We’re aware that everyone learns differently so diagrams are provided on each subject along with text to cater to individual learning needs. There’s even space on each page so you or your driving instructor can add any specific notes that are relevant to you.

The driving lesson planner also includes a progress report and feedback section so you can be updated each lesson on how you are getting on. When you’re learning to drive, this is something that we all want to know. I’ve met many students who have learnt with other driving schools in Bedford previously and hadn’t got a clue if they were near test standard or not. Our progress forms target the problem and keep you in the know – how all of the time.

The best thing about our lesson planner compared to other progress forms, is that you will never be given a score without a full explanation. Positive and constructive feedback will always be given honestly.

The driveJohnsons lesson planner also includes diagrams of difficult areas, mock test papers and independent driving route diagrams to give you the down low on where they are in your area.

Our lesson planner is a great tool to any learner driver and really helps them to reflect on past lessons that need re-capping or, preparing for future ones. This could be anything from revising the cockpit drill to mini roundabouts.

“When I took my driving lessons in Bedford, my lesson planner was great when I needed to go over something I had forgot. I learnt with another driving school before and was handed notes on bits of paper each lesson which I always lost. The lesson planner is in a really cool booklet so I never had that problem with it. All of the diagrams were much more interesting that reading a block of text as well.”

If you still have any questions about how the driveJohnson’s lesson planner works, please feel free to call us on 0800 4581 226 and we will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your driving lesson requirements.

Here’s some pointers to help help answer your questions.

Driving in Late Pregnancy
Driving with a lovely big bump may not be the most comfortable drive of your life, but if you haven’t experienced any problems during your pregnancy such as dizziness or advise from your GP/midwife telling you not to drive, then the choice is down to you. However, here’s a few pointers to consider before starting a journey…

How tired do you feel?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m not sure about pregnancies but I’m pretty sure carrying a big bump all day would tire me out. Not only that, but during your pregnancy, your body temperature increases which can make you feel sleepy more often. So, be careful when driving. Ensure you take lots of breaks if you are traveling a far distance and have a bottle of water handy if it’s needed.

Remember your seatbelt!

Pregnancy is no excuse for not wearing a seatbelt. Always strap yourself in.

How to wear your seatbelt whilst  pregnant.

1. Place the diagonal strap between your breasts so that it’s flat against your breast bone and sits around the side of your bump. The top of the strap shouldn’t lay across your neck, but around your shoulder.

2. Adjust the lap strap so that it’s as low as it can be under your bump. Your seatbelt needs to be lying flat across the tops of your thighs and stretching across your pelvis from hip to hip. Make sure that there isn’t any part of the seat belt laying over your bump.

How do I get to myself to the hospital when I’m in labour?

Never try to drive yourself to the hospital whilst your in labour. If there’s no other way in travelling to the hospital, discuss the issue with your midwife in advance.

Have you suffered from any pregnancy cramps?

Be aware that if you’ve experienced pregnancy cramps in your legs, this is likely to cause a problem whilst you are driving. Driving for a long time means that your legs will be in a fixed position which could be very uncomfortable. Try slightly moving your legs and circulating your ankles whenever possible.

Pregnancy and your driving test.

As you may know, there’s a one in three chance of you being asked to perform an emergency stop during your driving test. If you have had driving lessons before, you will know that the emergency stop requires you to brake very firmly as though you are in an emergency. This still applies to taking your driving test or driving lessons when pregnant. If you feel uncomfortable with doing one, you can refuse…but, the examiner will fail you. However, there’s nothing to worry about. As long as you take the right safety measures you and baby will be fine.

If you still have any questions about driving lessons in Bedford or any other area we cover whilst being pregnant, please feel free to call us on 0800 4581 226 and we will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your driving lesson requirements.

Mock tests are a great way for preparing for the big day. Its shows you just what it’s like to be in a real test and is an excellent way of getting rid of any last minute jitters. They work just like the real thing and at the end of the test you can see exactly what areas need brushing up on to ensure you ace the test. Furthermore, They’re a really good way of realising how high driving test standards are.

If you’ve done a driving test before, you’ll know how nerve-wracking it can be. Mock driving tests are designed with you in mind. You have the chance to practice driving in test conditions, see how independent driving fits in with the actual test and know what it feels like when you’ve swapped your green licence for the pink one.

Mock tests are so beneficial because they can show you what test standard is, but more importantly, they show the pupil what standard they are currently at and the actions needed to pass easily.

During your mock test, you’ll get to go over and get familiar with real test routes.
Most people are unaware that on the real day the examiner can ask you to pull over at a convenient place 2-3 times, show moving off at an angle or demonstrate a hill start etc.
Don’t panic!  Your mock test will cover all of these areas to make sure you’re as ready as you can be for the day.

They’re also a great way of seeing how many more lessons you need before your driving test. This way you know exactly what needs to be worked on and fully prepare yourself for success!

Here’s a testimonial from one our pupils taking their driving lessons in Bedford. “My mock test helped me so much, even though it’s a little bit scary at first I’m glad I had a chance to see what it would be like before my test. It gave me the chance to really focus on my weak points and get to grip with all of the other bits they ask in your test like pull over at the next convenient place. I passed first time with driveJohnsons and know the mock test definitely helped me along the way”.

driveJohnsons pupil, Bedford.

If you still have any questions about how a practical mock test works, please feel free to call us on 0800 4581 226 and we will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your driving lesson requirements.

Learning to drive in an automatic car is great for people who want to pass fast, either in an intensive course or a slower pace. It doesn’t involve learning to use gears or clutch control, so anyone who feels this a bit of a struggle;  automatic driving may be for you!

The best thing about learning to drive in an automatic car, is that it usually requires less lessons as there aren’t as many areas to cover.  As automatic cars have no clutch pedal, only an accelerator and brake, you can spend your time focusing on co-ordination instead of trying to master the gears and clutch. Also, If you think that you will be in the car more than you will be out if when you pass your test, automatic cars are very comfortable for long journeys as there’s less work to do.

Here’s a few more reasons why learning to drive an automatic car is the way to go..

Under an automatic driving licence and in the event that your car is off the road, insurance companies often do have automatic cars available as courtesy cars.

Learning to drive in an automatic car are brilliant for all types of learner drivers such as elderly or disabled people. They take the pressure off of concentrating on gears and other stresses that manual cars bring.

Although it has been known that manual cars are more fuel efficient, modern automatic transmission have new adaptations such as gear variation which make them just as petrol friendly as manual cars.

However, learning to drive in an automatic car can bring its downfalls. If you pass your driving test in an automatic car, then unfortunately, that is all you are entitled to legally drive.
Furthermore, when buying an automatic car, there are normally less variety to choose from and are usually more expensive to buy.

If you still have any questions about how driving lessons in automatic cars or learning to drive in Leighton Buzzard or Milton Keynes, please feel free to call us on 0800 4581 226 and we will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your driving lesson requirements.

Driving schools make you take more lessons than you actually need.
Here at driveJohnsons this is completely false! We first provide you with an assessment lesson, giving you honest guidance on how many lessons we think you’ll need in order to pass your driving test. Our first interests always have you in mind, this means not overcharging you for lessons that you don’t really need.

The minimum age for driving is increasing to 18.
When taking driving lessons in Milton Keynes, I hear this one alot! It is true that the government suggested that learning should begin at 17 and taking the actual test at 18 but this change would require an Act of Parliament which takes at least 2-3 years…So don’t worry just yet!

Driving examiners can only pass a certain number of pupils each week.
This one is very simple…if you are up to test standard, you WILL pass your test . The amount of people your examiner has passed before you has nothing to do with whether or not you will pass your test.

When you’re a learner driver, you are exempt from motoring laws.
This is completely untrue. Although you may be learning under a provisional licence, you will still be responsible for any major car accidents when driving such as running over a pedestrian.
Remember, you have just as much responsibility when driving, than any other driver. Hopefully you won’t want to run over anyone anyway!

Your practical driving test can be cut short or stopped by the examiner.
If you are driving the car in a dangerous way, then the examiner can stop the test. In the case of this happening, the examiner would have to walk back to the test centre as they are not insured on the vehicle (regardless of how far away you are from the test centre). This will not make the examiner or your driving instructor very happy so stick t what you’ve been taught in your lessons!

Men pass their driving test easier than women.
According to a 2004 study by the Department for Transport this is true.Men take 36.2 lessons on average before passing whilst women take 51.9. Also, on average, men take 1.8 attempts whilst for women it’s 2.1 when it comes down to the driving test. You may be feeling a little bit cocky lads, but once you’re passed, I;m afraid to say that you are responsible for 97% of dangerous driving offenses.

You should set the mirror slightly off so you have to move your head more and the examiner will see that you’re checking regularly.
Nice try, but false. Examiners are trained to spot the small eye movements we make when checking our mirrors. Dramatically moving your head all of the time is only going to take your concentration off of driving.

If you still have any questions about other driving lesson myths, please feel free to call us on 0800 4581 226 and we will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your driving lesson requirements.

An assessment driving lesson can give you a straight answer of how many driving lessons you need in order to pass your driving test. Lets face it, thats what we all want to hear when we’re having our driving lessons. This way you and your driving instructor can make a schedule so you know exactly how you can plan your lessons regarding times, dates and funding.

An assessment driving lesson is great for those who are considering a crash driving course. Wanting to pass as soon as possible can be rather daunting but knowing how many driving lessons are needed can ease the pressure and keep you updated of your driving standard. They’re also great for pupils that have encountered a bad experience with another driving school and are unsure of their current level and how far away they are from test standard.

what happens on an assessment driving lesson? (if you have experience driving)

An assessment driving lesson is a relaxed time where your instructor will assess your current level of driving over the course of 15-20 mins. Once they have observed an adequate amount of driving, they will ask you to stop the car to explain your strengths and weaknesses. Regardless of your level and what stage you reach in the assessment, afterwards, your driving instructor will be able to give you a straight and honest estimation on how many driving lessons you will require up to your test.

Providing your driving is at a respectable level, your instructor will then go through the driveJohnsons tick sheet with you. This will include going over all of the difficult areas within you area’s test routes such as Bedford and Northampton. This is really important in order to understand which areas you are familiar with and those you are not. Remember, there’s 20 different test routes so it’s important that you get your head around all of the tricky areas to fully prepare yourself for your driving test.

Once your instructor has an idea of what areas of the test route areas you know, they will then assess your maneuvers to see how familiar and comfortable you are with each one. If there’s maneuvers that you haven’t covered, don’t worry, your instructor can then assess how quickly you grasp what he/she is teaching you.

Once your driving instructor has observed your driving, gone over the tick sheet and covered the maneuvers, they may conduct a mock test with you to show you what it’s like to be in the hot seat. This way both you and your instructor can know what your current level is and what you have to do to achieve test standard. However, a mock driving test is usually only conducted if the pupil is at least 80% competent regarding  the tick sheet, including any maneuvers.

Your driving instructor will be agile and flexible during the assessment lesson. For example, if you have a problem with stalling the car or steering, then it will make more sense to strengthen those weaknesses before covering tricky busy areas on the tick sheet.  This way you can work at a pace that suits your personal learning needs.

By completing an assessment, your driving instructor can give you feedback on any weaknessess or other relevant information and write them down in your driveJohnsons driving lesson planner.
They will also draw up a plan of action for you in terms of how many hours you require. This is great for booking ahead and making sure your lessons are in place; especially if your approaching your driving test.
driveJohnsons always recommend an assessment lesson so you, the pupil know exactly what you are getting for your money. I’ve met many students who previously drove with another school and were frustrated that they didn’t know if they was making any progress. The assessment does just that and clears any doubts about your standards of driving.

“I did my assessment driving lesson in bedford. I wasn’t quite sure what it was but at the end of it I could see why they’re so helpful. I knew how many lessons I would roughly need to be able to pass my test which made me really confident and positive!”

James Carrington, learning with Lyn driveJohnson’s driving instructor in Bedford.

If you still have any questions about how an assessment lesson works, please feel free to call us on 0800 4581 226 and we will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your driving lesson requiremnts.

How does the intensive driving course- pass in 1 week work?

We all want to pass as quickly as possible when we start our driving lessons right?
This is why the “Pass in one week” course is perfect for the pupil who wants to get on the roads fast!

This isn’t a course for those that don’t like working hard or don’t enjoy a little bit of pressure, but that’s all part of the fun!

The great thing about the one week intensive driving course is that it can be tailored around you. Times, dates and pace are all decided by you!

The course doesn’t even have to be over the space of one week, we recommend 2-3 weeks if possible due to less pressure on your behalf. Also, if you feel you need a couple of extra driving lessons we can fit them in before your driving test. However, if you feel one week is fine for you, then its fine for driveJohnson’s too.

We always recommend an assessment driving lesson before booking the remainder of your driving lessons to make sure you are given an accurate estimation on the amount of hours required. An assessment is not compulsory but is always recommended to ensure that you are not overpaying. In the event that that you don’t require the full amount of lessons you have paid for up front, don’t worry- we will refund the difference.

Depending on your previous driving experience and the time you wish to do the course for, alters the hours of practice needed a day…

If you are doing a 1 week course and you have zero hours driving experience. A typical day would consist of 8 hours of driving a day.
 
- If you are doing a 2 week course and have zero hours experience then a typical day would be 3-5 hours a day.
 
It’s important to remember that the 1-2 week intensive driving course is only practical if the pupil has passed the theory test.

Here’s a testimonial from Corinna who was taking her driving lessons in Bedford.  “I wasn’t sure if the one week intensive course would really work but I was so desperate to pass my test I booked it in anyway. The thought of driving all that time everyday put me off but actually doing it was really fun. The pace was fast but that was what I needed to prepare me for my driving test. There was a lot to cover but the end of the week soon arrived and I was driving to the test centre. I wasn’t sure if I could remember everything but I surprised myself and passed with three minors!
I’d tell anyone who wants to pass fast to do the one week course. My driveJohnson’s driving instructor was amazing and showed me everything I needed to know in such a short time ”

Feel free to call 0800 4581 226 to tell us about your driving lesson requirements and we can give you a rough estimation over the phone and accurate estimation once you have done a 2 hour assessment driving lesson with us. If you have your driving test coming up, then we recommend you to read our driving test advice within our blog.

This vehicle was originally purchased for a driveJohnson’s driving instructor. The deal didn’t materialize, as he opted for a smaller vehicle, so the car has only done 34,000 miles. 4,000 miles in the last year by the driveJohnson’s personal assistant. The vehicle is fitted with dual controls. If your an instructor and interested in buying this is great news, however, if you would like the dual controls removed then this is not a problem.

The vehicle has 12 months MOT and Full service history.

Asking price: £4000

For more information, contact the owner ‘Anthony’ on 07909-842908.

1. Have you got both parts of your licence ?

Make sure you have both parts of your driving licence on the day. Once you have booked your practical driving test, make sure both parts are kept in a safe place. The examiner will want to see both parts before going out to your vehicle. Unfortunately, I regularly see candidates rocking up with only 1 part of the licence trying to plead with the examiner for leniency. It doesn’t matter if you were burgled last night and the thieves took it or you just can’t find it, there’s 0% chance of going out for your driving test without both parts of your licence.

2. Make sure your car is roadworthy

Many tests are aborted before the candidate and the examiner have even entered the vehicle. This happens quite a lot to candidates that use their own vehicle for the driving test and their car is not considered safe and legal for the purpose of the driving test. Basically, the examiner will ask you to sign a declaration to confirm that the car is insured for the purpose of the test. Then the driving test examiner will inspect your vehicle and ask you a show me, tell me question about the car. Checking/testing the brake lights, dipped lights, direction indicators, windscreen washers are just a few ways the examiner could abort the test if one of these areas on your car is not working. There was a very high profile incident with a national driving school recently shown on BBC watch dog, where the pupil’s test was aborted because the tax disc was out by two weeks.  You can check your car is road worthy by going on direct.gov website and clicking on owning a vehicle/MOT

3. Insurance

If your going down to the test centre in your own vehicle, then make sure it has the appropriate insurance. You should also be accompanied by a person who has at least 3 years driving experience and their minimum age is 21. I’ve been providing driving lessons in Bedford for a long time now and I’ve seen the driving test examiners call the police if they suspect a candidate has turned up for test in an uninsured vehicle. The examiner will complete the test without giving any indication that there is a problem, by the time the examiner and the pupil get back to the test centre the police are just outside ready to pull the candidate up pass or fail. If the car is not insured correctly or doesn’t have any insurance then the candidates car is going home on a transporter.

4. Check your eyesight

This is crazy, but some driving instructors don’t check their pupils eyesight at the beginning of their driving lessons or just before their test. Believe it or not some people get themselves to test standard, with reduced vision and then find out on the day of their test that they cant complete the number plate test from 20.5 meters away. If you can’t read the number plate, then the examiner will abort the test.

5. Don’t change your car 1 week before your test

Some pupils will go and have driving lessons with another driving instructor, in a different vehicle just before their test. We often get pupils calling us up asking for extra driving lessons in Bedford just before they go to test. Sometimes it’s not their fault. There’s some heartless driving schools out there that will take you for your driving lessons all the way up to your test and then 1-2 weeks away say to you they can’t make it. They know what they are doing, they have drawn the driving lessons out of you and your still not ready for your driving test so they drop you rather than face the music and ask you to put your practical test back because your not ready or take you down to the test centre and face the possibility of the examiner aborting the test and then questioning your driving instructor’s ability to teach and judgement for when a pupil is test standard. Anyway, the dangers of changing cars so late are the following:
-different biting point on clutch, brakes could be more sensitive
-focal points for maneuvers, for example Bay Park are usually different in every car you learn in.
-familiarity with the gear lever will be less, so higher risk of accidentally going into the wrong gear.

6. Try and drive in as many weather conditions before your test as possible.

Knowing English weather, only because it’s been sunny for the last week, doesn’t mean it might not rain on your big day. Obviously we can’t control the weather, but driving in the rain, fog or snowy conditions is great practice beforehand just in case it happens on the day of your driving test.

If  your driving test is coming up and you’re in a rush, then you may want to consider doing a crash driving course in conjunction with an assessment driving lesson to give you the best possible chances of passing first time.

If you have any other questions or would like to know more about our driving lessons, then please get in touch via our driveJohnsons contact us form or call us on 0800 4581 226.

Welcome to our latest video ‘A day in the life of driveJohnson’s’. This video will hopefully give you an insight to the standard of our driving lessons in Bedford and of course our other areas that our driving instructors cover, which can be found on the homepage. The key to helping pupils pass 1st time and fast is making the driving lessons enjoyable, structured and relevant to the pupils requirements. We regularly receive pupils from other driving instructors in Bedford that complain their Bedford driving instructor shouts at them, drives around but doesn’t teach any actual subjects and doesn’t do Mock Tests leading up to their driving test. If your taking your driving lessons in Bedford then we have some quality male and female driving instructors available with very high 1st time pass rates to help you. What we can assure you is that your Bedford driving instructor will always keep your driving lessons structured, he/she will keep them interesting, make them as enjoyable as possible, ensure you know all of the tricky driving test route areas and of course make sure you experience mock driving tests before your actual practical driving test.

If your apprehensive or you have had a bad driving experience in the past and your unsure about starting up your driving lessons in Bedford, then driveJohnsons offers a taster driving lesson for just £10. You can purchase this online or call/text us direct to book in. The idea of the taster driving lesson is to see if you like us, without putting up large amounts of money for block bookings. In your taster driving lesson your instructor will make you feel at ease and whilst teaching you he/she will assess how quickly you respond to commands and how quickly you can absorb and apply the information unaided yourself. At the end of your driving lesson, your Bedford driving instructor will give you an estimate of how many driving tuition hours you will require to get up to test standard.