stay safe” guide highlights the key risks facing new drivers and offers practical advice for families as young people begin driving independently.

The leaflet focuses on three of the main factors linked to crashes involving newly qualified drivers:

Inexperience - judgement and hazard perception are still developing, so parents are encouraged to ensure their children gain a wide range of supervised driving experience before and after the test.

Late-night driving - darkness and fatigue increase crash risk, particularly in the early months of independent driving.

Peer distraction - carrying passengers of a similar age significantly increases the likelihood of a crash, so limiting passengers early on can help reduce risk.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has produced a new information leaflet to help parents support newly qualified drivers during the highest-risk months after passing their driving test.

20/02/2026

How many people know there were major changes to The Highway Code more than four years ago?

Four years after significant changes were made to the Highway Code, road safety campaigners and MPs are urging the government to relaunch a national awareness campaign. A hierarchy of vulnerability and responsibility of road users was the central theme of the new Highway Code, introduced to improve....

15/02/2026

The current situation with a long waiting time for driving tests causes many problems for learners, their families, driving instructors, and even driving examiners. The reason why there is a long waiting time is entirely due to mismanagement by the DVSA. The job of the examiner is highly skilled and stressful. The DVSA has not recruited enough examiners to reduce the waiting list for tests, and struggles to retain the staff it already have.
This article indicates the changes the DVSA is making soon will result in more people taking practical tests in their own cars rather than instructors cars. So what?
We refer to candidates using their own car as private runners. Examiners meet the candidate and car on test day. It is not unusual for tests to not go ahead because the car is not safe, worse for the examiners sometimes it is not until out on the road it becomes apparent the car is not safe. I’ve had a driving test start a few minutes late because the examiner had only just returned by taxi after cancelling a test on the A189 Spine Road. The examiner told me the car started to shake once the speed got above 40mph. Mine was the third test that day, in the first the examiner had been aggressively abused for failing the candidate. The second test was aborted as the car was unsafe on the road. Third test of the day (mine) the candidate burst into tears in learning they had passed with no driving faults.
Mine was the first instructor car with dual controls the examiner had been in that day. I was sat in the back of the car during the test. I wonder if the examiner had silently let out a sigh of relief when they saw who was next on their list.
The present situation is hugely frustrating, don’t blame instructors, don’t blame the examiners, blame the DVSA and the people who think you can cut funding to an organisation without affecting the service that organisation provides.
We have all been let down.
More private runners on test day will not help the stress levels of examiners, which will result in more days off sick, and more examiners leaving the job.
The DVSA is not fixing the problem.

Learn how private-car tests may increase as new DVSA reforms take effect, affecting learner drivers and instructors alike.

13/02/2026

What to do when you meet Blue Lights

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ST9gZbH2h/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Or for even more information search for Blue Light Aware on YouTube

https://youtu.be/Sq_qBijChWk?si=xSp07LOxDh6QfbdF

12/02/2026

Imagine having to pass both a winter and a summer driving test.

Finland’s famously rigorous driver‑training system grew out of necessity. For much of the 20th century, Finland’s long winters, remote rural regions, and unpredictable weather made driving genuinely dangerous. Roads could remain icy for months, and fatal accidents were far more common than in many other European countries.

By the 1970s and 1980s, the Finnish government began overhauling its licensing system, emphasizing not just basic driving skills but a deep understanding of vehicle mechanics, hazard anticipation, and winter‑specific handling. The goal was simple: reduce accidents by ensuring every new driver could confidently manage the country’s harsh conditions.

Over time, Finland’s approach became a model of safety‑first training. Mandatory skid‑control practice, nighttime driving lessons, and multi‑stage licensing were introduced to build competence gradually. The requirement to pass both summer and winter driving tests reflects the belief that seasonal mastery is essential, not optional. The results speak for themselves:

Finland consistently ranks among the countries with the lowest rates of traffic fatalities in Europe. What began as a response to environmental challenges evolved into one of the world’s most respected and demanding driver education systems.

12/02/2026

If you are a parent of someone learning, or soon to start learning, to drive you may want to read this

Parents and guardians have far more influence than is often realised, both before and after the test. In Safe Driving For Life's blog, you'll read tips on how to help build your learner's skills and experience throughout their driving journey.

29/01/2026

I qualified as an ADI six years ago. What a great time I've had, really has been a pleasure helping nearly 200 people learn to drive. I think the youngest person was just in December 2025 who passed with zero faults aged 17 years 3 months. The oldest was in their late sixties. My pass rate for 2025 was 81% with five zero fault tests, and of course I am being hugely boastful here and setting myself up for a fall!
I'm hugely grateful to those former learners who recommend me. Most enquiries seem to come from personal referrals. I'm truly sorry I cannot help everyone who would like to start lessons.