Tackling the driving test: tricky manoeuvres

Mark Nichol

Most learner drivers don’t fear taking the wheel until it comes to the dreaded manoeuvre; the thought of a parallel park can send even the most confident learner into a tizzy.

So we’ve asked Martyn Jones, an AA Driving School ambassador and instructor of 26 years’ experience, to give us his tips on each of the five manoeuvres. A typical driving test will require two of them to be performed confidently and correctly, though sometimes three.

According to Martyn, experience is vital: “the people that don’t do very well are those that do a five-day course then their test. 80 percent of the test is about driving, 20 percent is manoeuvres.”

So here, in his words, are some tips for getting that 20 percent spot on.

Reversing around a corner

“Observation is the key. As the car moves back you should have a marker in the rear nearside window. Put that marker on the centre of the kerb.

“Stop and do the checks – if you reverse around a corner without doing a blind spot check they’re going to fail you anyway. The idea of the stop is to check all around [the car] before going round the corner.”

Emergency stop

“Brake harder than normal but not so hard that you put the examiner through the window! On a wet day the car would skid, or on ice and snow.”


Turn in the road (aka three-point turn)

“Learners don’t turn the wheel fast enough… they sit in their seat and just turn the wheel with the wrist, so I get them to lean forward a bit from the hip joint, so the shoulders come into play.

“You can really move the wheel [that way] very fast. The faster you move the wheel, the car becomes more manoeuvrable, so you’re going to get round a lot easier than just fiddling around with your wrists.”

Parallel parking

“I do it in a set, ordered sequence: drive up to the [parked] car, with a two-foot gap between the mirrors. Then stop when your head is opposite the steering wheel of the other car. Start moving [backwards], then turn the wheel one and a quarter turns to the left. When your head gets to the rear wheel of the other car, take the one and a quarter turns off.

“The car is now set pretty well. If you put the one and a quarter turns on and take it off at the right time, the car will be set perfectly – right hand down and the car will just slot in.”

Bay parking

“Bay parking is about giving yourself enough room. If you’re going to bay park on the right, make sure that you’re giving yourself enough room on the left so you can turn the car in. Look behind and try to pick up the rear end of your car and try to put the rear end of the car into a bay.

You don’t have to be 100 percent in the bay. Just stop straight, then go forward, then come back into the bay.”

Article comes from http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/

Driving: Changes To The Practical Driving Test

From 4 October 2010 the practical driving test will include a section of independent driving. During the test the candidate will have to drive by either following a series of directions, following trafic signs, oa a combination of both, for about ten minutes.

To help them understand where they’re going, the examiner may show them a diagram (like those illustrated). It doesn’t matter if the candidate doesn’t remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way – that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Independent driving is not a test of their orientation and navigation skills, it is about being capable of making their own decisions whilst driving, about their route and how to safely navigate that route without prompts – this includes deciding when it’s safe and approprate to ask for confirmation about where they are going.

The Route

If the candidate asks for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will confirm them. If a candidate goes off the independent driving route, it won’t affect the result of their test unless they commit a driving fault.


If a candidate goes off the route or takes a wrong turning, the examiner will help them get back on the route and continue with the independent driving.

If there are poor or obscured traffic signs, the examinter will give directions until the next traffic sign that can be seen – a detailed knowledge of the area will not be necessary. Sat nav cannot be used for independent driving as it gives turn-by-turn prompts.

Independent driving tests how a candidate makes their own decisions and will last for approximately 10 minutes of the practical test time.

The Video

The Driving Standards Agency has published a short video on it’s YouTube channel explaining more about independent driving:

Special Needs

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has procedures to identify special needs and disabilities when tests are booked online or over the phone. The examiner then knows which type of special needs a candidate has so reasonable adjustments can be made.

For the independent driving section, this could be by asking which method the candidate prefers – following traffic signs or a series of directions (a maximum of three), which are supported by a diagram. In some cases this may be shortened to just two directions.

Driving examiners are very experienced at dealing with candidates who speak little or no English. For example, sometimes they will write place names so it is clear where a candidate is being asked to drive to. Of course they can have an interpreter along with them on test, or you as an approved driving instrucor can act as interpreter.

More information can be found at the DSA website: www.direct.gov.uk/ADI

Article comes from ADINews

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