Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test

The most common faults made during driving tests between 4 December 2017 and 3 December 2018 were:

1. Junctions – observation.
2. Mirrors – change direction.
3. Control – steering.
4. Junctions – turning right.
5. Move off – safely.
6. Response to signs – traffic lights.
7. Move off – control.
8. Positioning – normal driving.
9. Response to signs – road markings.
10. Reverse park – control.

Manoeuvres

Observation

You use your mirrors before a manoeuvre i.e. turning, slowing down or approaching a hazard - junctions, pedestrian crossings, etc.. The synchronism is Mirror signal manoeuvre the manoeuvre being broken down into position on the road, speed of approach and the look - a last look into the turn and all around. Your mirrors are for when you have joined a new road, just to check to see what has followed you in and when slowing down or speeding up. It is important you are synchronised on mirrors first the indication then turn or whatever. Do not indicate then check the mirrors you are only going to panic a cyclist or motor cyclist approaching on your right.

Forward Bay Park.

We are looking for your complete control over the car and your observation.
Thus, on approach, into first gear, full look about, up to bite point and as slowly as possible move the car turning 90 degrees to the right or left maintaining full observation. You should end up facing the curb at right angles. Check to see you are correctly between the parking bay lines. If not you must correct the park, with full 360* observation reverse out preferably in a straight line. Again with full ongoing observation move the car forward into the parking bay. Hand brake on and out of gear.
You will then have to reverse out of the bay. As with all manoeuvres full, all round observation checking for other road users including pedestrians. Reverse slowly showing your control over the vehicle and steer to face in the direction you intend to move off.

Parallel Park

Remember left right stop right left.
Go alongside the "target vehicle" i.e. the car you are reversing around. Sufficiently past the car that you can see the whole of the end of the vehicle through your passengers window. About a metre away from the side of the car.
Reverse back really slowly until you see the end of the car appear in the very beginning of the back left passenger window. One turn of the wheel to the left.(full circle) Your nose is now encroaching into the middle of the road so right shoulder check. When you are at a 45degree angel (when you see the whole of the other end of the target car or 2o'clock if the road ahead is 12 o'clock) one turn to the right. Due to the camber on the road you now need to gain control of your speed - clutch in on the break. Looking over your left shoulder for pedestrians on the pavement, move slowly. Using your left mirror judge the distance from the curb as a reference I try to line up my left mirror with the targets right mirror then the second right turn of the steering wheel. Reverse back watching your distance from the curb, when your car is square to the target car (i.e. the front of your car in square on the end of the target vehicle.)one left turn to straighten your front wheels.

Move Off

You will have to carry out as many as 10 in the test. It replaced the hill start, now it is hill start, downhill, angled and into traffic. Remember the sequence, into gear, observation (all around) indication - as the clutch comes up, and then, as you move off, a quick final glance over your right shoulder.

Controlled Stop

The idea is a child has run out in front of you. Stop the car immediately - break first then clutch in, not the other way around. Pull on the handbrake. The examiner will say thank you please move away. Full observation check left and right, no signal and move away smoothly.

Bay Parking

You may be asked to bay park either left or right. To start with either way line the wing mirrors up with the white lines describing the parking slot. Then with very slow progress backwards turn the steering wheel as quickly as you can in the direction of the parking bay until you can turn no more. Slow wheels/fast hands is what they are looking for. Then manoeuvre the car into the bay. You may need to take some of the lock off to make it into the middle of the parking bay. Remember to have good observation all around and when reversing back into the bay keep glancing over your left shoulder into the bay.

JUNCTIONS

• What are junctions?
• What is a staggered junction?
• What are open and closed junctions?
• Who has priority at junctions?
• What does a box junction mean?
• What does Y junction mean?
• What is a staggered intersection?
• What’s a staggered stop?
• What is the sign for T junction?
• When traffic lights aren't working, who has priority?
• Who has priority on a roundabout?
• Who has priority at an unmarked junction?
• When may you wait in a box junction?