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  • Theory Test
  • Practical driving test tips
    • Book Driving Test
    • Reasons For Failing A Car Practical Driving Test
  • Mobile Apps
  • FAQ
  • Gift Voucher

​Reasons For Failing A Car Practical Driving Test

Most common mistakes from your driving test.

Observation at Junctions
Ineffective observation and judgment. Its essential that you use the Mirrors, Signal, Position, Speed and gears routine when your approach any kind of junction. Check that the new road is safe to drive into, when your turning either left or right. Check your speed.

Reversing around a corner
Most learners fail on this with either their control of the car of lack of observation. When reversing around a corner, its important to keep the car moving as slow as possible. you then have time to decide when to steer at the correct time. Its also important that you keep looking around for any other road users in the vicinity, and act appropriately.

Reverse Parallel Parking
Reverse parking can be one of the hardest of the manoeuvre's to do successfully. Like all of the other exercises, it needs very careful use of the controls to keep the car moving very slowly, so you have time to decide when to steer at the right time. You should also be aware of other road users and act appropriately if you see anyone else, while you're completing the task.

Use of Mirrors
Its essential to know if there are other road users are following behind you before you start any manoeuvre. Roughly speaking, you should check them between 25 and 50% of your driving time glancing in the mirrors. If you spend any more time, you are not paying enough attention to the road.

Steering faults
Losing control of the steering, either in normal driving of during a manouvre. This can be because you have allowed the steering wheel to 'spin through your hands'.

Not cancelling or giving misleading signals
Make sure you: give signals when they could benefit other road users, gives signals in the right direction, cancel signals after completion of manoeuvre. Do not give signal too early, too late, to short or to long a period of time.

Moving Away Safely
Move off safely and under control on a level road, from behind a parked vehicle and on a gradient, use the MSM routine, check your blindspot for traffic and pedestrians an use the appropriate gear.

Incorrect Positioning
At roundabouts, one-way street or bends: get into the correct lane, adjust your speed and position to fit in with traffic conditions and be aware of the speed and position of all the traffic around you.

Lack of Steering Control
Steering too early or too late in different situations.

Inappropriate Speed
Going too slow or being hesitant.  You should be able to judge gaps and the speed and distance correctly when either pulling out, or turning right. You should not pull out, or turn if you cause the approaching traffic to slow down or make them swerve.

​Typical stopping distances: thinking distance and braking distance 

​Typical stopping distances: thinking distance and braking distance 
Typical Stopping Distances

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