A 'perfect drive' is not expected. A safe drive is. Keep a cool head, do things in the way you've been taught by your Driving Instructor.
If you make a mistake, put it behind you and concentrate on what's happening ahead. The amount of time you actually spend driving will be between thirty and forty minutes.
1. Pre-Starting Checks
Before driving, complete your cockpit drill. The examiner will expect to wear a seat belt. Ensure that your handbrake is applied and that your gear lever is in neutral. No need to exaggerate these checks.
2. Starting Off
Having prepared the car to move away, use the mirrors and also observe the blind area by looking round properly over your right shoulder, not just a token glance. Take in what you see and remember your instructor's advice about the use of direction signals.
Most of the test will involve general forward driving using the Mirrors Signal Manoeuvre (MSM) routine, but there will be some special exercises including a couple of set piece manoeuvres and possibly an emergency stop. Because you'll be briefed about what to do at the side of the road, this means that you'll have to move away again each time. When you do, check whether you are on a hill or will be pulling off at an angle and remember to do so safely and under control.
3. The General Drive
Drive as though you are unaccompanied. Use the (Mirrors Signal Manoeuvre) MSM Driving Plan as taught by your instructor, so that you are always in the correct road position, travelling at the correct speed and in the correct gear for the circumstances. Concentrate on reading the road and follow the route leading ahead, listening carefully for the examiner's directions to turn. These will be given clearly; concisely and in plenty of time.
Driving Test routes are designed to specifically include a broad range of road and traffic conditions. The most common hazard will be the road junction. Some of these will be in quiet residential streets; others could be crossroads controlled by traffic lights; a multi-exit roundabout; a single or double mini-roundabout. There'll be high streets featuring various types of pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes and bus stops; busy multi-lane one way systems; bends and hills; narrow roads lined with parked cars both sides; country lanes and fast dual carriageways carrying heavy lorries and other commercial vehicles. Expect all these regular hazards, along with temporary road works and changing weather conditions while you are judging and anticipating the actions of every kind of road user, including “white van man” and “school run mum”.
The examiner, as a trained observer will watch circumspectly and assess your car control and road procedure. With the awareness and anticipation taught by your instructor, you should be capable of demonstrating a smooth drive, combined with 'careful assertiveness' that causes the minimum of unnecessary inconvenience to other road users. This means making normal progress at all times. Although no speed limit is ever a target, you will be expected to drive at the maximum speed if this is safe and goes with the traffic flow. Most of the time you can expect to travel rather slower than the legal limits.
4. Special Exercises
During the test your examiner will ask you to pull up at a number of specific places at the side of the road. This is to give you instructions on each special exercise, all of which will be carried out on public roads. These include:
• Any two of three Set-Piece Manoeuvres • The Emergency Stop
The set piece manoeuvres in particular, test each basic driving skill, namely your ability to co-ordinate use of the car's foot and hand controls and at the same time observe for traffic and pedestrians.
Choice of which two of the three set piece manoeuvres usually depends on location availability. Remember, if there's a car park at the centre, you may be asked to reverse into a parking bay at the start, or the end of the test.
The conduct of an 'Emergency Stop' at the start of the driving test was originally included as a check the car's ability to stop; in the early days when braking systems were much less efficient. It has been retained under the auspices of a driver reaction and control test.
5. Set Piece Manoeuvres
“Corner Reverse” and the “Turning in the road”. Both the “reversing round a corner”, and the 'three-point turn' can be an easy and convenient way of turning the car back to go in the opposite direction. While there is a strong focus on car control and keeping reasonably accurate, it is very important to look out for other road users and let them go past if there's any risk of endangering them. Observe all round the outside of the car before the points of turn, and while reversing you need to look mainly over your shoulder in the direction of travel, without relying too much on the mirrors. If there's a physical benefit, release the seat belt, but do remember to put it back on again afterwards. During your tuition your instructor should cover how to cope with other drivers who are willing to wait for you, or want to pass you while you are causing obstruction. During either manoeuvre, unlike your instructor, the examiner will look steadfastly to the front.
“Reverse Parking”. You can be asked to reverse park on the public road behind a single car, or into a parking bay at the test centre if it has a car park. This is an essential basic skill for everyday use of the car. As with any manoeuvre in a confined space, moving the car slowly will give to time to be accurate and respond safely to other road users.
There are a number of techniques for successful manoeuvring, preferences varying according to the opinion of your instructor. Your examiner will accept any manoeuvre that is carried out under control, with reasonable accuracy and with enough observation as being satisfactory.
The “Emergency Stop” is conducted on one in three tests. Even for the best driver who is anticipating every move of other road users, there can be an emergency situation occasion when hard braking is needed.
The brief you are given on the exercise will include demonstration of the “Stop” hand signal to be used. When you move away, stay relaxed and drive normally.
When you receive the examiner's signal, react quickly and stop in the shortest distance you can, keeping the car under your full control. Your instructor will advise you on any braking and skid control techniques appropriate to the tuition car and road surface conditions.
During the test your examiner will have asked you to pull up many times. The most welcome stop is no doubt at the end of the test!
If you demonstrated an overall safe standard of driving you will have passed. Should you commit more than 15 driving faults, or make just one serious or dangerous fault, you will fail.
Pass or fail your instructor will usually drive you home! After the test, why not reward yourself for taking the test by doing something that you enjoy?
