Driving lessons Maidstone with The Right Attitude Driving School

What's Involved

The standard of the taxi or private hire vehicle driving assessment is set at a level suitable for a full driving licence holder. It is more demanding than the learner test.

Before the assessment, you are advised to:
Take lessons with a professional driving instructor.
Read & Know the Highway Code.
Familiarise yourself with the content of the assessment including the eyesight test.

At the start of your practical assessment, you will be asked carry out the eye sight test. If you fail the eyesight test, you will be unable to take the driving part of the assessment. However, you will still be able to continue with the wheelchair section if appropriate.

The practical assessment will last for about 35 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic.
The driving assessment will include approximately ten minutes of independent driving where you will be asked to drive without examiner guidance.

You will be expected to demonstrate your ability to manoeuvre your vehicle under control and with good all round effective observations, giving consideration to other road users, including pedestrians.

As part of the test, you will also need to know how to use the vehicle facilities such as the swivel seat and the wheelchair ramp to assist those with a disability.

During this exercise the candidate would have to demonstrate how they would
load an empty wheelchair in and out of the vehicle using the ramps, using the harnesses and the seatbelts that are supplied.

To pass you are permitted to accumulate up to nine driving faults, if you accumulate 10 or more driving faults you will fail.
Any serious or dangerous faults will be immediately recorded as a failure.

Some elements are specific to taxi driving, such as:
• A taxi manoeuvre
• A second manoeuvre of choice from the examiner
• The requirement to stop in a safe position as if picking up or dropping off passengers.

You will be assessed on:
Awareness and anticipation.
Effective planning of prevailing road and traffic conditions.
Correct use of speed.
Observation and mirror use.
Control of the vehicle.
Passenger safety and comfort.

The assessment will include:
A taxi or private hire manoeuvre where you will be asked to turn your vehicle to face the opposite direction.
Approximately ten minutes of independent driving.
Stops at the side of the road if a passenger is getting in or out of the vehicle.
Related 'cabology' questions. Examples may include the dimensions
of your vehicle, tyre pressures and what to do if a passenger leaves property in your vehicle.
Questions from the Highway Code and identification of a number of traffic signs and road markings.

Your assessment may include:
An emergency stop.
A wheelchair exercise (if you requested the enhanced assessment).

The wheelchair exercise.
The enhanced assessment also includes the wheelchair exercise.
If you have requested the enhanced assessment, it will include a wheelchair
exercise for which you need to provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

You will need to demonstrate:
• The ability to safely load and unload the wheelchair in your vehicle.
• That you can secure and unsecure the wheelchair using the brakes
• fasten the seat belts or safety harness.
• Secure any wheel belts or clamps fitted to your vehicle.

Theory Test Pro in partnership with Wilson

'Richard was an amazing driving instructor, after being let down by another company he got me straight up to test speed within a matter of days, needle...'
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'Now that I have taken, and passed, my driving test I have a chance to reflect on the last two weeks. My opinion of Richard hasn´t changed at all...'
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'I'm probably way older than the average learner driver and certainly wasn't a natural. I'd tried other schools and instructors previously. I'd never e...'
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'Thanks Richard for being such a fantastic, patient and supportive instructor! I would recommend you and your driving school to anyone. Thanks :)...'
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