Despite nerves, there are many common reasons that people fail their driving test. If you’re preparing for a test soon, take note of these simple mistakes. Once you know them, it is easy to avoid them.
Table of Contents
1. Use of mirrors
Checking your mirrors is vital to being a safe driver. There are two main ways you can fail when it comes to mirrors.
- Not checking your mirrors enough is the biggest mistake.
- Not acting on the information you see in your mirrors is another error.
Examples of this include changing lanes when another car is too close or turning into a road with a cyclist near your side. Simply looking into your mirror is not enough – make sure you digest and act upon what you see.
2. Junctions
When nerves kick in, junctions can feel difficult. A lot of learners fail because they don’t correctly observe and judge when to leave/enter a junction.
As a general rule, take your time to observe the situation and only progress when you know it is 100% safe to do so. If you aren’t sure or your visibility is low, go slow and creep out of the junction slightly until you can see more of the road.
3. Reverse parking
When reverse parking, a lot of learners tend to lack accuracy and good observation. To avoid this, ensure you fully observe the situation before and whilst reversing.
Go slowly to help you with accuracy; if you reverse quickly, you have less time to correct mistakes.
4. Moving away
Stopping and starting throughout a test can be scary. Learners fail here for poor observation and a lack of control when moving away.
Don’t rush away; take your time to do all of your checks and observations.
5. Signals
Signals are essential to indicate your upcoming actions to other drivers. However, when used poorly, signals can be dangerous.
Learners make errors by not giving signals, forgetting to cancel their signal or using them at misleading times, such as indicating too early before a turning.
6. Incorrect positioning
Incorrect positioning at bends, lanes and roundabouts cause learners to fail. A way to reduce this is to try and plan ahead as much as possible.
When responding to the examiner’s directions, try to plan which lane/position you need to be in.
If you go the wrong way, don’t panic! As long as you continue safely and in a correct position, you will be fine.
7. Reversing around a corner
Like the other reversing manoeuvre, learners fail on inaccuracy and lack of observation here. When given this manoeuvre, take it slowly, ensuring you observe your surroundings several times.
8. Steering control
Having a lack of steering control is another common issue. Learners often steer too early or leave it too late. Try to plan ahead to avoid sudden changes in direction. Focus on your observation to accurately judge the distance of upcoming roads and bends.
9. Turning the road
Again, there is a pattern here. The main mistakes are poor observation and lack of accuracy for this manoeuvre.
10. Inappropriate speed
Lastly, speed is another error that leads to a failed driving test. Although driving too fast is still a common issue, the biggest mistake is slow driving!
Often learners are so focused with staying below the speed limit, they actually go too slowly. Be aware of speed limits as they are easy to forget when concentrating on the road.
Most of these reasons have a lot in common and are very simple to avoid. As an overall tip, take your time, make good observations and keep calm.