Going for driving test any tips?

[booboo]

Failed :(.

Gutted.

[Soldiers33]

i got a driving test on 28th April, just would like to ask some questions. In UK is it necessary to always put on the handbreak at traffic light? Also how likely am I to be asked to reverse park into a bay or around a corner?

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

Drive like a grandma on your test. Move your head with your eyes when checking your mirrors, don't just shift your eyes - they can't always see where your eyes are looking at.

[booboo]

i got a driving test on 28th April, just would like to ask some questions. In UK is it necessary to always put on the handbreak at traffic light? Also how likely am I to be asked to reverse park into a bay or around a corner?

Yes, you must do it. And well there's 5 manuevers you'll be asked to do 2 of them. I got to do parellel park and 3 point turn in a road.

Drive like a grandma on your test. Move your head with your eyes when checking your mirrors, don't just shift your eyes - they can't always see where your eyes are looking at.

That's what I got failed for, not seeing a motorbike behind me going down a road (when I did, it was yellow and black) but he insisted I didn't see it... ******. He has never passed one of my instructors pupils and he's been doing it for 30 years (and he's grade 6, the highest). I'm not making excuses but I do believe I shouldn't of failed.

[Brian M. Veteran]

Failed :(.

Gutted.

Damn, what wen't wrong? But don't worry about it, there's always a next time! Sorry had the window open for a while.

i got a driving test on 28th April, just would like to ask some questions. In UK is it necessary to always put on the handbreak at traffic light? Also how likely am I to be asked to reverse park into a bay or around a corner?

You'll be asked to do any 2 manoeuvres from: reverse bay parking, parallel parking, turn in the road, reverse left around a corner. You may also have to do an emergency (sorry, controlled! :p) stop.

For the test, yes, you should put the handbrake on when at traffic lights (my instructor said that if you're likely to be stopped for more than 5 seconds, put the handbrake on).

[Soldiers33]

Damn, what wen't wrong? But don't worry about it, there's always a next time! Sorry had the window open for a while.

You'll be asked to do any 2 manoeuvres from: reverse bay parking, parallel parking, turn in the road, reverse left around a corner. You may also have to do an emergency (sorry, controlled! :p) stop.

For the test, yes, you should put the handbrake on when at traffic lights (my instructor said that if you're likely to be stopped for more than 5 seconds, put the handbrake on).

looks like ill have to give them 5 more practise. Also what do you mean by turn in the road?

[Brian M. Veteran]

Turn in the road = 3 point turn (well, it's called TIR because you can use more than 3 points).

[Soldiers33]

Turn in the road = 3 point turn (well, it's called TIR because you can use more than 3 points).

ok thx, i just hope i dnt get anything to do with bay parking and or parrarel parking.

[booboo]

ok thx, i just hope i dnt get anything to do with bay parking and or parrarel parking.

If your driving instructor shows you the correct technique, they are very very very easy. People make them out to sound a lot harder than you think...

[Soldiers33]

If your driving instructor shows you the correct technique, they are very very very easy. People make them out to sound a lot harder than you think...

my driving instructor is my dad lol. I can do them alright, its just that with bay parking i nearly always end up on the line, then if i try turning a bit later i end up on both bays.

[Brian M. Veteran]

my driving instructor is my dad lol. I can do them alright, its just that with bay parking i nearly always end up on the line, then if i try turning a bit later i end up on both bays.

Do yourself a favour - book yourself a few hours with a professional driving instructor (maybe 2 hours a week from now until your test).

[Soldiers33]

Do yourself a favour - book yourself a few hours with a professional driving instructor (maybe 2 hours a week from now until your test).

ive had some lessons before with a professional instructor, he said I drive good, and just need 2 practise more to do the bay parking and stuff. I dont think im going to book another one becuase they just waste your time by talking and telling you stuff i already know. I tell them over and over again I already know this but they still continue.

[Billus]

Driving stick? Avoid "clutch cruising" and staying in gears too long. "Optimum" gear changes are at 20, 40, 60 and 80km/h. Everyone says drive slowly and carefully which is true, just don't drive too slowly or you might end up making mistakes. Don't grab the inside of the wheel when you turn. Get off the accelerator when you go over a hill. Drive the recommended speed if it differs from the speed limit. Make it obvious that you are doing your shoulder checks, not a quick glimpse of your mirrors and rely on peripheral vision.

Parking is quite easy. Admittedly, I didn't have to do any parallel parking whatsoever for my test (thank the heavens lol). A simply excuse if you do a regular park is to say you misjudged it. Parallel parking from what I heard is not easy to get away with. You get marked on your pull-up to the car (indicators, mirror to mirror or seat to seat or bumper to bumper however you were taught), chuck in reverse (handbrake, look back, shoulder check and indicate) then pull in whilst watching for any oncoming traffic. When you pull out, indicate, shoulder and mirror check and pull out slowly. Best use the handbrake when pulling out.

If in doubt with the speed limit (got caught out on my first attempt, 55 in a 40km/h zone lol (instructor asked if I knew the speed limit, response: Umm, probs between 40-50, dunno aye, what you reckon? Probs not the best response to give) go the minimum speed or the "school zone" speed and match the traffic albeit a lil' slower if you encounter any.

Also, if you see previous driving instructors going past, say hello with a smile. Chances are, one of them might be the one that takes you out to take your license. I had a good chat with mine before, during and after my exam and that was good cause he was a lil' lenient towards me.

Many people fail the first time (especially those who drive manual) and according to some statistics, it's a good thing.

Anyways, best of luck!

[Dane Tweedale]

If you get the bay parking you usually do it at the test center car park where the bays are wider and it really is easy.

[Brian M. Veteran]

If you get the bay parking you usually do it at the test center car park where the bays are wider and it really is easy.

You can only do the bay-parking manoeuvre at a test centre car park. Granted, they can go to another test centre if they don't have a car park, but they rarely do.

[Stephen Veteran]

Driving stick? Avoid "clutch cruising" and staying in gears too long. "Optimum" gear changes are at 20, 40, 60 and 80km/h. Everyone says drive slowly and carefully which is true, just don't drive too slowly or you might end up making mistakes. Don't grab the inside of the wheel when you turn. Get off the accelerator when you go over a hill. Drive the recommended speed if it differs from the speed limit. Make it obvious that you are doing your shoulder checks, not a quick glimpse of your mirrors and rely on peripheral vision.

That depends entirely on the car

[booboo]

That depends entirely on the car

Yes but most vehicles that learner's learn in has an engine capacity between 1.2-1.6 (max) so that is about right for those engines. I

Keep it below 2.5k revs per gear change

[cooky560 Veteran]

Most cars you can tell when to change from how the engine sounds, many cars in the past here didn't even come with Rev counters.

[_neutrino Veteran]

Best tip i can give is to Drive like your grandmother is in the car and try to ignore the proctor as much as possible.

[StrikedOut]

That depends entirely on the car

Also depends on the road and conditions.

[Dan~]

Don't fail

[mduren2445]

let out a real nasty F**T so that it brings tears to the one testing you and they can't see what you are doing :D Just kidding just relax and drive like you know you can

[rijp]

I'm pretty good at normal driving my only problem-causers could be parallel parking and/or reverse stall parking.

Do you guys have any tips for going to your driving test?

Thanks

If you are nervous then that means one thing (and this applies to public speaking as well).

you ready.. you need MORE practice. You should be able to do it ...without thinking. If you think about it, it means that you are worried, you are worried because you are not adequately prepared. Think of it this way... YOU will be driving a LOT when you get your license, this is just the first step to PROVE you can handle. We know you can handle it so just go out there and do it!

Get someone to give you more practice before the REAL test.. that's the best advice. Keep doing it to where you don't even think about it.

Yes but most vehicles that learner's learn in has an engine capacity between 1.2-1.6 (max) so that is about right for those engines. I

Keep it below 2.5k revs per gear change

you are the type person that makes people nervous there is no set limit for revs..what if you are going up a hill? That number will go up.. who watches the revs while driving, your eyes SHOULD remain on the road, so this isn't good advice AT ALL.

Ridiculous and it's incorrect. Listen to the engine.. you know how hard you are pressing the pedal and you SHOULD tell from knowing the car you are driving.. that's how you shift not by watching the console.. that's REALLY bad idea. you don't watch instruments when you drive, those are there for reference, not to use to drive with!

[cooky560 Veteran]

Agreed, eyes on road, you'll usually hear when the engine wants a gear change. I've never looked At rpm counter

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

I'm guessing no one bothered to check the date of the original post: August 5, 2007. :laugh: