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Britain is generally considered to have one of the hardest driving tests in the world, with Germany a possible second. Setting aside driving tests in the developing nations, the United States probably has the easiest tests. In some States, tests can be taken as early as the age of 14.
To determine toughness we consider the length of the test and how the examiner assesses the drive. In Britain, where the candidate makes an error, the examiner has to assess what caused the fault and determine the degree of seriousness at the time.
A driving fault is one, which in itself is not potentially dangerous. However, a candidate who habitually commits a driving fault in one aspect of driving throughout the test, demonstrating an inability to deal with certain situations, cannot be regarded as competent to pass the test, as that fault alone must be seen as potentially dangerous.
A serious fault is one, which is potentially dangerous. A dangerous fault is one involving actual danger to the examiner, candidate, the general public or property.
The 25 driving error categories are listed below. Within each category we have itemised typical faults.
1. Eyesight Test
You are committing an offence if you are unable to read a new style registration plate from a distance of 20 metres. The old style plate has to be read from a minimum distance of 20.5 metres. Examiners will estimate a longer distance than this.
2. Emergency Stop
Promptness - Late or slow reaction to the signal
Control - Applying the handbrake before stopping / Skidding out of control / Missing the foot pedal / Letting go of the steering wheel
3/4. Reverse to the Left or to the Right
Control - Poor co-ordination of controls / Stalling / Mounting the pavement or kerb / Turning the steering wheel the wrong way / Going wide after the corner / Finishing at an acute angle / Scrubbing-brushing-touching the kerb / Taking an excessive amount of time to complete the manoeuvre
Observation - No blind spot checks / No observation at or before the point of turn / Excessive use of the door mirrors / Not looking directly behind / Not responding to passing or approaching vehicles / Not reacting to pedestrians / Waiting unnecessarily for other roads users
5. Reverse Parking
Control - Poor co-ordination of controls / Scrubbing-brushing the kerb / Unnecessary shunting backwards and forwards / Getting too close to the object car / Mounting the pavement
Turning the steering wheel the wrong way / Parking too far from the kerb / Stalling / Not completing within two car lengths / Finishing at an acute angle to the kerb
Car Park - Poor co-ordination of controls / Ending up straddling two bays / Unnecessary shunting forwards and backwards / Turning the steering wheel the wrong way / Stalling
Observation - No blind spot checks / Relying too much or entirely on the mirrors / Ineffective observation / Looking but not responding to other vehicles or pedestrians / Waiting too long for other users in the car park
6. Turn in the Road
Control - Poor co-ordination of controls / Mounting the pavement or kerb / Stalling / Turning the wheel the wrong way / Taking an excessively long time to complete the manoeuvre
Observation - No blind spot checks / Not looking to the left or right before reversing or pulling forwards / Not looking directly behind / Not responding to passing or approaching vehicles / Not reacting to pedestrians / Waiting unnecessarily for other road users
7. Vehicle Checks
Candidates are asked two questions at the start of their practical driving test. These questions are in pre-set combinations and comprise of one “Show me” and one “Tell me” question. This is why this element of the test is also known as “Show me Tell me”. Failure to answer one or both questions correctly will result in one driver fault being recorded.
Examples of questions are “tell me where you would find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked”. (Answer - Manufacturer’s guide, use a reliable pressure gauge, check and adjust pressures when tyres are cold, don’t forget spare tyre, remember to refit valve caps). “Show me how you would check that the direction indicators are working”.
8. Precautions before starting the engine
Leaving in gear with the clutch up and starting the engine
9. Use of the Controls
Accelerator - Uncontrolled use / Excessive engine revs
Clutch - Not depressing the clutch pedal before stopping / Uncontrolled engagement after changing gear
Gears - Clutch Coasting / Looking down when changing gear resulting loss of steering control / Selecting the wrong gear for the road and traffic conditions
Footbrake - Uncontrolled use resulting in pulling up to early or too late / Late or harsh braking / Missing the brake pedal completely
Handbrake - Applying whilst in motion / Not applying where necessary resulting in rolling forwards or backwards / Allowing the vehicle to “creep” with an automatic / Unable to release fully
Steering - Unable to maintain a steady course in normal driving / “Swan Neck” turns when turning right / At a normal stop, mounting and dismounting the kerb / Not following the contour of the kerb at a bell mouth junction / Late steering to avoid an obstruction / Failing to correct the steering soon enough after left-right turns / Under and over steering on turns
10. Move away
Safely - No blind spot checks / incorrectly timed checks / Moving away unsafely / Blind spot check only over the left shoulder / Pulling away with the left signal on
Under Control - Stalling / Repeated stalling / Moving off with the handbrake applied / Rolling backwards when attempting to move off / Not engaging a gear and attempting to move off / Attempting to pull away in too higher gear
11. Use of Mirrors well before
Signalling-Changing direction-Stopping / Not using the exterior mirrors when essential / Using the mirrors but not responding to the information / Not using the mirrors at all / Pulling up with no mirror checks / Increasing speed with no mirror checks / Late use of mirrors
12. Giving Appropriate Signals
Where necessary - Omitting to re-apply when it self cancels / Omitting to give a signal where necessary
Correctly - Signalling unnecessarily / Wrong arm signals / Omitting to cancel after use
Incorrect (i.e. left for right, right for left) / Flashing the headlights at another driver to proceed or turn / Having the hazard lights on whilst on the move / Unnecessary use of the horn / Beckoning pedestrians / Misleading signal before intended left and right turn
Properly Timed - Giving late exit signals at roundabouts / Arriving at a junction and then signalling / Signalling after starting the manoeuvre / Signalling far too early or too late
13 Clearance to Obstructions
Driving too close to stationary vehicles and obstructions
14. Response to Signs and Signals
Traffic signs - Going to the wrong side of a keep left sign / Non-compliance with a Stop sign / Non-compliance with a No Entry sign / Driving in a Bus Lane when times on the sign prohibit its use / Not complying with Mandatory signs
Road markings - Unnecessarily crossing the solid white centre lines / Not conforming to directional arrows / Stopping in a yellow box junction when the exit is not clear
Traffic lights - Waiting at a green filter light when safe to proceed / Not conforming to a red light / Late reaction to the amber traffic light / Remaining at the stop line when safe to move forwards
Traffic controller - Police / Traffic warden / School crossing patrol / Other persons directing traffic
Other road users - Not reacting appropriately to the signals given by other road users
15. Use of Speed
Driving too fast for prevailing road, traffic and weather conditions / Breaking the speed limit
16. Following Distance
Getting too close to moving vehicles / Pulling up too close to vehicle ahead
17. Maintain Progress by
Driving at an appropriate speed for the road and traffic conditions -Holding up following traffic
Avoiding undue hesitation - Stopping unnecessarily at junctions and other hazards / Not proceeding when it is safe to do so at junctions
18 Junctions
Approach speed - Approaching too fast / Approaching too slow
Observation - Not taking effective observation before emerging / Looking both ways but still emerging to affect other road users
Turning right - Positioning too far to the left / Positioning too far to the right / On major to minor stopping short of the turning point / Incorrect position before turning right
Turning left - Positioning too fat to the right or too close to the kerb / Swinging out prior to reaching the corner / Positioning in an unmarked in appropriate lane to turn left
Cutting Right Corners - Cutting corners, from major to minor roads
19. Judgement when
Overtaking - Cutting in after overtaking / Attempting to overtake in a hazardous place / Unsafe overtaking
Meeting Traffic - Failure to show proper judgement when meeting approaching traffic
Crossing Traffic - Turning right across the path of oncoming road users
20 Positioning
Normal driving - Too close to the kerb / Too far from the kerb / Not using bus or cycle lanes when the times allow its use / On dual carriageways driving in the right hand lane / Cutting across the normal road position when going ahead at roundabouts
Lane discipline - Straddling lanes marked on roundabouts when going ahead or when turning / Straddling a bus lane
21 Pedestrian Crossings
Approaching too fast / Not reacting the lights at a pedestrian controlled crossing / Pulling away well before the crossing is clear of pedestrians / Not stopping when necessary / Beckoning pedestrians to cross
22 Position for Normal Stops
Normal stop not made in a safe position / Both nearside wheels on the kerb-pavement / Over a driveway / At a bus stop / Too far from the kerb / Too near to a junction / Opposite other parked vehicles
23 Awareness and Planning
Failure to judge what other road users are going to do and react accordingly
24 Ancillary Controls
Failure to use ancillary controls when necessary / Unable to operate controls / Not able to locate or operate essential ancillary controls / Loss of control whilst operating ancillary controls
25 Eco-Safe driving
Control – Excessive revving when starting or moving away / Accelerator (as above) /
Needless gear changes and not changing up where possible / Appropriate use of speed (as above)
Planning – As above / Use engine braking when possible / Stopping the engine if you are likely to be at a standstill for a while
Driving Examiners are very carefully selected and receive specialist training on conducting tests. Having been taught how to record a candidate’s performance, their work is closely supervised by senior examiners who may sit-in on tests.
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