Whether it’s learning to drive, improving your driving skills or returning to driving, 1nfluence can help YOU to achieve your ultimate driving goal

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Lin Webb from 1nfluence Driver Training says:

“I have been fully qualified in the Driver Training industry for 20 years now and am CRB checked. In addition, I have taken a huge amount of additional training to deliver an approach that ensures you will become a more responsible, self-aware driver that takes control of their own learning.

My approach is that everyone is an individual with different training needs, and so I will always want to find out and how I can tailor my training to you, and deliver the training you require.

I will encourage, support and help you to become a safe and confident driver who, once you’ve passed your Theory Test and your Practical Driving Test can go off and drive any road, not just those around your local driving test centre!

If you are returning to driving after a period away from it, or want to improve or refresh your driving skills, I also offer bespoke training to help you.

Scroll down to find out more, and also to read about things you’ll need to know and do before we get started, and a comparison of learning to drive a manual or an automatic car.”

What can 1nfluence do for you?

With bespoke driving lessons focussed on you and how you best learn, and in particular if you have any specific learning and emotional needs or disabilities, you will:

  • Learn in a friendly and relaxed environment.
  • Set clear goals set for each session.
  • Receive all the necessary skills and information needed to not only pass a driving test, but to be a safe and confident driver for life.
  • Be encouraged to self-evaluate your progress, helping you become an independent and responsible driver.
  • Receive ongoing support up to your driving test and beyond.

Single lessons are available from £58 per hour. (For full details please see our Business Terms and Conditions).

Find out how Lin can help you if you are particularly nervous or anxious about driving, or have any specific needs or learning differences. Call 1nfluence today on 07780 708 706 or email for a chat.

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Your Driving Theory Test, also just known as the ‘Theory Test’

You will need to take the theory test before you can get your full car driving licence. You can take the theory test from your 17th birthday onwards. Alternatively, if you have the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you can take it from your 16th birthday.

There are 2 parts to the test; multiple choice questions and a video hazard perception test. You book them as a single test and need to pass both parts to pass.

The multiple choice questions are based on 3 books that you can buy online or at a high street bookshop:

  • The Highway Code
  • Know your traffic signs
  • Driving – The essential skills

You can book your Driving Theory Test at www.gov.uk. Locally, our drivers tend to use DVSA Theory Test Centres in Chatham, Croydon, Tunbridge Wells, and Horley.

How does 1nfluence help YOU?

Lin can provide training to help you, in whatever way you learn best:

  • FREE online membership of Theory Test Pro
  • 1:1 face-to-face or online (via Team or Zoom)
  • Small groups online
  • Flash cards
  • The Theory Test educational colouring book

Lin can also guide people with any specific learning needs or disabilities through the accommodations that may be offered to them for this test.

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Your Practical Driving Test, or simply, the ‘Practical Test’

If you’ve passed your Theory Test, had sufficient learning and covered the elements in the Car and Light Van Driving Syllabus (Category B), you’re almost there… there’s only one more step to complete!

Lin will be able to guide you about when to book and take your driving test, which you can do online at gov.uk/book-driving-test.

The test will include:

Things to know and do before learning to drive

Learning to drive is not only great fun, it’s a skill you’re going to use for many years ahead. There are a few important rules you need to know before you start learning to drive in the UK:

  • You’ll need to be 17 or older, unless you receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), when you are able to start driving when you’re 16.
  • You need to have a valid provisional driving licence. You can use the gov.uk website to apply for your first provisional driving licence from the age of 15 years and 9 months.

In addition:

  • You must be able to read a number plate 20 metres away (with glasses or contact lenses, if needed).
  • You must be accompanied by a driving instructor or a qualified driver who’s over 21 and has had a full car driving licence for at least 3 years.
  • The car you learn in must be taxed, insured, have a valid MOT and display L-plates on the front and back.

It’s also worth knowing that, legally, only a driving instructor can charge you for driving lessons. Their badge should be displayed in the windscreen while they are working. A green badge means they are a fully qualified instructor; a pink badge shows they are a trainee.

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Do you want to learn to drive in a Manual or Automatic car?

Before getting started with driving lessons, you will need to think about whether you’d prefer to learn in a manual or an automatic car. Some people find driving in an automatic easier. Others prefer the degree of control that you get with a manual gearbox

With car manufacturers producing a greater number of hybrid and electric cars (EV’s) it’s only going to be more a matter of time before the majority of cars on the road will be automatics.

There are distinct pros and cons to learning in an automatic:

Advantages of driving an automatic

  • There’s no clutch and it’s almost impossible to stall an automatic
  • Less for a driver to do, so less to go wrong and less to worry about. You can focus on what’s happening outside the car, your speed, the space around you and accurate steering
  • If you’re in drive (D), a modern automatic car won’t roll backwards
  • There are times when learning in an automatic will be necessary, such as where the learner has a disability which prevents them from being able to use a manual transmission

Disadvantages of driving an automatic

  • When you get your licence, you’ll only be permitted to drive automatic cars. While that may not sound like a big deal if you only intend to drive automatics, you might find it limiting if you have to buy, borrow or hire a car
  • Automatic cars tend to be a tad more expensive to buy, run, repair and to insure
refresher driving lessons

Refresher Driver Training – Give your driving a new lease of life!

If you are returning to driving, 1nfluence Driver Training can help you regain those skills and the confidence required to drive safely and enjoyably. You might be looking to refresh your driving skills if:

  • You passed your test some years ago but not driven since – You may have learnt to drive but not had access to a car for some years, and now need to take up driving for a new job or life stage.

  • You have had a long break from driving – For people who have not driven for a long while (sometimes many years), you may feel a refresher course will give you the confidence boost you need to get behind the wheel once again.

  • You are returning to the UK after a long spell driving abroad – If you have not driven in the UK for a while, you may want to get back up to speed with driving in the UK.

  • You are returning to driving after being involved in an accident – Maybe you’ve lost your driving confidence or your ability to drive safely following a road traffic accident, and you want to get back on the road again.

  • You feel your driving skills have become rusty, such as your parking ability – Sometimes people who’ve been driving for many years feel they would really benefit from some bespoke, refresher driver training to help them become safer drivers and iron out any bad driving habits they may have developed over the years.

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A fantastic driving test pass in Sevenoaks for Paksaraporn (Meow) Powell this afternoon. Meow drove like a true star to achieve the pass with her lovely Examiner, who took the time to ensure all instructions were clearly underestood and that she was feeling calm. She has worked SOOOOOOOOO hard both on learning to drive and controlling the overwhelming anxiety that overcomes her in these situations. She really deserves this result, which will make life so much easier for her and her family. Enjoy your car and the freedom and time this success gives you, Meow 🚗💨

#DriveCalm #coaching #relaxation #breathingtechniques #selftalk #deaf #deafawareness #driving #drivinglessons #drivingtest #adhd #anxiety #AnxietySupport #ASD #confidence #deaf #dyslexia #dyspraxia #EastGrinstead #edenbridge #hurstgreen #neurodiversity #ocd #oxted #redhill #sevenoaks #theorytest #Tourette #tunbridgewells #westerham
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Member of the Motor Schools Association

IAM Roadsmart Advanced Driver - Aiming to improve driving standards

Member of online site preparing drivers for the UK Driver Theory Test

Pass Plus registered

Member of the Confident Drivers website - Offering additional support for nervous & anxious drivers

Driving Standards Agency
Fully Qualified & Approved Driving Instructor

ROSPA Advanced Driver - Encouraging an interest in road safety, standards and skills

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Guild of Mindful Driver Trainers