What you will be asked to do |
Tips on how to do it |
Rules and Checks |
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Answer a number of questions on the Rules of the Road; |
Typical Questions can be found here. |
Identify a number of road signs as explained in the Rules of the Road; |
Some of the Roadsigns you could be asked. |
Identify the six items on your engine and how to verify the correct oil or fluid levels; |
1. Brake Fluid - Min / Max level |
You should understand the function and be able to use your vehicles controls; |
1. Hazard warning lights |
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Ensure all the car doors are closed properly; |
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Your handbrake is on and that your gearstick is in neutral; |
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You can adjust your seat and head restraint; |
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Your mirrors are adjusted correctly; |
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That you put on your seatbelt; |
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Position |
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When driving on the straight; |
Keep to the centre of your lane or slightly to the left. |
When following traffic; |
Keep to the centre of your lane or slightly to the left. |
When on bends; |
Keep to the centre of your lane or slightly to the left. |
When driving in traffic lanes; |
Keep to the centre of your lane between the two lines. |
Approaching and entering crossroads; |
Keep the correct position depending on the direction you wish to take. |
Approaching and entering Roundabouts; |
Keep the correct position depending on the exit you wish to take. |
When turning right; |
Keep to the right hand side of your lane, just to the left of the centre of the road. |
When turning left; |
Keep to the left hand side of your lane closer to the kerb. |
When you are stopping; |
When stopping in traffic you should see the tyres of the car in front touching the road. if pulling in to the kerb then try to keep 8 to 10 inchs from the kerb. |
Observation |
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When moving off; |
Always check your Main Mirror, your Side Mirrors and your Blindspot before moving away from the kerb. |
When you are overtaking and when you are changing lanes; |
Always check your Main Mirror, your Side Mirrors and your Blindspot before overtaking or changing lanes. |
When you are at crossroads; |
Always check your Main Mirror and look into the junction before proceeding. Make sure that you have slowed down and are in 2nd gear as you approach the junction. |
When you are approaching roundabouts; |
Make sure that you have slowed down and are in 2nd gear as you approach the roundabout. Always check your Main Mirror and look into the roundabout before proceeding. |
When you are turning right and left; |
Make sure that you have slowed down and are in 2nd gear as you approach the junction. Always check your Main Mirror and look into the junction before proceeding. Take time to check for cyclists coming up on your left if you are turning left. |
Reaction to Hazards |
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to any hazard that may arise; |
A hazard is anything that may cause you to change your speed or direction. Always slow down and Stop if necessary. |
Mirrors |
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Use your mirrors correctly before moving off; |
Use the M.S.M.M. routine. Main Mirror -Signal - Side Mirror - Manouvre if it is safe. |
Use your mirrors regularly when driving on the straight; |
Check you main mirror and your side mirrors every 10 to 15 seconds. |
Use your mirrors correctly before overtaking; |
Use the M.S.M.M. routine. Main Mirror -Signal - Side Mirror - Manouvre if it is safe. |
Use your mirrors correctly and effectively and react appropriately to what you see when changing lanes; |
Use the M.S.M.M. routine. Main Mirror -Signal - Side Mirror - Manouvre if it is safe. |
Use your mirrors before turning left and right; |
Use the M.S.M.M. routine. Main Mirror -Signal - Side Mirror - Manouvre if it is safe. |
Use your mirrors before slowing down or stopping; |
Use the M.S.M. routine. Main Mirror -Signal - Side Mirror - Slow down or stop if it is safe. |
Clearance when Overtaking |
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Passing pedestrians; |
Always leave at least one car doors width approx 1 metre between your car and the pedestrian when passing pedestrians. |
Passing cyclists; |
Always leave at least one car doors width approx 1 metre between your car and the cyclist when overtaking cyclists. Cyclists may wobble or pull out suddenly to avoid potholes or debris on the road. |
Passing stationary vehicles; |
Always leave at least one car doors width approx 1 metre on both sides of your car when overtaking stationary vehicles. If you cannot give this distance then slow down and stop if necessary. |
Passing other traffic; |
Always leave at least one car doors width approx 1 metre on both sides of your car when overtaking other vehicles. Make sure you have enough room to complete your manouvre safely before you begin. |
Passing other obstructions; |
Always leave at least one car doors width approx 1 metre on both sides of your car when overtaking other vehicles. Make sure you have enough room to complete your manouvre safely before you begin. |
Signals |
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You are moving off; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention to move off. It does not give you the right of way so give your signal in plenty of time. |
You are overtaking; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention to overtake. It does not give you the right of way so give your signal in plenty of time. |
You are changing lanes; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention to change lanes. It does not give you the right of way so give your signal in plenty of time. |
Passing other traffic; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention to pass other traffic. It does not give you the right of way so give your signal in plenty of time. |
You are at roundabouts; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention to go in a particular direction. It does not give you the right of way. So make sure you give the correct signal plenty of time. |
You are turning right and left; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention to turn right or left. It does not give you the right of way so give your signal in plenty of time. |
You are slowing or stopping; |
Remember your brake lights only indicate your intention to slow down or stop. you need to indicate your intention early so following traffic have time to react safely. |
Ensuring your signal is cancelled promply; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention. Make sure it is cancelled as soon as you complete your manouvre. |
Demonstrate your hand signals correctly; |
You may need to use hand signals if your indicators stop working or you want to emphasise your intention. |
Be careful not to use misleading signals; |
Remember your signal only indicates your intention to do something. Make sure you give the correct signal as other motorists are relying on you to know where you are going. |
Be careful not to beckon other road users; |
Never wave or flash other road users on. They may think you are saying it is safe to go and not check for themselves. |
Progress |
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You are moving off; |
After checking that the way is clear and it is safe to move off you will be expected to move away from the kerb promptly. |
You are driving on the straight; |
Maintain a reasonable progress and avoid undue hesiancy when driving straight. |
You are overtaking; |
Maintain a reasonable progress and avoid undue hesiancy when you are overtaking. |
You are at crossroads; |
If you have to stop at a crossroads then after checking that the way is clear and it is safe to move off you will be expected to move into the junction promptly and avoid undue hesiancy. |
You are at roundabouts; |
If you have to stop at a roundabout then after checking that the way is clear and it is safe to move off you will be expected to move into the roundabout promptly and avoid undue hesiancy. |
You are turning right and left; |
Maintain a reasonable progress and avoid undue hesiancy when you are turning right or left. |
You are at traffic lights; |
If you have to stop at a traffic light, then the traffic light changes and it is safe to move off you will be expected to move off promptly and avoid undue hesiancy. |
Vehicle Controls |
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Accelerator; |
Always be gentle on your accelerator. Squeeze the accelerator instead of pressing down on it hard. |
Brake; |
Always be gentle on your brake. Squeeze the brake instead of pressing down on it hard. Slow down early instead of stopping suddenly. |
Clutch; |
Always be gentle on your clutch. Gently release your clutch after changing gear. |
Steering; |
Always be gentle with your steering. There should not be any sudden jerks when you are moving out or turning. Use the Pull Push technique. |
Speed |
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The road conditions you are driving on; |
The speed limit is the maximum speed you are allowed to drive at. It is not a TARGET speed. Adjust your speed to accomodate road works, potholes or other road hazards. |
The traffic conditions that are on the road; |
The speed limit is the maximum speed you are allowed to drive at. It is not a TARGET speed. Adjust your speed to accomodate the volume of traffic or the type of traffic like Cyclists, Horse and rider, pedestrians, motorcyclists etc. |
When you are approaching roundabouts; |
Always slow down and get into second gear as you are approaching roundabouts so you have time to look into the roundabout and determine if it is safe to proceed. |
When you are approaching crossroads; |
Always slow down and get into second gear as you are approaching to join a crossroads so you have time to look into the junction and determine if it is safe to proceed. If it is not safe to proceed then you must stop. |
You are at roundabouts; |
Always slow down and get into second gear as you are approaching roundabouts so you have time to look into the roundabout and determine if it is safe to proceed. If it is safe to proceed then you must proceed promptly. |
When you are turning right or left; |
Always slow down and get into second gear as you are approaching a junction you want to turn into so you have time to look into the junction and determine if it is safe to proceed. If it is not safe to proceed then you must stop. |
The speed limit of the road you are travelling on; |
The speed limit is the maximum speed you are allowed to drive at. It is not a TARGET speed. Adjust your speed so you can react promptly and properly to whatever might happen. |
Traffic Controls |
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Traffic lights; |
Know and understand the purpose and function of traffic lights and be able to obey the signals that are given. |
Traffic signs; |
Know and understand the purpose and function of traffic signs and be able to obey the signals that are given. |
Road markings; |
Know and understand the purpose and function of road markings and be able to obey the signs that are given. |
Pedestrian crossings and school warden signals; |
Know and understand the purpose and function of Pedestrian crossings and School Wardens and be able to obey the signals that are given. |
Lane markings; |
Know and understand the purpose and function of lane markings and be able to obey the signs that are given. |
Right of Way |
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Moving off; |
Always check that the way is clear before moving away from the kerb. If there are other road users that you may impede if you move out then you must give the right of way to them. |
Changing lanes; |
Always check that the way is clear before changing lanes. Traffic already in the lane you want to change into always has the right of way. |
Approaching junctions and roundabouts; |
Always check that the way is clear before entering junctions or roundabouts. Traffic already in the junction or already on the roundabout has the right of way. Always give right of way to traffic coming from your right. |
You are turning right and left; |
Always check that the way is clear before entering junctions and look into the road you are about to enter before committing yourself. There could be pedestriand, cyclists or other road users who have the right of way. |
Reverse |
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Perform the reverse manouevre competently; |
Keep your car reasonably close to the kerb, (about a quarter of a metre is good)all the way around the corner. Do not oversteer or understeer as this will cause weaving or snaking around the corner. Perform this manouvre at a reasonable pace. |
Use proper observation; |
Don't forget to check over both your right and left shoulders regularly during this manouvre. |
Give right of way as required; |
If you see any other road users reasonably close to you then you must stop and let them proceed. |
Turnabout |
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Perform the turnabout competently; |
Move slowly and steer quickly. Perform this manouvre at a reasonable pace. |
Use proper observation; |
Always signal and check your right blindspot before moving away from the kerb. Before reversing you must look out your right window, your left window and your rear window. Before moving forward again you must check that any traffic that has come up from your left and right has stopped and is giving you the right of way. |
Give right of way as required; |
If you see any other road users reasonably close to you then you must stop and let them proceed. |
Parking |
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Park competently; |
If you are asked yo park in a car park you must park the car between the two lines and keep the car straight. Do not park at an angle. If necessary take time to adjust your position. |
Use proper observation; |
Always check that it is safe and that the way is clear before comitting to a parking spot. |
Park legally; |
Never park where it is illegal, for example on double yellow lines, at an emergency exit or entrance, on a corner etc. |