What Happens On The Drivers Licence Road test Code 8 (B) | Taking The Road Test
Passing Your Driver License Test / Examination
The driver's licence road test is the final stage of your journey and you are almost there! If you get through this test you will be able to drive legally and you will get a driver's licence! The road test varies between 20 and 45 minutes depending on the examiner and what the road conditions are! Wearing your seatbelt is compulsory and this is no different in the drivers licence test. Your seatbelt must be worn while you are on the road. The position of your hands on the steering wheel are also vitally important. Two hands should be on the steering wheel at all times (Except for obvious times, like changing gears) and the steering wheel should be held at a 'ten to two' position. If the examiner decides to discontinue the road test at any time you will have to start all over again.
What Is Expected From You In The Driver's Licence test?
The examiner first prepares you and tells you what to expect during you road exam. It is advisable to listen very carefully and to obey every instruction given to you! If you do not understand or you want the examiner to repeat what he/she said then please do not hesitate to ask... It could mean the difference between passing and failing.
If you have had enough practice and you are aware to all traffic situations and you remember all your K53 methods of driving you will pass. Try not to be nervous, although it is very difficult. Calm yourself down and just be patient and relaxed and you will do a great job.
If you think you are not going to pass, please do the sensible thing and just drive on until the driving instructor tells you what has happened. Do not try and bribe the instructor and do not try and do something stupid like leave the instructor on the side of the road and drive home (When you are in your own car). These are illegal offences and a lot of testing cars have camera's in them, so if you are caught trying to bribe the instructor you can go to jail. Please avoid all of this nonsense as there is already too many people who got their licenses the wrong way.
The Road Test
- Lane Changing
- Emergency Stopping
- Collisions
- Hand Signals
- Deferred Test
Changing Lanes
You should always be aware of what lane you are in (Especially with turning lanes). Be prepared to change lanes at any time during the road test. Normally the instructor will tell you when to change lanes but other times you have to be aware of where you are.
Hand Signals
On a quiet piece of road the driving examiner will instruct you to perform a hand signal of which there are 4 or 5, so know them well.
Emergency Stop
During the road test or when leaving the yard you will be instructed to perform an emergency stop. An emergency stop is braking as hard as you can (With the clutch in) to stop the car in the shortest possible time. This is used to see if you would be up to the test in a real life situation. The emergency stop will have to be performed in the test regardless of what the weather is like. If the road is very wet the driving instructor (Examiner) will take into account that stopping time will be increased. You still have to stop though.
Having An Accident Or Being Involved In A Collision
If you have an accident or you are involved in a collision which is your fault because of your lack of knowledge of the traffic rules the test will be discontinued and you will unfortunately fail. If the accident was unavoidable or was not your fault, the examiner will let you finish off the road test provided the car you are in is still in a drivable condition.
Deferred Test
After you have been in the unavoidable accident or collision and the car is no longer roadworthy you may ask for a deferred test, provided you were still in the instructors good books (i.e. it looked like you were going to pass).
Take These Tips To Prevent Failure During The Yard And Road Tests
- Check mirrors as much and as often as possible
- Remember your 5 point check
- Know your hand signals
- Signal before changing lanes
- Clutch control
- Hand brake, neutral
- Seatbelt
- Hands on steering wheel
- Blind spots
- Do not be in a rush and relax.
Road And Yard Test Points System
You are allowed to lose 50 points in the yard. If you lose 51 unfortunately you fail. On the road you are normally allowed to lose between 150 and 210 depending on the time you were out on the road. However the examiner can deduct points from you if he/she feels something is not right, these are called penalty points.