ASM Driving School

29/01/2026

29/01/2026

Motoring expert urges learner drivers to stop creating 'bigger problem'

A motoring expert has issued a grave warning to learner drivers, branding certain behaviours as reckless - and it's "creates bigger problems" for learners.

The warning comes as over a thousand people were caught cheating during their driving test last year, with many resorting to tactics such as using Bluetooth headsets or even impersonating the candidate. This has sparked concerns about an influx of unsafe drivers on our roads.

28/01/2026

A crackdown on booking driving tests
To reduce the backlog and prevent unfair practices, new booking rules are being introduced from spring 2026: Only the learner driver can book and manage their test. Now, driving instructors and third parties are no longer allowed to book on their behalf.

07/01/2026

Learner drivers in England and Wales could face a minimum period of up to six months between sitting their theory and practical tests.

The measure, which will be subject to consultation, is part of the government's wider road safety strategy launched on Wednesday.

The proposals also include a lower drink-driving limit in England and Wales, to bring them in line with Scotland.

The shake-up of driving laws is aimed at reducing the number of people killed or badly injured on Britain's roads by 65% over the next decade, and by 70% for children under 16.

06/01/2026

What to Watch For when driving in icy road / Black Ice: Look for "wet-looking" patches or a glossy sheen on the road. It often forms where the sun doesn't reach, such as under bridges, tunnels, or tree-lined stretches.
Quiet Tyres: If the usual road noise from your tyres suddenly goes silent, it likely means you have moved from tarmac onto ice.
"Light" Steering: If the steering wheel feels loose, unresponsive, or unusually easy to turn, your front tyres have likely lost grip.
Other Vehicles: Watch cars ahead for sudden swerving, sliding, or brake lights, which can signal a patch of ice before you reach it.
Ambient Temperature: Monitor your car’s external thermometer; surfaces can freeze when the air is as high as 4°C (39°F).
Safe Driving Techniques
Use High Gears: When pulling away, use second gear to avoid wheel spin. While driving, stay in the highest gear possible to keep revs low and maintain traction.
Smooth Inputs: Avoid all sudden movements. Steer, brake, and accelerate with extreme delicacy to prevent breaking what little traction you have.
Maintain Distance: Increase your following distance to at least 20 seconds behind the car in front.
Hills: Avoid stopping on inclines. Wait at the bottom until the path is clear so you can maintain a constant momentum all the way up.
Braking: If you must slow down, use engine braking (shifting to a lower gear) rather than the foot brake whenever possible.
How to Handle a Skid
Do Not Slam the Brakes: Braking will lock the wheels and make the skid worse.
Steer Into the Skid: If the back of the car slides to the right, gently steer to the right. This helps realign the wheels with the direction of travel.
Ease Off: Take your foot off the accelerator and wait for the tyres to regain grip.
For real-time updates on road safety and weather, consult the Met Office or National Highways.

27/12/2025

Top ten reasons for DVSA driving test failures

1. Not making effective observations at junctions
Drivers must make sure they are always making effective observations before moving into a new road to make sure that it is safe to proceed.

Any mistakes made by not making effective observations will be counted as faults during their driving test.

2. Not using mirrors correctly when changing direction
You must always make full and effective use of all the mirrors, check the mirrors carefully before signalling, changing direction or changing speed, and use the ‘mirror - signal - manoeuvre’ routine effectively.

Any mistakes you make in this area when changing direction will be counted under the ‘Mirrors - Change direction’ fault on your driving test result.

3. Not moving off safely

Drivers must be able to move off safely while making the correct observations from the side of the road, on a slope or hill (gradient) and from behind a parked vehicle, so they have to move off at an angle.

4. Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions

You must be able to position the car as close to the centre of the road as is safe.

Any mistakes you make in this area will be counted under the ‘Junctions - Turning right’ fault on your driving test result.

5. Not having proper control of the steering
Motorists must be able to steer their car as smoothly as possible. They must also steer at the appropriate time, as steering too early or late can cause the car to hit the kerb or swing out towards another road user.

Any mistakes in this area will be counted under the ‘Control - Steering’ fault on the driving test result.

6. Not responding appropriately to traffic lights
Drivers must act correctly at traffic lights, checking that the road is clear before they proceed when the green light shows.

Any mistakes in this area will be counted under the ‘Response to signs - Traffic lights’ fault on the driving test result.

7. Not responding correctly to traffic signs
You must be able to understand and react correctly to all traffic signs.

Any mistakes in this area will show as ‘Response to signals - Traffic signs’ in your result.

8. Poor positioning on the road during normal driving
When passing, you must be able to position the car correctly for your intended route, position the car in the middle of marked lanes and only change lanes when necessary.

Any mistakes you make in this area will be counted under the ‘Positioning - Normal driving’ fault on your driving test result.

9. Not responding correctly to road markings
You must be able to understand and react to all road markings correctly.

Any mistakes you make in this area will be counted under the ‘Response to signals - Road markings’ fault on your driving test result.

10. Not keeping control of the vehicle during reverse parking

27/11/2025

Key changes to driving test. From November 2025.

Fewer stops: The number of normal stops during the test has been reduced from four to three.
Emergency stop frequency: Emergency stops will now be tested in approximately one out of every seven tests, down from one in three.
Flexible independent driving: The independent driving section can now last for the entire test, rather than just a portion. Candidates will follow either a sat nav, a series of traffic signs, or a combination of both.
Increased focus on rural and high-speed roads: The changes allow for more time spent on faster and rural roads, which are a significant cause of crashes, particularly for younger drivers.
No change to overall test duration: The total length of the test remains the same.

22/11/2025

What are the new driving test rules in 2025?
These were: reducing the number of stops during the test from 4 to 3. lowering the frequency of emergency stop exercises from 1 in 3 tests to 1 in 7. adding flexibility to the independent driving segment (this can be following a sat nav, traffic signs or both) to run for the full duration of the test.

17/10/2025

Congratulations, another first attempt pass.

20/09/2025

AVOID SPLASHING.

We are now in the rainy season where there are lots of puddles about.

Be warn, that if you drive through a puddle and splashes anyone, then you could be prosecuted.

If your going for the driving test then you are likely to fail test and could also be prosecuted.

Take care everyone and take the necessary precautions to avoid this happening.

The offence is called "DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE AND ATTENTION FOR OTHER ROAD USERS"

28/07/2025

Hard work paid off
First attempt pass with Zero driver /minor faults
Well done