Eastham School of Motoring
Established in 1980 as the Eastham School of Motoring, we have a proven record of successful driving test 'passes', and positive and safer, life-time driving experiences for all our clients. We have developed our 'L' driver training programmes further, by offering theory and hazard perception training and on-road preparation for the DSA theory and practical driving tests, and 'Pass Plus' for newly qualified drivers. We can provide retraining courses for traffic offenders, and preparation for the DSA extended test following disqualification, and the retesting for 'totting up' offenders under the 'New Driver Regulations'. We aim to offer personalised and affordable driver training and education from weekly lessons to intensive courses for all ages in modern dual controlled cars, the classroom, or in pre-arranged vehicles, plus friendly professional service to make your training both enjoyable and cost effective.
We serve most areas of the Wirral, including Neston, Willaston, Ellesmere Port and Chester. We provide comprehensive training for learner drivers through to passing the 'driving test', with motorway, refresher courses, parking practice, and Pass Plus courses available.
Our vehicles all meet DSA training vehicle standards, are dual controlled, have a range of seating and steering adjustments to maximise comfort, control and visibility for all our clients. Training vehicles are fully insured for our clients and for DSA Examiners when on driving test, with an option from our insurers to offer discounted premiums to our clients when they come to insure their own vehicles.
We cater for people of all ages and abilities, including mobility clients, and welcome nervous or anxious pupils. We make a point of treating all our clients as individuals, so rest assured that as far as possible all your needs will be catered for, with driving lesson content, pick-up and drop-off points, tailored to suit your needs and requirements. For example, we can save you time and money by arranging to pick you up for your lesson from home, work, college, or a local station, and drop you off in a different location if necessary.
We will provide you with the knowledge, expertise, and positive driving attitudes that will enable you to pass both the theory/hazard perception test, and the practical on-road test, and to prepare you for the challenges of driving after the test.
We offer professional, patient and friendly driving lessons, with some of the most competitive tuition rates in the Wirral areas, with further discounts available for block bookings, and students. If you have any questions which are not answered on this website, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to discuss them with you.
Before you can start to learn to drive The minimum age which you can legally drive a car on UK public roads is 17yrs. However, if you are in receipt of a mobility allowance, the minimum age is 16yrs. Despite rumours in the media, the minimum age has not been raised to 18years, but is still 17yrs. Until you pass the practical part of the Driving Test you are not allowed to drive unaccompanied. On your first lesson you will be given an eyesight test (reading a vehicle number plate at 20.5metres), so if you need to wear glasses or contact lens please make sure you are wearing them.
You will need to obtain a provisional licence before you can drive on a public road. This usually takes about 2-3 weeks from submitting a completed licence and photo-card application. Application forms are available from most post offices. You can apply for your licence up to three months in advance of your eligibility to drive, and advance book your driving lessons ready for when you receive your licence. If you already possess an old style provisional licence, you can carry on using this licence subject to photographic ID (e.g. your passport) until you either pass a driving test, or if you have already passed a driving test in the past, change your address. Please feel free to contact us for advice on the validity of an existing licence or obtaining a new photo-card licence.
Theory, Hazard Perception and Practical Driving Tests
To qualify for your full UK driving licence, which will allow you to drive unaccompanied it is necessary for you to pass two tests, but practical on-road driving tuition can start at any time from the receipt of your provisional licence. Your instructor will provide guidance and assistance in the preparation and application process for these tests. When you attend for your theory test you must bring with your signed provisional driving licence, and photo-card, and your appointment confirmation letter. If you have an old style licence it will be necessary for you to confirm your identity with some form of photographic evidence that also bears your signature (e.g. a passport). If you do not have a passport, other photographic evidence may be acceptable, but please seek advice from your instructor in plenty of time before your test, otherwise you will lose your fee.
The Theory and Hazard Perception tests are taken together in one session. The first section of the theory test is a Highway Code knowledge test utilising computer-based, touch-screen technology. Following an initial practice session, you then have 40 minutes to score at least 30 correct answers from a 35 question multiple-choice test (from September 2007 the number of questions will be increased to 50 with a commensurate adjustment of time and pass mark).
The second section of the theory test is the Hazard Perception Test taken immediately after completion of the first section. This comprises of 14 driving scenario videos, simulating driving a motor vehicle along a road. Each video clip is approximately one minute long, and features various types of hazard, such as road conditions, other vehicles, cyclists, motor and pedestrians. When you spot a hazard that may require a driver to take some action you click the mouse button. The earlier you spot the hazard the higher the score on a scale from 0 - 5 marks. There are 15 scoreable hazards in the test. The pass mark is 44 marks with candidates needing to score a minimum of 44 marks out of a maximum of 75 available marks. Theory test pass certificates are valid for a 2 year period from the pass date. If the practical test has not been passed in this 2 year period, the theory test will have to be retaken.
Success in both parts of the theory test allows you to apply for the Practical test when your instructor considers you have reached the required standard to apply. Failure in one or both parts of the theory test will require that it is retaken. It is not possible to apply for the practical test until the theory test has been passed.
Practical Driving Test
Your instructor will guide you as to the standard required to take a test, and through the application and booking process. This is to ensure that you are ready for your test, and that a training vehicle and instructor is available for you to use on your driving test. Your instructor will provide you with an ADI identification reference number which (unless you are using your own vehicle and accompanying driver for test) is necessary for the booking system. You can book on-line or by telephone or post. When booking a test, it is essential that you liaise with your instructor so as to prevent double-bookings or non-availability of a training vehicle for your test appointment.
When you book the practical test you will be sent an appointment confirmation letter. Check the date and time of your test. Make sure it is for your chosen Test Centre and for the correct type of test i.e. Group (category) B. Make a note of the Test reference number and cancellation date. If it becomes necessary to either cancel or rearrange the time or date notice must be received by the DSA on or before this cancellation date, otherwise you will lose your test fee if you are unable to attend the booked test. On the day of your test you must bring your signed provisional driving licence, and photo-card, your theory test pass certificate, and your appointment confirmation letter. If you have an old style licence it will be necessary for you to confirm your identity with some form of photographic evidence that also bears your signature (e.g. a passport). If you do not have a passport other photographic evidence may be acceptable, but please seek advice from your instructor in plenty of time before your test (this means some weeks before - not on the day of the test). Put all your documentation in a safe place at home, and remember where you have put them, as without production of these documents, the test will not take place and your fee will be lost On the day of your test if you are taking your test in our training vehicle we will pick you one hour before the test appointment time. This is to allow for some last minute practice and 'nerve calming', and to ensure we arrive at the test centre in good time. Lateness can mean that the test will be cancelled and you will lose your fee.
When an examiner calls your name, s/he will check your licence and photographic ID and check your signature against an insurance/residency declaration you will be asked to sign. If you are using our training vehicle for your test, the vehicle will be insured for yourself and the examiner. If you are using your own vehicle for test, it will be necessary for you to obtain confirmation from your insurers that the vehicle is insured for use on a driving test, and not just for 'social, domestic, and pleasure' use. If you are excused from wearing a seat belt on medical grounds, you should show your exemption certificate. You will be asked whether you suffer from any disability that has not been declared on your application form. If you have declared any disabilities you should briefly remind the examiner. For example, some candidates may find it helpful for the examiner to point as well as say 'turn left' or 'turn right.
Once these formalities are over, the examiner will ask you to identify and lead the way to your vehicle. The examiner will select a vehicle at random and ask you to read the registration number plate. If you need to wear corrective lens to read the number plate you continue to wear them throughout the test. You will then be asked to answer two 'show me' - 'tell me' vehicle check questions. These include such things as tyres, brakes, coolants, lights etc., and may involve opening and securing the vehicle bonnet. Your instructor will show you and demonstrate these vehicle checks during your training. Once on the road the examiner will give you clear directions of the route s/he wishes you to follow. It is not a test of your navigational skills, although you will be expected to heed road signs, and markings as necessary. During the test you will be asked to carry out a selection of driving manoeuvres e.g. turn in the road, reverse into a side road, parallel park, reverse into a parking bay, emergency stop. You will not be asked to perform all these tasks, although you will have practiced them all during your driving lessons. The route will as far as possible follow a mix of urban, suburban, and rural roads. You will be expected to recognise the differing speed limits and driving conditions and adjust your speed to match the situation. When you arrive back at the test centre at the end of the test, the examiner will tell you that the test is now over, and will let you know the result. If you pass the examiner will issue you with a 'Pass' certificate, valid for you to drive unaccompanied until you receive your 'full' licence from the DVLA in Swansea. Less welcome is the alternative 'Statement of Failure' which you will receive if you commit one or more serious or dangerous faults, or more than more than more than 15 less serious driving faults. This report will enable you and your instructor to identify your weak points, take some further remedial training and retake your test.
There is no magic formula for passing your driving test - Have confidence in your ability, follow the examiner's instructions and act on them in good time, If you are unsure of what the examiner said, ask for them to be repeated. The examiner just wants to see what you would normally do - if you are unsure of what to do hold back earlier, giving you some extra time and space to assess and decide what to do next. Show the examiner that you are safe and ready to drive by yourself and deserve to have those 'L' Plates removed!
PASS PLUS
Pass Plus is a training scheme for new drivers. It's much more than just a few extra lessons. Pass Plus consists of six practical modules which cover driving in town, in all weathers, on rural roads, at night, on dual carriageways and on motorways. You can take it at any time within the first 12 months of passing your test. This specially designed course by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), with the help of insurers and the driving instruction industry. It is designed to help you:-
Gain valuable driving experience safely - you will be taught how to deal with a wide range of road and traffic situations, many of which you probably won't have faced before.
Improve your existing skills and knowledge - it can take years to become a skilled driver. Pass Plus helps get you there by speeding up the learning process under expert tuition.
Reduce your risk of being involved in a road traffic accident or incident - the course will help boost your awareness of all kinds of hazards and help you learn how to anticipate, plan for and deal with them safely.
Save money on car insurance premiums - fees for the Pass Plus course are competitive, but you will be required to take a minimum of six hours training all of which need to be taken after passing your test. If more sessions are needed for you to successfully complete the course, this may add to the cost. The amount you save on insurance premiums will depend on the company you choose, but in most cases you should save money as the discounts offered are often greater than what you paid for the course.
Boost your confidence - if you feel nervous about driving on your own, or in unfamiliar places the Pass Plus training can help you become more confident on the roads, and give peace of mind to your family, friends and colleagues.
There is no need to worry about a test at the end of it - there is no formal test but your driving will be continually assessed, and you must successfully complete all the modules in the course. When you have successfully completed the course, you will receive a Certificate from the Driving Standards Agency which will enable you to qualify for the discounts offered by the insurance companies taking part in the scheme. Just as importantly, the Pass Plus certificate provides valuable evidence as to your driving competency for employers or organisations who may wish you to drive as part of your job, and of course for yourself as a driver.
Refresher Courses
Ideal for drivers who may not have driven for some time since passing their driving test. We frequently receive requests from ex-pupils and members of the public for refresher lessons e.g they may have taken time out from driving to attend university or further education, not had a car to drive, lost their confidence, just moved to the area and need to find their way about, preparing for a job interview/new job with a company car provided, or for those who although having passed the test would like further guidance and advice in certain areas e.g. gyratory roundabouts and multi lane junctions, parking, and for learning a new route to work, college, or university, or just to visit friends or relatives in an unfamiliar town or city.
UK Familiarisation Courses
New to driving in the UK, or just returned to the UK after a period of residency abroad? This course is ideal if you have learnt to drive in another country, and do not feel confident about driving in the UK. You may have been driving on the right hand side of the road, or you may be unsure of UK Traffic Rules and Driving conventions. We can help you gain positive safe experiences of driving in the UK, and if necessary assist you in satisfying the conditions for exchanging of your licence to a UK licence, or in preparing you for the differing requirements of the UK Driving Test.
Mature Drivers Courses
The UK, in common with other countries, is experiencing a growth in the number of mature drivers. This course specifically caterers for drivers who have reached their 50's, 60's and beyond, and is designed to assist drivers' update and refresh their skills and knowledge, so as to cope more effectively with the complexities of our increasingly busy and overcrowded roads. Fuelled by the surge in car ownership in the late 1950's and 60's older drivers are growing at a greater rate than for other age groups. This, along with other socio-economic changes such as out of town shopping and supermarket complexes, the move to outer suburbia, the run down of local buses and train services has had many repercussions. One of which is in the increase in the number of older people who are now dependent on motor vehicles for most of their out of home activities e.g. shopping, visiting friends and relatives, leisure etc. Mature drivers understandably, are reluctant to renounce the convenience, independence, and relative safety of their vehicles, so will not dispense with their driving licences and cars easily or willingly! For driver trainers these 'challenges' are familiar, with drivers of all age groups often displaying similar types of driving behaviour to senior drivers.
We at DrivingSafe can provide neutral, non-judgemental advice, training and guidance. For example, control skills can be enhanced by the driver taking steps to improve their general fitness, by choosing a vehicle with good visibility, with automatic transmission and power assisted steering. Peripheral vision at junctions and roundabouts can be improved by developing techniques that encourage an earlier start to the active search process when approaching actual or potential hazards. Knowledge skills could be up-dated and enhanced, by re-acquaintance with the Highway Code and other motoring matters, coupled with advice and guidance, designed to assist mature drivers to self-formulate mental 'templates' when approaching difficult junctions or road layouts, and to become more aware of what other road users are likely to do in such situations. The final thought is best summarised by the words of a recent government report on senior drivers which states that 'ultimately for those who live long enough, no one is immune from the effects of ageing... after all it is only a matter of time until we take on that role - we therefore need to prepare ourselves'
How many lessons/sessions?
All lessons and courses are designed around your individual needs and abilities. It is impossible to quote a number of lessons or training sessions you will need until you have been assessed on your first driving lesson, or training assessment. Therefore it is difficult for us to give you an accurate estimate over the phone. You may need only 6 hours or 40 hours or more.
For further information please Contact us or visit Eastham School of Motoring
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