4 Wheel Ed

4 Wheel Ed logo4 Wheel Ed aims to teach you and other young people how to get on the road, safely and legally, and on this page you will find lots of information on how to do so. There’s also links to lots of other useful websites for you to see.

Get started! Chose a topic from the list below:

4 Wheel Ed - Questions and Answers

I want to learn to drive! Where do I start?

You have got to be 17 before you can start learning to drive on public roads. But before you even think about setting foot behind the driver's seat YOU MUST apply for your provisional licence.

You can do this at most Post Offices, or you can apply online.

Driving without a provisional licence is a criminal offence, you can get fined - AND you can be banned from driving even before you get your full licence!

The best thing to do before you turn 17 is read up on all the theory test information and The Highway Code.

I have got my provisional license - what next?

Once you have recieved your provisional licence, you can start practising in a car! If you are lucky enough to have access to your own car or have persuaded your parents or relatives to let you use theirs there are some things you must sort out before you get behind the wheel:

  • YOU MUST ensure that the car has a registration document (V5), an M.O.T. certificate (if the vehicle is 3 years old or more) and that a tax disc is displayed in the window. Failing to do any of this can result in you being stopped by the police and fined.
  • YOU MUST make sure that you have adequate insurance for the vehicle. It might be quite expensive but it is essential that you are insured. Driving without insurance is an offence and you can be fined and banned!
  • YOU MUST get yourself a set of L Plates and these must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. 
  • YOU MUST have a driver accompanying you and they must be 21 years old or over and they must have held a full car licence for 3 years or more.

Do bear in mind that the friend or relative sitting beside you is not a qualified instructor. They have no control over the vehicle, they are just sat next to you, and you could pick up bad habits from them which may be difficult to break. So choose your assistance carefully!

I can't get access to a car - what should I do ?

If you do not have access to a car then you may want to use a driving school/ driving instructor. The only thing you need to do is sort out your provisional licence, the driving instructor will have relevant insurance and the car's tax and MOT is their responsibility. There are many advantages to choosing a proper driving instructor:

  • You will be taught to drive safely and correctly as per national standard
  • You will learn to drive in the correct type of vehicle, that is not too big or too powerful for you.
  • All driving school cars are fitted with dual controls, i.e. clutch and brake, which means the instructor can act in an emergency, to control the vehicle - possibly avoiding a crash or bump.

Don't ever 'borrow' a friend or relative's car - no matter how keen you are to start driving, unless you have all the right insurances and permissions - you will end up in trouble and you can get banned before you even get your full licence.

How do I choose a driving school?

We can't recommend which driving instructor or driving school to use. There are lots of qualified instructors operating in Wirral, they are usually all around the same price (£19 - £20 per hour) and all instructors should be fully qualified.

Ask your friends who they are learning with and if they recommend them or have a look in the local papers or Yellow Pages.

When you have chosen your instructor, don't book a block of lessons to start with (no matter how tempting the offer!) as you may not get on with your instructor and you might want to change to someone else.

Remember – you are paying a lot of money for these lessons, so it is important that you feel you are getting the best out of them!

What do I need to learn for my theory test?

You really need to learn as much about roads as you can. The more the know - the better a driver you will be! It is that simple.

You should start by having a read of Highway Code and start to learn the rules of the road. You can start reading this even before you are 17 and before you have got your provisional- so you can get a head start !

You really need to learn what all the road signs mean. The Highway Code's Website will help you learn which is which. Test your friends and family, see if you know more than them.

The theory test is very important and it makes sure you are aware of the rules of the road before you take your practical test. If you fail your theory, you cant take your practical until you have passed it. More information can be found on the Driving Standards Agency Website

Yes! I've passed my test! What now?

Once you have passed your test, you will be very excited and want to go and pick up all of your friends and drive around to celebrate. Please be careful! And remember that you have learned to drive with just your driving instructor in the car, you probably haven't had lots of people in the car, and you are probably still a bit unsure on certain things. Take your time, don't go over the top. There's nothing worse than passing your test and then crashing your car straight away! How embarrassing would that be - and worse still you could really hurt or kill yourself or someone else.

So just take it easy, be a responsible driver.

Also - once you have passed your test, if you get six points on your licence within the first two years you will get your licence taken off you. You will be banned, and then you will have to start again as a learner, re apply for your provisonal and re-sit your theory and your practical tests. Do you really want to have to go through all that again!?

Did you know you can get at least 3 points for:·

  • Using your mobile phone whilst driving ·
  • Speeding
  • Jumping a red light
  • Not stopping for a lollipop lady/man
  • Driving a vehicle with defective tyres

For a full list of offences and the points you may get click here.

And... just because you have passed your test doesn't mean you are the best driver in the world. You will get better with time and practise. It is a great idea to do some advanced courses that really improve the skills you have already got. And the best part is once you have done an advanced course - you can usually get a discount on your insurance!

Check out the these websites for info on advanced courses at pass plus and i am.

Want the 4 Wheel Ed Team to visit your school or college? Call 0151 606 2228