Drivers licence tips for passing your drivers test
When you already have a booking you must go within 3 days to confirm. Don't forget to take your learners licence, ID, copy of ID, and 4 color photos (only need 1 for now, will need the other 3 once you pass the test)
Get the form, fill it in, take it to the desk and get it signed, go for eye test, pay.
The drivers test:
Check that you have enough petrol in the car (at least an hour and a half’s worth). Go to the testing office about 15-20 min. before the test (the earlier you are, the more time you have to calm your nerves down!! Remember to relax! It’s just a stupid test, you know your stuff, you know what to do, you WILL pass!)
Test consists of a pre-trip inspection, a yard test (takes about 15 min), and a road test (about 20 min.)….if this is your 2nd time, you should know this anyway.
Remember:
- Always keep an eye out for road surface markings
- Do not cross any solid barrier lines (yard test and road test)
- Open your eyes to traffic signs, stop signs, red line and stop signs.
- Your speed limit should never exceed 50KM/H
- Always use the hand brake. Make sure you have sufficient clutch and petrol before releasing parking brake.
- You can always stop, and ask the examiner for a second attempt (parallel parking and alley docking)
- Remember the yard sequence is ... Handbrake-Neutral, Look 5, Indicate, Gear, Get clutch control, Look 5 and Blind spot
- When at a stop sign, and another car is in front of you, and moves off, you must also STOP at the stop sign after him ( do not just follow him and cross)
- Always expect a command from the examiner
- Keep checking rear-view mirror every 5 seconds, before changing gears, and before slowing down or accelerating.
Pre-trip inspection:
He/she will then start the stopwatch, and you begin with the pre-trip inspection.
Exterior:
1. Under vehicle for obstructions and leaks.
2. Wipers (pull up)
3. Tyres (check tread)
4. Mention that oil, water, brake fluid and fan belt CHECKED.
5. Lenses and reflectors are fine.
6. Fuel cap is closed.
Interior:
1. Doors CLOSED
2. Parking brake SET
3. Gear in NEUTRAL
4. No obstructions on pedals
5. Seat ADJUSTED
6. Mirrors ADJUSTED
7. Check lights OPERATIVE (depends on car, make sure you know how to operate)
8. Check indicators OPERATIVE (left and right)
9. Wipers OPERATIVE (left strg. Wheel lever)
10. Horn operative.
Driving to the yard:
While driving to the yard, do not violate any traffic laws.
Look out for all the yard stop sign.
Stop just after the gate, but don’t obstruct anyone wanting to exit the gate.
Incline:
The examiner will then get out of the car, ask you to position for the
incline start, so go ahead. Keep enough petrol and speed when going up, CLUTCH
IN BEFORE STOPPING SO THAT YOU DON’T JERK THE CAR AND ROLL. BRAKE HARD WHEN
STOPPING, HOLD THE BRAKES IN TIGHT UNTIL HANDBRAKE IS FULLY (As much as it will
go!!) UP. Remember, get your clutch until the car “bucks”, then HOLD THE CLUTCH
EXACTLY THERE. Apply some throttle and MAINTAIN THAT THROTTLE POSITION. INDICATE
LEFT, OBSERVE, AND GO! RELEASE PARKING BRAKE SLOWLY AND MOVE. IF YOU ROLL, YOU
FAIL! Money down the drain…..call centre nightmare all over again!! So get it
right, but RELAX!! J It’s not so hard/bad.
Parallel parking:
Drive to the left parallel parking box, and stop. Handbrake up, gear neutral,
and wait for examiners instructions to proceed.
Procedure for left parallel parking (left):
1. Parking brake UP
2. Gear NEUTRAL
3. FULL OBSERVATION
4. Indicate LEFT
5. Gear in REVERSE (ENSURE THAT IT IS IN FACT IN REVERSE,SOME DRIVING SCHOOL
CARS GEARBOXES HAVE SEEN THEIR DAYS!!)
6. Get enough clutch so that you don’t roll.
7. Full observation
8. Release handbrake and go, not too fast. Don’t go faster than you can walk!!
9. Once you see the 3rd pole in the rear window (the small one, not big one),
ie. When the pole is in line with the rear tire, check RIGHT BLIND SPOT and lock
full left.
10. Keep maintaining your speed, brake if necessary, but not too much. Don’t
stop, and DON’T ROLL.
11. Once you see the third pole in the middle of your right rear-view mirror,
check that the bonnet of your car will not hit the pole. If it won’t, then lock
full right. If it will hit the pole, then STRAIGHTEN QUICKLY (twice), go a bit
back until you’re safe, but keep checking the left rear-view mirror so that you
don’t hit the kerb. Once you’re safe, lock FULL RIGHT, until you’re in the box.
Keep checking rear-view mirror so that you don’t hit the poles in the back!!
12. Do not counter-steer once you’ve stopped, else you will hit the pole when
coming out!!
13. Apply parking brake, gear neutral, and wait for examiner to tell you to go
to the 3-point-turn parking block.
14. Get clutch, ensure steering wheel is locked, release prk. brake, check taxi
right, and go. Watch out for ANY BARRIER/SOLID WHITE LINES!!
15. Drive to the 3-point turn bay and stop.
Turn in the road:
1. For this, you only get ONE CHANCE to get it right.
2. Observe, indicate right, gear 1, get clutch, observe, then go straight.
3. When your shoulder has passed the end of the block line (this is the block in
which you park), go a little bit further (count 1-2-3 quickly), then lock full
right. Keep locked, and go as far as you can without hitting the kerb. Remember
to counter-steer before you stop. Once stopped, parking brake up, gear in
neutral.
4. Obs., indicate left, gear REVERSE, get clutch, observe, and go. Once you
start moving, lock full left and straighten! Once your shoulder is in the middle
of the block, then stop, prk. brake up and gear neutral.
5. Obs., indicate right, gear 1, get clutch and a bit of petrol since you now on
a bit of a incline, obs. Again, then go straight. When your shoulder passes the
lane line, lock full right, and go a bit slow to get minimum turning radius.
MAKE SURE you DON’T stop after the stop line, and that ALL 4 TIRES are now on
the left lane before stopping! Stop, handbrake up, and gear neutral.
Parallel parking (right):
1. Drive to the parallel parking block, and stop. Wait for instructions to
proceed.
2. Observe, indicate right, gear reverse, get clutch, obs. Again, and go. Once
you see the 3rd pole in the middle of the rear-right window, check left
blindspot and then lock full right. Maintain walking speed, and check left
rear-view mirror, once you see the 3rd pole in the left rear-view mirror (and a
little bit of the yellow pavement), check that you won’t hit the bonnet with the
front pole (by locking full right). If you see that you are going to hit it,
then STRAIGHTEN QUICKLY (twice left), and go a bit back, keep checking the right
rear-view mirror so that you don’t hit the kerb. Once you’re satisfied that the
bonnet will not hit the front pole, LOCK LEFT. Brake to maintain walking speed.
Check rear-view mirror and straighten once in the block. Stop. Do not
counter-steer
3. Wait for examiner’s instructions for you to proceed to the alley docking
(left) parking block. Obs, indicate, gear 1, obs, check taxi, and go. Watch out
for any solid barrier lines while driving to the alley docking block.
Alley docking (left and right):
1. You get 2 attempts for alley docking. If you see that you’re not going to
make it (maybe you locked too early), then stop, apply prk. brake, gear neutral,
and request 2nd attempt.
2. Obs. Indicate left/right, gear in REVERSE, get some petrol so you don’t roll
forward, obs. again, and reverse slowly (walking speed.)
3. Just before the first pole crosses the windscreen (just before it crosses the
licence disc), check blindspot in the opposite side, then lock full left. Keep
locked left until you’re in the parking bay. Keep checking right rear-view
mirror until you’re in! Maintain walking speed, don’t stop, don’t roll.
4. Once you’re approaching the parking bay, straighten, and position yourself to
be equally spaced from the left and right-hand side poles. Turn strg. Wheel left
if you’re to close to the right pole, or turn it right if you’re too close to
the left pole.
5. Straighten once you’re aligned and inside, and stop when the 2nd pole from
the rear is in line with your shoulder.
6. The procedure for right-alley docking is the same, except that your marking
is when the pole crosses the middle of the right rear-view mirror. Keep checking
your left rear-view mirror to see that you will make it into the bay, also turn
your head to look behind you out of the rear windscreen if you want to, but not
for too long. Stay locked, and maintain walking speed. Do not roll! Remember to
use a bit of petrol if the clutch isn’t enough (especially if you’re reversing
up a slight incline!)
The road test:
Once you’ve completed all the yard parking exercises, the examiner will get in
the car.
Remember, seatbelts on (request the instructor to put his/her seatbelts on as
well).
You will then be required to do the “starting procedure”, as follows (verbally
actuated):
1. Parking brake UP
2. Gear in NEUTRAL
3. Car has AUTOMATIC CHOKE
4. START ENGINE
5. WARNING LIGHTS AND GAUGES OFF
For Benoni:
Stop before the stop sign, prk. brake up, gear neutral. OIGO. You will be
turning right onto the street. Keep on the far right lane, as you will be
turning right again at the next intersection.
Remember, when turning, to change lanes if required.
During the road test, you will be required to perform 3 hand signals (left,
right, and stop), as well as an emergency stop.
Left-turn hand signal:
MMB (left side mirror, rear view mirror, left blindspot), indicate left. Open
window, MMB (this time, check right side mirror+blindspot), and extend arm out
window while rotating it counter-clockwise for about 2-3 seconds.
Right-turn hand signal:
MMB (right mirror+blind spot), ind. Right, mmb (right), extend arm straight,
pointed to the right, palm facing forwards for 2-3 seconds.
Stop hand signal:
MMB (right), extend arm out, bend 90 deg. at elbow, parm facing forward, for 2-3
seconds.
Emergency stop:
1. Maintain not more than 40km/h
2. When examiner says STOP:
3. Check rear-view mirror
4. Rapidly depress both clutch and brakes simulatenously, HARD.
5. Keep wheels straight.
6. YOU WILL FAIL IF YOU DON’T DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
Day before the test:
1. Go through mark sheet (if you failed before, you should still have a copy),
remember what they will be checking.
2. Relax.
3. Don’t get nervous, you will only make a stupid mistake. If you get nervous,
ask examiner for a 1 minute break.
4. At the end of the test, when driving back to Lakeside mall and turning right
onto the street, before changing lanes to the left (to turn into lakeside),
watch out for the red line, only change lanes once you passed it.
5. At the end of the test, when getting out of the car, before opening the door,
check right blind spot, else you lose 5 points just for that!