Road Test Tips
I heard many times bodies complaining that he/she only get his/her driver license after many times of road test, some times as high as seven. Is that because the examiners were too critical? Some people failed becuase they were just an inch or so too far away from the curb when doing parallel parking. Well almost most people are convinced that they are ready and perfect to drive and take the examination. Many people keep changing the examination locations in order to find an easy examiner, some time hundred miles away (:- . The things is that you should convince the examiner that you are a perfect driver, but not just convince yourself. Generally examiners do not fail drivers for the fun of it. They fail drivers to make sure the roads are 100% safe for those who use.
So how can you show yourself to the tester that you are an experienced, perfect driver during the road test? Following are some tips:
Be Prepared.Have a good night sleep before take the test. Reach the location on time. Dress youself properly, do not make yourself look like the bad gays in the movie. Do not lost any documents needed for the examination. Make your car clean, some times people's car are dirty, smelling inside and looks unsafe from outside, this can make the examer unhappy.
Stay Calm.Experienced driver usually maintain calm during driving. You should calm yourself down before the test. Make sure your car is off before starting. When the examiner says it's ok, turn the car on. Be observant, but not over-observant either, that may signal nervousness behind the wheel. Do not speed, stay at a nice, even speed throughout the entire road test session.
Parallel Parking. Parallel parking is the most difficult part.First of all, you need to be about 1-2 feet away from the vehicle you're parallel parking onto. Make sure when you pull along side the vehicle that you use your blinker. When pulling up to the car go at a slow, yet steady speed. Make sure you don't stop too hard, it can show that you're not ready and that you're also nervous. When you do pull alongside the vehicle you should line your right side view mirror up with their left side view mirror if your car and their car are nearly the same size. If the car your parallel parking on is bigger than your car then align your mirror up about 6-12 inches behind theirs mirror (meaning you should be able to see the actual mirror part of their side view mirror; your car should be moved somewhat back towards the back of their car by a footish - use discretionary judgments). If the car you're parallel parking on is smaller than your car, then move up towards the front of their car about 6-12 inches, depending on how much smaller the car is compared to yours.
Practice. Practice makes perfect, do not rely on lucky to pass the test. Try at least 1400 miles driving before take the test.
- Show signals for all turns. Whether it's going forward or backward.
- Keep speeds at the posted speed limits.
- Take your time when going parallel parking, hill parking, or three-point turns. Examiners do not penalize you for time, as long as you observe the road carefully.
- When doing a three-point turn going backwards, look both ways first before you begin to back up.
- Use the parking brake when parking. When parking on a hill, use the Neutral setting and steer to the left with a curb going up, or right for a curb doing down or a hill without a curb.
- If you see an approaching red light or stop sign, be prepared to brake gently to begin slowing down. Smooth stops count in the road test.
- When making a sharp turn up ahead, be prepared to slow down, make the turn and resume your normal speed.
- When turning, have your hand opposite to which direction you are turning at the top of the wheel. When beginning to turn, look into the turn and turn the wheel to that direction and let the steering wheel slide back to its original straight position.
- When signalling, flick up for right turns and down for left turns. Just think of the word "upright".
- When parallel parking, put the control stick to R and signal right. Steer fast to the right and once you can't steer right no more, turn the wheel right away all the way to the left quickly, and recover the wheel when the car is aligned with the parked car. Make sure you do not hit the curb.
- For lane changing, make sure you check the rear view mirror, and your blind spot and you begin signalling. If there are no cars, you can switch lanes safely. When driving from the right lane to the left lane for more than two lanes, keep the signal on till you approach the selected lane and then cancel.
- When turning left to a road with two lanes, make your turn, start on the passing lane and if the right lane is safe, signal right and move to the right lane.
- Watch for any pedestrians when taking the road test. They have the right of way most of the time and drivers should watch them very carefully.
- When parked on the side of the road before driving off, check mirror, begin your signal and check your blind spot. Remember to take your time of cars are passing. Once there's an opening, it is safe to drive away. If you drive off behind a parked car, steer fast to the left and a little to the right and recover the wheel and you resume picking up normal speed.
- When the light turns green, or if you get a green arrow when turning, make sure that the road is clear and there are no cars or pedestrians crossing your path, then proceed with care.
- Remember to expect the unexpected, so when driving please be watchful and alert and all times.
- Use your mirrors. Scan. Scan. Scan. Stay in your lane while turning (and S.M.O.G., Signal, Mirrors, Over shoulder, Go) .
- Constant speed during smooth lane changes.
- Be right. Stay right.
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