A Basingstoke driving school - driving lessons with experienced female and male driving instructors
A Basingstoke driving school - driving lessons with experienced female and male driving instructors
01256 354789 (Office) • 07736 254962 (Bernie) • 07770 853358 (Richard) • Contact form
Friday night, darkest winter, lots of traffic - you wouldn't choose that for your first test, Atul :) But still, that's the hand you were dealt - and you passed - first time!
I was so pleased for you, you really did deserve the result.
Thank you for taking your lessons with me, it's been a pleasure to help you to get that full licence.
Richard.
Congratulations, Hannah! I was so pleased for you today. Passed first time!
In all the excitement I forgot to get a photo :(
Hope to see you for Pass Plus.
Richard.
I forgot to take your photo, Ian. Oh well, I expect you remember what you look like!
Well done today, I was really pleased for you. Enjoy driving in London.
Thanks!
Richard.
From the end of August 2011 Basingstoke residents will have to travel to Reading to sit their theory test.
The DSA say that there are not enough tests taken to make our local test centre cost effective - despite an increase in tests taken over the last two years.
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Reading Theory Test Centre, Hanover House (3rd flr), 202 Kings Road, Reading, RG1 4NN
Read the Basingstoke Gazette article
Richard.
Hazel - it was easy, wasn't it? Thank you so much for taking driving lessons with me. Are you sure there aren't any more brothers or sisters I could teach?
Congratulations - to complete a family trio of first time passes is no mean feat - no pressure for you.
PS Thanks for leaving the kind comments.
Richard.
I was almost as happy as you were today Prab - well done! I hope that's a weight off your mind.
I'm looking forward to a trip up to London - let me know when you are free to get on the motorway.
Thanks!
Richard.
You did it Louise - passed first time - well done! Just remember to check your mirrors now and again :-)
I was really pleased for you, and hope it makes your holiday a bit more special.
Thanks!
Richard.
Congratulations, Charlene - I'm glad the weather was kind to us today.
Passed first time. Hardly any faults, either. Congrats on your other news, too!
Richard.
Great drive today Karl - I'm so glad you passed first time. I hope your boss is happy!
Richard.
You both did really well today Davina - congratulations!
Two faults is a great result, well done.
Thanks again for taking your lessons with me.
Richard.
Four faults - passed first time - a piece of cake.
Thanks for taking the lessons with me, and congratulations!
Richard.
I'm sure you know that it was announced (back in 2008) that Basingstoke test centre was going to close. To date, it hasn't happened.
I sent an email to the DSA asking when it would close, and received this reply on the 7th October 2010:
Dear Mr Fosh,
Thank you for your email dated 6 October 2010.
I should wish to confirm that any plans to close Basingstoke Driving Test Centre have now been cancelled.
Yours sincerely
Scott Bradley
Customer Service Representative
Driving Standards Agency
Tel: 0300 200 1122
Fax: 0300 200 1155
Email: customer.services@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
To say that I was surprised was an understatement. I have emailed back asking when this decision was made, and when it was announced to us, the paying public.
I'll keep you updated.
Richard.
Congratulations Darren! I'm so pleased you passed today.
I hope you went to work in the afternoon - no skiving off to celebrate :-)
Richard.
A first time pass today, Laura - congratulations!
Have fun out there in your Ka - but check your brake lights now and again :-)
Richard.
I forgot to take a photo, Ed! I'll take a snap when you do Pass Plus.
Congratulations on passing first time, today, well done. It was really easy, wasn't it?
Richard.
If you are booking a theory test online, make sure you go to the page linked to from Wayfarer's site - "Online test booking" in the menu on the left.
Google will come up with lots of options, including several scam sites which will book the test for you. It all looks good, until you pay - much more than the £31.00 fee you should be paying.
The website you should be using starts its address with www.direct.gov - anything else is going to cost you!
Richard.
Congratulations Tom. Really good drive, calm and steady just as a good surgeon should be!
Hope your exams go the same way, see you soon for Pass plus.
Bernie.
From October 4th 2010 there will be a new element added to the driving test - independent driving. Full details are in this YouTube video
To allow for the extra time independent driving may take, candidates will be asked to only do one reversing manoeuvre.
From April 6th 2010, examiners will ask all learners if they want their instructor (or accompanying driver) to sit in on the test. Nothing new, really - Bernie and I always ask our customers if they want us to sit in, and about half do. The only new thing is that now you will be asked by the examiner. It's still up to you - after all, you're paying.
Richard.
Well done, Matilda - passed first time with only four faults - an excellent drive. Hope the journey to work goes well!
Richard.
A great drive today, Michael. Thanks for taking your lessons with me, and enjoy your driving - on four wheels instead of two!
Richard.
Steve Cawley drove me up to London today as part of his Pass Plus course. It was a very nice drive, Steve coped brilliantly with the motorways and driving in the centre of London.
We got to Trafalgar Square, had a quick glimpse of Nelson, and made our way back. As we returned, Steve navigated really well, I didn't have to prompt him at all as the junctions came up.
Although I have a sat-nav in my phone, I think doing Pass Plus it's better to try to navigate the old fashioned way. Any thoughts? Should I show customers how to use the sat-nav?
There is a website which can automatically check for driving test cancellations - for a reasonable fee.
This could prove invaluable for those desperate for a test date. In my limited experience, it does work.
www.drivingtestcancellations.co.uk
One change to the driving test which was due to be introduced in 2010 was that the accompanying driver - probably your instructor - would have to sit in the back of the car.
At the moment, I sit in on many tests, because the candidate has asked me to. But some people don't want me there, and it's right that they should be able to choose.
In a victory for common sense, Lord Adonis (Transport Minister) said that the new proposals "have been reversed to avoid unnecessary regulation"
The only relevant change is that the learner will be asked by the examiner at the start of their test whether they want their accompanying driver to sit in during the test.
Press coverage:
Daily Mail
The Driving Standards Agency are really getting up to date, and using Twitter and YouTube to keep us all better informed.
Their YouTube channel has several videos including "In the Driving Seat" (a fifteen minute drama, aimed at 15-16 year old pre-drivers) and "Are You Ready?" - advice for theory and practical test candidates.
And like Stephen Fry, Britney Spears, Jonathan Ross and Arnold Schwarzenegger (top 50 twitterers) the DSA are twittering all their latest news.
How long before you can book a test on twitter...
After a test today I spoke to one of the examiners about Basingstoke test centre closing.
Although first proposed to happen about a year ago, it looks like we will be OK until well into the new year - 2010. The unofficial word is that Winchester test centre is being upgraded to take the extra work, and that won't be complete for a few months yet.
(Incidentally, the examiners at Basingstoke are a very friendly bunch, always willing to have a chat and help out if they can. It's a tough job, but they do it really well.)