Ten of the most common driving test mistakes

The DVLA has published a list of the top ten reasons people failed their practical driving test in 2016–17. We take a look at the most common mistakes and how learners can avoid making them.

1. Observation at junctions

Drivers fail when they’re at a junction and don’t:

• Look in both directions before emerging.
• Creep forward when necessary.
• Look in the direction of travel while emerging.
• Recognise unmarked crossroads.
• Leave enough space when pulling out.

2. Use of mirrors when changing direction

Drivers fail for not looking in their mirrors before:

• Turning.
• Changing lanes.
• Overtaking.

3. Control of the steering

Drivers fail when they lose control and:

• Cross their hands when turning the wheel.
• Let the wheel spin back after turning.
• Keep their hand on the gear stick for too long.
• Remove both of their hands from the steering wheel.
• Over or under steer on corners.
• Steer with their right arm on the window ledge.

4. Turning right at a junction

Drivers fail when they’re turning right and don’t move:

• To a position near the centre lines.
• Into a protected centre lane when available.
• Forward enough when giving way to oncoming traffic.
• To the centre of the side road when turning right at traffic lights.

5. Moving off safely

Drivers fail when there’s:

• No attempt to look around.
• A lack of observation ahead and behind them.

6. Normal driving position

Drivers fail when they’re:

• Too close to the left-hand kerb.
• Too far out towards the middle of the road.
• Unnecessarily moving in and out from between parked cars.

7. Moving off (control)

Drivers fail when they lose control by:

• Stalling the engine.
• Moving away at too high a speed.
• Rolling back.

8. Response to traffic lights

Drivers fail when they:

• Drive or attempt to drive through a red light.
• Don’t stop on amber when it’s safe to do so.
• Drive away on red and amber.
• Don’t drive on a green light when it’s safe to do so.

9. Reverse parking

Drivers fail this tricky manoeuvre when they:

• Have poor clutch control.
• Stall the engine.
• Accelerate excessively.
• Steer insufficiently or excessively.
• Use the footbrake too harshly.
• Are too close to a parked car.
• Hit the kerb, are too far away from the kerb, or at an angle to the kerb.
• Are unable to complete within two car lengths.

10. Response to signals (road signs)

Drivers fail when they ignore:

• Speed limit signs.
• Warning signs.
• Prohibiting signs.
• Priority signs.

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