Level 1: Beginner's basic driving skills

The cockpit drill is the first set of skills you’ll need to master. DSSSM stands for: Doors, Seat, Steering, Seatbelt, Mirrors.

The cockpit drill covers the things you’ll need to check and adjust each time you get into your car, before you start the engine. Be sure to refer to our controls tutorial for details about the other checks you’ll need to make concerning the handbrake and gear stick.

Checking and adjusting your mirrors forms part of the cockpit drill.

Adjusting your mirrors before you start the engine is essential if you share your car with anyone else. It’s still important to check your mirrors before every journey regardless. This is because they may have been knocked (especially wing mirrors, if you park on a busy street). They might also need clearing if the weather is bad.

This video also explains the different types of mirrors and when and how to use them whilst driving.

Learn when and where to use signals — and which signals are appropriate in certain situations. This video also explains how to time your signals correctly so that other road users are aware of your intentions.

The golden rule is to consider whether other road users will benefit from your signalling. Using signals incorrectly or not using them at all can have disastrous consequences. This is why it’s so important to practise your signalling skills until they become second nature.

POM stands for Prepare, Observe, Move.

This video provides step-by-step instructions for moving off using the POM routine. Howard will demonstrate how to find the biting point of your clutch and outline the six point check, which covers your mirror and blind spot checks.

Before starting your engine and preparing to move off, you must complete the cockpit drill first!

MSM stands for Mirrors, Signal, Manoeuvre.

Once you’ve learnt how to move off safely using the POM routine above, you’ll then need to learn how to bring your vehicle to a stop. To safely stop your car, you’ll need to use the MSM routine.

This routine combines many of the techniques already covered in the basic skills section of the learner guide. To ensure you’re confident with the MSM routine, be sure to also go back over the guides to using mirrors and using signals.

This video starts with the basics by showing you how to hold the steering wheel correctly. Howard then demonstrates the pull / push steering method, which is widely considered steering best practice.

For contrast, Howard also discusses other steering techniques that many people use, but that have undesirable consequences. If you’ve caught yourself using the palming method for steering or are guilty of ‘dry’ steering watch the video to find out why you need to stop!

Learning to change gears is one of the most crucial fundamental driving skills. Once you have mastery of your gearbox you will be well on the way to becoming a safe and confident driver.

This video covers automatic and manual gearbox layouts and how and when to change up and down gears. It goes into more detail on more advanced techniques such as selective gear changes (block changes), appropriate gearing for hazards, and engine braking. Automatic drivers aren’t left out either, as the video also goes through dual clutches and paddle shifting.