As you may know, to pass your UK driving tes,you are currently allowed 15 driving errors, and none of these can be serious driving errors. Below, are the top ten reasons why people fail there driving tests. Try and avoid these as they are common.
1) Acting improperly at junctions.
Going over the stop or give way lines is one of the main reasons people fail. Drivers are approaching junctions fast with a lack of observation resulting in tipping over the lines and failing. Always observe the road, use your mirrors and slow down to an appropriate speed.
2) Reversing around the corner
See our Maneuvers pages for more information on Maneuvers. Control, accuracy and observations are key in executing this maeuver correctly. Most people fail because of hitting the curb, swinging wide and a simple lack of observation. Simply keep it slow, observe observe observe and use your mirrors. Remember to check over your right shoulder before beggining.
3) Reverse Parking
Reverse parking fails people within drivng tests each day. Some say it's very tricky which causes nervousness within the test. Its purpose is to show the examiner that you are fully in control of the car using clutch control, accuracy and observing the road well. Remember to look over your right shoulder and observe, especially for moving bicycles and motorbikes.
4) Failure to move off from stationary positions
Also known as stalling. Before you move off completely, make sure you have checked your blindspot and signalled if neccessary. Drivers can become extremely hesistant, especially after maneuvers and emergency stops.
5) Failure to use gears correctly
Make sure you are in the correct gear before puttling off. When slowing down, remember, you need not slam the clutch down immediately. Move into gear 2 as soon as the car pulls off in gear 1.
6) Failure to use mirrors correctly
They say you should look in your mirrors every 10 seconds. Excessive? Maybe, but better that or get marked for failure to observe. Any speed change, direction change, maneuver, traffice light passed, check you mirrors.
7) Driving Too Slowly (Speed Limits)
Driving too slowly is perceived as a driver lacking in confidence and hesitating on the roads. Use of appropriate speed is essential. See our piece around speed limits. Driving too slow can frustrate other roads users and is something the examiner will be aware of.
8) Acting incorrectly when turning right
When turning right, use the interior then right external mirrors and indicate. Judging the correct time to turn can be difficult and tricky. Think of yourself as a pedestrian, when would be a safe time to turn vs when would be a good time to turn right. Is the road clear. Make sure your vehicle is positioned left of the road markings.
9) Inproperuse of steering
Remember to feed the steering through correctly with your hands. 10 - 2! Never cross your hands, this is something you might see quite often whilst observing other drivers you may be with, its wrong and not advised. Use the steering wheel freely and smoothly allowing free movement of the car.
10) Hesistating at Junctions
Taking too much time at junctions could mean that your nervous, and you dont want to show the examiner that. Avoid approaching the junctions fast and try to prevent hesistation when pulling off.
Hope this article has helped and good luck everyone!
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