Independent Driving
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INDEPENDENT DRIVING
What is independent driving?
For a period of between 5-15 minutes (most routes will be as close to 10 minutes as possible) the examiner will not use the normal style of giving a direction to follow on every single road, although the remainder of the Test will be conducted in the traditional way.
The independent driving section can be immediately at the start of your Test (at least 2 of the Tolworth Test routes start from the Test centre), or after you've driven just a few roads away to a convenient location, or much nearer the end of your Test.
There are two 'styles' of independent driving routes. You may be shown a simple map with the route highlighted as a thick black line and asked to follow directions, which the examiner would also 'explain', for example "...at the end of this road turn left, take the next turning on the right and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit.." - which you will be asked to repeat to ensure you have understood where you are meant to be going. You may then be asked to stop again and be asked to follow directions for 2 or 3 more junctions.
If those combined routes are quite short you may be given a 3rd set of junctions (the one pupil I had in Guildford in October had 3 sets/maps and that part of her Test took approx 12-13 minutes) or having completed those 2 short sections you may then have to follow road signs for another 5 minutes or so.
Some of the Tests will only follow road signs and will, therefore, keep mostly to main roads and dual carriageways.
Examples of signposted routes in the following Test areas
Tolworth - could be asked to follow directions to London/Sutton or Leatherhead/Chessington or Kingston or Staines/Esher.
Isleworth - the independent driving routes may be to Richmond, Hammersmith, Central London, Heathrow, M3 (The West)
Ashford - follow directions to Knowle Green, Staines, Stanwell, Central London, M3, M25, Heathrow
Chertsey - routes may follow directions to Shepperton, Staines, Virginia Water, Weybridge, Addlestone, Chertsey, Woking, M25
Morden - follow road signs to Wimbledon/Central London, Sutton/M25, North Cheam, Raynes Park, Worcester Park, New Malden
Farnborough Test - independent driving routes can be to Guildford/Reading, Southampton/M3, Aldershot, Farnham, Fleet, Camberley,
What happens if I go wrong or forget which way to go?
Should not be a problem as long as you don't panic or do something stupid!
If you take the wrong route the examiner will simply decide on how to change the route or possibly get you back to the intended route. Provided you have signalled correctly for the route you chose you cannot be failed - you can also confirm with your examiner which route you are meant to take as you approach the next junction.
If you do need to ask it may be because a few other awkward situations had occurred and you couldn't remember if you were to turn left or right at the next junction. The best way to ask will be "Am I turning right at the next junction?" whilst you still have plenty of time - as opposed to stopping, looking, thinking and then asking "Err, which way was it?"
If you have a problem with remembering any part of the route or go off the intended route you will most likely be given a driving fault for awareness and planning, but not failed.
How much practice will I get?
After the first few lessons you should find you are able to follow simple routes to finish your lesson back at home or at work/college/gym/shops.....
As we expand our routes I will get you to take short routes negotiating 2,3 or 4 junctions (not necessarily test routes but more varied) - and when we begin to make more use of the dual carriageways then we follow the signposted routes. To begin with I will explain and identify where the signs are - once you are familiar with them I won't need to explain or identify them. As your awaereness and planning improve you will be confident to take any route that the eaxminer may choose.