In this week's upside, we decided to go very topical. Um, talk about driving test waiting times. Kev over to you. Yeah. It's quite topical at the moment. When it has been for some time with. The actual waiting time for getting the test well, if you can get a test, that's this, just put that out there to start with. Because they do go quite quickly trying to get a test when you go on the system and it says there's no test available. Literally there's no tests. Which is not very helpful, which is causing people, stress, anxiety. In, I'm not going to be able to do this. I'm never going to get a test and it affects their driving. So we thought we would do a podcast on this. Just to help some people in what we can do. Because of the waiting times are so big. Yeah. And we're not going to focus lots on what's going on with the DVSA and waiting times and things. But let's get that out of the way very quickly. And then we can go on to talking about what people can do. So. This is all as a result of COVID and lock downs. Yep. Yep. It's definitely a result of that. And knock on effect. Yeah. And. Obviously that delayed people taking the tests, delayed people, learning to drive. It means that there's, there's actually a bit of a backlog of people learning to drive. Not enough driving instructors, not enough driving examiners. Only so many hours in the day. Yes. You're a hundred percent, right? That is, that is it really? That is the problem. The DVSA, if you don't know, this is a little trick for you. But the DVSA Monday mornings at six o'clock release all the tests for the upcoming week, which will be. 24 weeks in advance of that week that you're in at the moment. So just a little tip for you. So you need to get on the six o'clock. And it's a 24 week. Running rotor that the DVS release. And yeah, that's how long you'd have to wait for a test. If you wanted it in your particular area. At that time. Yep. And aside from that cancellations. Yeah. Most candidates, these cancellations app out there that you can use. I mean, they basically do the work for you, but you can keep checking that DVSA website again for cancellations in your area. It's one of those things that's hit or miss you. You don't know whether or not you're going to get one. Yeah. With the cancellation, it could come up for the end of the week or next week, or it could be. In fact, probably it's the short notice ones that come up more often. Normally, normally it is. Yeah. If you're looking at cancellations. We're going to talk about this in a minute, but just make sure you're ready. Yep. So that you actually have to, if you see one, you can jump on it. Yeah. Exactly or, you know, you're ready, you know, that you are doing. Everything. That you should be doing. In driving. And to keep you and everybody else safe and you know, that's what we do. Yeah. Okay. So how is it affecting people? How is it affecting your students? Well, I've mentioned earlier, there's the stress. There's the actual fact of the can't get a test. So they stop lessons. Because they just can't get tests. So again, it's affecting people in different ways, but one of the biggest things is, once you do book one, Driving lessons aren't cheap. But what you need is to be able to continue driving. Yeah. So, My advice is when people book a test is like, okay, we've got 24 weeks. What can we do? To plan. Yeah. On lesson last week's episode, last week's episode. What can we do? That's going to make it so effective. So when the test comes. It's not a problem. Yep. This is what I look at. You know, we, we, we got 24 weeks now. Fantastic. This let's look at the positives there. We've got a test. Fantastic. So now what we need to do is to think of. What's the best use of our time. Yeah, because you can use this to your advantage. Yes. It might be frustrating. But if you have got a long lead time, Then. Hopefully by the time you get there. Oh, Reason. While you're not able to drive independently. Yeah, and this is what, you know, you may well be fortunate to have your own car, so you just get extra practice. You know, you might have your own car. And also have driving lessons. Fantastic. We're getting double the practice. So, there's. So many hours on the road, and I think how was on the road? Builds up experience. Um, the more hours on the road that you have, the more experience you're going to have, the more situations that you're going to be in, the more situations that. You will experience. And then know how to deal with that situation again. If it happens. Yeah. And let's face it 24 weeks. If you're only having an hours driving less than a week, which is what lots of people do. That's very common. That's only 24 hours on the road that isn't a law. It's not a lot in a time factor though. People think it's. When I was six months. Um, well, yes, it's six months. And you might well have been having lessons for three months. So that's nine months of lessons having an hour a week. Yep. In the big scheme of things. That's me. Not very much at all. No. So you'll create an, a skill for life in nine months. Which doesn't seem a lot. I think it's, you know, In the big scheme of things. It's okay. If we use that time effectively. Yeah. You know, this is, well, I think it's really important. Is we're in this period of I'm going to go back to the 24 weeks again. Yeah. You've practiced the theory. So you must have been practicing driving before that we can use that. What I was suggest is carry on practicing your fear, even if you've passed. Because I know most people. Never touched a ferry again, once they passed it. Yeah. Uh, what it is, isn't enough, a form of learning to drive. Yeah. And it helps you understand what to do in different situations. Use the questions in the fear, worry. And when we're doing fee, we try and get people to do this. Is to think of you in that situation. And then what would you do? And then you can then use the time of your instructor. To them think. You know, I had this question on the ferry and I fought it was this, is that okay? To think that way I'm not doing something wrong. What a great way to learn to drive again. Yep. You know, cause the fear, we never stops it always in the mind and it's always there with the driving, but. Bring it into your drive and carry on with that theory. Because that's what we want to be doing. Yep. Sounds good to me. So I have a thing to do as well is reflection. You might even do the basic form of reflection wave. What well, what then goes to, well, what would I do differently next time? On a lesson. So again, what we're trying to do is carry on with that. Reflection. If you're driving with mum and dad, you stopped lessons because you know, 24 weeks is too much. I've got my own car. I'm at a good standard. And you're going to come back to your instructor closer to the time. Well, why not carry on doing a reflection? And I think this is again, you know, It's continually learning. It's like a log. Your practice log, what might done? What. What happened? What was the weather like? How about driven in the rain before. What did it feel like? So there's lots of different ways that you can do reflection. And I think that's again, another way to. Build in that time that you're waiting for your driving test is it's just carry on the reflection. Yeah, I'm a big fan of reflection because it helps you. Process thoughts, feelings, emotions. Uh, things that happen while you're driving and if you're not reflecting, then. You're not processing those things and learning from them either. So. Reflection is a great tool. Yeah. And you know, this. You also want to know that you're ready. Yes. You know, you meant, you touched on it a little bit earlier there about driving independently. You know, when you're going out. And you're with your instructor. How much help does he give you? Do you say to your instructor? Look, can I, can we drive to this place? But I want to drive on me own. And you're just there as my safety blanket. If something happens. Because that's the stage where you want to get to, you want to be able to drive. Where you're making the decisions all of the time. And that you're not relying on your instructor or your person that's sitting next to you. Yeah, definitely. I mean, if you've been, if you've had this really long way, The advantage of that really long way should be that towards the end of it. You are driving on your own. You are mate. Well, not on your own physically. You've got some. Yeah, but you're making your own decisions. You're not being told by somebody else what to do. You're just doing it. You're just driving because that means that that's all you need to do for your driving test. You just go and you just drive. And hopefully that will take away. I think. Undoubtedly with such a long waiting list. There's going to be pressure for people worrying about if I don't pass. Have I got to wait another six months for another test. If somebody has been driving independently in the weeks, running up to their test. Then that's less likely than much more likely to be able to pass their test, I think is it's, there's a great bit about independent driving and I love that. But independently, safely driving. Yes. Because what you want to be doing is making sure you're still doing all the processes that you need to be doing. Like checking mirrors. Like. Making sure the steering's okay. Making sure you're not steering one handed with one hand on the gala all the time. Oh, yeah, I definitely didn't mean driving like mum and dad. But this is the thing that, when you have lessons with an instructor, he's there to guide you through it. Although you're driving independently, he can. Watch that. So make sure what's required for your test and you doing it. As well. So the knowledge. Because, yes, you're quite right. That the stress is coming in now for people that are saying to themselves, well, what happens if. I found my test. I've got to wait another 24 weeks, six months. Well, yeah. Potentially. Unless you can get a cancellation, so make sure you're ready. Make sure that you know, what is required on that driving test. Make sure that you are. Keeping to a standard, even when you're driving. With mum and dad or whoever. Make sure you keep up to standards. Yeah, definitely. So that's that's, if you're doing that, you know that you're gonna be ready, you know that you're going to go to that test and you have given yourself the best chance of success. Yeah, don't leave it until three weeks before your test. And then suddenly wake up to the fact that, oh my God, it's my test in three weeks. And I don't feel ready. Or. I better find a driving instructor. I've got three weeks to go and then. Again, it may sound very silly to some people, but this happens to me all the time. I get phone calls and I've got my test in three weeks time. Can I have so many lessons from a test? It's just not going to happen. No. So, you know, find the instructor, have the lessons. You've got 24 weeks make the best use of it. Yeah. I'm remember the. The waiting time. Isn't just for deriving tests. That waiting time is there for driving instructors as well because driving instructors are tied up with their students who are waiting for tests. So. Um, there's a back local round. Yeah, everyone's got the backlog. We're trying to plan for those tests. You know, we're trying to plan for you. To make sure that you're ready for those that test. So you're gonna need to have to do it once. Which is always a bonus. If you have to do a test once. Fantastic. Brilliant. Okay. I hope that helps. And I hope that helps you make the most of the time between now and whenever your driving test is and good luck on the day. Keep practicing. Keep practicing. Practice makes better. It does. Let us know how you've got on our contact details are in the show notes as always. And until next time. I Have a great day whatever you're doing If you have enjoyed our podcast, did you know, we can also help you get back on the road to driving confidence? If you want to have the feeling of being safe. Be able to go shopping without relying on public transport. Create more time in your daily schedule. Become a confident driver. Visit friends or relatives that live further away. Drive to and from places of work. Feel safer when driving on faster roads. Then our coaching packages will help you create the easy to follow action plan to your driving confidence. 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