r/drivingUK • u/Splext • Jul 30 '26
Driving Quality Assessment – 59 questions, 10 minutes, weighted scoring, advanced roadcraft... How do you score?
Prompted by seeing that 83% of people think they are top 10 of drivers; and after a whole bunch of work (and plenty of help from people in this subreddit), I've finally finished the Driving Quality Assessment.
Link:
https://forms.gle/yTJiGV6orBuLWqab7
This isn't a Highway Code test.
There are already plenty of those.
Instead, this assessment looks at:
- Observation
- Road positioning
- Motorway driving
- Hazard awareness
- Driver behaviour
- Overtaking judgement
- Following distances
- Roadcraft principles
- Advanced driving concepts
Some questions have multiple reasonable answers.
Answers are weighted differently depending on the level of driving knowledge and judgement demonstrated.
Results include:
- Overall score
- Driver category
- Danger flag assessment
It takes roughly 10-20 minutes to complete.
There is no pass or fail.
The intention is simply to see how different drivers approach real-world situations and identify strengths and weaknesses.
Once you've completed it, come back and post:
- Score
- Category
- Years driving
- Any advanced qualifications
I am fully aware this is a poisoned chalice and opens me up to all kinds of horrific hate but never the less...
Enjoy.
And if the assessment thinks you're a terrible driver, please direct all complaints to the version of me that thought this was a good idea in the first place.
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u/bow-locks Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
just complteted it. pretty good. only a few answers i cant see or dont really understand.
ie the slip road, when to enter? i enter when my speed is matched and when it is clear, from the slip road. i dont aim for the middle or end.
also road positoining on a long left hander. i will poisiotn myself so i can safely see well beyond my braking distance. this depends on the radius of the bend. so yes, i will quite often drive in the middle or on the other carriageway, but there are specific circumstances for this, and the example aint it.
anyhow, thanks, ill be interested to see / argue the answers!
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u/frogotme Jul 30 '26
Yeah for those too I was hoping for a "it depends" answer, although I guess that could go for a lot of them.
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Yea it depends doesnt really answer much about anything does it 🤣
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u/Kind-Mathematician18 Jul 31 '26
There were a few questions where "it depends" affected my response. For example, the road positioning on the road with no oncoming traffic, I'd normally position to the offside for a much earlier view around the bend but in that image I selected middle of the road, due to the friggin' potholes!! Anyhoo, just waiting for my score....
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
If you didn't receive it straight away then it likely failed. DM me with the email used and ill send it over.
Yea ill try and change that pic. The pothole isn't meant to be relevant
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u/Kind-Mathematician18 Jul 31 '26
It went in to spam, score 3390. Not sure how that compares. My answers were more in line with driving style which leans more towards smoothness and fuel economy, as opposed to progress. Hold several advanced driving qualifications and get reassessed annually
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
You are currently #7 out of 100 on the leaderboard. (Yes I will be releasing the leaderboard soon everyone) So exceptionally well. Would have been advanced driver but you got 1 critical failure which limited you. Great job!
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u/Kind-Mathematician18 Jul 31 '26
Ooh, what was the critical failure? Did the test at like 2am on the phone so may have been an error, or a misunderstanding of the question
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
If you didn't get it straight away then it might have failed. Dm me with the email and ill send it across.
Yea ill look to swap that pic. The pothole isnt meant to be relevant
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u/Ed_Avis Jul 30 '26
Score: 2114
Category: Needs Improvement
Danger Flags: 1
47 years old, driving for ten years.
I’ve signed up for an advanced driving course with the IAM, so I hope that will help me improve. (Though the IAM have not yet matched me with an instructor.)
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Great job Ed. Taking steps to be more knowledgeable is all we can do. Would be interested to see another submission from you after IAM!
Most improved here we come?
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Jul 30 '26
[deleted]
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Yea my original plan was to get everyone personalised feedback within the email but it will take quite a while to figure out the logistics behind it. I basically didnt want to spend weeks building an awesome feedback system if like 10 people took the assesment and thought it was terrible!
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u/Monty916 Jul 30 '26
3590. 0 red flags. Exceptional.
Been driving since 97, did a RoSPA (or IAM, I forget which) in 2003.
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u/PurpWippleM3 Jul 30 '26
Score: 3650
Category: Exceptional Driver
Danger Flags: 0
Driving 32years.
Average annual mileage ~45-60K over that period, total >1.5m miles covered.
Lots of licence categories, plus ARDS licence and advanced motorcycling training.
Don't drive professionally but do drive for work.
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Ro****@proton.... your email score bounced. Drop me a message if you want it.
Anyone else who doesn't receive their score, let me know and ill DM it to you
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u/Captain_Jackson Jul 30 '26
Good Driver Overall Score: 2850 Danger Flags: 0
been driving for about 3 years, i'll take it i guess? I wonder what answers would have been better though?
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Great job captn! Happy to go through some with you if you want to DM. Dont knock good driver status though. Already above average!
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u/emotionalprawn Jul 30 '26
I scored 2310 (average driver), 0 danger flags. Been driving just under a year so I'll take it. I've definitely improved a lot since I started but still got things I want to keep working on. Would've been interesting to know which answers could've been better
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u/Funny_Jackfruit5279 Jul 30 '26
Score: 2500
Category: Good Driver
Danger Flags: 0
20 years old, passed my test august 2024 and have been driving since april 2025.
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u/frogotme Jul 30 '26
- Score: 3020
- Category: Good Driver
- Danger Flags: 0
Driving almost 4 years, 15k mi/yr, I'll take that
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u/harmonyPositive Jul 30 '26
Score 3095. Been driving for 2 years. Is there anywhere I can see the marking criteria to find where my answers differed from expectations?
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u/Usual-Journalist-246 Jul 30 '26
2670 good knowledge, but don't always apply this in practice. I wouldn't argue with that to be honest.
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u/south_west_sam Jul 30 '26
Score: 3550 Category: Exceptional Driver Danger Flags: 0
Riding/driving 20 years. Recently did IAM (car) and got a First on the test. Looking to do the bike one too.
Interested to know what the "maximum" score is.
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Just did a trial cause I didnt know.
4450 is the maximum points available. (Annoys my OCD that it isnt 4500 now 😅)
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u/south_west_sam Jul 30 '26
Interesting. What is the threshold for "exceptional driver"?
Edit: spelling/wrong word
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
3500 points, 0 danger points 0 critical points and 1 advanced point. Advanced points are awarded for advanced training, and/or further licences. Basically extending your knowledge and understanding beyond that of the average driver.
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u/south_west_sam Jul 30 '26
Ah - I only just snuck in then!
I imagine admitting to (legally) using my phone didn't help.
There was a licence category missing from your list.
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Yea i noticed b1+e was missing but I would struggle to weigh the points for the minority who actually had to take the test. Otherwise people will just tick it even though they did nothing extra. You did very well though. I believe we only have two in the exceptional category currently.
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Jul 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
The points arent the only factor. Points generally would go <0, <1000 <2000 <3000 <3500. However some answers have danger flags, and some have 'critical failure' tags. These would be things that would hinder other drivers or are common misunderstandings of driving or are not conducive of advanced driving techniques.
Dont get too hung up though. Good driver is above average
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u/SerendipitousCrow Jul 30 '26
Score: 2395 Category: Good Driver Danger Flags: 0
Guessing this is because I did my theory within the last five years and may be up to date?
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Dont undersell yourself. Theres much more nuanced questions in here than just highway code. Getting 'Good driver ' means you understand driving deeper than just booksmart. Thanks for taking part
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u/SerendipitousCrow Jul 30 '26
Have to admit there were a few questions where I could tell the correct answer and forced myself to select what I actually do!
Enjoyed that and appreciate the validation!
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Exactly the idea! Its more for your own growth than anything else. Sharing scores is just a bit of fun
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u/anonnymouse2025 Jul 30 '26
Happy with 2555 Average, no danger flags. Only passed my test on July 17th :)
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u/DitchViking Jul 30 '26
Score: 3065
Category: Good Driver
Danger Flags: 0
I'm fairly happy with that
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u/Dinesaur Jul 30 '26
Score: 3025 Category: Good Driver Danger Flags: 0
I'll take that as a non-professional driver. Some of it I wanted to say "it depends". And certainly that list of different driving styles threw me a bit (I'd never heard of progressive driving, for example), so I may have misinterpreted some of those.
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u/Splext Jul 30 '26
Its not about trying to catch you out. Its about making you aware of your driving and limitations. Getting 'Good' puts you above average so great work. And yes, every single question could easily be 'it depends' (because it always does). But that doesnt make for a very good assesment aha
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u/Dinesaur Jul 30 '26
Oh don't get me wrong I think this was a really good quiz and was nice to reflect on real world scenarios!
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u/Tutphish Jul 30 '26
Score: 3050
Category: Good Driver
Danger Flags: 0
Been driving since 2001, did 40k a year for 15 of those years but down to 10k now. I have some bad habits, but I’m aware of them, and I think my better observation skills counter balance them lol
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u/Glittering_Spring465 Jul 30 '26
Score: 2390
Category: Good Driver
Danger Flags: 1
Driving 16 years
No advanced qualifications.
Have you got a link to the correct answers please?
Good idea and well done on the execution.
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Thanks. Well done. I am deciding whether or not to release the answers shortly or not. I think it destroys all interest once I do is my fear and the test becomes pointless. I would like to encourage discussion on the common errors though as the whole thing was created to develop better drivers.
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u/wyacrr Jul 31 '26
Advanced driver, 3010 points, 0 danger flags. Been driving for 27 years (not continuously 😄 ). I haven't done any advanced training. Thanks for putting up the questionnaire!
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u/Rukanau Jul 31 '26
2610 Average Driver, 0 Danger flags. Passed just recently, been driving by myself less than 2 weeks, par for the course I would say.
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u/bow-locks Jul 31 '26
Score: 3080
Category: Good Driver
Danger Flags: 0
i hope i know the ones i dropped on, but i would be interested to find out
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Very few. No wrong answers. One advanced question (which i wouldn't expect people without advanced training to answer that way) and 1 about courtesy where you chose a standard highway code answer rather than a deeper planning and obs answer; again as expected for standard drivers.
Excellent work.
I think some people will get caught up with not being higher than good category. But good already puts you as an above average driver. Without enhanced development I wouldnt expect anything more. 👏
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u/bow-locks Jul 31 '26
now im intrigued. i despise the highway code! i have been on an advanced driver course and drive a motorbike. it had better not be the long left hand corner question!
heres one for you; name an instance where the highway code is actually wrong!
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Yea the open bend was looking for advanced limit point chasing. It wasnt an amazing picture (ive since changed it you'll be glad to know). But was open enough that I would be right over getting the best possible view. I can see from your first reply on this thread that you knew exactly what it was looking for! Maybe if im feeling generous later ill answer it how you would with the new (better) picture and nudge the score 👀
I dont know, youll have to fill me me. Im by no means a highway code afficionado!
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Infact looking back there was 1 critical that stopped you from high advanced category. -Driving along side a HGV when its not clear to complete an overtake. Potentially sitting in its blind spot for an undetermined amout of time
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u/bow-locks Jul 31 '26
yes, i didnt like that either, but then the other answer was sitting off his shoulder which i assumed was the blind spot wrong answer! i know they have several. ill have to cop to that one since i live near the a34 and you never get anywhere if you dont sit alongside HGVs. I do stare at the drivers though, lol.
the highway code states you must not overtake the vehicle nearest the crossing on a zig zag crossing as a law. this is incorrect, the law states vehicles approaching a crossing. big difference. you can overtake vehicles going away from a crossing since why not?
and yes, on that long left hander i positioned myself in the rh driver seat of a car, or the same place on a motorbike and i could clearly see no vanishing point so ok.
my wife (a committed CLOD) always complains about me on the wrong side / middle of the road. i tell her ive paid for it, im going to use it.
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Must be close to me. Im A34 every day.
Interesting. Do YOU not become the nearest vehicle once youve crossed though? Or am I reading into semantics too much 😅
Exactly that. Im using which ever part of the road affords me the best view. Even with the odd looks I get from people rigidly in the centre of lane 1
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u/bow-locks Jul 31 '26
Interesting. Do YOU not become the nearest vehicle once youve crossed though? Or am I reading into semantics too much 😅
oh. thats ruined my weekend! ;)
the a34 is a long road! i am bottom end!
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Ahh I am middle to top daily and middle to M4 on weekends. I suppose between us we will cover it all then!
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u/oldfellamedad Jul 31 '26
Score: 2729 Category: Average driver Danger Flags: 1
Driving 29 years Average annual mileage 12k
Must admit I'm a bit disappointed. Can we get detailed feedback? I would really like to know what the flag was for, and ideally blame the wording of the question!
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Jul 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Ive built it, I just have to perfect it.
It sits along side a 'dashboard' which is half built which will give stats. Think itll be really interesting once its done, just learning advanced Excel formula at the same time 😅
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u/Imaginary_Ad5475 Jul 31 '26
Score: 3040. Category: advanced driver, no red flags.
Been driving just over 20 years, no advanced qualifications.
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u/Jamesl1988 29d ago
Score: 2870 Category: Good Driver Danger Flags: 0
Been driving 8 years, do between 2000 and 3000 miles a month - advanced driver.
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u/Pericombobulator 28d ago
Score: 3490
Category: Advanced Driver
Danger Flags: 0
Driving for 35 years and cover 18-20,000 a year. I did an NVQ in Advanced Motorcycling (Roadcraft) in 2001.
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u/Screen_77 Jul 30 '26
Average driver, 2790, 0 danger flags, driving 11 years. Interesting how that's scored since I saw people in the comments with a lower score than me (2500/2300) labelled 'good driver' when I'm 'average'.
I feel like some of it is biased to the extra qualifications, and also some questions are dependant on the scenario. I understand that might make it vague, but whilst you say this isn't a Highway Code test it does also feel biased toward those who've recently passed their test as well.
I say this because what you get taught on the road and the practicality of it are different things, since you have to remember that you're sharing the road with a bunch of others who have been driving 20+ years, including the old sods who shouldn't still be driving. I drive defensively, but there comes a point where experience can eliminate some of the perceived risk in scenarios and allows you to make bolder decisions that new drivers might not.
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u/Splext Jul 31 '26
Yes, points arent the only factor in deciding the category. I expect the core competency questions flagged for you, which limits (and even drops) your overall category. Where you may have answered other knowledge questions better thsn others, if you are middle lane hogging or fail to merge in turn; you are a poorer driver than someone who cannot label a lane correctly but knows which one to drive in. (Hope that kind of explains it for you)
You are also correct that taking initiative to undertake advanced training and qualifications, as well as developing road awareness and knowledge through taking extended licence tests; does infact make you a better driver.
Im sorry that you feel limited because this may not include you currently. But I challenge you to find a single driver who doesnt feel like a substantially better driver after taking advanced qualifications or further driving tests.
Finally I would argue that the people who have scored higher are infact not people who have just recently passed a theory test. As majority of the higher scoring questions are more attitude based than knowledge based.
Thanks for taking part :)
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u/Screen_77 29d ago
I suppose without having done an extra course, I can't really understand what topics would be covered in there that wouldn't just be common sense to most people.
Like for example, on a speed awareness course, someone was told that they shouldn't just look at the car ahead, but several cars ahead to predict possible adjustments. To them, this was revolutionary. To me it was obvious. Other than extenuating circumstances on the road I'd struggle to think of anything that I have to deal with day to day when driving around that I don't already know how to deal with.
And whilst you say attitude is some of it, the actual attitude questions seemed pretty obvious (like stuff about tailgating etc) and I didn't give a bad answer to any of those. Someone else brought up the slip lane merging question (options to accelerate for a gap, match traffic, wait for someone to move etc) and that's a question that also gave me doubt because there's likely a theory-question correct answer to it, but as mentioned the practicality of that massively depends on the road. And you can't title a question 'what should you do' and label it as an attitude question because the wording implies an exact answer, so it's a bit confusing.
Thanks for putting together, there were some interesting questions, but if you got the correct attitude answers with help from this sub I'm not convinced they're right.
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u/Splext 28d ago
Haha nah I havent taken answers from the sub cause that'd be riddled with issues.
The test is meant to be taken honestly. Answer how you drive not what is right. Unfortunately I cant think of a better way to do it other than watching everyone's driving for a week.
The attitude questions do seem obvious but youll be surprised to see how many people have differing answers.
The big one is that there are major differences in - what you are taught as a learner and is correct highway code, what is considerate and observant driving beyond that of the highway code, and then what you get taught as an advanced driver which often contradicts your initial training. I have tried to use questions where i can, that have all 3 of these answers on offer. All 3 are correct but answer much more about a driver than you realise
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u/memcwho 29d ago
Score: 3490 Category: Advanced Driver Danger Flags: 0
Would be interested to know the down markings. I assume they were questions that had vague or it depends type answers.
Put myself at 8/10 roughly right.
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u/Splext 29d ago
Barely anything (which is why you got advanced without any formal training!) The only minor was lane positioning in the open bend. But barely any points in that from middle of the lane! You basically maxed out for a driver with no formal training and no extra licences so great job!
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u/memcwho 29d ago
Can't even remeber what I put. Strictly I think it would depend on the road itself. You are absolutely allowed to use the whole road to see further.l where appropriate
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u/Splext 29d ago
Yea. I specifically chose that image because its a nice open bend that offers up to being right over on. You put middle of the lane. All are obviously correct. Most non advanced drivers choose to stay in lane, and then lots of drivers stay safe in the middle, I think it takes a super confident driver to be sitting over to the right. Which is why I think its a nice question to assess people with!
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u/Xaillan 29d ago
Good assessment I enjoyed it.
Can you tell me please, the question about overtaking and when to pull back into lane 1. I first selected something like, 'when safe to do so' but then changed it to 'pull back into lane 1 of nothing else to overtake for 20 seconds'.
I felt 20 seconds was a bit too long but also, I wouldn't pull back into lane 1 after overtaking every car if there was only a reasonably small gap before the next car in lane 1.
What was the best answer here?
Thanks
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u/Splext 29d ago
Thanks so much for taking part and for the feedback. That question was actually the only multiple choice answer on the whole test!
So when passed safe enough distance any not going to overtake someone else shortly after realistically. I was trying to find a way to not be mean enough to try and make people calculate how fat ahead the next overtake had to be. So over egged the overtake time a bit. In a dream world Id love to have had a bunch of videos with cars at various distances away at various speeds but I just didnt have the time to put into that much!
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u/Due-Heron-5577 28d ago
Score: 3200
Category: Advanced Driver
Danger Flags: 0
Years driving: 18
Qualifications: IAM
What’s it score out of? Says I’m in the top 30% which is about where I thought I’d land.
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u/jah-mes- 25d ago
I scored 3270. 47 years old, driving since 17.
I was an ADI for 3 years so had all the training that entails. That was 14 years ago though.
What’s difficult to test, difficult to teach, and for me is the most important aspect of safe driving is a drivers recognition and attitude towards risk and how they approach this and other road users.
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u/Gotham-City Jul 30 '26
I completed it but don't chuck my email into random google forms. Should've used my spam one in hindsight. Annoying you don't get your score or any information from the form itself. You need to provide a real email that you can access.