If you’re taking your driving test for the first time, or if you’ve previously failed a driving test, read on, this article is for you. No doubt you will be working hard to master the maneuvers and swat up on the theory but what about those common mistakes that everybody makes – those can be the make or break of your driving test success. In this article we dive into five of the most common mistakes learner make on their Australian driving test. Don’t miss out on these top tips that will help you onto the open road the first time.
When going for your driving test it’s easy to think it’s all about the practical side of things, that’s what driving is, after all, getting behind the wheel. But don’t be so hasty, unless you understand how the roads work and what your responsibilities are you coils be the best driver in the world but you won’t pass the test.
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Too many people make the mistake of not studying the books early enough then they don’t have the knowledge needed to read the road signs and answer the examiner’s questions. Don’t forget there’s a theory test as well that’s just as important as the practical side.
If you want to pass your driver’s test sooner rather than later then get your books out early and start studying. The more you know about how to blend with traffic on the highway and read obscure roadsigns the better chance you have of getting a winning handshake at the end of your test.
On your driving test, there are a million things to watch out for, you have to check the mirrors, watch other traffic on the road, pay attention to the examiner and make turns when asked. Another thing you need to mindful of is your speed – too many first-time drivers get caught out with speed on their tests.
If you’re going one or two km over the speed limit that might be fine – it depends on the examiner – but it’s better if you can stay at the speed limit or a little below it, to be on the safe side. Also, be careful of driving too slowly, learner drivers are often guilty of this as they’re nervous but it can lead to marks against you.
Whether you are on your test or not mindfulness of speed is an important factor. The speed limits are there for a reason, you don’t realise how fast you are actually going in a car, even at a slow speed, and how much damage you can do. Always pay attention to speed limits and ere on the side of caution.
Observation checks are crucial during your driving test and not just for passing the exam. Observation checks are something you will need when you get onto the open road for the first time, they will keep you and other road users safe from unexpected collisions and will ensure you’re paying proper attention to your driving.
This is one reason watch for observation checks, if you aren’t checking your mirrors every five to eight seconds then you may not be paying proper attention to the road. Observation checks are the same as awareness of what’s going on around you, and they can be life-saving.
As well as your mirrors always check your blind spots before moving off at the traffic lights, parking, or moving off from the side of the road and when entering and exiting roundabouts, and when changing lanes on highways.
If you’ve read your theory books you will understand the rules around stop signs and red lights. Still, it can be hard to put that theory into action sometimes. Rolling through stop signs and red lights is a very common mistake learner drivers make on their tests.
A stop sign is a red octagonal shape that says stop in capitals through the centre, they are used to signal right of way at an intersection and to make sure that traffic flows predictably, these signs are usually placed in areas where it is hard to see oncoming traffic and therefore extra important that you make the stop.
Similarly, red lights must be stopped even if the light is just turning, you can’t roll through one without stopping completely. Your examiner will mark you down if you don’t completely stop at stop signs and red lights – these may not be major faults but they could cost you in the end.
5. Neglecting Reverse Parking
Reverse parking is not a standard part of the driving test, rather it can be included at the examiner’s discretion, for this reason – and because it is a difficult maneuver to master – many learners neglect to practice it. The problem is that failing a reverse parking maneuver can result in a failed test.
Your examiner might suddenly ask you to pull up beside a car and perform a reverse parking maneuver; you will then have to reverse into the empty spot making sure to check the roads for traffic and stop if necessary. The examiner will watch you the entire time to make sure you are checking your mirrors appropriately and will finally check your resting distance from the curb.
Even if you aren’t requested to perform this maneuver on the test it’s essential to know for qualified drivers, so it’s a win-win to practice this one until you get it perfected. It has the bonus of winning you a parking spot in those hard-to-reach places.
There are a million things that can go wrong on a driving test that can cause you to fail, the point of practicing is to reduce these possibilities and increase your chances of success. One good way of doing this is to learn from other people’s mistakes. Five of the most likely mistakes are listed above – these include a lack of study, the speed limit, observation check, stop signs and reverse parking.
If you want to almost guarantee that you will pass your test first time, A&V Driving School offers Driving Test Preparation Lessons that take you through a mock test to prepare you.