The Official DVSA Guide to Learning to Drive (Eleventh edition)

Being able to drive on your own opens up a whole new world of independence.

But, before you apply to take your practical test, you must have the skills and mindset you'll need to drive independently.

In this book, we explain the skills you need to understand and master before taking your test.

We refer to the 'Driver's Record'; if you do not have one of these, ask your instructor for a copy, or you can download one from www.gov.uk You need to be capable of driving consistently, without help or prompting, and achieve all the key skills in the 'Driver's Record' before you take your practical test.

Most people fail their test because they're not fully prepared, so make sure that you've covered all the key skills to the standard we show in this book.

The best way to gain these skills is to take enough lessons with an approved driving instructor and get plenty of practice.

You should aim to gain experience driving in varying traffic conditions, on different types of road and under a wide range of differing weather conditions.

Once you have the relevant skills and experience, and you've developed the right attitude, you'll be ready for a lifetime of safe driving. (From Mark Winn, DVSA Chief Driving Examiner.)