At Kings Hill Driving School we want you to pass your practical Driving Test first time.
To help you in your preparation for the big day, here are the ten most common reasons why people fail their driving test and some helpful ways to avoid the pitfalls.
1: Exceeding the speed limit/ use of speed
Learners often get caught out and exceed the speed limit for the road they are on by not being aware of what the speed limit is! Generally, if there are street lights on a road and nothing to the contrary, it’s 30MPH. If there are no street lights and nothing to the contrary, then its 60 MPH.
However, if conditions, road type or surface, indicate that a lower speed is necessary to remain safe; then slow down. Remember: Speed limits are not a target, they are absolute maximums.
2: One way streets: Positioning issues
Learner drivers often forget that they can drive on the left or right, depending on the eventual route that they intend to take. Also at “T” junctions, learners often forget that the whole width of the road is theirs, so fail to position far right, when turning right.
3: Lack of steering control: Steering too early, or too late
Often caused by trying to change gear, whilst steering; only change gear when the steering is set. Candidates often steer too late for left hand turns, due to a combination of excessive speed (leading to coasting) and/or inefficient steering. The remedy here is to get the speed taken off early (particularly downhill); get the gear engaged early, allowing yourself a portion of road in which to come off the brake and bring the clutch fully up. Right turns also have similar issues, more often than not caused by excessive speed, leading to learner drivers steering too early; causing right corner cut issues.
4: Roundabouts: Incorrect positioning
In the case of “laned” roundabouts; most are the spiral type, where if you stay in lane, you will end up being taken off to your destination. If on your driving test, you find yourself on an unlaned roundabout, stay in your notional lane, until you pass the exit before the one that you want, and have given your “breakaway” signal to come off left. Do not straight line roundabouts.
5: Moving off unsafely: Inadequate observation
Often the right blind spot check is omitted, or the candidate is still looking back, as the car moves forward. Ensure that you check the right blind spot for other road users, particularly vulnerable cyclists etc, and release the handbrake as you look forward.
6: Signaling: Incorrect / misleading signals or forgetting to cancel them
An example of this would be a driving test candidate, pulling up on the left, leaving a left signal on; and then moving off with a left signal flashing. Remember, don’t give misleading information; cancel your signal.
7: Reversing Left
Many Driving Test candidates fail to see traffic approaching from behind them, and if they do see it, fail to respond correctly. As with the reverse park, candidates should open their windows, to assist in giving an advance warning of approaching vehicles, then respond by giving way. In addition, the point of turn is often missed; too early or too late, leading to the candidate either hitting the kerb or driving into the wrong side of the minor road.
8: “T” Junctions: Inadequate observations and or poor decisions based on observations
Long before you actually arrive at the end of your road, you should have started scanning the mouth of the Junction for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, whilst planning what to do on your final approach phase. If it is an open junction, where your zone of vision is clear, BOTH ways, say 5 or six cars lengths back, you may be able to approach at 10 MPH and second gear. It is important that you still look a couple of times in each direction, before crossing the give way line. If it is a “closed” “ T” junction, where you cannot see in one or both direction, until you are almost at the give way lines, then the speed should be crawling speed; giving you time to look at least twice in each direction, before crossing the lines. If you still can’t see at the lines; stop, and peep and creep. Remember, when crossing the give way lines, you must not cause concern to another motorist in either direction.
9: Poor use of mirrors: Late, and or not acting on what is seen
Quite often not used early enough before, signaling, speed or direction changes, and/or not acting on what is seen. An example of this would be, looking in the centre mirror before a left turn, seeing that another motorist is following very closely, then starting the Position, Speed, and Look part of the system late.
10: Reverse parking: Not checking blind spots/ failing to respond/ see approaching traffic
Many candidates tend to go through blind spot checks robotically, without considering why they are looking and what for; thus they look, but don’t see! As a driver, what you should be looking for is any other road user that is or is likely to be affected by your actions. So when reverse parking, having reached the first point of turn left, it is vital to stop, look over the right shoulder, observe right to left. This is because, when steering left, the front of the car will swing out right. Remember, when reversing, all other road users have priority over you, so you must give way to anyone within your “safety bubble!” A good move when carrying out reversing manoeuvres is to always open your window.
