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PREPARATION

You should arrive 10 minutes before your practical driving test. This will give you time to relax and calm your nerves. Before you leave your house for the test, make sure you have your photo card or ID and your theory test pass certificate. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure you take them with you. Failing to produce any of these items at the test will result in failure and you will not be eligible for a refund.

When it is time for your driving test, the examiner will enter the waiting room and introduce themselves. Your papers will be checked and you will be asked to sign a declaration to say the car you are driving is insured. You will be asked if you would like your instructor or supervising driver to sit in the back at this stage. It is also possible that a supervising examiner will sit in the back to examine the examiner. If you decline to have your trainer in with you on the test, they will ask you if you would like them to be present at the debriefing should you be unsuccessful. Next you will be escorted out of the room for your eye test.

Contrary to popular belief Driving Examiners are human and they do not have quotas to meet. The examiners know that you are going to be nervous and will do everything they can to put you at ease. BUT they are testing you to see if you are ready to take to the roads by yourself.

Before your practical driving test starts the examiner will ask you 2 questions called "show me tell me questions". For these questions go to the ‘links’ opposite or scroll to end of page.

When you take to the road the Driving Examiner will be looking to see that you drive with:

	RESPONSIBILITY towards other road users
	CONFIDENCE in driving on your own
	AWARENESS & ANTICIPATION of hazards and dangers
	CONSIDERATION and ATTITUDE to others, especially the vulnerable road users
	Add to this a set of MANOEUVRES

If you can show the Examiner you can control these you will have no difficulty in passing your driving test FIRST time

While you are on your test the Examiner will be watching for faults with your driving and will record those faults as they occur. Every departure from a standard of 'Perfect Driving' needs to be assessed on whether the fault is of car control, or road procedure. In assessing the degree of fault the Examiner will first ask themselves the following question as each fault is observed:-

Question

'If this candidate's driving had been perfect up to this point, and this were the only fault made, would this fault be sufficiently serious enough to justify the failure of the Driving Test?'

If the Examiner without doubt or hesitation answers 'NO' to the question then the fault is recorded as a MINOR (/) fault. Minor faults on there own will not not normally entail failure unless under the totting up procedure there are 16 minor faults or more made.

If the answer is 'YES' then he must assess whether it was a SERIOUS or a DANGEROUS fault.

Just one Serious or Dangerous fault will bring a failure. The main difference between these two is that a Dangerous fault is a fault which actually causes another road user to brake, swerve, or take some form of evasive action. A Serious fault is one that might have caused another road user to take action if there had been one present at the time.

If the Examiner is forced to take action either Verbal or Physical he will also mark in the Examiner took action section. This is as well as the failure mark alongside the item that failed the candidate. One in eight of all driving tests the Examiner will take some form of action. Below is a list of each item on the DL25 and what would fail the candidate.

1(a) EYESIGHT TEST - COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF EYESIGHT TEST:

Unable to read a new style number plate at 66 feet or 20 metres (about 5 car lengths).

2. CONTROLLED STOP - (STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY):

PROMPTLY:

	Slow reaction to signal
	Not stopping quickly enough

UNDER CONTROL:

	Uses footbrake and clutch together
	Clutch pedal used too soon
	Harsh application of footbrake
	Uses handbrake to stop
	Locks front or rear wheels
	Induces a skid by braking and steering at the same time
	Loses control by skidding

3 & 4. REVERSE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INTO A LIMITED OPENING:

UNDER CONTROL:

	Poor Clutch control
	Stalls the engine
	Excessive acceleration
	Footbrake not used when required
	Erratic use of steering
	Touches kerb
	Mounts pavement
	Over centre of the side road
	Unable to enter side road
	Too far from kerb at completion
	Car not parallel to the kerb

WITH PROPER OBSERVATION:

	Does not look out of rear window
	Does not take all around observation throughout.
	Uses nearside door mirror for observation.
	Does not observe other road users.
	Does not give way to other road users.
	Does not pull forwards to allow vehicle to emerge from the side road.

5. REVERSE PARKING:

UNDER CONTROL:

	Poor clutch control.
	Stalls the engine.
	Excessive acceleration.
	Insufficient or excessive steering.
	Harsh use of footbrake.
	Too close to parked car.
	Strikes the kerb with front or rear nearside wheel.
	Too far away from the left hand kerb at completion.
	Car finishes up at an angle to the kerb.
	Unable to complete within two car lengths.

WITH PROPER OBSERVATION:

	Does not take all round observation before exercise.
	Does not look out of rear window while reversing.
	Uses door mirror to observe while reversing.
	Ignores passing traffic and does not give way.
	Reverses back with pedestrians passing by on the pavement at rear.

6. TURN IN THE ROAD:

UNDER CONTROL:

	Poor clutch control.
	Stalls the engine.
	Excessive acceleration.
	Harsh use of footbrake.
	Not applying the handbrake properly.
	Strikes kerbs with front or rear wheels.
	Mounts pavement with front or rear wheels.
	Overhangs the kerb with front or rear of car.
	Unable to complete exercise within five moves.
	Turns the steering wheel in the wrong direction.
	No attempt to correct steering on forward or reverse moves.

WITH PROPER OBSERVATION:

	Lack of all round observation before moving.
	Moves forwards or backwards when unsafe to do so.
	Does not look to the rear while reversing.
	Only looks back over one shoulder while reversing.
	Lack of all round observation during each movement.
	Continues with movement, does not give way to passing traffic.
	Does not allow pedestrians to proceed safely on the pavements.

7. VEHICLE CHECKS

Unable to answer the safety check questions put by Examiner at the start of the test (Currently marked as a minor fault and not a failure if questions are answered wrong)

8. TAXI MANOEUVRE... NOT APPLICABLE TO CAR TEST

9. TAXI WHEELCHAIR... NOT APPLICABLE TO CAR TEST

10. VEHICLE UNCOUPLING / RECOUPLING... NOT APPLICABLE TO CAR TEST

11. PRECAUTIONS - TAKE PRECAUTIONS BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE:

	Jumping forward while attempting to start the engine with the car in gear.
	Rolling backwards or forwards while attempting to restart the engine.
	Adjusts seat/mirrors on the driving test route when should have been already properly set

12. CONTROLS - MAKE PROPER USE OF:

ACCELERATOR:

	Excessive pressure causing wheel spin.
	Erratic pressure causing surging.
	Not removing pressure while changing gear.
	Applying pressure too soon after changing gear.

CLUTCH:

	Jerky control.
	Lack of control.
	Releases too quickly.
	Riding the pedal.
	Not pressing fully to the floor.
	Not used when stopping.

HANDBRAKE:

	Not applying when necessary
	Not releasing properly.
	Moving away with it partially on.
	Not applying properly.
	Applying on the move.
	Rolling backwards or forward after stopping.

GEARS:

	Incorrect gear selection.
	Reluctant to select higher gears.
	Labours the engine.
	Does not match gear with road speed.
	Excessive speed in gear.
	Unnecessary gear changes.
	Used to reduce speed instead of brakes.
	Selected too soon for hazards.
	Selected too late for hazards.
	Coasting with clutch down.
	Coasting in neutral.

FOOTBRAKE:

	Not used when required.
	Late use on approach to hazards.
	Harsh use by pressing too fiercely.

STEERING:

	Incorrect hand position on the wheel.
	Losing control by crossing hands.
	Allowing wheel to spin back after turning.
	Retaining hand on the gear lever for too long.
	Removes both hands from steering wheel.
	Overshooting right turns.
	Over steers on corners.
	Under steers on corners.
	Steering with the right arm on the window ledge.
	Striking kerb when stopping.

13. MOVE AWAY:

SAFELY:

	No attempt to look around.
	Lack of observation ahead and to the rear.
	Moves away when unsafe.

UNDER CONTROL:

	Stalls the engine.
	Moving away at too high a speed.
	Rolls back.

14. USE OF MIRRORS / REAR OBSERVATION WELL BEFORE:

SIGNALLING:

	Does not use Mirrors Signal Manoeuvre routine.
	Signals before using mirrors.
	Looks and signals at the same time.
	Does not take appropriate action after observing traffic in mirrors.
	Signals regardless of following traffic situation. CHANGING DIRECTION:

	Does not consult mirrors before turning left.
	Does not consult mirrors before turning right.
	Does not consult mirrors before changing lanes.
	Does not consult mirrors before overtaking.
	Does not consult mirrors after overtaking.

CHANGING SPEED:

	Does not consult mirrors before increasing speed.
	Does not consult mirrors before reducing speed.
	Does not consult mirrors before stopping.

15. GIVE APPROPRIATE SIGNALS:

WHERE NECESSARY:

Omits signals when they could benefit other road users.

CORRECTLY:

	Gives signals in the wrong direction.
	Gives misleading signals.
	Does not cancel signals after completion of manoeuvre.
	Using any signal not in the highway code.

PROPERLY TIMED:

	Give signals too early.
	Gives signals too late.
	Signals for too short a period of time.
	Signals for too long a period of time.

16. CLEARANCE TO OBSTRUCTIONS

	Drives too close to the rear of stationary vehicles before pulling out.
	Drives too close to the side of stationary vehicles while driving past.
	Cuts back to the left too soon after passing stationary vehicles.

17. RESPONSE TO SIGNS AND SIGNALS - TAKE CORRECT AND PROMPT ACTION ON ALL:

TRAFFIC SIGNS:

	Disregards speed limit signs.
	Does not obey mandatory signs.
	Ignores warning signs.
	Ignores prohibiting signs.

ROAD MARKINGS:

	Does not act in accordance with lane direction arrows.
	Crosses or straddles double white lines.
	Drives in bus lanes at prohibited times.
	Parks on double yellow lines.
	Disregards box junction markings.
	Stops on worded markings such as 'Keep Clear'.
	Parks on zig-zag lines.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS:

	Attempts to drive through a red light.
	Does not stop on amber when it was safe to do so.
	Drives away on red and amber.
	Proceeds on green light when unsafe to do so.

TAKE CORRECT AND PROMPT ACTION ON ALL SIGNALS BY:

TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS:

	Disregards signals given by police or a traffic warden.
	Disregards signals given by a person in charge of road works with Stop/Go sign.
	Disregards signal given by School Crossing Patrol.

OTHER ROAD USERS:

Disregards clearly given signals by other drivers.

18. USE OF SPEED - EXERCISE PROPER CARE IN THE USE OF SPEED:

	Drives in excess of the speed limit.
	Drives at a speed which is too fast for the road and traffic conditions.

19. FOLLOWING DISTANCE - FOLLOW BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A SAFE DISTANCE:

	Drives too close to large vehicles ahead.
	Does not attempt the two second rule.
	Drives closer than thinking distance in heavy traffic.
	Stops too close to vehicles ahead in traffic queues.

20. MAINTAIN PROGRESS BY:

DRIVING AT A SPEED APPROPRIATE TO THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS:

	Crawls along at slow speeds on clear roads.
	Makes no attempt to achieve maximum speeds for the road when safe to do so.
	Reduces speed excessively when the conditions do not merit doing so.
	Makes slow progress through the gears in normal driving.

AVOIDING UNDUE HESITANCY:

	Makes predetermined stops at junctions and other hazards.
	Waits unnecessarily when it is safe to proceed at junctions.
	Waits for green light at Pedestrian Crossings when clear on flashing amber.
	Waits for other drivers, who are clearly giving way.

21. JUNCTIONS - (INCLUDING ROUNDABOUTS)

SPEED ON APPROACH:

	Approaches at too high a speed.
	Approaches at too slow a speed.

OBSERVATION:

	Only looks in one direction at junctions before emerging.
	Looks in both directions after emerging.
	Does not look in the direction of travel while emerging.
	Takes no observation whatsoever at unmarked crossroads.
	Emerges at too slow a speed.
	Emerges when traffic is too close or too fast.
	Emerges into the path of approaching traffic.

POSITION BEFORE TURNING RIGHT:

	Positions over centre lines.
	Positions left of centre in narrow roads.
	Does not position near enough to centre lines.
	Does not move into protected centre lane.
	Does not use right hand lane, when one is available.
	Does not proceed far enough forward when giving way to oncoming traffic.
	Does not move out to centre of the side road when turning right at traffic lights.
	Sits behind stop line at green light, with room to move forwards.

POSITION BEFORE TURNING LEFT:

	Too far from left hand kerb on the approach.
	Swings out to the right on the approach.
	Too close to the kerb on approach.
	Drives over the kerb with rear nearside wheel.

CUTTING RIGHT HAND CORNERS:

Cuts across onto the wrong side of side road while turning the corner.

22. JUDGEMENT- DEALING WITH OTHER VEHICLES SAFELY WHEN:

OVERTAKING:

	Attempts to overtake in an unsafe location.
	Attempts to overtake when traffic conditions make it unsafe to do so.
	Takes too long a time and distance to carry out manoeuvre.
	Does not give enough clearance to other vehicles.
	Cuts back in too soon after overtaking.

MEETING:

	Causes oncoming traffic to slow down or stop.
	Drives on towards other vehicles when other vehicles have priority.

CROSSING THEIR PATH:

Inconveniences oncoming road users by cutting across in front of them.

23. POSITIONING - POSITION THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY:

DURING NORMAL DRIVING:

	Drives too close to the left hand kerb.
	Drives too far out towards the middle of the road.

EXERCISE LANE DISCIPLINE:

	Chooses incorrect lane when proceeding ahead at roundabouts or traffic lights.
	Straddles lane markings.
	Wanders back and forwards from one lane to the other.

24. PEDESTRIAN CROSSING - TAKES APPROPRIATE ACTION AT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS:

	Does not reduce speed on the approach when vision is restricted.
	Approaches at too high a speed with pedestrians on crossing.
	Overtaking on zig-zag lines on approach.
	Not giving precedence to pedestrians on a crossing.
	Not stopping at give way or stop lines when necessary.
	Not acting in accordance with the traffic lights controlling the crossing.
	Harassing pedestrians.
	Waving pedestrians over a crossing.
	Moving away before pedestrians have crossed over in front of the car.
	Attempting to proceed when unsafe to do so.
	Stopping on the actual crossing.

25. POSITION FOR NORMAL STOPS - SELECT A SAFE POSITION FOR NORMAL STOPS:

	Stopping in an unsafe or inconvenient location.
	Blocking an entrance or driveway when stopping.
	Causing an obstruction to other road users.
	Stopping too far away from the pavement.
	Stopping with one or more wheels on the pavement.

26. AWARENESS AND PLANNING - SHOW AWARENESS AND ANTICIPATION OF THE ACTIONS OF:

OTHER ROAD USERS:

	Not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross the road at any time.
	Not giving way to pedestrians at junctions or pedestrian crossings.
	Not anticipating that cyclists may be passing on the left or right.
	Not anticipating that cyclists are about to make a change of direction.
	Not anticipating or showing awareness of direction signals given by other drivers.
	Not anticipating or showing awareness of vehicles displaying hazard flashers.
	Not anticipating or showing awareness of vehicles reversing lights.
	Not anticipating or showing awareness of brake lights on other vehicles.
	Not anticipating the actions of other drivers changing speed or direction.

27. ANCILLARY CONTROLS:

Only applicable if the driver requires to use them in addition to the normal controls.

	Not operating the front or rear windscreen wipers or washers when required.
	Not operating the side or headlamp controls when required.
	Not operating the horn when required.
	Not operating the heated rear screen control when required.
	Not operating the demister controls when required.
	Not operating the hazard warning light when required.

SHOW ME TELL ME

Since 1st September 2003 there has been an additional part added to the driving test which involves you being asked to describe and also show your examiner how you would carry out a number of safety checks on your vehicle. You will need to answer two questions regarding the maintenance and operation of the vehicle. The format is simple, one question involves you having to DEMONSTRATE, and the other requires you to EXPLAIN. Below is the list of possible questions you could be asked.

1. Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil.

Identify dipstick / oil level indicator, describe check of oil level against the minimum / maximum markers.

2. Show me / explain how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

If the steering becomes heavy the system may not be working properly. Before starting a journey two simple checks can be made. Gentle pressure on the steering wheel, maintained while the engine is started, should result in a slight but noticeable movement as the system begins to operate.

Alternatively turning the steering wheel just after moving off will give an immediate indication that the power assistance is functioning.

3. Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine coolant level and tell me how you would check that the engine has the correct level.

Identify high/low level markings on header tank where fitted or radiator filler cap, and describe how to top up to correct level.

4. Show me how you would check the parking brake for excessive wear.

Demonstrate by applying parking brake that when it is fully applied it secures itself, and is not at the end of the working travel.

5. Identify where the windscreen washer reservoir is and tell me how you would check the windscreen washer level.

Identify reservoir and explain how to check level.

6. Show me how you would check that the horn is working (off road only).

Check is carried out by using control (turn on ignition if necessary).

7. Open the bonnet, identify where the brake fluid reservoir is and tell me how you would check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.

Identify reservoir, check level against high/low markings.

8. Show me how you would check that the direction indicators are working.

Applying the indicators or hazard warning switch and check functioning of all indicators.

9. Tell me how you would check that the brake lights are working on this car.

Operate brake pedal, make use of reflections in windows, garage doors, etc, or ask someone to help.

10. Tell me how you would check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

Brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Brakes should be tested as you set off. Vehicle should not pull to one side.

11. Show me how you would check that the headlights & tail lights are working.

Operate switch (turn on ignition if necessary), walk round vehicle.

12. Tell me where you would find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.

Manufacturer's guide, use a reliable pressure gauge, check and adjust pressures when tyres are cold, don't forget spare tyre, remember to refit valve caps.

13. Tell me how you would check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.

No cuts and bulges, 1.6mm of tread depth across the central ¾ of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire outer circumference.

14. Use of ancillary controls: lights including high beam and fog lights; washers, demister, air-conditioning, fans, temperature control.