Tips to Pass Your Road Test

Folow these tips to pass your road test the first time!

Plan on getting to the test early. This will help you to have time to relax and prepare mentally before you actually have to take the test. Wear your seatbelt. Put it on as soon as you get in the car, before you start driving.

During the test, pay attention. Watch specifically for school zones, parks and other areas where the speed limit might be reduced. Obey all road signs that you see, especially speed signs.

When driving, hold onto the steering wheel with both hands at all times. Use proper hand placement and focus throughout the test.

​There are 2 acceptable ways to place your hands on the steering wheel. Some people choose to keep their hands at 10 and 2 and others opt for 9 and 3. The reasoning between choosing 9 and 3 is that in the event of an airbag deployment you will be safer and less likely to be hit by your own hands. 

Most people will fail the road test because...

Improper Lane Changes
This mistake is simple but major. If you change lanes without using your turn signal or adequately checking your blind spots, you’re putting your life and the lives of others on the road in grave danger.

Lack the Ability to Control the Vehicle
When you’re taking the driving test, your ability to control the vehicle is one of the things that the testing official will be watching carefully.

Not Confident about the Right-of-Way Law
​During the driving test, you might find yourself approaching a four-way stop sign. It’s possible that no one else will be at the intersection, and all you will need to do is come to a stop before carrying on. However, if other vehicles are present, you’ll need to know right-of-way law.

Not Coming to a Complete Stop
Rolling stops are a very common (and silly!) reason for failing the test. When you stop at a stop sign or red light, you must come to a full stop. Slowing down to a near stop is not enough, and a DMV testing official will absolutely mark down your score for it.

Not Braking Correctly​If you want to be a good driver, you will need to learn how to work the brake pedal on your car. Different vehicles have different levels of sensitivity when it comes to the brake, so it’s important to make sure that you’ve practiced driving using the vehicle you will be testing with.

Following Other Cars too Closeley
Riding right behind someone’s bumper is a big no-no in the world of driving tests. Always be sure to stay a few car lengths behind the guy in front of you.

Speeding
You would think it would be obvious to drive the speed limit while taking a driving test, but people do actually make the mistake of speeding. Sometimes, you can become so caught up in trying to drive in the correct lane, use your turn signal and control your steering, it’s easy to let that speedometer begin creeping up.  Watch  out going down hills!