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Useful Shortcuts
Established in March 2006 to help pupils of all ages quickly
and confidently gain valuable driving experience.
If Manual Gears aren't for you, then click on the icon to find out more about learning
to drive in an Automatic.
The Original local (don't be misled by Driving Schools with similar names)
drivetime school of motoring
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Weekly or daily lessons in Blackpool and Fylde areas
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Low cost Intensive and residential driving courses available
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If you haven't driven for a while think about a refresher course.
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If you need the experience of motorway driving, again we can help
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Nervous pupils most welcome
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Patient instructor
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High pass rate
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Assistance with theory and hazard perception tests
Get in touch today and arrange your lessons
Learning to drive
Information from the DSA for both learner and newly qualified drivers and riders is available from direct.gov.uk/drivingtest.
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Have you thought of giving driving lesson vouchers for a Birthday or Christmas present? |
price list
Driving Lessons
Decide on what you need. If it's only a couple of lessons to brush up on your driving technique then just book sessions to suit. We can arrange an intensive course if you wish, but if you need to spread the lessons out over a period of time, then that's no problem either.
Prices effective from 01/09/10
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Description |
Cost |
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| Individual Lessons per hour | £23 |
| Block Booking 5 x 1 hour Lessons | £110 |
| Block Booking 10 x 1 hour Lessons | £210 |
Pass Plus (see later section on Pass Plus for more information)
| Pass Plus Instruction (Total 6 hours) | £125 |
theory
The current cost for a theory test is £31.00.
We don't see the point it sitting in a car for hours asking you questions on theory when all you want to do is learn to drive, so the theory is left up to you to study and complete in your own time. However, if you need any help, just ask.
We can advise on recommended reading and relevant CD-ROMs to help you get through.
There are fifty multiple choice questions taken at random from over 1000 possible questions.
The topics covered include :
- Alertness
- Attitude
- Safety and Your Vehicle
- Safety Margins
- Hazard Awareness
- Vulnerable Road Users
- Other Types of Vehicles
- Vehicle Handling
- Motorway Rules
- Rules of the Road
- Road Traffic Signs
- Documents
- Accidents
- Vehicle Loading
You need to score a minimum of 43 out of 50 to pass.
Hazard Perception
The actual test has 14 different clips filmed as if you were the driver. One clip will have two hazards to identify. Your score depends on how quickly you respond to developing hazards - the earlier you respond the higher your score.
The best experience you can get on this subject is actual driving. It's OK sitting by a computer screen using a simulated programme, but you can't beat on the road experience.
Again, we'll advise on the recommended material. There are some really useful web sites which will give you a taster of the hazard test and it is well worth checking around for these. Some sites have video clips for you to watch.
You need to score a minimum of 44 out of 75 to pass.
Booking your theory test :
telephone 0300 200 1122
on line at direct.gov.uk/booktheorytest
Check, change or cancel direct.gov.uk/changetheorytest
You need to pass both Theory and Hazard Perception at one sitting before you can take your Practical |
practical Course
The standard fee for a practical test for weekdays is £62.00 and for evenings (after 3:30pm) and weekends £75.00
Taken at a pace with which you are happy, making sure that you understand and comply with all aspects of safe motoring.
We don't hang around with the tuition - if you show the enthusiasm, awareness, safety and confidence on the road, you'll get moving quickly.
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Controls Lesson - the boring but essential part of learning to drive
We'll cover the function and uses of the following :-
- seating , pedals, mirrors, gears, controls
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Moving Off and Stopping - your first step into driving on our roads
- smooth control to move off and stop safely
- using your mirrors
- steering
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Reversing - easier said than done
- developing slow control of the car
- using your eyes and ears
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Emergency Stop - great fun this one - gets the adrenalin going
- stopping quickly and safely
- avoiding skidding
Pedestrian Crossings - the rules and regulations
- types of crossing
- hand signals
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Junctions, Crossroads and Roundabouts - safely changing roads
- turning left and right
- emerging safely onto a major road
- rights of way at roundabouts
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Anticipation - expect the unexpected
- looking well ahead and preparing early
- knowing what's going on around you
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The Car - quick session on the car
- do you know how to check the oil level ?
- what is the minimum tread depth ?
- how do you check the tyre pressure ?
- where would you find the correct tyre pressure for your car ?
- how do you know if your handbrake is not working ?
- what should the headrest protect and how is it adjusted ?
- how do you demist the windscreen ?
When you are ready, you will sit a mock driving test under strict conditions.
The test will last approximately 35-40 minutes and is designed to get you used to the conditions under which you will take your actual test. This can be of great benefit to you because it can highlight any particular recurring faults you may have and also prepare you mentally for the big day.
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Booking your practical test :
telephone 0300 200 1122
on line at direct.gov.uk/bookpracticaltest
Check, change or cancel direct.gov.uk/changepracticaltest
We'll give you the confidence to get you driving safely on your own.
intensive and residential Courses
Subject to availability, these courses are undertaken in the Blackpool or Preston areas and are of between 2 and 6 days duration, depending on your driving experience. Starting times and days will vary to accommodate your requirements.
If you would like an intensive course to quickly improve your driving skills without the pressure of having to take a test then this can easily be arranged.
Please remember to bring your provisional licence with you.
Some intensive courses offer 6 hours training per day. This is based on shared tuition, that is 3 hours driving and 3 hours sat in the back of the car learning "theory". If you are lucky enough not to share, then you will only receive 3 hours training per day in total whilst still paying for the equivalent of 6 hours. Also, you rarely take your test in the area you train. It could be anywhere within a 60 mile radius of the training area.
At Drivetime, if you book 6 hours driving per day then you get 6 hours driving per day guaranteed. As you are responsible for booking your own test in either Blackpool or Preston, you receive training in this area so you will get to know the test routes and be totally prepared.
Please phone or email to check availability prior to booking your course |
Terms and Conditions
For all intensive courses
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25% deposit required with the completed application form. Balance payable by cash or cheque on commencement of the course. The deposit is normally non-refundable on confirmation of the course
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All relevant documentation must be made available at the commencement of the course otherwise it may be cancelled
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Pupils must at all times be in a fit condition to drive
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Refunds of any monies paid are not possible once the course has commenced
If you wish to take a driving test at the end of the course, then this is subject to the following additional conditions.
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The theory and Hazard Perception test must have been passed
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The pupil is responsible for booking their Driving Test in advance at either the Blackpool or Preston test centre in order that you can be familiarized with possible test routes
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In the event of a test date or time already being reserved, it is the responsibility of the pupil to arrange an alternative appointment.
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The instructor reserves the right to refuse use of the car for test purposes if the pupil has not reached an acceptable driving standard.
Benefits
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Guaranteed one-to-one tuition. No car sharing, unless you state that you wish to share courses with a friend
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You only pay for the time you spend driving. (In the case of shared tuition, no charge is made for the non-driver)
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You progress at a pace to suit you
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When you are ready, you will sit a mock driving test under strict conditions.
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If you are taking a test, it will be in the area you receive your training.
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Enjoy a holiday in Blackpool whilst on your course
You can book your practical test by telephoning 0300 200 1122
or on line at http://www.dsa.gov.uk/tests/online_booking_1.asp
(Please note, if you book your test on line and intend to use my car for your test, you will asked to insert an ADI number. This is 303249. Registering this number ensures that I will not be double-booked for your chosen test time.)
Accommodation
If you require accommodation this will be arranged for you at the St Albans Hotel, Blackpool http://www.blackpoolstalbanshotel.co.uk. Local attractions and amenities are detailed on the hotel website.
You will by welcomed by Carole or Allen. Tea making facilities are available in your room. Please ensure you check in to the hotel no later than 10:00pm on the eve of your course.
Travelling by train, please book your journey to Blackpool North Station. Taxis are readily available to take you the short distance to your hotel from where you will be collected at the start your course. Buses run from the Blackpool Tower bus stops on the Promenade. The No 1 or No 20 buses to Pontins Holiday Camp will pass the hotel. Ask for the Alexandra Road stop. These run every 30 minutes. Trams, again from the Promenade, to Starr Gate or the Pleasure Beach, run every 10 minutes
If you live local to Blackpool, you will be collected and returned to your residence at the specified times.
Price List (per person)
The length of course you select depends very much on you current driving ability. Please think carefully before selecting the course that would suit you. Remember, we can't work miracles. Please be realistic.
Standard Courses
Days Total Hours
Driving
Lesson Cost £ 2 6 132 2 8 176 3 9 198 3 12 252 4 12 252 4 16 336 5 15 315 5 20 420 6 18 378 6 24 504
Please note : - accommodation (B&B) is extra at £20 pppn
- the above prices do not include your test fee
To book your course, either telephone or e-mail to check availability.
The reason we can offer the course at this low price is that we only charge for the time you spend driving. In the case of shared tuition, no charge is made for the non-driver. You only pay for the time you drive. Remember, all instructors must have satisfied the Driving Standards Agency as to their competency and teaching ability. The more expensive driving schools are not necessarily the best. Always ensure the instructor's Green Badge is displayed.
The pass rate on intensive courses where your test is held outside the training area is less than 5% however where the test is held within the training area this percentage rises to around 50%. If a driving school is quoting in excess of 70% then get proof. Carefully read the small print before you decide on which driving school to use.
There is no set course plan. It depends on your driving ability, however by the end of the course you will have undertaken driving in towns, on country roads and all relevant manoeuvres.
Please also note that the 45 minutes test time is included in the total driving hours.
To apply for you intensive course please either telephone or email
pass plus
Once you have your full driving license, you can apply to take the Pass Plus course. This consists of a total of 6 elements each lasting about one hour.
You do not need to take all six elements together but three sessions of two hours may be more suitable.
The elements covered are driving:-
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in town
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out of town
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in all weathers
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at night
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on dual carriageways
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on motorways
When the instructor is satisfied with your driving ability on all six elements, he will provide you with a from to send to the Driving Standards Agency. You will then receive a certificate from the DSA to be forwarded to your chosen insurance company. This certificate can earn you a substantial discount on your insurance premium, subject to certain conditions, from one of the companies participating in the Pass Plus scheme.
| Pass Plus Instruction (Total 6 hours) | £120 |
Click the following link to learn more about the scheme and also view a list of DSA recommended insurance companies
http://www.passplus.org.uk/insurers.asp
the car
Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi Zetec
1395 cc Diesel Engine (pretty nippy)
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5 speed manual gearbox
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Air Conditioning
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Light, Easy to Drive
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Great All-Round Visibility
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Dual Controls (for those awkward moments)
Click on the picture for more info
I was considering using one of the cars below for teaching, but didn't think the pupils would enjoy the driving as much !
Ford GT40 Peel P50 Lamborghini Countach
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0 - 60 3.7 Seconds Never reaches 60 5.9 Seconds
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Top Speed > 200 mph 38 mph > 180 mph
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Engine 5,049 cc V8 49 cc 3929 cc V12
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Power 500 bhp @ 6,000 rpm 4.2 bhp 353 bhp at 7500 rpm
As If !!
Like the cars ? Click on the pictures for more info
pupils say the strangest things
Sometimes the brain thinks one thing but the mouth says something completely different. You know exactly what the pupil means, but the words don't come out as intended.
Here are some examples of the questions and comments from a few pupils. Names have been withheld for fear of total embarrassment..........but you know who you are !!
"Is doing your gears like leg exercises ?"
When a pupil was told she was over-revving practising a reverse park, her reply was "I know, it's
my foot"
"I thought I could go, but I couldn't. There was a tree"
"Are we going to practise reversing into a car ?"
"Why do I have to get stuck behind a learner ?"
"When I do my Pass Plus, do I have a real instructor ?"
A pupil was told to brake easier. Her reply was "I like using the brake - it's the fun pedal".
Pupil says "We are getting a bit close to the car ahead", to which the reply was "Well, brake". She
answered "Oh yes !"
"I don't like being behind a learner, you never know what they are going to do next"
You wonder how much a pupil is concentrating on their driving when, half way through a lesson they
suddenly say "I should have put my washing out"
One pupil became a little disturb during her hazard perception test. Three clips contained sheep and
she was so concerned they were not hurt, she did not like clicking the mouse to register the hazard.
I can assure her that no animals were hurt or mistreated during the making of the film clips.
Reminding one pupil to check the blind spot before moving off, their reply was, "I can't see it"
"It confuses me at roundabouts. We are going left, but all the other cars are going a different
way. Why aren't they going our way?"
"Am I supposed to be able to see my face in the mirror?"
Asked what was the next hazard you can see, the pupil replied," A pub"
"If I did something really bad on my test, would I get failed and fined?"
Driving along the promenade in Blackpool the instructor remarked on a bright pink hotel three stories
high and about eight rooms across. "Can't look" said the pupil, "I'm concentrating on the road". Ten
seconds later the pupil noticed a young toddler in a pushchair on the opposite side of the road. He
was wearing a small straw boater. "Didn't he look cute?" she asked.
"I don't need my glasses. Where are we?"
One pupil wondered that when she clicked the mouse on the hazard perception test the on-screen
car did not slow down to avoid the on-coming hazard.
Going down a one way street, the pupil was asked to move across to the right hand lane. "Which
one's that?" she asked.
"When I get better, will I be able to drive with one hand?"
Asked where you would find the correct tyre pressure for the car, the pupil replied "In the
instructor's manual"
"If you go past a speed camera too fast and it flashes you, how do they know whose car it is when
they can't see your face?"
"Do you have to wear a uniform for your test?"
"I'm picking up bad manners driving with my parents"
When asked how would you adjust the headrest, a pupil answered "Well you squeeze these things
and wiggle it about a bit"
"How many faults do you need to pass?"
A pupil noticed that her friend's car had scuff marks on the alloy wheels. The car was parked in
such a way that these these marks appeared at the top of the wheel. "It must have been a high
kerb. "The wheels do turn" was the reply.
"Can we practice pelican roundabouts today?" asked a pupil. "Only if we can find one" was the
answer.
"Going backwards is just like going forwards only in reverse"
A pupil was out driving with his mother when they approached a junction where a white arrow in the
road directed them to turn left. The pupil correctly indicated. His mother asked why he had indicated
when the arrow clearly showed he had to turn left. "You should indicate" stated the pupil. "Is that
only while you are learning?" asked his mother.
Whilst practising a reverse park a pupil asked "How do I turn the car to bring it round to the
2o'clock position?" "Try the steering wheel" was the answer.
The instructor arranged to pick a pupil up for a 9:00am lesson. "Will I be awake?" she asked.
"Where do you find the correct tyre pressure for your car?" "At a bus stop". She actually meant
Tescos. (Both very worrying answers)
"I like shuffling the wheel, it makes a nice tune"
There were just three cars parked ready for test in the test centre car park - one black, one light
blue and one silver. The first test candidate out was asked which car she would be using. She
pointed to a car and was asked to open the bonnet. She got in the car but was puzzled by the fact
that the interior trim was quite different to the car she had been driving on the hour prior to her
test. She assumed that the red trim was a special seat cover used for when a car was on test. She
was also mystified that the interior bonnet release catch had disappeared. After struggling for a
short time there came a gentle tap on the car window. "I think you are in the wrong car" said
another sympathetic candidate. Easy mistake to make. She actually passed her test.
A pupil was asked to make a simple left turn off a major road but insisted on looking well to her right.
The instructor asked why she had done that. Her reply was "It said so on the road by the kerb".
"That was for pedestrians waiting to cross" was the reply.
Whilst performing a reverse park a pupil asked "Wouldn't it be useful if cars had reversing
indicators?" "They do", replied the instructor, "they are called reversing lights".
After a lesson, the instructor said to the pupil "Next lesson we will go through the engine." "What's
that?" asked the pupil. "It's the bit under the bonnet that makes the car work" came the reply.
A pupil was asked how to check that the Power Steering was working effectively. The reply was "It
tells you on the steering wheel. You have to check the ABS Power Steering warning light."
It can be quite embarrassing when you have to ask a pupil to try to keep up with the Skoda.
"On your driving test, do you get marked on your way back to the Test Centre?"
"I didn't go because I thought I had the wrong of way"
"Do driving examiners have to be able to drive?"
Quite worrying when you manage to convince a pupil that Colonel Gaddafi's surname is Duck!
Approaching a "Keep Clear" box a pupil asked "That doesn't mean me does it?"
A pupil came to us from another instructor and was asked where she was up to. Her reply was "I've
done all my manures"
"Is this the correct riding position?"
"Do I use 1st gear for a reverse park?"
"Oh my God, the clutch is a pedal"
When asked how would you check the brakes are working, the pupil replied "Use your mirrors"
"Why is the mirror so dark?" "Because you have set it for anti-dazzle for night driving" was the
response
From a pupil who had her theory test the following day. "Does flashing amber at the pedestrian
crossing mean the lights are broken?" She actually passed her theory.
"Is sign language used for the deaf or the blind?"
"Do you always press the brake when you see something scary?"
"If you pull the handbrake up too much, does it go bumpy?"
"Do I have to give way to bikes at a roundabout?"
"What's a pecan crossing?" "A nut on a zebra" was the reply.
"Which indicator do I use for going straight on?"
Approaching a speed limit reminder sign, a pupil said "Why is that speed limit sign so small? Blind
people won't be able to see it properly"
"If a car has two exhaust pipes, does it have two engines?"
After a pupils 15th lesson, she asked "Do you have a thing telling you how fast you are going?"
"Do you gave to go round all the bumps in the road?"
Hopefully, this section will continue to grow - so be warned, watch what you say !
Newcastle supporter's especially welcome !!