Ready for the Driving Test? 

If you are planning to take a driving test or have attempted and failed, here are some tips.

On the one hand, it is hard if you don't know what the examiners are looking for but on the other hand, if you know what they are looking for and give them that, you are more than likely to pass.

A few basic things they are very keen on are:

1. Use of mirrors. If you have been driving for a while, you tend to learn how to use the mirrors without the person in the passenger seat realising that you are actually using them. During the driving test, the passenger is the examiner. At the risk of looking silly, s/he must "see" that you are actually using the mirrors.

2. Speed.. They are quite strict on this especially on 30mph (50 kph) zones. If you regularly exceed the limits, chances are that you will fail. The same is also true if you drive at 40mph (64 kph) on a dual carriage way when you are actually meant to be doing around 70mph (112Kph) and it is safe to do so.

3. Blind spot. If you do not check your blind spot before every manouvre there is more than a slim chance that you will eventually fail.

4. Gears. Make sure you are using the right gear for the speed. If you enter a

tight roundabout in say third gear and have to change down while turning at the same time, you will be marked down for a fault.

5. Safe distance. Make sure you keep a safe distance (2 second gap). When you stop behind another vehicle, e.g. at traffic lights, make sure you can see it's wheels. If you can't, you are too close!

6. When the examiner asks you to pull over at some stage, s/he will certainly have the intention of testing for something when s/he asks you to proceed. It is in your interest to check out what the situation is. If you are asked to pull over behind a parked car, the examiner will be checking for how safely you manouvre out.

If you are pulled over on a road that slopes downwards, the examiner will most likely be checking for a proper down-hill start. Which is very different to an up-hill start! A downhill start requires the use of the foot brake. Most people simple forget this and only use the handbrake which is marked as a fault.

7. If the examiner asks you to pull up in a safe place, it is up to you to find that safe place. If you see other cars parked up on the kerb and you park like them, you will fail! Remember, kerbs are for pedestrians!

8. Be aware of the road signs and make use of them. Chances are you may be taken on a road you have never been to before. If you take time to read the road signs, you are unlikely to go wrong. Be aware that most speed limit signs are usually at the begining of the road, so if you turn into a side road, you should expect to see a change of speed limit just after the turn. If you are driving along a road with side roads that do not have a speed limit sign, then it means the road you are on is a 30mph zone.

9. Remember the MSM routine. (Mirror Signal Manouvre)!!!! See below for Roundabout tips.

10. Finally, I came up with one to help me remember some things. I call it NOBS-ON
which stands for Near-Side (mirror), Off-Side (mirror), Blind-Spot (Shoulder check), Off-Side (Mirror), Near-Side(mirror). Try to use this routine before moving off. It works!

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In the UK, there is a book called "Pass Your Driving Test" published by BSM.
ISBN 0-7535-0391-3 and costs only £4.99. You can get it at any WH-Smith. It is worth it.
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1. If you are turning left , indicate before entering the roundabout. Stay on the left lane. If there is a cycle lane with a continous line, make sure you do not enter it!

2. If you are turning right , stay on the right hand lane and indicate right until you pass the exit before the one you intend to take. At this point, indicate left. If there is more than one lane to turn right before the roundabout, try to stay on the left one.

3. If you intend to go straight on , do NOT indicate prior to entering the roundabout. Indicate left just after you pass the exit before the one you intend to take.

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Also note that on large roundabouts, there are different rules of position depending on whether there are lane markings or not.

1. If there are no markings and you are turning right , stay close to the right hand side of the roundabout until you are about to exit. Remember to indicate as above.

2. If there are markings and you are turning right , switch to the left lane one at a time after you pass the first exit, remembering to indicate as per the rules above.

Relax, give the examiner a smooth professional and safe ride and you will surely pass.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!

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How to drive on a roundabout - Straight On 

How to drive on a roundabout - Right Turn