While some of Neil's comments might come across as being enthusiastically critical, I think there are a lot of fundamental truths in many of the things he says.
The "proper" British method of driving as still taught by many instructors
is ridiculously fussy and pedantic. Some of the things are also completely unnecessary for the test now. For example, I have long criticized the insistence on excessive use of the parking brake, pulling it on every time you stop at a light for more than a couple of seconds. I have it on good authority from an ex-examiner that this has
not been necessary for the test for many years, and so long as you maintain control of the car (e.g. not rolling back before pulling away), you will not be marked down for not using the parking brake at every stop.
So why are instructors and other groups pushing the "correct" driving technique still promoting it? Maybe tradition, or maybe because they feel that it's best for learners to use that method to be certain of avoiding small movements and possible minor faults during the test. That may have some merit, but tutors of whatever type should recognize that not everybody sitting a U.K. driving test is a new driver.
On mirrors, obviously it's a good idea to be aware of what's around you at all times, but there are a few standard phrases which crop up in learning to drive here which always seem a little odd, such as when approaching a junction and you'll hear "Check your mirror to be sure that it's safe to stop." And what if you deem it unsafe to stop? Are you supposed to blast through into the path of the cross traffic then?
Yes, we know the gist of what's meant, but it's poorly phrased, don't you think?
As for prices, like everything else the government does here, they have become a rip off. Neil, I don't know if you've scanned through some of the other driving threads here, but if so you'll know that the hazard perception and theory tests and their associated extra fees were only introduced a few years ago anyway. Millions of us (I'm British) took our tests back when it was just a simple half-hour drive followed by half a dozen Highway Code questions (posed verbally by the examiner while still sitting in the car), yet we're still considered qualified to continue driving without undergoing all the new range of tests.
The way the system treats experienced drivers from the U.S. (and some other countries) as though they were complete novices for test purposes is something which I feel needs to be addressed (especially considering that due to EU rules we are forced to simply swap licenses for people from many other countries anyway).
Oh, and in case you hadn't heard, it's now in the news that ministers are pushing to make learning to drive even more complicated and expensive, with an extra range of tests for certain things and possibly even a mandatory minimum number of hours professional tuition before being allowed to take the test (Hmmm.... That couldn't possibly be anything to do with getting more money, could it?
).
What provisions or exemptions, if any, from any such rules might be made for already licensed drivers remains to be seen.
