You need to show you can use the car’s secondary features and controls and know when to use them. This includes things like windscreen wipers, and heating.
You need to show you can use these while driving, without losing control of the car.
-not turning on the windscreen wipers when it starts to rain
-losing control of the car when using one of the controls
-not using the demisters to clear the front windscreen when needed
You must familiarise yourself with the car’s secondary controls and features.
You need to show you can:
-anticipate other road users’ actions and potential hazards
-react in good time, not at the last minute
You must be be extra careful around more vulnerable road users. This includes:
-motorcyclists
-cyclists
-horse riders
-pedestrians
-not anticipating or showing awareness of the actions of cyclists and other vulnerable road users
-not anticipating or showing awareness of other road users
-pulling up behind a queue of parked vehicles
-not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross the road at any time
Practise your awareness and planning by:
-looking well ahead to anticipate what might happen
-checking and rechecking what’s going on around you
-looking for other road users, signals given by drivers, and road markings and traffic signs
-looking for clues to help you act safely, such as, reflections in shop windows
You need to keep a safe amount of distance when passing other road users, stationary vehicles or hazards – at least one metre when possible.
-being too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space
-moving back in too soon after passing the vehicle or hazard
You can work on:
-using the mirrors – signal – manoeuvre (MSM) routine
-using the position – speed – look (PSL) routine to improve your manoeuvres
You need to show you can use all the car’s primary controls smoothly and at the correct time. This includes the:
-accelerator
-brake
-parking brake
-steering
-over-steering when making a turn, and mounting the pavement
-pressing the brake too hard, or not hard enough
You must react to the signal to stop and maintain control of the car while stopping.
You need to safely bring the car to a stop. You should do this without locking the wheels and losing control of the car.
Examples of faults
-reacting too slowly when asked to stop
-locking the wheels causing a skid, particularly for cars without an anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Work on:
-keeping control of the car whilst braking
-braking in different weather conditions
You will need to read out a vehicle registration (number plate) of a parked car.
If you cannot read it correctly, you will have failed and will not be allowed to continue with your test.
If you need glasses or contact lenses, you must bring them to your driving test.
If you have dyslexia, you can declare this when you book your test. You can then write down the vehicle registration instead of reading it out.
You need to keep a safe distance when driving behind other road users.
Your distance from the vehicle in front should be appropriate for the conditions of the road.
-driving too close to the vehicle in front
-not adjusting your distance when there is bad weather, such as rain, ice or fog
Work on:
-the 2-second rule – keeping at least a 2 second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads with faster-moving traffic in dry conditions
-driving in slow-moving traffic
-driving in different weather conditions
You need to perfect:
-Control – your ability to control the car
-Observation – your observation of your surroundings when parking
You should park your car in a designated space, then reverse out. Your car should be straight and central within the space.
You should check your surroundings throughout with effective physical observations, proceeding only when it was safe to do so.
-not being positioned within the lines, and not attempting to correct position
-steering too closely to vehicle in the next bay
-not making effective all-round, effective observations when reversing out
You must have the ability to drive with economy and the environment in mind throughout the test.
You needed to:
-plan well ahead to avoid unnecessary stopping
-avoid heavy braking
-avoid rapid acceleration
You can practise:
-hazard awareness and planning
-starting the car and driving away
-using cruise control (if appropriate)
You will be marked on:
-overtaking
-meeting
-crossing
You need to show good judgement when overtaking, meeting and crossing other road users, such as knowing when to proceed, and when to wait for a safer opportunity.
You need to make your intentions clear, and understand the intentions of the other road users.
-not giving way to road users that have priority
-reacting late when meeting an approaching vehicle
-being too close to a cyclist when overtaking
-crossing the path of an oncoming vehicle when turning right
You will be marked on:
-approach speed – your ability to approach junctions at an appropriate speed
-observation – your effective observation and judgement of your surroundings
-turning right – your position when turning right
-turning left – your position when turning left
-cutting corners – your ability to avoid cutting corners when turning
You need to show you can drive through junctions safely. You should observe your surroundings, make your intentions clear, follow road signs and signals, and properly control the car.
Examples of faults
-incorrectly judging the speed of an oncoming vehicle, forcing it to slow down when emerging from a junction
-not checking for other road users when emerging from a slip road, onto a dual carriageway
-being positioned too far to the left when turning right onto a minor road, holding up vehicles behind you
-approaching a junction too fast, making it difficult to make observations
-swerving in the opposite direction prior to turning
You can work on:
-using the mirrors – signal – manoeuvre (MSM) routine
-using the position – speed – look (PSL) routine to improve your manoeuvres
-approaching and emerging at a variety of different junctions
You will marked on:
-Control – your ability to control the car
-Safety – your ability to perform this action safely
You need to show you can move off safely and under control throughout your test.
This included:
-from the side of the road
-on a slope or hill (gradient)
-from behind a parked vehicle, so you have to move off at an angle
-at junctions
You should use your mirrors and check blind spots to observe your surroundings, and signal when necessary. Your control of the car should prevent it from rolling backwards.
-trying to move off without appropriate control and rolling back
-not properly checking your blind spots
-moving off into the path of an oncoming vehicle
You can work on:
-using the mirrors – signal – manoeuvre (MSM) routine
-planning a safe and appropriate time to move off
You need to recognise each type of pedestrian crossing and react correctly to them.
Examples of faults
-stopping on a crossing (not before)
-moving off before a pedestrian has completely cleared the crossing
-approaching a crossing too fast
-failing to stop at a crossing
When asked to by your examiner, you need to pull up and stop at a safe place on the side of the road. This needs to be done in the first safe place available.
When parked, your car should not be a hazard to other road users.
Remember to ask yourself, Is it Safe, Is it Convenient, Is it Legal!
-partially or completely blocking a driveway
-obstructing other road users
-parking with one or more wheels on the pavement
-parking too far from the kerb
You could work on:
-spotting safe and legal places to stop on the side of the road
-stopping on a hill or gradient
You will be marked on:
-Normal driving – your position of the car when driving such as not driving too close to the pavement or lines
-Lane discipline – your ability to maintain your position within the lane
You need to show you can keep your car correctly positioned on the road, staying within the correct lane, without driving too close to the lines.
-driving too close to the pavement, putting pedestrians at risk
-driving too close to the centre of the road, putting other road users at risk
-driving for too long in the right-hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason
-straddling lanes causing issues for other road users
You can work on:
-identifying lane markings on the road
-changing lanes using mirrors – signal – manoeuvre (MSM)
Before you start driving, you should perform a few safety checks. This includes making sure:
-your seat is positioned correctly, and you can reach all the controls
-your mirrors are positioned correctly
-all doors are shut
-the handbrake or parking brake is on
-adjusting seat or mirrors while driving
-moving away with incorrectly aligned mirrors
You can work on:
Spending time practising and improving this skill with your driving instructor or supervising driver. Use the time to familiarise yourself with the car’s controls and features. Make sure you do all your checks before setting off including adjusting your seat and mirrors.
You will be marked on:
-appropriate speed – your ability to drive at an appropriate speed for the road and traffic conditions
-undue hesitation – your ability to maintain progress, and not hesitate and slow down when you do not need to
You should drive at a speed appropriate for the road and traffic conditions, without holding up other road users.
-not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so
-driving too slow unnecessarily, holding up following traffic
-driving well below the speed limit on clear roads
-waiting unnecessarily for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you
You can work on:
-keeping up with the flow of traffic and making confident decisions when emerging
-driving in different weather conditions
You should recognise and reacted correctly to signs and signals on the road. This includes:
-road signs
-road markings
-traffic lights
-traffic controllers
-other road users
-taking up space meant for cyclists when stopping at a red traffic light
-reacting late or not at all to a speed limit change sign
-not stopping at a compulsory stop sign
-driving in a bus lane when sign says you should not
-driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked
You will be marked on:
-Control – your ability to control the car while reversing
-Observation – your ability to check your surroundings for other road users or hazards while parking
Your examiner will ask you to either:
-reverse park into a space on the side of the road, behind another car – you should be within 2 car lengths of the vehicle in front, and parallel to the pavement
-reverse into a parking bay, then drive out – you should be straight and central with in the space before exiting
-having to reposition the car a lot, due to poor control
-touching or driving over the pavement
-not taking all round effective observations
-not finishing within the marked bay
You can work on:
-making adjustments once you’re in the space
-reversing into different size spaces
You will be marked on:
-Control – your ability to control the car when reversing
-Observation – your ability to check your surroundings for other road users or hazards
You need to pull up on the right-hand side of the road and reverse for 2 car lengths. You should remain reasonably close to the pavement, without touching it.
-not being aware of a hazard or other road user when reversing
-relying on just the mirrors to check surroundings
-touching or driving onto the pavement
-not judging oncoming traffic safely when moving across to the right
-being too far from the pavement when parked
You can work on:
-making effective all-round observations when reversing
-practicing pulling up on the right on a variety of roads
You will be marked on:
-necessary – your ability to use signals when you need to
-correctly – your ability to use the correct signals
-timed – your ability to use signals that are not too late or too early
Throughout the test, you should use appropriate signals to let everyone around know what you were about to do. This should be done in good time.
-signalling left or right, but not turning
-signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead
-signalling too late for the signal to be effective
-signalling too early so your intentions are not clear
You can work on:
-giving signals in good time
-using signals correctly
You need to show you can use your rear-view mirror and door mirrors (wing mirrors) to see what’s behind or to the side of your car. This should be done in good time, well before appropriate situations.
You need to show you can use your mirrors at the correct time.
Some situations where you need to use mirrors include:
-signalling
-changing direction or lanes
-changing speed
Your examiner will monitor this throughout your test.
-checking mirrors after or at the same time as signalling
-changing lanes on a roundabout without checking your mirrors effectively
-trying to change lanes on a dual carriageway without checking your mirrors effectively
-pulling up at the side of the road without signalling to following traffic when appropriate
You can work on using the mirrors – signal – manoeuvre (MSM) routine.
You need to show you can drive at a safe and reasonable speed when appropriate.
Your examiner will assess this throughout your test.
You should take into consideration the conditions of the road, the amount of traffic, road signs and signals, and the speed limit.
-driving over the speed limit
-not adjusting your speed to road conditions
You can work on:
-driving on a variety of roads with different speed limits
-driving in different weather conditions
You will be asked 2 vehicle safety questions during your test.
The examiner will ask you one:
‘tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving
‘show me’ question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving
-losing control of the car when answering the ‘show me’ question
-getting one or both questions wrong
Chesterfield Automatic Driving School | Female Instructor
Green • Red • Amber • Training
Call / Message :- 07798 856 777
Email :- drive@grat.com
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