1 By car

Leave the A500 at Etruria and join the A53 Etruria Road eastbound. After about a mile, turn left at the Audi dealership into Elder Road; the DVSA sign is 100 m on the right. Spaces are tight, so arrive no more than 10 minutes early.

2 By public transport

• Bus 7 / 7A (First Potteries) – Hanley ↔ Biddulph every 10 min; alight at Elder Road / Cobridge lights (2 min walk).
• Bus 3 / 3A (First Potteries) – Stoke Station ↔ Tunstall; stops on Waterloo Road (5 min walk via Sneyd Street).
• Rail – Stoke‑on‑Trent mainline station is 2 mi south; buses 3/3A link in ≈ 12 min.

3 Cycling / walking

NCN Route 55 runs from Festival Park to Cobridge via the Caldon Canal. Exit at Botteslow Street, follow the signed lanes to Elder Road and lock up at the bike hoops by reception.

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1 A53 Etruria Road 50 → 30 camera drop

Late braking after the fly‑over triggers the camera van opposite BMW.
Fix: Ease off before the 40 mph repeater; engine‑brake to 30 mph by the garage.

2 Basford Roundabout spiral lanes

Drifting over faded markings toward the Newcastle exit.
Fix: Read arrows 100 m out, hold ≈ 25 mph through the circle, mirror‑signal before leaving.

3 Sneyd Street parked‑car chicanes

Hesitation over single‑file priority.
Fix: Decide early, signal intent, glide through on clutch‑control.

4 Waterloo Road peak‑time bus‑lanes

Entering the tidal bus‑lane during restricted hours is an instant fault.
Fix: Note the blue time‑plates; if in doubt, stay out.

5 Elder Road forecourt bay‑parking

Shallow approach and missed 360 ° checks.
Fix: Use reference points, stop, full all‑round look, reverse slowly at clutch‑bite.

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1 About Cobridge from a Learner’s View

The compact yard handles cars and bikes, so manoeuvring space is tight. Examiners love bay‑parking on‑site; parallel jobs pop up on Waterloo Road opposite the shops. First pull‑out is uphill into a 30 mph stream—perfect your second‑gear roll‑offs and sharp MSM checks.

2 What to Expect on the Day

• 20 m eyesight check
• One show me, tell me question
• One reversing manoeuvre (bay or parallel)
• Possible emergency stop
• ≈ 20 min of independent driving (sat‑nav or road signs)
  Examiners focus on lane discipline at Basford Roundabout and speed control on the A53 camera stretch.

3 After You Pass

A 45 % pass‑rate matches the national mean. Results are uploaded instantly; the photocard licence usually arrives within two weeks. Telematics policies can cut first‑year premiums by ~£280.

4 What If You Don’t Pass?

DriveBot (drivebot.co.uk) watches Cobridge, Newcastle‑under‑Lyme and Crewe all day, booking the earliest retest so your skills stay fresh.

5 Can’t Find Earlier Driving Test Cancellations?

DriveBot delivers:
• Instant alerts the moment a slot appears (DVSA feed)
• Flexible filters – centre radius, date window, gearbox
• Auto‑booking while you practise manoeuvres

Use this guide, rehearse the A53 speed drop, and roll up to Elder Road ready to ace your test—good luck!

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