Tips for your Driving Test
Checks before arriving at test centre
- Ensure that all your discs are up to date, i.e. Tax/ Insurance/ NCT, and that they relate to the car you are using for the Driving Test
- Ensure that your brake lights, indicator lights and all other lights on your car are working correctly
- Make sure your Learner Permit is in good condition and in date.
- Make sure that all your tyres are in good condition and have significant thread depth, Check the threads and the side walls regularly while driving.
- Check that all seatbelts and windows are working correctly.
- Check under the bonnet and ensure that the Engine oil, Brake Fluid, Coolant, Power Steering Fluid, Windscreen wash, are all at the required level.
The Driving Test
- Arrive at the test centre in plenty of time before your Driving Test to ensure that you have a proper parking space in preparation for your Driving Test.
- Be in the test centre approx 15 minutes before your starting time and ensure you have your Learner Permit with you.
- Try to stay as calm as possible while awaiting the Driver Tester.
- The Driving Test will last approx 45 minutes in total covering 8 – 10km.
The most common reasons why people fail driving tests:
Inadequate observation moving off, at junctions, at roundabouts and when changing lanes- Failure to anticipate the actions of other drivers
- Incorrect road position on the straight, on bends, turning left, turning right, at roundabouts, and when overtaking
- Inadequate progress at junctions, roundabouts, on the straight, and when overtaking
- Incorrect or inadequate use of mirrors and signals
- Non-compliance with traffic controls, e.g. road signs and markings and traffic lights
- Incorrect, inadequate or inappropriate use of vehicle controls, including gears, clutch, accelerator, steering, handbrake, footbrake, and secondary controls
- Excessive speed for the road or traffic conditions
- Failure to yield the right of way to others
- Lack of competence in the reverse and U-turn manoeuvres
