Driving test tips: 5 common mistakes when you start driving

But don’t hurry to schedule a driving test until you are quite sure about your driving skills. For example, according to the statistics, almost half of NY applicants fail to pass the driving test and have to retake the exam. If you study the top mistakes preventing applicants from obtaining their DLs, you will be surprised to find out that some of them are pretty silly. Nevertheless, the fact remains that obvious mistakes often lead to driving test failure and this is confirmed by instructors of driver training programs. So, it’s better to schedule a driving test to a later date, take your time and practice driving test paying more attention to the most common mistakes. Use our tips for passing driving tests collected from experienced driving instructors.

Driving test tips helping to avoid some common mistakes

• Observation

It is easy to notice that lack of observation is among the top mistakes whether it comes to moving off or passing intersections. Note that examiner is rather severe on applicants who forget about dead zones or side-street traffic and pedestrians. Here is good advice on passing a driving test: check the mirrors, turn your head around and above, look far ahead to prevent dangerous situations and to show an examiner that you can control what is going on around your car.

• Traffic lights and stop signs

Mind that traffic lights tend to change from time to time. Yes, it sounds a little bit silly, but many
applicants fail to anticipate this changing and thus they can’t react swiftly earning the demerit
points. So, watching traffic lights is among our tips for passing the driving test, as well as stop
signs. The problem with stop signs resides not so much in ignoring them as in failing to really
stop a car. Many inexperienced drivers release the brakes before the vehicle is fully stopped and
this is a mistake! When you drive to practice driver’s license test, train this stopping maneuver
many times to be sure you feel when it’s really time to release the brakes.

• Poor road position

Though for new drivers it’s not common to enter an oncoming traffic lane when they are trying to perform an overtaking maneuver, they often drive in the wrong lane when turning left or right. You have to practice driver’s exam paying much attention to changing lanes on straights, through bends or at roundabouts. Don’t forget to watch road the signs and markings, as well as to use proper signals to show your maneuver (you should signal for at least 3 seconds before you turn, change lanes, etc.). And one of the most important road test tips about positioning is to surrender the left lane of a four-lane road to approaching vehicles since it is intended for safe passing other vehicles, but not for driving for a long period of time.

• Slow driving or excessive speed

Failing to choose the right speed is one of the common mistakes for applicants during the driving test. This applies not only to cases when drivers don’t notice or ignore the speed limit signs but also to cases when they drive too slowly under good conditions or too fast under bad conditions. For example, one of the instructors’ tips for passing a road test says that you should wait no longer than 5 seconds before moving when there is a safe gap in traffic. Another tip is to avoid stopping before driving through a pedestrian crossing when there is no need to stop. Also, note that driving more than 10 km/h below or over a speed limit may lead to failing the driving test. So, keeping in mind our tips on how to pass a driving test, be decisive when it’s necessary without being too bold and careless.

• Mounting the curb

Practice driver’s license test contributing enough time for training such maneuvers like parallel parking or 3 point turn. They are included in literally all driving tests and can be a reason of your failure if you aren’t able to perform these maneuvers accurately and quickly. While some learners may think that such little things aren’t so important as changing lanes or passing intersections, follow our advice for the road test, given that you need only some empty space for the training. Don’t hit the curb or mount it when parking or turning, since these are dangerous mistakes leading to damaging tires.

Additional tips on how to pass a driver's license test

Isn’t it time to schedule a driver skills test provided you have sufficient behind-the-wheel practice and your skills are strong enough to eliminate the above-mentioned mistakes? There is no rush until your learner’s permit expires soon and you can give some attention to details – this will help you to feel confident when a big day of testing comes. Practice road rules test again to refresh theory and get your car prepared for the testing. Remember that once you schedule a road test, you need to arrive at a DMV office in an insured car while accompanied by a licensed driver. Make sure you have both of them ready, since if it turns out that something wrong with your vehicle, you won’t be allowed to undergo the examination (and if you drive it without a supervisor, you will get a violation record in your learner’s permit). Our road test tips include checking:

• windows;
• tires;
• indicators;
• fuel level.

Don’t forget to adjust your mirrors and seat to feel comfortable during the testing!

Now, when the above-listed paperwork is done, your car is checked and your behind-the-wheel practice is completed, you are really ready to schedule a driver's test. Our last driving test advice covers getting a grip since quite a lot of applicants manage to fail the exam just because they are too nervous about it.

• Don’t take any sedative drugs as they may affect your reaction badly.
• Have a good night's sleep before the exam.
• Don’t waste your time trying to flatter your examiner by speaking, smiling or employing any other tricks.
• Be punctual when arriving on a testing site.
• Don’t pay much attention to horror stories about the testing.
• Don’t tell about the testing to all your friends, since too much attention from their side can cause greater pressure on you. Let a few close people support you by practical help, wise advice or just wishing you good luck.

Just be confident and we are sure you will pass the testing at the first attempt with the help of our useful tips!