27/07/2026
๐ That was Quick! ๐
About a week ago Zeynep passed her test! But In pretty extraordinary circumstances.
I get a call at 8.30am on the morning of me about to leave to go on holiday, asking am I free!? 'I've found a test!!!' It's at 10.30!
Sad but true ๐ซฃ I wasn't free ๐คทโโ๏ธ and I couldn't take her to the test - but Zeynep didn't hang about. She hired a car got comfy driving it for an hour and goes to pass her test with a modest 6 minors!! ๐ช
It was a Corsa, her favourite car! ๐ (with electro handbrake) ๐ฎโ๐จ
Over the 4 months we worked together we worked from her previous driving experiences covering 30hrs of lessons to understand the standard and really get to grips with driving in the UK.
๐ฃ Today we met for some further training on motorways so didnt need the L badges as this was a full licence holder going onto the motorway, so people were behaving like people do on motorways. Zeynep felt she had come understand the benefits of motorway driving and that she is in fact very capable in dealing with them and shouldn't shy away from it.
Thanks for training with me!
Steveo
24/07/2026
๐ ONE & DONE ๐
Today Ella Smashed her test on her 1st attempt with a more than respectable 2 minors!
โ
๏ธ Over the 62 hours of lesson time Ella also had her own car to hone her driving skills, and with the support of her Father, she drove to work regularly which was a great confidence booster.
๐ช Ella wasn't shy of ensuring I was challenging her with her idea of 'Mega Mocks' essentially an entire lesson under strict test conditions doing all the manoeuvres all the 'Show Me' questions, and going through all the 'Tell Me' questions . It was a great strategy, and I'm sure one that made the test a mere drop in the ocean!
๐ Straight away in the test centre car park she was tasked by her examiner to do a reverse bay park which was great to witness, it was in first time, no adjustments!
Thanks for training with me.
Steveo
27/06/2026
๐ NOW THAT WAS A GREAT DRIVE ๐
โ
๏ธ Ben passed his test today with only 3 driver faults.
Yet again proof that if you're making time to go out and practice in YOUR OWN SPARE TIME you stand a much better chance of passing!
๐ This is a GOVERNMENT driving test that YOU want to take - make some time to get good at it if you have the ability to.
๐ This is exactly what Ben did towards the end of his training with me. During our time working together Ben completed 63 hrs of lessons.
โญ๏ธ Things can now progress for Ben at his work now he's a full licence holder.
Be like Ben
Thanks for training with me.
Steveo
11/06/2026
๐ช This trooper impressed me!๐ช
Having turned 17 earlier this year, Aiden was straight out the gate and into learning to drive!
The thing that impressed me with him was his level of commitment to his lessons and, to be at his age, working hard to pay for lessons, I certainly wasn't there at his age!!
Having completed around 45 hours of lessons Aiden learnt that he should have taken more opportunity to get out in his car a little more to really solidify those skills without the safety net of his instructor, as the feel in your instructors car, versus the skill it takes to be the one taking that responsibility, cannot be underestimated.
You can feel you're ready in your instructors car, but carry that over to your own car, thats the true test.
Aiden went for test in his own car and on his 2nd attempt passed with very few minors!
One of the hardest parts of being an ADI is managing people expectations, and if I've done my job correctly, the discussion of "Am I test ready?" Should be a fairly straightforward conversation, as you should be aware of what is an acceptable standard of driving.
At the end of the day, the mission was accomplished, he was taught to drive, and with the support of his mum, hes 17, got a car, has a license and we've achieved what we set out to do!
Safe driving Aiden, and thanks for choosing me to train with!!
Steveo
09/06/2026
It's here!
Changes to driving test booking happening today. โ ๏ธ
From today (9 June), if you move your driving test, you can only move it to one of the 3 nearest test centres to where it's currently booked.
This is the remaining change we committed to make by the end of Spring 2026:
๐
31 March โ test changes limited to 2 per booking
๐ 12 May โ only learners can book, change or cancel their own test
๐ 9 June โ test moves limited to 3 nearest centres
Since 12 May, we've suspended 3605 accounts for breaking the rules and reported apps to app stores for removal. We're not stopping there.
Find out what today's change means for your booking ๐ https://ow.ly/JRQr50Z9eCk
12/05/2026
Putting you in control... means we need to be really working together to ensure we book tests when you're readytopass.campaign.gov.uk
Putting learners in control ๐
From today, only learners will be able to book driving tests.
Weโve made this change to:
Clampdown on test reselling and exploitation by third parties โ
Make sure tests are accessible only to learners ๐
Provide a fairer booking system โ
Read more on GOV.UK ๐
https://ow.ly/viIc50YWwOA
08/04/2026
๐ 1 Minor & Done ๐
A scent-sational pass yesterday for Ru!
I wasnt able to present him for test due to family commitments but I had every confidence in his ability to pass!
We started to work together back in January 2025. With a couple of periods where life took priority over lessons, Ru completed 46.5hrs over that time.
Once he found his confidence no one could hold a candle to his ability and confidence, he just needed to believe it a bit more, and I believe taking the opportunity to go out and practice in his brother's car on the run up to test is a test in itself, as I wasnt there to hold him to the standard, so it was really down to him remembering the safe driving methods in which we teach as driving instructors to become safe competent drivers, and ultimately to pass the driving assessment with an exceptional 1 Minor!
Bless up Ru!
Thanks for training with me.
See you on market days.
Steveo
27/03/2026
๐ONE & DONE๐
A beautiful day to pass your test in Carlisle!
Alex needed a pre-test booster, before going for test.
He got in touch Mid February, and with previous driving experience Alex didnt need 'teaching' from the ground up ๐ซ๐จโ๐ซ
Having an assessment and spruce up of his existing skills meant that over 10 hrs of tuition, we were able to improve the standard of his driving before presenting him with the car for test.
All the best to ya mate and thanks for choosing me to train with ๐
Steveo