Getting ready for your driving test can be nerve-wracking. Knowing exactly what to expect can significantly reduce anxiety and boost your confidence. This guide breaks down all the Parts Of A Car Driving Test, ensuring you are fully prepared for each section. Whether you’re driving a manual or an automatic car, the test components remain consistent, designed to assess your driving skills and road safety awareness.
The standard driving test typically lasts around 40 minutes, but if you are taking an extended test due to a previous driving ban, it will be approximately 70 minutes. Let’s delve into each part to understand what the examiner will be looking for.
Eyesight Check: Starting Strong
The first part of your driving test is a simple but crucial eyesight check. You will be asked to read a number plate on a parked vehicle from a specific distance.
- 20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate (starting with 2 letters, e.g., AB51 ABC).
- 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate.
Failing the eyesight check results in an immediate fail, and the test will not proceed further. Ensure you can comfortably read number plates from the required distance with your normal vision correction, if needed.
‘Show Me, Tell Me’ Vehicle Safety Questions
Next, you will face the ‘show me, tell me’ questions, designed to assess your basic vehicle safety knowledge. These questions are a standard part of a car driving test, and understanding them is key to demonstrating your preparedness as a safe driver.
You will be asked two questions:
- The ‘tell me’ question is asked at the beginning of the test, before you start driving. This usually involves explaining how you would perform a safety task.
- The ‘show me’ question is asked while you are driving. Here, you need to demonstrate how to perform a safety task practically.
Familiarize yourself with the official list of ‘show me, tell me’ questions to avoid any surprises on your test day.
General Driving Ability: Navigating Various Conditions
This is the core part of a car driving test, where your general driving ability is evaluated. You will drive in diverse road and traffic conditions, excluding motorways. The examiner will provide clear directions, which you should follow. Remember, driving test routes are not pre-published, so focusing on safe driving practices in all situations is essential.
Pulling Over at the Side of the Road: Controlled Stops
During the general driving ability section, you will be asked to perform several pulling over and pulling away maneuvers, including:
- Normal stops at the side of the road.
- Pulling out from behind a parked vehicle.
- A hill start.
You might also be asked to perform an emergency stop, so be prepared to react promptly and safely if instructed.
Reversing Your Vehicle: Maneuvering Skills
Reversing exercises are another critical part of a car driving test. The examiner will ask you to perform one of the following:
- Parallel park at the side of the road: This tests your ability to park safely and accurately in a confined space alongside other vehicles.
- Bay park: You may be asked to either drive into a parking bay and reverse out, or reverse into a bay and drive out. The examiner will specify which maneuver they want you to perform.
- Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic: This exercise assesses your ability to control the vehicle while reversing and safely re-enter the traffic flow from the opposite side of the road.
Practice each of these reversing maneuvers thoroughly to ensure you can perform them smoothly and safely during your test.
Independent Driving: Following Directions
The final part of a car driving test is the independent driving section, which lasts for approximately 20 minutes. During this time, you will drive either by:
- Following directions from a sat nav (satellite navigation device). The examiner will set up the sat nav for you, and you are not allowed to use your own.
- Following traffic signs.
This section assesses your ability to make decisions independently and navigate safely without constant guidance.
If You Cannot See Traffic Signs: Staying on Course
Occasionally, traffic signs might be obscured. If you cannot see a traffic sign (for example, due to overgrown trees), the examiner will provide verbal directions until you can see the next sign.
Going Off the Route: It’s Okay to Make Mistakes
Taking a wrong turning during the independent driving section will not automatically result in a fault. The examiner understands that mistakes can happen and will help you get back on the correct route. Your ability to drive safely and react appropriately is more important than perfect navigation.
What Happens If You Make Mistakes During Your Test?
Everyone makes mistakes, and the driving test is designed to account for that. If you make a mistake, don’t panic. Continue driving safely, as a minor error might not affect your test result. It’s only if your driving becomes a danger to other road users that the examiner will stop the test.
Other People at Your Test: Support and Supervision
On your test day, you might encounter other individuals besides your examiner. A driving examiner’s supervisor may be present to observe the examiner’s performance. You cannot refuse their presence; doing so could lead to test cancellation and rescheduling fees.
Additionally, your driving examiner will ask if you would like someone to accompany you during the test, sitting in the back, and to be present for the result and feedback. This is often your driving instructor, but it could also be a relative or friend. They are there for support only and cannot participate in the test itself. Any observer must be over 16 and adhere to the rules for observing driving tests.
Understanding all parts of a car driving test is the first step towards success. By preparing thoroughly for each section – from the eyesight check to independent driving – you’ll be well-equipped to demonstrate your driving skills and pass your test. Good luck!
