The Law

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applying for your provisional licence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum age

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eye sight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eye sight requirements for the practical test

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazard Perception Test

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before you start to drive, you must:

Hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland
Make sure any vehicle that you drive is roadworthy and properly insured and taxed.

If you want to practise your driving with an accompanying driver, the accompanying driver must be over the age of 21 and must hold a full UK drivers licence for at least three years.

As a learner driver you must display 'L' plates ('L' or 'D' plates in Wales) in a conspicuous position on the front and rear of the vehicle you are driving.

 

 

There are two ways in that you can apply for your provisional drivers licence

Apply online. You can apply for your first provisional driving licence for a car, moped or motorcycle using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) secure and easy to use online service.

 

• Apply online for a first provisional driving licence

 

Apply in person or by post.You can apply for your provisional driving licence by completing the D1 application form that is available from the DVLA form ordering service or Post Office® branches. You will also need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and the fee of £50.00. Send your completed application and payment to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD or you may be able to use the premium checking service.

 

• Applying for a licence through the Post Office

 

Disability living allowance
If you are receiving disability living allowance at the higher rate your provisional licence will come into effect when you are 16, but you can apply for it within three months of your 16th birthday.

 

 

 

You can take your theory test once your provisional licence becomes valid.

Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your provisional licence can become valid is your 17th birthday, however you can apply for the licence up to three months before your 17th birthday.

So, if you apply for your provisional licence before you are 17 you will still have to wait until your birthday before you can take your theory test. You must pass the theory test before you are able to apply for the practical driving test.

Disability living allowance

If you are receiving disability living allowance at the higher rate your provisional licence will come into effect when you are 16, but you can apply for it within three months of your 16th birthday.

 

 

 

When applying for your driving licence from the DVLA you should let them know if you have:

Any visual condition which affects both eyes (not including short or long sight or colour blindness)

Any visual condition which affects your sight, (not including short or long sight or colour blindness), for example, if you have sight in one eye only

If you have had sight correction surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional licence.

 

• How to tell DVLA about a medical condition

• What happens after you have told DVLA about your medical condition

 

 

Before the practical driving test, the examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a stationary vehicle.

You must satisfy the examiner that in good daylight you can read a vehicle number plate with letters 79.4mm (3.1in) high at a minimum distance of 20.5 metres (about 67 feet).

Number plates with a narrower font, such as the new style number plates introduced during 2001, should be read from a distance of 20 metres (66 feet). I.e. NU10 CAR.

If you need glasses or contact lens to read the number plate, that is OK.

However, you must wear them during your test and whenever you drive.

If you have had sight correction surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional licence.

If you can't speak English or have difficulty reading, you may copy down what you see.

If your answer is incorrect, your examiner will measure the exact distance and repeat the test.

If you can read the number plate correctly you will be allowed to proceed with your driving test.

This test failure will be marked on the driving test report form (DL25) with a mark in the Item 1 box. Your interpretation of the number plate along with the correct one will be written on the back of the form along with the measured distance.

 

 

The hazard perception part is delivered on a computer and you respond by clicking a button on the mouse. You will be presented with a series of 14 video clips which feature every day road scenes, in each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.

To achieve a high score you will need to respond to the developing hazard during the early part of its development. The maximum you can score on each hazard is five.

Recognition of available clues and perception of danger are skills that are necessary in all drivers and riders, irrespective of the vehicle being used. For this reason, the same version of the hazard perception test is used for all categories of test. Your A49 instructor will also help you with this part of the test and suggest the best media for a successful pass.