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K is for Knowledge - Driving Lessons in Basingstoke

Writer's picture: Adrian FedykAdrian Fedyk

Updated: Feb 5



Three people in a library, focused on a computer screen. One points at the monitor, books in the background. Serious and engaged mood.
K is for Knowledge

As you develop your skills during your driving lessons in Basingstoke, you will find that if we didn't have any knowledge, we wouldn't really be able to drive! Practical experience of driving is fantastic, and clearly really useful. However, if you don't have the knowledge of the road, rules, signs and markings, you wouldn't be able to drive effectively, safely, or even legally.


This is why it's important that we learn new things, and continuously update our knowledge. Especially as rules can change over time.


It's also important that we have a good understanding of our knowledge. Again, it's all well and good knowing that the white sign with a black stripe means 'national speed limit' - but what does 'national speed limit' mean?


  • What is the national speed limit?

  • When would you drive to the national speed limit?

  • When wouldn't you drive to the national speed limit?

  • What is the difference between a single carriageway and a dual carriageway?


Understanding our knowledge means we can use this together with our practical experience and become an even better, safer, and more responsible driver.


Why do we have a theory test?


Our theory test is important to show that we have the knowledge and understanding of different topics. By passing the theory test, it demonstrates you have the knowledge which the DVSA require you to know in order to be able to drive safely.


You must pass your theory test before you can book and take your practical driving test, however you don't need to have passed your theory test to start learning to drive. You will pick up knowledge from your practical experience of learning to drive.


The theory test includes different topics, including two main 'bands';


  1. Road Procedure

  2. Traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge


Overall, this incorporates;


  • Accidents

  • Alertness

  • Attitude

  • Documents

  • Hazard awareness

  • Motorway rules

  • Road and traffic signs

  • Rules of the road

  • Safety and your vehicle

  • Safety margins

  • Vehicle handling

  • Vehicle loading and vulnerable road users.


There are two parts to the theory test;


1) Multiple choice questions

2) Hazard perception.


For the multiple choice questions, you must score 43 out of 50 to pass.

For the hazard perception, you must score 44 out of 75 points.


There are 14 video clips with one hazard in each - and in one clip, there are two hazards! You can score a maximum of 5 points per hazard - so the earlier you see the hazard, the more you score. If you miss the hazard, or click too many times, you will score 0 for that clip.


Where can I get my knowledge from?


  1. The Highway Code is a valuable resource - this tells us all the legal requirements of driving on the road, as well as other advice and information to help us drive safely and responsibly

  2. The Driving The Essential Skills book is our bible for driving! It is a comprehensive guide, and the 'driving manual'!


I believe that the Highway Code and Essential Skills are the two most important books to assist with your learning.


*Sections reproduced with the kind permission of Mercury Driving School

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