DSM-Exeter driving school

From the powers that be.

The rules for booking a practical car driving test are changing.

From 31 March 2026, learner drivers and approved driving instructors (ADIs) will only be able to change a driving test booking up to 2 times.

A change includes:
- changing the date or time
- changing the test centre
- swapping an appointment with another learner

If you’re an ADI, please make sure your pupils only book their test when they’re ready as swapping between pupils will count towards this limit. You can set times when you're available to take your pupils to their driving tests. This stops your pupils from booking tests at times that do not work for you.

When this comes into force, everyone with a driving test booked will have 2 changes available, regardless of how many changes they may have already made.

This change is part of the outcome of our consultation to improve the way driving tests are booked.

Posted by the DVSA on the .gov website.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/changes-to-driving-test-booking-rules-in-2026?fbclid=IwVERDUAPvToNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5SswdPOB-jhunRbn2QqossXxiE065MMB4hCIDRaTWdNhYLHzF4dpiE03WZMw_aem_57pN9FeW5dDiYleG-7JqkA

Patience is not a driving style.
It is a safety skill.

Most serious mistakes on the road are not caused by lack of ability.
They are caused by impatience.

A rushed overtake.
A forced gap.
A decision made seconds too early.

A few hasty seconds can change lives forever.
They can seriously injure someone, or kill them.
They can take away your freedom, your licence, or your peace of mind.

A few seconds of patience will not cost you anything.
They will not make you late in any meaningful way.
They will not weaken your position on the road.

What they do is buy you time.
Time to see clearly.
Time to think.
Time to avoid becoming the person who says “If only I had waited.”

Every road user benefits when patience leads the decision making.
Drivers.
Cyclists.
Pedestrians.
Riders.
Everyone.

Slow down the decision, not the journey.

Copied from
Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation School of Motoring

We see so many vehicle's (mainly cars) on the roads with no lights in in conditions that lights should be on. Unfortunately people rely on auto lights. In some cars you can change the settings of when they switch on. We as drivers should know that in poor visibility for whatever reason dipped headlights should be on (which would also put the tail lights on)
For example an hgv driver will really struggle to see a silver, light grey or white car approaching them from behind if it is foggy or raining if their headlights aren't on. Come on peeps, turn the headlights on, doesn't cost you anything BUT it could save your life.

I have adhd and autism so I am fully aware of the difficulties students go through during their journey to passing their driving test. Please read the following. You are all more than capable of passing the driving test.
Copied from Sheena.

Driving With ADHD: How It Affects Learning and How to Overcome It

ADHD does not mean someone cannot be a safe or capable driver.
It means the brain processes information differently.

Many learners with ADHD are intelligent, observant, and highly capable.
The challenge is not ability.
It is regulation.

How ADHD Can Affect Learning to Drive

Attention fluctuation
Focus can be strong one moment and disappear the next.
A learner may drive perfectly on one road, then miss something simple on the next.

Sensory overload
Traffic, signs, mirrors, pedestrians, sounds, instructions, and decision-making all happen at once.
The brain can struggle to prioritise what matters most right now.

Delayed processing
The information is seen, but it takes longer to convert it into action.
This can look like hesitation at junctions or late reactions.

Impulsivity
Moving off too quickly, changing speed suddenly, or acting before fully assessing a situation.

Working memory overload
Holding multiple instructions at once can cause one or two to drop.
Not because they were not understood.
Because the mental buffer is full.

None of this means the learner is careless.
It means the teaching approach must fit the brain.

How Learners With ADHD Can Overcome These Challenges

Structure beats pressure
Clear routines create safety.
Approach junctions the same way every time.
Use consistent commentary.
Predictability reduces overload.

One focus at a time
Not everything needs correcting at once.
Master one skill before layering the next.

Short, specific instructions
“Mirror, signal, position” works better than long explanations mid-drive.

Verbalising helps regulation
Talking through decisions out loud slows the mind and improves control.

Breaks are productive, not lazy
A short pause resets attention and prevents overload.

Calm teaching matters
An anxious environment increases mistakes.
A calm one allows learning to stick.

Strengths matter too
Many ADHD learners develop excellent hazard perception, strong intuition, and fast pattern recognition once supported properly.

The Most Important Truth

ADHD learners do not need to try harder.
They need driving taught in a way that works with their brain, not against it.

Learning to drive is not about forcing yourself to fit the system.
It is about building a system that allows you to succeed.

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation School of Motoring