The Visual Guide To Passing Your Practical Driving Test 2006-2007 (RETAIL NOT AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL) (DVD)

...I was aware that in the 10 years since passing my test I had picked up habits and that I would not be able to prepare her for a test. As a student however she could not afford professional lessons and I knew it would be better for her to build up some confidence in my car before retaking professional lessons.

Everything was prepared such as insurance, license, L plates and a venue, but something was still bothering me. We went shopping ...
...instantly knew after reading the description that the DVD would help me and would inevitably help my partner in the long run.

The DVD described as a 'study aid' was very bright and appealing. The yellow colour was quite attractive on a shelf of dark coloured DVD's. There was an 'L plate' displayed in each corner of the box with a mini cooper. The text stating "fast, effective learning" on the front was another thing that ... more

My fiancé had an awful time with her driving instructor. He would shout and get angry at simple things. She realised 7 months ago that to get a job she would need to learn how to drive and being so apprehensive after her previous experience I agreed to take her out in my car.

I was a little reluctant at first as it was a long time since I had passed my driving test. I was aware that in the 10 years since passing my test I had picked up habits and that I would not be able to prepare her for a test. As a student however she could not afford professional lessons and I knew it would be better for her to build up some confidence in my car before retaking professional lessons.

Everything was prepared such as insurance, license, L plates and a venue, but something was still bothering me. We went shopping at a local department store and the 'Visual Guide To Passing Your Practical Driving Test 2006-2007' DVD was on sale at £6. instantly knew after reading the description that the DVD would help me and would inevitably help my partner in the long run.

The DVD described as a 'study aid' was very bright and appealing. The yellow colour was quite attractive on a shelf of dark coloured DVD's. There was an 'L plate' displayed in each corner of the box with a mini cooper. The text stating "fast, effective learning" on the front was another thing that helped me turn it over to read the back. It stated that it would help "towards driving test success". On the back the DVD showed a few screen shots and looked very comprehensive and helpful.

The DVD is split into chapters which helped me split lessons into manageable goals. The chapters are split into the following sections; some were obviously more helpful than others. I think we found the sections she needed to practice the most were more helpful and of more use to us.

>Gears (helpful but not anything we couldn't read about in a book - 3/4)
>Steering (very helpful as it helped me give constructive advice - 4/5)
>Clutch control (very helpful to us both - 5/5)
>Starting off (Again very helpful at building confidence - 5/5)
>Stopping (most helpful at seeing the process rather than reading about it - 4/5)

Overall these chapters were invaluable and really helpful so would give them an overall rating of 4/5

The following were a lot easier to explain and work through using a book and drawing diagrams, it was still very useful but would rather see pictures than watch on a DVD.

>Basic left turn (3/5)
>Basic right turn (3/5)
>Normal Junctions (3/5)
>Crossroads (3/5)
> T-Junctions (3/5)
> Junctions on a bend (3/5)
> staggered junctions (3/5)
> Box Junctions (3/5)

Overall these areas were useful but we found it easier to draw pictures and read books so I would only give them an overall rating of 3/5

As I was only teaching skills that could be taught on a private road I had little use of the dual carriageway, roundabouts and overtaking chapters but they did look very helpful and certainly something that would help her alongside a professional instructor, if used with an instructor these sections would easily get a rating of 3/4 because they would really help.

The sections on parking and manoeuvring such as reversing round a corner, parallel parking, turning in the road, bay parking and moving off up and down a hill were very useful to us both and really helped me give the maximum support required. Overall I have rated these sections as 4/5 because they were a great help. The chapters such as traffic lights and regulations were pointless as she would rather learn that at her own pace using the Highway Code book so would only really get a 2/5 in my opinion.

I could watch the DVD and get a firm idea of how she would learn during a professional lesson. The starting off section really helped as that was her worst area. She had explained that when at traffic lights and under pressure she would stall and the instructor would shout. She can now start on a hill and under pressure.

The DVD also gives different perspectives and view points such as what the driving would look like from above (particularly useful for roundabouts and junctions) and what it would look like from the cockpit or looking from the pavement.

The DVD runs for 50 minutes and each chapter lasts for about 2-3 minutes which is ample time for watching then practicing. If the chapters lasted 5-10 minutes at a time it would seem too long and we would switch off. Also the short chapters made each goal more achievable and very simple.

We thought the split screen shots were most helpful, probably more so for my partner than myself. It did help me however with the correct teaching advice. On one screen you can see what is being done in the car and the effects outside on the other side of the screen. This made it far more believable and enabled you to see that the actions in the car had an effect outside.

We did feel better that the DVD was filmed by an instructor so what we could see was accurate. The date also had a bearing on the effectiveness of the DVD as we knew it was up to date. She is taking a break from driving at the moment, I feel I have done what I can to help her but she now needs to save up for the professional lessons. Overall the DVD has helped me to get her confidence back in the car, so in my opinion is an invaluable resource.

Available from:
www.driving-test-success.com for £4.99 (This website also has helpful information)
www.amazon.co.uk at £3.89
www.ebay.co.uk (starting at) 99p

Or you can rent the older version from www.lovefilm.com

Produced by: Voodoo Video Productions
Directed by: Richard Jenkins
Duration: 50 mins
Date: 2006 

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