Driving Test

 

WHAT THE EXAMINER WILL LOOK FOR

The examiner will watch for certain actions as you go through the test. You should practice each of the test items to make sure you do them correctly.

This section explains what the examiner will be checking.

Left/Right Turns

·       As you approach each turn you

·       Check traffic. Look ahead, left, right, and to the rear using your mirrors.

·       Signal. Turn on the turn signal at least 100 feet before the turn.

·       Slow down: Slow smoothly and change gears as needed to keep power. Do not coast with your foot on the clutch.

·       Position your vehicle. Get into the correct lane and position your vehicle to make the turn. You should time your arrival so stopping isn’t necessary. If you must stop prior to the turn, the examiner will check if you:

·       Maintain gap. Stop far enough back so you can see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front.

·       Stop in correct place. Stop so your vehicle is not in the intersection, not over the stop line and not in the crosswalk.

·       Stop fully. You cannot coast; come to a full stop.

·       Keep wheels straight. You must keep your wheels straight ahead while stopped. While turning, the examiner will check if you:

·       Check traffic.

·       Keep both hands on the wheel.

·       Change gears. Don’t change gears during the turn. Gear changing is allowed to get started from the stop.

·       Maintain smooth speed. Make the turns smoothly without stops.

·       Turn correctly. Don’t turn too wide or short. Do not go over or touch the curb or cause other traffic to back up.

·       As you complete the turn, the examiner will check to see if you:

·       Check traffic.

·       Are in the correct lane. You must finish the turn in the correct lane. For a left turn use the left lane and the right turn use the right lane.

·       Cancel the signal after the rear of the vehicle has completed the turn.

·       For left turns accelerate and move right. Accelerate smoothly and move into the right lane when traffic is clear. Railroad Crossings When crossing railroad tracks the examiner will check that you:

·       Check traffic. You should look left and right, listen, and you may open door on buses.

·       Do not change gears while on the tracks.

·       Do not stop or brake on the tracks and do not make lane changes or pass on the tracks.

·       Keep to posted speed limits. Stop on Grades The examiner will have you stop and start on a grade. When stopping on a grade:

·       Check traffic prior to stopping, especially to your right.

·       Turn signals on.

·       Position the vehicle on the right side of the roadway.

·       Slow down smoothly, changing gears to keep power; do not coast.

·       Do not hit curb. Once stopped, the examiner will check that you:

·       Have positioned the vehicle parallel and within 12" from the curb or edge of the roadway.

·       Do not let the vehicle roll forward or backwards.

·       Cancel the turn signal and turn on 4-way flashers.

·       Put on the parking brake, put the gear shift in neutral or park, release the foot brake, and take foot off the clutch. Start On Grades

The examiner will tell you to continue and check that you:

·       Check traffic.

·       Turn 4-way flashers off and left turn signal on.

·       Release the parking brake, put vehicle in gear, and do not turn the steering wheel before the vehicle moves.

·       Do not stall engine when starting or roll backwards.

·       Continue to check traffic.

·       Accelerate smoothly and blend with traffic.

·       Cancel turn signal after the rear of the vehicle enters traffic lane.

Driving Up Grades

·       As you drive up a grade, the examiner will check that you:

·       Select the proper gear and change gears to maintain speed and do not lug the engine.

·       Stay in the right most lane.

·       Keep hands on the steering wheel.

·       Use 4-way flashers if too slow for traffic.

·       Check traffic especially to the left and rear (use both left and right mirrors at least every 10 seconds). Driving Down Grades As you drive down a grade the examiner will check that you:

·       Select proper gear (lower gear) before the grade. Only gentle to moderate braking should be needed to control speed and engine RPMs.

·       Do not ride the clutch.

·       Check brakes by applying them before the grade.

·       Use snub braking method to descend grade.

·       Stay in the right most lane and maintain correct following distance.

·       Check traffic especially to the left and rear using both left and right mirrors at least every 10 seconds. Intersections If you stop at an intersection, the examiner will check the same items as when you stop for a turn except for the actual turn itself. As you drive through intersections, the examiner will check that you:

·       Check for traffic before entering intersection.

·       Yield to pedestrians and other traffic as required.

·       Do not change lanes in the intersection.

·       Do not change gears in the intersection.

·       Do not lug or rev engine.

·       Smoothly drive through the intersection without disrupting traffic.

Straight Roads As you drive down a straight city or county road the examiner will check that you:

·       Regularly check traffic, watch for hazards and look far enough ahead (12 to 15 seconds).

·       Check both left and right mirrors at least every 10 seconds.

·       Select proper lane and stay to the center of the lane without wandering back and forth.

·       Maintain correct speed and avoid continual slowing up, stopping, and accelerating.

·       Maintain correct following distance. One second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one additional second for speed over 40 mph. Changing Lanes When you must change lanes, the examiner will check that you:

·       Check traffic to front and rear especially the blind spot.

·       Signal the lane change.

·       Do not tailgate while waiting to change lanes.

·       Make a smooth lane change and maintain your speed and allow correct distance between all vehicles.

·       Cancel signal after rear of vehicle completes lane change. Curves In curves the examiner will check that you:

·       Reduce your speed before the curve.

·       Do not brake while in the curve.

·       Maintain your speed during the curve without a strong pull to the side.

·       Keep all vehicle wheels in your lane.

· Continually check traffic and use your mirrors to watch the tracking of your vehicle. Warning/Information Signs As you go under an underpass or over a bridge the examiner may ask you:

·       The posted height of the underpass.

·       The weight limit of the bridge.

·       You may be asked about information on a specific sign that relates to a commercial vehicle.

Changing Gears

On your test, when changing gears, the examiner will expect you to:

·       Use the controls smoothly and correctly

·       Balance the accelerator and clutch to move away smoothly

·       Accelerate evenly

·       Avoid stalling the car

·       Choose the right gear and change in good time before a hazard

·       Brake gently and in good time

·       Know how and when to apply the hand brake

Steering

On your driving test the examiner will expect you to:

Hold the steering wheel at either the ten-to-two or quarter-to-three position. Steer smoothly and at the correct time, avoid crossing your hands over one another when turning, avoid letting the wheel spin back through your hands when straightening up, avoid weaving in and out between parked cars, obey lane markings.

 

Dry Steering.

Turning the steering wheel when the car isn't moving is called dry steering. This is something you should try and avoid as it points undue strain on the steering mechanism and causes premature wear to the front tyres. If carrying out a low speed manoeuvre, such as turning in the road, you should get the car moving before you start to steer.

 

Steering Lock.

When you turn the steering wheel as far as it will go it is at full lock. This is the maximum angle the front wheels will reach, and

Right Turn

On your driving test, when performing a basic right turn, the examiner will expect you to:

Use the MSM routine in good time, brake gently and in good time, position your vehicle correctly - choose the correct lane where there are lane markings and in a one-way street, look for obstructions, traffic and pedestrians.

The examiner will also be looking to see that you:

Read Stop signs, give Way signs, etc, accurately, assess the speed of traffic.

Basic Left Turn

On your driving test, when performing a basic left turn, the examiner will expect you to:

Use the MSM routine in good time, brake gently and in good time, position your vehicle correctly - choose the correct lane where there are lane markings and in a one-way street, look for obstructions, traffic and pedestrians.

The examiner will also be looking to see that you:

Read Stop signs, give Way signs, etc, accurately, assess the speed of traffic.

Basic Right Turn

Use the MSM routine in good time, brake gently and in good time, position your vehicle correctly - choose the correct lane where there are lane markings and in a one-way street, look for obstructions, traffic and pedestrians.

The examiner will also be looking to see that you:

Read Stop signs, give Way signs, etc, accurately, assess the speed of traffic.

Dual Carriage Ways

The speed limit on a dual carriageway is 70 mph unless otherwise signed.

The Joining clip deals with using a slip road to join a dual carriageway. Another way is to join a dual carriageway at a normal stop or give way junction. Here normal rules apply but remember to take into account the higher speed of vehicles on the dual carriageway before moving out.

Right Turns.

Unlike on a motorway on a dual carriageway it is possible to turn right. When carrying out a right turn on a dual carriageway you need to consider the high speed of the traffic and start planning your turn at an early stage. Check your mirrors carefully, signal well in advance and consider a gentle press on the brakes at an early stage to signal to following traffic that you are slowing. Position your vehicle accurately inside the turning bay in the central reservation, and take care to check that the road you are turning on to is clear before pulling out.

For How to overtake on a dual carriageway, see our overtaking tutorial.

Roundabouts

TURNING LEFT

·       Approach in the left-hand lane.

·       Signal left as you approach

·       Once on the roundabout keep to the left

• Countinue to signal until you have left the roundabout

 

GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD

·       Approach in the left-hand lane.

·       Do not signal.

·       Once on the roundabout keep to the left.

·       After passing the exit before the one you want signal left.

TURNING RIGHT

·       Approach in the right-hand lane.

·       Signal right as you approach.

·       Once on the roundabout keep to the right.

·       Signal left after passing the exit before the one you want.                

Roundabouts allow traffic to merge smoothly together and in doing so keep the overall traffic stream flowing smoothly.

Remember - at a roundabout you must give way to traffic approaching from your right, unless told otherwise by road signs, road markings or traffic lights. Vehicles already on the roundabout may fail to signal correctly. If in doubt, hold back! Look out for vehicles:

Turning right without indicating- Indicating right but going straight on- Using the right hand to go straight ahead- Making a U-turn.

At all stages use Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre (MSN).

Mini-Roundabouts: approach these as you would a normal roundabout but remember there is less space and you will have less time to signal. You must pass around the centre markings.

When taking your practical driving test your examiner will expect you to-

Use the MSM routine- Position your car correctly and use the correct speed- Choose the correct lane where there are road markings- Watch out for motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists- Take effective observations- Assess the speed of the traffic.

Parallel Parking

Learning how to parallel park is one of the hardest skills for new drivers to learn. From experience, I know that this is true. I hope this page will help. If you have any tips of your own, please send them in. --Ryan Buckholtz

Dave from the Freedom Driving School suggests the following:

The S method

·       Signal and pull up approx. 3 feet away from the car you want to park behind, aligning your rear tires with the other car's rear bumper.

·       Put car into REVERSE, and turn wheels ALL THE WAY to the RIGHT.

·       Slowly back-up until you are at a 45 degree angle. STOP.

·       Turn the wheels ALL THE WAY to the LEFT. (Walter from a driver's school in Canada from yd.com recommends that you roll very slowly while you turn the wheels to avoid putting damaging stress on the tire sidewalls and steering components.)

·       Slowly back-up until you are parallel with the curb.

If done correctly you should be less then 12 inches from the curb. Practice will improve your judgment.

The Drive Right book offers these tips:

·        Select a space that is at least six feet longer than your car.

·       Flash your brake lights and put on your turn signal before you pull in.

·       Always look back to check traffic.

·       Take it slow and ease into the spot.

Exiting a parallel parking space

·       Back-up straight as far as you can go without touching the car behind.

·       Turn your wheels all the way to the left (in the U.S.) Then make sure that you put your car in drive. (When I took the driver's test, the person before me parallel parked their car fine, but forgot this important step when pulling out of the space--and failed their test.)

·       Put on your turn signal.

·       Check traffic, including your blind spot.

·       Make sure your right fender has enough room to clear the car in front of you.

·       Turn wheels slowly to the right when you are half-way out of the parking space.

Stopping

During the practical driving test the examiner will ask you to pull up and stop at a convenient place on the left side of the road. You will not be expected to this immediately. You will be required to use your judgment and pull up in a place where you will not be endangering, inconveniencing or obstructing anyone.

Don't stop or park:

 

·       Where you would prevent emergency access.

·       Near a school entrance.

·       In front of an entrance to a property.

·       On a bend.

·       Where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane.

·       Where the curb has been lowered for wheelchair access.

·       Opposite another parked vehicle if it would cause an construction.

·       Near the brow of a hill or hump bridge.

·       At or near a bus stop or taxi rank.

·       On the approach to a level crossing.

·       Opposite a traffic island.

·       Opposite or within ten metres of a junction.