I blame the councils rather than other drivers. When the speed limit is well below the actual safe speed to travel at, then it is inevitable people will be angry. That limit for that road was probably 30 (maybe even 40) 10 or 15 years ago.
@@PointNemo9 It’s a high accident zone. I live in the area and there were a lot of crashes when it was a 30 so you can blame bad drivers for that, not the council.
As a lifetime resident in the vicinity, I am a frequent user of these roads and that 20mph stretch is a menace, not helped by the bus lane. It's unnecessary, could easily be 30mph, and just causes frustration. Hardly anybody keeps to it except poor learner drivers. I feel so sorry for them when they are just following the rules and have a trail of traffic behind them. The whole of Bexley Borough is full of poor markings, pot holes and badly maintained roads.
A very helpful commentary drive and a perfect example of how to deal with an impatient person who either didn't realise it was a 20 limit or simply didn't care
I’m an ADI in this area and use Erith & Belvedere for tests and I totally agree that the area has challenges that other areas don’t have. I have complained to the council about the road markings to no avail. The 20 mph road with the bus lane used to be 30mph until they built the new housing on the left and the tc manager told me that most of the fails occur on this road. I have known a pupil to fail by not moving to the left on the dual carriageway where the slip road becomes the driving lane, I’ve also known a pupil to fail for not moving to the left lane to position for the roundabout where you stayed out in the right lane and exited on the right lane. The diamond shaped roundabout we call the elevated roundabout and pupils find this one very tricky as do other road users. Regarding country lanes I take my pupils out to Dartford to do country lanes. Thank you for coming to this area and highlighting the poor road conditions, you actually went down the road that I live on, where you had the meeting situation on the bend.
Weird signs... faded road markings... strange speed limits... I live in Bexleyheath down the road and perhaps this is the privilege we enjoy for living in east London! 😂
@@supersuede91 Lol you can't be a born and bred Londoner. The only other person I knew to refer to SE London as "East" London was a South African immigrant. I really hope you don't go around telling people you live in East London.
I have been driving for 60 years , in many countries around the world . And I have been lucky never to have an accident . But I'm still learning , from experts like you . Thank you for posting !
Managed to pass first time with no faults at a test centre with an average of 37.5% despite having pretty bad mock tests beforehand. Goes to show that you shouldn’t give up and lose hope in case you start having bad days before your test
A driving test depends on your luck on the day of the test, for example, road conditions, traffics, weather, your examiner and your condition on the day of the test etc..
@@tigerthrifts6806 I have noticed from watching mock tests on youtube even though people are good at driving but still fail their mock tests due to bad luck. That's all!
True , i literally made the siliest mistakes on my mock test the day before my actual test(1 major and 5 minors) and still passed my actual test the day after with only 1 minor.
@@MrSerg-ef4ry Some people are opposite, they have passed mock tests but fail their actual test due to bad luck or nervous. Sometimes unexpexted things could happen in an actual test. Who knows?
People like that guy behind you are why it can be so hard, especially as a newer driver. Getting abuse and pressure for going the limit 😑 I've had "friends" say to me that if I'm going at the speed limit I shouldn't be on the road.
@Gabriela Harries it's so annoying isn't it, like they're going to get to the destination 30 seconds quicker. I'd rather stick to it and keep my licence.
Yeah it’s hard, I passed a month ago and still try to stick to the limits, so many people start tailgating, like sorry I just wanna keep my licence lol
Interesting upload - and good point of the guy behind you and protecting your own licence. I have learned in my first year of driving since passing to ignore the idiots who try determine how you need to drive by either tailgating flashing lights or using the horn. I just ignore them now and drive in the safest legal way as possible. I still have 10 months "probation" left and would hate to have to retake my test - bad enough getting through it in the first place. Thanks for another good video - helps a lot to improve on me driving skills.
streets are to narrow and cars have gotten much bigger compared to 30 40 years ago. Alot more people are driving than ever before too. A family of 4 will now all have a car each
@Uncle Pete’s Wild Adventures The UK is small. I wouldn't call it "tiny" . It's the 9th largest island in the world (and that's not including Northern Ireland)
I passsed my test in 2013 and my instructor told me that the test centre had only 27% pass rate and congratulated me on passing first time. I never questioned it, but after watching this video maybe he just tried to boost my confidence. The funny part is I always told the story without actually fact checking it haha.
I passed my test first time at this centre in 2015. Back then the first time pass rate was in the region of 33%. My instructor always used to tell me to try and book somewhere else if I could because even back then it had a reputation for being a tough centre. The main reasons being 1. lots of faded markings, confusing roundabouts and speed limit changes and 2. they have their own car park, so before you've even driven out of the gates, they may get you to do a bay park! (which they did on mine)
I did my driving lesson in this area and it is rather tricky. Luckily, because of the test backlog, I had to do my test in Gillingham and passed. That diamond roundabout and random bus lanes were the bane of every lesson!
Passed my test first time last week after months of waiting for a test date (Ireland's wait times are atrocious at the moment). Could not have done it without your videos and tips. Cheers Richard, thank you very much!
Weird seeing somewhere like Erith pop up on RUclips! The Thamesmead Diamond is honestly something else! I dread it, 40mph, no markings, no signage, just a total free for all! The B213 with the cycle lane that sometimes has priority, sometimes doesn't, sometimes just confusing! Doing hill starts in the narrow lanes around Belvedere is also a challenge. Hope I don't have to do my test there...
Wow I can certainly see why people are failing at that test centre. The road markings are absolutely shocking! Plus the road that was a 20mph (with Mr Grumpy behind you) really looks like it should be at least a 30mph, couldn’t understand why it last needed to be so slow. Very glad I’ve not got my test at that particular test centre!!
I can’t believe it you have come to my area! I rave about your videos constantly because of how much you have helped my driving improve, and I have always said that the only downside is that you are in a different location! I feel like I manifested this video 😂 I failed on the fish roundabout when I was 18, and now I am 24 ready to take my test again 🙏🏼Certain I am going to pass this time, massively due to your help… you are the best driving teacher I have ever come across and so happy you have made this video! 😂
It was fascinating watching you get honked for not going faster; we have two speed traps on a hill of all things near me and if you keep to the 30mph limit while going past the speed camera you always either get honked or someone cuts you up. I had a learner and then a BMW cut in front of me which nearly caused a crash as they swerved at the last minute. I've seen the speed camera go off as people whizz past it so at least there is some justice.
Failed here on my first test just over a year ago, thankfully passed in Hither Green in September to 'heal' the wound! It's tricky with a lot of dual carriageways and large poorly marked roundabouts, thanks for covering this Richard! :)
@@neel282 it was coming off the motorway and going up the ramp too slowly (my fault entirely) and poor positioning on the roundabout that’s closest to the test centre (my point of complaint as it’s poorly marked, though of course still my fault).
Having watched this, I can't believe that I've driven through these roads at the early stages of my learning... Glad that I used a different test centre, because I definitely would have failed with this test route. Even though I live in the area and already have driver's license, these roads are nerve racking. Thank you for another great video, you are a wonder for all drivers!
I drive mostly around central and west London. Back in the day you could assume the speed limit was 30 mph unless you were near a school for example when there would be plenty of signs to show if the speed limit had changed to 20mph. Now it’s becoming extremely difficult and stressful to drive in this part of London as the speed limit is constantly switching between 20mph and 30mph so you are spending more time worrying about the speed limit than actually concentrating on what’s happening on the road ahead of you.
I agree, in my opinion simply lowering the speed limit is not always the solution to improving road safety or reducing congestion. If you want to slow down traffic, do it by making the road narrower and less straight, or at least adding lots of coloured road markings, so that the natural driving speed matches up with the speed limit. I understand the arguments about safety and reduced traffic queues when everyone is moving slower, but the menace of a 20mph road shown in the video could easily have been safely navigated at 40mph as it was wide and straight. No real driver will be switched on enough to maintain a full awareness of the road ahead and around them if they also have to stare at their speedometer - people only have so much ability to concentrate before they get tired on a long drive, which is when accidents become more likely. Either that, or you drive safely but risk fines for speeding past a speed camera.
I totally agree with your comments regarding rural roads and complex multi lane roundabouts, for a student driver you need to choose an ADI that will teach you to drive as opposed to passing a test. I see far too many sticking to 'test' routes and not venturing into the real world.
Just passed my test this morning first time with 0 minors, your videos have been so helpful to me in ensuring I have the correct knowledge, thank you so much!
I love this sort of insight. I live in Powys, and ended up travelling an hour to do both of my tests. I can't imagine the pain of doing your test in London. Wouldn't be my cup of tea!
My first impression of this route was the fact of how many roundabouts are in Erith/bexley area and that 20MPH Stretch road, which could easily be 30MPH. During my test route in Sevenoaks I had one roundabout, some country and town roads, then performed an emergency and possibly had one of the easiest manoeuvres forward bay park and reverse out.
Watching you drive and hearing your commentary with the additional reasoning behind everything you do is so relaxing. Great informative video, love it! Thought I might add I have a license and still come back to watch you from time to time :)
I passed at belvedere a long time ago. Its a terrible place to drive and having moved elsewhere whenever I go back I really feel the difference. Everyone is so aggressive and has no time for learners 'getting in their way'. If it is a busy time of day, the roundabouts are very difficult. Most of the residential roads are double parked roads where it is hard for a new driver to judge the size of gaps and whether to go or not. And their are plenty of places for the examiner to pick for a tricky hill start. And yes after having passed, I had pretty much zero experience on country roads which were a bit of a shock when I first drove on them.
This is a point I think he undersold in the video considering most of the tests will be done around rush hour! I had one of my tests in Erith and we had to wait over 5 mins to even get out of the test centre just due to the oncoming traffic. In hindsight I would never have done a test in Erith
Wow you covered my local test centre! I actually passed 1st time with 12 minors in march of 2022, I was really nervous and I actually had part of the route you did this video! This centre is a miss and touch I’ve had friends with 0 minors but failed with one major in the last 5 mins of the test, I’ve heard of others doing Belvedere and Erith 7 times before moving on…
Managed to pass first time with only one fault a couple of weeks ago! I wanted to say thank you for all the videos you’ve done, especially the ones focussed on dealing with driving anxiety. I feel like a much more confident and knowledgeable driver in general from watching those videos.
Thank you Richard. Have been watching your clips for a while. I finally got passed today, with 6 minors, in Belverdere :) Part of the route covers Erith test route. No other route can scare me now, haha. Thank you again! May this channel bless more people like me.
Wow, this is my local area - I'm in Woolwich and I drive all of this route all the time. That unmarked diamond roundabout is awful and the 20 zone after it absolutely sucks. Coupled with the general impatience of the London driver it's not hard to see why so many novice drivers fail here. Glad I took my test in Milton Keynes!
Halifax in West Yorkshire has plenty of both kinds of roads. There's an enormous multi lane roundabout, various speed limit exits onto equally complicated roads, some with poor visibility and high traffic, and it's not 5 miles from several 50 and 60 roads. There are also lots of very, very steep hills to practice your clutch control and if you're really lucky they'll even make you parallel park on one of them. Even the entrance is fun as I'm sure you'll see why if you look on street view. Great place to learn to drive IMHO!
Great video. I loved seeing how you dealt with driving in an unfamiliar area. I must say I absolutely love driving in areas I have no idea about. It certainly makes it more challenging and fun.
I definitely agree with your point on country roads. You need to learn how to drive, not just how to pass your test. One of the things my instructor taught me was a 3-point turn. Although it isn't in the test, she said that I'd struggle driving after I pass if I never do that manoeuvre. Same with reversing around a corner.
really good video. great to see how an experienced instructor deals with problems. i like how you describe the environment around you to highlight what's important to notice as you're driving.
Just goes to show, despite what the DVSA think, having prior knowledge of the area is a massive help. Im a confident driver but would hate to do a driving test in London, I just don't know it at all.
Surely, you shouldn't be looking for massive help on your test, if you pass, the following day you could be driving through central London at Hyde Park corner, on a motorway and any number of places youve never been before.
The “country” roads there were near the middle of the route. They were 30 limit and in Colchester you would probably call them urban. I passed my test in North London and the next time I drove was in Botswana so about 1/3 of my driving on that trip was on unsurfaced roads most of it corrugated. What I didn’t recall was an emerging right turn which I thought was a compulsory element.
I am another person who lives in this area so it was very interesting to watch. As a retired driving instructor I would certainly question your lane positioning on approach to the roundabouts in the first half of the test but perhaps examiners would be OK with that now.
So this was a bit of a surprise to appear in my recommended feed - I actually live not too far away from here, and had the choice to take my driving test here! I did one of my lessons around this area, I can't remember if it was a mock test route or not, and I was so anxious and disliked it so much I decided never again xD I do recall lots of lorries in the area around the test centre, and lots of aggressive/impatient drivers and confusing road layouts to deal with! In the end I stuck to taking my test at the closest centre to me which is Sidcup, where I passed first time with four minors :) Sidcup has its own share of pitfalls, like the Crittall's Corner roundabout and the 5mph speed limit through the car park back into the test centre which reportedly catches out a LOT of drivers at the very end of a test! But overall it was far more comfortable for me.
man failed my test on thursday on my way back to the test centre in the last 7-8 mins. had no majors and wasn't doing bad, but then everything flopped at a mini roundabout when a car on my right, who signalled to turn right, decided not to turn in, despite having priority and the opportunity to do so. Decided i'd just go ahead since that car aint moving, then they moved when i did and examiner hit the breaks 😭. Not doubting the fact that that decision caused me to fail, but would have been nice if that guy had stuck to the rules of the road...
Thank you Richard for all your helpful and well-explained videos, you contributed massively to me passing my test one year ago! I still regualrly watch your videos to keep my driving up to scratch. I do particularly like your commentary drives at the moment, they're a really good idea. Many thanks again 🙂
I have to drive there sometimes for work and before you even started I thought you'd mention the poor road markings as that's something I always notice when I'm there, definitely makes things trickier
Come drive anywhere on Balkan peninsula. You, know, nothing. Thanks for vids mate! Really helps me connect in my head what i tried during the lesson. Gods work!
That is a TOUGH test route 😯 how anyone passes that is beyond me. I pased in Speke, Liverpool on my third go a few years back, and from memory it's nowhere near as difficult
Just posting here because it's the latest video at time of writing. I passed a few hours ago, 1 minor. I have watched your videos for help in my spare time, and set aside an hour before every lesson to watch one or two, because you always calmed me down, got rid of my nerves and got me ready. Thank you for all of your help!
Although I no longer live in that area, I grew up there and passed my driving test at Belvedere Test Centre 30 years ago, that never had a good pass rate back then. No road markings was a massive problem back then. I also agree with everything Lynne Baldwin says about that area and Bexley Borough, as I only drove back to Norfolk on Sunday after visiting family who live in Bexley Borough.
I did my test at Erith test centre and was scared after hearing it had the worst pass rate in the whole country, however, the test was really chill and i passed with flying colours, however the amount of roundabouts, zebra crossings and 20mph speed zones as a learner are really difficult to look out for.
I passed my exam at this centre last year on my second attempt and live in this area so drive on these roads daily. Your videos were a great help and I still watch them to improve certain skills. My instructor had a very high pass rate at around 70% compared to the area average of 30%. Based on what he and other instructors told me, I think you may have failed on the second roundabout coming out the test centre on the right turn depending on the examiner. This is very common and I saw it on both my tests. Many drive back immediately after the roundabout. The middle lane has absolutely no use. There are 3 lanes for entry and only 2 lanes on roundabout. There is a splitter lane to go left and join the dual carriageway. So it’s either left lane to go ahead or right lane to turn right. No need to use the middle lane which is a fudge by the council. Whether you fail will depend on the examiner because it is very harsh but then that’s the other reason the pass rate is so low😂. But I think apart from that, it was an excellent drive. You’re also right about the country roads not being taught.
You won't fail for being in the wrong lane at the roundabout unless you drive in an unsafe way. I checked it was safe to continue in the intended direction, if it wasn't safe I would just go the wrong way. Also, there was debris in the right lane.
What about the one after though? In right lane going 3rd exit- 3 lanes to come off but the right lane coming off goes to an industrial estate. So come off in middle? My test is here next week 😬
It saddens my heart to know that I failed my driving test in Erith having practiced for more than a year.The test centre has indeed the lowest past rate in 🇬🇧.Trucks in the industrial area,poor road markings and variable speed limits didn’t contribute to my failure.I had a bad luck with my examiner who took me on entire route which I didn’t practise at all with my instructor and effectively contributed to my nervousness initially but it’s a learning curve for me to be able to get there very soon.
That 20mph stretch reminds me of a lot of the roads around here, no matter how much you stick to the speed limit, there is always some moron tailgating and gesturing at you for the temerity of not breaking the law. Yesterday I was coming off the Wallasey tunnel exit road and joining a main road in liverpool. I was switching lanes to my right, checked my mirrors and there was a guy approaching some way off at about the same speed (29-30mph) I was at, so I indicate right and start to move over. Guy then speeds up to prob 35-40mp (on a 30 road) to close the gap, then slams on the horn. I check and move over to the furthest lane, which is the one I want and also gets out of his way, he passes at the same speed, pulls in front of me and brake checks me. Then switches back to the lane he was originally in and continues off at at least 35mph. You can't legislate for idiots sadly, all you can do is drive safely and hope you don't encounter too many of them
I think it's entirely unfair to do a test on a route with barely any markings that's negligent at best I've only just passed my test with 4 minors but wouldn't have a clue in London 😂
I don't think so, it's something you'll need to deal with as a driver so it's something you should be able to deal with before you can be considered a safe driver. However, the pass rate would suggest that examiners aren't being very forgiving of mistakes newer drivers are likely to make in those situations and that does seem unfair. So long as the mistakes aren't actually dangerous (holding the middle of a very wide road without markings at a sensible speed for the manoeuvre, for instance, would not be dangerous), you shouldn't be getting serious faults even if the road was actually two lanes.
I agree with @@KindredBrujah that, especially if you live in the area, you would be expected to be capable of dealing with no markings on the road and other intricacies of the local roads. So if you fail to do that on the test it is justifiable that you probably would fail to do it in your own car.
On this test you passed but on a different route where you do the 20mph stretch at a different point you failed for appropriate speed. At this centre they are very picky about that one because they have to sit in that 20mph stretch for ages on all their tests. People have failed for being at 27 for too long before. Your guess about the angle start and the parallel park were spot on, both belvedere and erith use those spots. You're also spot on about the country driving, I learnt and passed at this test centre and I've never been on a country road
I did my test here in November. I also did all my lessons in this area (first time pass!) That road outside the test centre is horrific. On test day it’s incredibly busy, coming out of the test centre I had to creep forward and brake harshly 3 times after passing the give way markings because there were lorries parked on either side. The 20mph road is bad too, I find most of the time other drivers will just overtake you using the bus lane 😂
I moved to the UK from New Zealand about 12 months ago and have since driven ~15k miles exploring your country! The two things I found the most startling about driving here are: the faded road markings / signs and the lack of street lights at nighttime! I never had any problems driving at night at home, but it makes me quite nervous here because the visibility is extremely poor when you rely solely on your own headlights. Even worse if you can barely see the lane markings too. Other than that, it’s a great country for driving with pretty landscapes and usually very polite drivers!
I think the roads in the UK have gotten gradually worse over the years. NZ was a joy to spend 4 weeks driving around, particularly the South Island with great roads and signage.
I currently live in Speke. I nearly booked my test over there as I got a last minute availability but Im glad I I moved my test to Redditch, booked for this friday. Despite my instructor telling me that I am test ready, I am extremely nervous. I think I will fail
I though the same but being confident is probably the main thing that helps you pass , be confident and you'll do amazing! , you'll do great good luck !
@@Gandhi2241 I failed a test recently because I told myself to drive really slowly and carefully and it knocked my confidence... I'd recommend just being confident and trying to enjoy it, I've got another one booked for Friday like you, good luck 👍
Surely there is normaly, or at least often, a lot more traffic? That would make all of the multi-lane sections a lot harder. It would be interesting to see the pass rate graphed against time of day.
You are right. That roundabout splits into 2 at the last minute. Unfortunately you fail because I use that same lane for the third exit and I failed because of that. My instructor says that, that lane should not be used because as you enter the roundabout it gets narrow. Glad to say I pass the 2nd time round after going over that roundabout several times. It is possible. I passed January 2023.
@@ConquerDriving I am not saying that you fail the test because of that. At the horse roundabout, where the lane splits into four at the last minute; you entered the roundabout from the third lane and that was the same thing I did which caused me to fail my driving test.
I used to work around that 20 mph road and get a lot of strive from other drivers, but that is what much of London roads are nowadays. Which once nearly caused an accident as a driver fed up with me sticking with the 20 mph decided to overtake me but didn't see an island in the middle of the road, so he turned back in front of me and I had to do an emergency stop otherwise I would have T him.
I passed my test now two weeks ago and I’ve been spending a lot of time searching for my car. My budget is around £10k max so that gives me options but as a result I’m struggling to narrow it down. I was very keen on Mini hatches but even the newer ones (post 2014) seem so condensed and the front windscreen looks tiny and the view constricted. Any reocmmendations? My second choice would be the Renault Clio. Anyway, more to the point I feel like I do need to start driving again very soon as I sense my confidence would take a hit if I leave it too long. Could you do a video on this at some point? Say, how long after your test should you wait to drive? The problem is I don’t have family/friends who have a car that I can use and be insured on, even hire car companies require you to have your license at least a year, so what options does that give you? Literally the only one is to buy your own car.
you can take lessons after you pass, for example an extra motorway lesson. Useful plus means you can drive in the meantime whilst waiting to find a car to buy. Best of luck :)
I’m from this area. Belvedere is my nearest test centre and Erith is my second nearest. I had my test last month but guess what I went to my third nearest test centre (Sidcup) 🤣🤣🤣 and yes I passed!
I need a cancellation for any of these test centre but can’t cause no one is cancelling them or ppl get it through test centres (I live in the area too)
@@mightygamer1996 all i can recommend doing is checking testi whenever you get the chance and having the alerts on for when there is a cancellation! Good luck !!
@@Ckem24 I have the driving test now app and it actually moved my test to may but I can’t find any for march or April…. When it was December or January all tests were flooding for jan or feb (the next month) but now NONE I really hope I get one soon
It's actually in Lower Belvedere (sited Belvedere industrial estate). Erith is a mile down the road. It's called Erith to avoid confusion with the Belvedere Centre, Woolwich Road, Upper Belvedere. You can see on Google a map of the Belvedere jurisdiction.
I got a test coming up on the 2nd of may in ERITH but m looking for cancellation to move dates or test centres (Belvedere, erith or sidcup) “may god help me”🙏🏽
Great video, very different pace to the driving videos I normally watch! I was lucky to learn somewhere quiet and fairly rural and really feel for any learners in our biggest cities.
I'm learning to drive and one of the places I have to drive has a 20mph that lasts about 5-8 minutes at the speed limit it's stupid because the road is wide open and a long straight for the most part and no where near any schools
I learned in central and north London, the test centre was Hendon if I remember correctly, and I only went on country roads with an instructor because of doing Pass Plus!
I’m happy to announce that I passed my test today with 7 minors. A huge thank you for your content. It really helped me pass today! Now I can happily join the “passed but still watching” gang😂
I’m in Liverpool and it’s been known for years and years that Speke is horrific for low pass scores…. I’m lucky just over the other side of the city so in Norris Green centre which also has a lower one but luckily this year I passed first time with just 2 minors and I had the bloody manager of the site testing me he was really nice to be fair but it’s a hard test route by mine as outside the centre down the road is a double round about which instils utter fear into many new and younger drivers and weirdly I loved it probably because it’s super easier than expected. Your videos helped me alot from August to January (test) so thank you!
As a US resident who rarely has to deal with a roundabout, I know I would do badly in the UK. The UK relies mostly on lane markings to tell you which lane to be in, and they are often worn and hard to read, and they often don't give you much warning. In heavy traffic they would be hidden until the car ahead has passed over them, and that could be almost too late to make a decision. In the US we favor big overhead signs that you can see well ahead of time. They may be ugly but they are very helpful! Multi-lane roundabouts would confuse me. You clearly must know exactly where you're going in order to be in the correct lane. I would fail the UK driving test repeatedly!
It looked pretty quiet but I imagine it can get really busy, I'd say where you had to go over the crossing and wait in the road and where you were going up hill with the cars parked both sides is where a nervous learner would come unstuck. Our pass rate is 66%!! You'll have to pop up and do it sometime.
I forgot about that one, that was pretty nasty yeah. Knowing your car well enough to judge if you've left space for others to pass behind is one of the most difficult things for a newer driver (or for me as a newer driver anyway).
Passed first time in Erith. Roads were easy. Had lot of minor errors but no major. This was not my route though. Your videos were helpful to allow me pass first time
So the lowest 2 pass rates in the country are adjacent to each other and the 3rd is also an inner city centre and the DVLA claims road conditions have no impact on pass rates?
holy shit! SPEKE! i came a hairs breath from doing my 3rd test in speke as a cancelation! id passed up a few early cancelations there already and luckily i got one at my own (chester) and passed Also kudos to mr happy nearly killing someone at 12:50
I noticed that one. So desperate to finally get past that he wasn't paying proper attention to the pedestrian. An excellent example of why road rage is dangerous.
It is so funny how obeying the speed limit really annoys other road users.
Road geometry doesn't always follow the limits set. Hence why people get so pissed off
@@wumpty93 good point actually. The speed limit should in the video should be 30 rather than 20
I blame the councils rather than other drivers. When the speed limit is well below the actual safe speed to travel at, then it is inevitable people will be angry. That limit for that road was probably 30 (maybe even 40) 10 or 15 years ago.
@@PointNemo9 It’s a high accident zone. I live in the area and there were a lot of crashes when it was a 30 so you can blame bad drivers for that, not the council.
@@TheBenjamincooper2no there wasn’t
As a lifetime resident in the vicinity, I am a frequent user of these roads and that 20mph stretch is a menace, not helped by the bus lane. It's unnecessary, could easily be 30mph, and just causes frustration. Hardly anybody keeps to it except poor learner drivers. I feel so sorry for them when they are just following the rules and have a trail of traffic behind them. The whole of Bexley Borough is full of poor markings, pot holes and badly maintained roads.
Yup that road definitely shouldn't be 20
yeah, the pressure from all the vehicles behind makes the learners eager to speed up and fail the test.
@@beautydieyoung Some people forget that they were learner drivers once. It's horrible being intimidated by impatient motorists.
I agree, it is a ridiculous speed limit that makes no sense.
I agree,💯%
A very helpful commentary drive and a perfect example of how to deal with an impatient person who either didn't realise it was a 20 limit or simply didn't care
Speed limits are supposed to represent the maximum safe speed to travel at when conditions are good, that 20 limit is a joke.
@@PointNemo9 not just the speed limit . bus lane as well
Could you do more videos of this format? Maybe visiting different test centres and doing different routes. Felt very helpful
Thank you, I may do in the future. There is already another video coming soon.
Can you do such for Norwich ?
I’m an ADI in this area and use Erith & Belvedere for tests and I totally agree that the area has challenges that other areas don’t have. I have complained to the council about the road markings to no avail. The 20 mph road with the bus lane used to be 30mph until they built the new housing on the left and the tc manager told me that most of the fails occur on this road.
I have known a pupil to fail by not moving to the left on the dual carriageway where the slip road becomes the driving lane, I’ve also known a pupil to fail for not moving to the left lane to position for the roundabout where you stayed out in the right lane and exited on the right lane.
The diamond shaped roundabout we call the elevated roundabout and pupils find this one very tricky as do other road users.
Regarding country lanes I take my pupils out to Dartford to do country lanes.
Thank you for coming to this area and highlighting the poor road conditions, you actually went down the road that I live on, where you had the meeting situation on the bend.
Weird signs... faded road markings... strange speed limits... I live in Bexleyheath down the road and perhaps this is the privilege we enjoy for living in east London! 😂
@@supersuede91 East London is north of the river, we are SE London
@@lafemmelaMon I know I know I was including northeast and southeast in "east" chill your pickle ;)
hmmm seems a little over strict.
@@supersuede91 Lol you can't be a born and bred Londoner. The only other person I knew to refer to SE London as "East" London was a South African immigrant. I really hope you don't go around telling people you live in East London.
I have been driving for 60 years , in many countries around the world . And I have been lucky never to have an accident . But I'm still learning , from experts like you . Thank you for posting !
Managed to pass first time with no faults at a test centre with an average of 37.5% despite having pretty bad mock tests beforehand. Goes to show that you shouldn’t give up and lose hope in case you start having bad days before your test
A driving test depends on your luck on the day of the test, for example, road conditions, traffics, weather, your examiner and your condition on the day of the test etc..
@@juliayang3879 obviously different factors come into play but don’t use that to take away from how well someone might have done.
@@tigerthrifts6806 I have noticed from watching mock tests on youtube even though people are good at driving but still fail their mock tests due to bad luck. That's all!
True , i literally made the siliest mistakes on my mock test the day before my actual test(1 major and 5 minors) and still passed my actual test the day after with only 1 minor.
@@MrSerg-ef4ry Some people are opposite, they have passed mock tests but fail their actual test due to bad luck or nervous. Sometimes unexpexted things could happen in an actual test. Who knows?
I just passed my driving test with 5 faults. Relied upon solely on your videos and personal practice. Learned a lot from your videos, thank you.
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
People like that guy behind you are why it can be so hard, especially as a newer driver. Getting abuse and pressure for going the limit 😑 I've had "friends" say to me that if I'm going at the speed limit I shouldn't be on the road.
When I drove with l plates during my lessons literally everyone would pass me even though I would even go over the limit. People are morons basically.
@Gabriela Harries it's so annoying isn't it, like they're going to get to the destination 30 seconds quicker. I'd rather stick to it and keep my licence.
@@kayleighwall6706 lol good friends you got there
@Pro fessor yeah I'd use the word friend loosely when it comes to them tbh.
Yeah it’s hard, I passed a month ago and still try to stick to the limits, so many people start tailgating, like sorry I just wanna keep my licence lol
Interesting upload - and good point of the guy behind you and protecting your own licence. I have learned in my first year of driving since passing to ignore the idiots who try determine how you need to drive by either tailgating flashing lights or using the horn. I just ignore them now and drive in the safest legal way as possible. I still have 10 months "probation" left and would hate to have to retake my test - bad enough getting through it in the first place. Thanks for another good video - helps a lot to improve on me driving skills.
A lot of instructors now have trackers on their vehicles, so they can note down test routes from that, and then use those in mock tests.
They don't need trackers they can sit in with the examinee and examiner
The street parking situation in the UK is an absolute joke.
streets are to narrow and cars have gotten much bigger compared to 30 40 years ago. Alot more people are driving than ever before too. A family of 4 will now all have a car each
The streets are based on ancient trackways from hundreds if not thousands of years ago. There was no ZIP in 900 A.D. Plus we live on a tiny island.
@Uncle Pete’s Wild Adventures The UK is small. I wouldn't call it "tiny" . It's the 9th largest island in the world (and that's not including Northern Ireland)
Potholes
👀🍿
@@neilredbar7344 not for long.
Spot on! You make it look so easy. Love the fact you flip the rear camera so that it looks how it would in your interior mirror too.
Thank you, I figured that out about the camera as I looked very strange before.
I passsed my test in 2013 and my instructor told me that the test centre had only 27% pass rate and congratulated me on passing first time. I never questioned it, but after watching this video maybe he just tried to boost my confidence. The funny part is I always told the story without actually fact checking it haha.
I passed my test first time at this centre in 2015. Back then the first time pass rate was in the region of 33%. My instructor always used to tell me to try and book somewhere else if I could because even back then it had a reputation for being a tough centre. The main reasons being 1. lots of faded markings, confusing roundabouts and speed limit changes and 2. they have their own car park, so before you've even driven out of the gates, they may get you to do a bay park! (which they did on mine)
I did my driving lesson in this area and it is rather tricky. Luckily, because of the test backlog, I had to do my test in Gillingham and passed. That diamond roundabout and random bus lanes were the bane of every lesson!
Passed my test first time last week after months of waiting for a test date (Ireland's wait times are atrocious at the moment). Could not have done it without your videos and tips.
Cheers Richard, thank you very much!
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Weird seeing somewhere like Erith pop up on RUclips! The Thamesmead Diamond is honestly something else! I dread it, 40mph, no markings, no signage, just a total free for all! The B213 with the cycle lane that sometimes has priority, sometimes doesn't, sometimes just confusing! Doing hill starts in the narrow lanes around Belvedere is also a challenge. Hope I don't have to do my test there...
Wow I can certainly see why people are failing at that test centre. The road markings are absolutely shocking! Plus the road that was a 20mph (with Mr Grumpy behind you) really looks like it should be at least a 30mph, couldn’t understand why it last needed to be so slow.
Very glad I’ve not got my test at that particular test centre!!
I can’t believe it you have come to my area! I rave about your videos constantly because of how much you have helped my driving improve, and I have always said that the only downside is that you are in a different location! I feel like I manifested this video 😂 I failed on the fish roundabout when I was 18, and now I am 24 ready to take my test again 🙏🏼Certain I am going to pass this time, massively due to your help… you are the best driving teacher I have ever come across and so happy you have made this video! 😂
ha ha i have to drive on that bloody fish round about all the time. So many bloody lorries.
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching!
I’m 24 and just passed. Hope you did too 🎉
Your socks are always so bombastic
Did my test at Eirth and I passed first time, two weeks ago, all thanks to your videos. Especially the parking and judging if the car can fit videos 😊
That's great news! Congratulations on passing!
It was fascinating watching you get honked for not going faster; we have two speed traps on a hill of all things near me and if you keep to the 30mph limit while going past the speed camera you always either get honked or someone cuts you up. I had a learner and then a BMW cut in front of me which nearly caused a crash as they swerved at the last minute. I've seen the speed camera go off as people whizz past it so at least there is some justice.
my test person told me what lane to use when the markings were covered by either cars or poor markings, was really helpful and nice.
Failed here on my first test just over a year ago, thankfully passed in Hither Green in September to 'heal' the wound! It's tricky with a lot of dual carriageways and large poorly marked roundabouts, thanks for covering this Richard! :)
What did you fail for? It seems a terrible route due to markings and probably a lot of pressure from other motorists during busy hours
@@neel282 it was coming off the motorway and going up the ramp too slowly (my fault entirely) and poor positioning on the roundabout that’s closest to the test centre (my point of complaint as it’s poorly marked, though of course still my fault).
Having watched this, I can't believe that I've driven through these roads at the early stages of my learning... Glad that I used a different test centre, because I definitely would have failed with this test route. Even though I live in the area and already have driver's license, these roads are nerve racking. Thank you for another great video, you are a wonder for all drivers!
I drive mostly around central and west London. Back in the day you could assume the speed limit was 30 mph unless you were near a school for example when there would be plenty of signs to show if the speed limit had changed to 20mph.
Now it’s becoming extremely difficult and stressful to drive in this part of London as the speed limit is constantly switching between 20mph and 30mph so you are spending more time worrying about the speed limit than actually concentrating on what’s happening on the road ahead of you.
I agree, in my opinion simply lowering the speed limit is not always the solution to improving road safety or reducing congestion. If you want to slow down traffic, do it by making the road narrower and less straight, or at least adding lots of coloured road markings, so that the natural driving speed matches up with the speed limit. I understand the arguments about safety and reduced traffic queues when everyone is moving slower, but the menace of a 20mph road shown in the video could easily have been safely navigated at 40mph as it was wide and straight. No real driver will be switched on enough to maintain a full awareness of the road ahead and around them if they also have to stare at their speedometer - people only have so much ability to concentrate before they get tired on a long drive, which is when accidents become more likely. Either that, or you drive safely but risk fines for speeding past a speed camera.
I totally agree with your comments regarding rural roads and complex multi lane roundabouts, for a student driver you need to choose an ADI that will teach you to drive as opposed to passing a test. I see far too many sticking to 'test' routes and not venturing into the real world.
But the reality is it's very expensive to learn to drive and get a licence. You're going to be most concerned about being test ready.
I passed my test last friday thanks to your videos, so i just wanted to say how good of a teacher you are
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Just passed my test this morning first time with 0 minors, your videos have been so helpful to me in ensuring I have the correct knowledge, thank you so much!
That's great news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I love this sort of insight.
I live in Powys, and ended up travelling an hour to do both of my tests.
I can't imagine the pain of doing your test in London. Wouldn't be my cup of tea!
My first impression of this route was the fact of how many roundabouts are in Erith/bexley area and that 20MPH Stretch road, which could easily be 30MPH. During my test route in Sevenoaks I had one roundabout, some country and town roads, then performed an emergency and possibly had one of the easiest manoeuvres forward bay park and reverse out.
Watching you drive and hearing your commentary with the additional reasoning behind everything you do is so relaxing. Great informative video, love it! Thought I might add I have a license and still come back to watch you from time to time :)
I passed at belvedere a long time ago. Its a terrible place to drive and having moved elsewhere whenever I go back I really feel the difference. Everyone is so aggressive and has no time for learners 'getting in their way'. If it is a busy time of day, the roundabouts are very difficult. Most of the residential roads are double parked roads where it is hard for a new driver to judge the size of gaps and whether to go or not. And their are plenty of places for the examiner to pick for a tricky hill start.
And yes after having passed, I had pretty much zero experience on country roads which were a bit of a shock when I first drove on them.
This is a point I think he undersold in the video considering most of the tests will be done around rush hour! I had one of my tests in Erith and we had to wait over 5 mins to even get out of the test centre just due to the oncoming traffic. In hindsight I would never have done a test in Erith
Wow you covered my local test centre! I actually passed 1st time with 12 minors in march of 2022, I was really nervous and I actually had part of the route you did this video! This centre is a miss and touch I’ve had friends with 0 minors but failed with one major in the last 5 mins of the test, I’ve heard of others doing Belvedere and Erith 7 times before moving on…
Passed my test week before last and I still find myself clicking and watching. Your channel had been an absolute boon in the time I learnt. Bless you
I took my test at Belvedere, and it was either going to be that centre or Erith. Very nostalgic seeing those roads.
Your videos are always very helpful, informative and creative. You can tell you put a lot of effort into them.
Managed to pass first time with only one fault a couple of weeks ago!
I wanted to say thank you for all the videos you’ve done, especially the ones focussed on dealing with driving anxiety. I feel like a much more confident and knowledgeable driver in general from watching those videos.
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Thank you Richard. Have been watching your clips for a while. I finally got passed today, with 6 minors, in Belverdere :) Part of the route covers Erith test route. No other route can scare me now, haha. Thank you again! May this channel bless more people like me.
Wow, this is my local area - I'm in Woolwich and I drive all of this route all the time. That unmarked diamond roundabout is awful and the 20 zone after it absolutely sucks. Coupled with the general impatience of the London driver it's not hard to see why so many novice drivers fail here. Glad I took my test in Milton Keynes!
Halifax in West Yorkshire has plenty of both kinds of roads. There's an enormous multi lane roundabout, various speed limit exits onto equally complicated roads, some with poor visibility and high traffic, and it's not 5 miles from several 50 and 60 roads. There are also lots of very, very steep hills to practice your clutch control and if you're really lucky they'll even make you parallel park on one of them. Even the entrance is fun as I'm sure you'll see why if you look on street view. Great place to learn to drive IMHO!
I've got my test passed with 6 minors today, thanks to your tips and videos! as well as my instructor.
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Great video. I loved seeing how you dealt with driving in an unfamiliar area. I must say I absolutely love driving in areas I have no idea about. It certainly makes it more challenging and fun.
Hi, I just had my driving test in Chichester and I have passed the test. Your videos were really helpful. Thank you
That's great news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I definitely agree with your point on country roads. You need to learn how to drive, not just how to pass your test. One of the things my instructor taught me was a 3-point turn. Although it isn't in the test, she said that I'd struggle driving after I pass if I never do that manoeuvre. Same with reversing around a corner.
really good video. great to see how an experienced instructor deals with problems. i like how you describe the environment around you to highlight what's important to notice as you're driving.
Just goes to show, despite what the DVSA think, having prior knowledge of the area is a massive help. Im a confident driver but would hate to do a driving test in London, I just don't know it at all.
Surely, you shouldn't be looking for massive help on your test, if you pass, the following day you could be driving through central London at Hyde Park corner, on a motorway and any number of places youve never been before.
@@thebeastontour45 Well usually people who just passed a driving test build some confidence in their driving before they go some place unknown
im so happy this video came out when it did as i have my test here tomorrow thanks!!
Update I passed 1st time with 3 minors I’m overwhelmed!!
I'm almost willing to bet money that the leading cause of failing for that test centre is lane discipline
Yep, that was one of my majors there!
I passed at Belvedere, with your help Richard. Thank you
The “country” roads there were near the middle of the route. They were 30 limit and in Colchester you would probably call them urban. I passed my test in North London and the next time I drove was in Botswana so about 1/3 of my driving on that trip was on unsurfaced roads most of it corrugated. What I didn’t recall was an emerging right turn which I thought was a compulsory element.
15:15 "Some trees nice" - Thank you this inspirational quote help me passed my test!
You should do one from the centre with the highest pass rate, and then compare your experience to here.
There is already a video coming soon.
Hi Richard I’m watching after a while since I passed the test. You are the best instructor. Keep it up.
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching.
I am another person who lives in this area so it was very interesting to watch. As a retired driving instructor I would certainly question your lane positioning on approach to the roundabouts in the first half of the test but perhaps examiners would be OK with that now.
So this was a bit of a surprise to appear in my recommended feed - I actually live not too far away from here, and had the choice to take my driving test here! I did one of my lessons around this area, I can't remember if it was a mock test route or not, and I was so anxious and disliked it so much I decided never again xD I do recall lots of lorries in the area around the test centre, and lots of aggressive/impatient drivers and confusing road layouts to deal with! In the end I stuck to taking my test at the closest centre to me which is Sidcup, where I passed first time with four minors :) Sidcup has its own share of pitfalls, like the Crittall's Corner roundabout and the 5mph speed limit through the car park back into the test centre which reportedly catches out a LOT of drivers at the very end of a test! But overall it was far more comfortable for me.
man failed my test on thursday on my way back to the test centre in the last 7-8 mins. had no majors and wasn't doing bad, but then everything flopped at a mini roundabout when a car on my right, who signalled to turn right, decided not to turn in, despite having priority and the opportunity to do so. Decided i'd just go ahead since that car aint moving, then they moved when i did and examiner hit the breaks 😭. Not doubting the fact that that decision caused me to fail, but would have been nice if that guy had stuck to the rules of the road...
Damn that’s tough dude sorry to read that☹️pretty unfair how you failed because of someone else’s driving though
Thank you Richard for all your helpful and well-explained videos, you contributed massively to me passing my test one year ago! I still regualrly watch your videos to keep my driving up to scratch. I do particularly like your commentary drives at the moment, they're a really good idea. Many thanks again 🙂
I passed here first time with 2 minors back in May! Your videos definitely helped!😄
Really enjoy these types of videos! They also help me know what I should be doing when driving like when to check my mirrors!
I have to drive there sometimes for work and before you even started I thought you'd mention the poor road markings as that's something I always notice when I'm there, definitely makes things trickier
Come drive anywhere on Balkan peninsula. You, know, nothing.
Thanks for vids mate! Really helps me connect in my head what i tried during the lesson.
Gods work!
That is a TOUGH test route 😯 how anyone passes that is beyond me. I pased in Speke, Liverpool on my third go a few years back, and from memory it's nowhere near as difficult
Speke had the third lowest pass rate in the last full year available
I also passed at Speke after failing at Widnes - I found Speke a lot easier than Widnes.
Just posting here because it's the latest video at time of writing.
I passed a few hours ago, 1 minor.
I have watched your videos for help in my spare time, and set aside an hour before every lesson to watch one or two, because you always calmed me down, got rid of my nerves and got me ready.
Thank you for all of your help!
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Although I no longer live in that area, I grew up there and passed my driving test at Belvedere Test Centre 30 years ago, that never had a good pass rate back then. No road markings was a massive problem back then. I also agree with everything Lynne Baldwin says about that area and Bexley Borough, as I only drove back to Norfolk on Sunday after visiting family who live in Bexley Borough.
I did my test at Erith test centre and was scared after hearing it had the worst pass rate in the whole country, however, the test was really chill and i passed with flying colours, however the amount of roundabouts, zebra crossings and 20mph speed zones as a learner are really difficult to look out for.
I grew up here and was thinking of coming to do my lessons there, now you got me second guessing
I passed my exam at this centre last year on my second attempt and live in this area so drive on these roads daily. Your videos were a great help and I still watch them to improve certain skills. My instructor had a very high pass rate at around 70% compared to the area average of 30%. Based on what he and other instructors told me, I think you may have failed on the second roundabout coming out the test centre on the right turn depending on the examiner.
This is very common and I saw it on both my tests. Many drive back immediately after the roundabout. The middle lane has absolutely no use. There are 3 lanes for entry and only 2 lanes on roundabout. There is a splitter lane to go left and join the dual carriageway. So it’s either left lane to go ahead or right lane to turn right. No need to use the middle lane which is a fudge by the council.
Whether you fail will depend on the examiner because it is very harsh but then that’s the other reason the pass rate is so low😂. But I think apart from that, it was an excellent drive. You’re also right about the country roads not being taught.
You won't fail for being in the wrong lane at the roundabout unless you drive in an unsafe way. I checked it was safe to continue in the intended direction, if it wasn't safe I would just go the wrong way. Also, there was debris in the right lane.
What about the one after though? In right lane going 3rd exit- 3 lanes to come off but the right lane coming off goes to an industrial estate. So come off in middle? My test is here next week 😬
It saddens my heart to know that I failed my driving test in Erith having practiced for more than a year.The test centre has indeed the lowest past rate in 🇬🇧.Trucks in the industrial area,poor road markings and variable speed limits didn’t contribute to my failure.I had a bad luck with my examiner who took me on entire route which I didn’t practise at all with my instructor and effectively contributed to my nervousness initially but it’s a learning curve for me to be able to get there very soon.
That 20mph stretch reminds me of a lot of the roads around here, no matter how much you stick to the speed limit, there is always some moron tailgating and gesturing at you for the temerity of not breaking the law.
Yesterday I was coming off the Wallasey tunnel exit road and joining a main road in liverpool. I was switching lanes to my right, checked my mirrors and there was a guy approaching some way off at about the same speed (29-30mph) I was at, so I indicate right and start to move over. Guy then speeds up to prob 35-40mp (on a 30 road) to close the gap, then slams on the horn. I check and move over to the furthest lane, which is the one I want and also gets out of his way, he passes at the same speed, pulls in front of me and brake checks me. Then switches back to the lane he was originally in and continues off at at least 35mph.
You can't legislate for idiots sadly, all you can do is drive safely and hope you don't encounter too many of them
26:12
That tree/bush/shrub/prehistoric fern thingy is amazing!
It’s a Tree Fern!
@@crystaledwards8854 I need one!
I think it's entirely unfair to do a test on a route with barely any markings that's negligent at best I've only just passed my test with 4 minors but wouldn't have a clue in London 😂
I don't think so, it's something you'll need to deal with as a driver so it's something you should be able to deal with before you can be considered a safe driver. However, the pass rate would suggest that examiners aren't being very forgiving of mistakes newer drivers are likely to make in those situations and that does seem unfair. So long as the mistakes aren't actually dangerous (holding the middle of a very wide road without markings at a sensible speed for the manoeuvre, for instance, would not be dangerous), you shouldn't be getting serious faults even if the road was actually two lanes.
I agree with @@KindredBrujah that, especially if you live in the area, you would be expected to be capable of dealing with no markings on the road and other intricacies of the local roads. So if you fail to do that on the test it is justifiable that you probably would fail to do it in your own car.
@@KindredBrujah Yes but dealing with it as a regular driver is different to dealing with it on a test
Take care Richard, hope you will get well soon.
Thank you, I filmed this 6 weeks ago so I'm better now.
Just goes to show it does make a difference where you take your test despite what the DVSA say!
I passed there first time with only 14 lessons.. let’s go 👍🏼not bad didn’t know it was such a bad pass rate!
On this test you passed but on a different route where you do the 20mph stretch at a different point you failed for appropriate speed.
At this centre they are very picky about that one because they have to sit in that 20mph stretch for ages on all their tests. People have failed for being at 27 for too long before.
Your guess about the angle start and the parallel park were spot on, both belvedere and erith use those spots.
You're also spot on about the country driving, I learnt and passed at this test centre and I've never been on a country road
If it's 20 the maximum you're allowed to do is 20. If it was 30 then I would do 30 when it's safe.
I did my test here in November. I also did all my lessons in this area (first time pass!)
That road outside the test centre is horrific. On test day it’s incredibly busy, coming out of the test centre I had to creep forward and brake harshly 3 times after passing the give way markings because there were lorries parked on either side.
The 20mph road is bad too, I find most of the time other drivers will just overtake you using the bus lane 😂
henry,Is that same route yiu have got for ur exam??? please let us know
@@vimojanparamjothy8707 no
Please could you give me information about their car park ..have they got private car park is it big enough or do they put cones too
Thank you
@@shamsahennadesigns6279 I had no issues with the car park, there were plenty of spaces on test day. It’s a private car park.
@@henryasher1920 thank you so much for your reply ..do they put cones too...
I moved to the UK from New Zealand about 12 months ago and have since driven ~15k miles exploring your country!
The two things I found the most startling about driving here are: the faded road markings / signs and the lack of street lights at nighttime! I never had any problems driving at night at home, but it makes me quite nervous here because the visibility is extremely poor when you rely solely on your own headlights. Even worse if you can barely see the lane markings too.
Other than that, it’s a great country for driving with pretty landscapes and usually very polite drivers!
I think the roads in the UK have gotten gradually worse over the years. NZ was a joy to spend 4 weeks driving around, particularly the South Island with great roads and signage.
I currently live in Speke. I nearly booked my test over there as I got a last minute availability but Im glad I I moved my test to Redditch, booked for this friday. Despite my instructor telling me that I am test ready, I am extremely nervous. I think I will fail
I though the same but being confident is probably the main thing that helps you pass , be confident and you'll do amazing! , you'll do great good luck !
@@harrishawk1727 thank you. I’m really looking forward to the test.
Me too! My test is next Tuesday in London! I am so nervous too! Hope we all pass 🤞🏻🤞🏻
@@macyppm oh dear! Good luck with your test! I hope we all get our licences so we can drive around without any restrictions
@@Gandhi2241 I failed a test recently because I told myself to drive really slowly and carefully and it knocked my confidence... I'd recommend just being confident and trying to enjoy it, I've got another one booked for Friday like you, good luck 👍
Surely there is normaly, or at least often, a lot more traffic?
That would make all of the multi-lane sections a lot harder. It would be interesting to see the pass rate graphed against time of day.
You are right. That roundabout splits into 2 at the last minute. Unfortunately you fail because I use that same lane for the third exit and I failed because of that. My instructor says that, that lane should not be used because as you enter the roundabout it gets narrow. Glad to say I pass the 2nd time round after going over that roundabout several times.
It is possible. I passed January 2023.
Changing lane mid roundabout is not a fail if done safely, especially if there is debris in the lane you need as was the case when I was there.
@@ConquerDriving I am not saying that you fail the test because of that. At the horse roundabout, where the lane splits into four at the last minute; you entered the roundabout from the third lane and that was the same thing I did which caused me to fail my driving test.
I used to work around that 20 mph road and get a lot of strive from other drivers, but that is what much of London roads are nowadays. Which once nearly caused an accident as a driver fed up with me sticking with the 20 mph decided to overtake me but didn't see an island in the middle of the road, so he turned back in front of me and I had to do an emergency stop otherwise I would have T him.
I passed my test now two weeks ago and I’ve been spending a lot of time searching for my car. My budget is around £10k max so that gives me options but as a result I’m struggling to narrow it down. I was very keen on Mini hatches but even the newer ones (post 2014) seem so condensed and the front windscreen looks tiny and the view constricted. Any reocmmendations? My second choice would be the Renault Clio.
Anyway, more to the point I feel like I do need to start driving again very soon as I sense my confidence would take a hit if I leave it too long. Could you do a video on this at some point? Say, how long after your test should you wait to drive? The problem is I don’t have family/friends who have a car that I can use and be insured on, even hire car companies require you to have your license at least a year, so what options does that give you? Literally the only one is to buy your own car.
you can take lessons after you pass, for example an extra motorway lesson. Useful plus means you can drive in the meantime whilst waiting to find a car to buy. Best of luck :)
seat leon 1.4 ecotsi, fast ish and cheap to run
Renault Clio’s are great I have one, though they are very popular so may take a bit of time to find (took me a month to find a suitable car)
I had a 2016 Clio as a first drive, and it was decent enough.
If your think of a clio. At10k you can get a sandero brand new. It's a clio for different body kit.
I passed over a year ago, why am I still watching these haha
I’m from this area. Belvedere is my nearest test centre and Erith is my second nearest. I had my test last month but guess what I went to my third nearest test centre (Sidcup) 🤣🤣🤣 and yes I passed!
I need a cancellation for any of these test centre but can’t cause no one is cancelling them or ppl get it through test centres (I live in the area too)
@@mightygamer1996 all i can recommend doing is checking testi whenever you get the chance and having the alerts on for when there is a cancellation! Good luck !!
@@Ckem24 I have the driving test now app and it actually moved my test to may but I can’t find any for march or April…. When it was December or January all tests were flooding for jan or feb (the next month) but now NONE I really hope I get one soon
It's actually in Lower Belvedere (sited Belvedere industrial estate). Erith is a mile down the road. It's called Erith to avoid confusion with the Belvedere Centre, Woolwich Road, Upper Belvedere. You can see on Google a map of the Belvedere jurisdiction.
I got a test coming up on the 2nd of may in ERITH but m looking for cancellation to move dates or test centres (Belvedere, erith or sidcup) “may god help me”🙏🏽
Great video, very different pace to the driving videos I normally watch! I was lucky to learn somewhere quiet and fairly rural and really feel for any learners in our biggest cities.
roads in this country are a jokes potholes, lack of markings and pointless 20mph speed limits
I'm learning to drive and one of the places I have to drive has a 20mph that lasts about 5-8 minutes at the speed limit it's stupid because the road is wide open and a long straight for the most part and no where near any schools
Scotland has really low speed limits.
most people ignore 20mph speed limits unless there outside school most are pointless
@@markbolam1383 unfortunately I can't speed if I had my own car and wasn't going to have a black box I probably would go abit faster atleast
Exceeding 20mph limits isn't going to get you to your destination faster. Speeding just gets you to the next red light a little earlier.
I learned in central and north London, the test centre was Hendon if I remember correctly, and I only went on country roads with an instructor because of doing Pass Plus!
I’m happy to announce that I passed my test today with 7 minors. A huge thank you for your content. It really helped me pass today!
Now I can happily join the “passed but still watching” gang😂
That's great news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I’m in Liverpool and it’s been known for years and years that Speke is horrific for low pass scores…. I’m lucky just over the other side of the city so in Norris Green centre which also has a lower one but luckily this year I passed first time with just 2 minors and I had the bloody manager of the site testing me he was really nice to be fair but it’s a hard test route by mine as outside the centre down the road is a double round about which instils utter fear into many new and younger drivers and weirdly I loved it probably because it’s super easier than expected.
Your videos helped me alot from August to January (test) so thank you!
As a US resident who rarely has to deal with a roundabout, I know I would do badly in the UK. The UK relies mostly on lane markings to tell you which lane to be in, and they are often worn and hard to read, and they often don't give you much warning. In heavy traffic they would be hidden until the car ahead has passed over them, and that could be almost too late to make a decision. In the US we favor big overhead signs that you can see well ahead of time. They may be ugly but they are very helpful! Multi-lane roundabouts would confuse me. You clearly must know exactly where you're going in order to be in the correct lane. I would fail the UK driving test repeatedly!
I've got my test in Erith today - Wish me luck!
How was it?
@@SA-fp1qp Whoops forgot about this - failed lol
It looked pretty quiet but I imagine it can get really busy, I'd say where you had to go over the crossing and wait in the road and where you were going up hill with the cars parked both sides is where a nervous learner would come unstuck. Our pass rate is 66%!! You'll have to pop up and do it sometime.
I forgot about that one, that was pretty nasty yeah. Knowing your car well enough to judge if you've left space for others to pass behind is one of the most difficult things for a newer driver (or for me as a newer driver anyway).
@@KindredBrujah I'm quite an old driver, and I've just swapped my Corsa for a Fiesta and I get in a flap in tight spaces!
Passed first time in Erith. Roads were easy. Had lot of minor errors but no major. This was not my route though. Your videos were helpful to allow me pass first time
Greater Manchester has quite a low pass rate also
So the lowest 2 pass rates in the country are adjacent to each other and the 3rd is also an inner city centre and the DVLA claims road conditions have no impact on pass rates?
holy shit! SPEKE! i came a hairs breath from doing my 3rd test in speke as a cancelation! id passed up a few early cancelations there already and luckily i got one at my own (chester) and passed
Also kudos to mr happy nearly killing someone at 12:50
I noticed that one. So desperate to finally get past that he wasn't paying proper attention to the pedestrian. An excellent example of why road rage is dangerous.
Didn't see that, good spot, probably hasn't read the recent HC changes lol