Provisional Driving Licence Acquisition Tips For New Drivers

B eing behind the steering wheel on the highway is a thrilling experience. However, before you sit on the driver’s wheel, you need to follow various guidelines from the transport department. One of the rules for new drivers is to acquire provisional driving licence, before they can begin to learn how to drive. An important step it is, but many young people believe it involves a lot of paperwork and other requirements, which eventually hinders them from expressing their interest to obtain the document. However, with these tips, you can acquire your provisional driving licence with less effort. Be of appropriate age and health The minimum age you need to start driving is 17. However, you can apply for your provisional driving licence a few months before your seventeenth birthday. In that case, you will wait until you turn 17 to sit on the driver’s seat. Appropriate age is important so you are not considered a junior on the highway. Be of good health Driving means being responsible, both to yourself and to other road users. Therefore, you need not pose any threat to yourself and other road users through bad health. This does not mean you have to be super-fit before you can drive. However, as a driver you have to meet and maintain certain standards of health. This is mainly for your own safety and that of other road users. For instance, you should not be epileptic or diagnosed with heart problems, as these conditions can endanger your driving experience. Have and maintain excellent vision On the same note with your general health, your eyesight must meet certain standards before you can begin to learn how to drive. Usually you have to undergo an eyesight test as part of your training. This involves reading an old number plate at a distance of 20.5 metres, or a new number plate at 20 metres. In case you doubt your eyesight, it is advisable to see an optician before you can begin driving. This test contributes to your safety on the road and that of other users. Understand the paperwork While it may involve a lot, it is an important step in the process of acquiring your provisional driving licence. With careful planning, you can get it done fast by applying using a D1 application form, which you can obtain online. With your duly completed paperwork, you send a fee of fifty pounds and a full color passport size photo of yourself. Other documents you need to send include copies of your passport and birth certificate for your identity. Once you get your provisional driving licence, you can start learning how to drive a car on selected roads with assistance from a certified instructor. You need to pay attention to all the directions given by your instructor. That is the best way for you to remain safe and protect other road users as well. Learning depends on your ability to listen to instructions and grasp traffic rules. For faster learners, it does not take long. In about three months, you can steer a car on your own with minimum assistance from the instructor. However, if you are a slow learner, you may have to take a little more time before you can drive on your own. In the end, it is quite important with a provisional licence before you become a professional driver.