Alert Driving School Auckland - Driving Test Tips - Pass your driving test first time

Manual Driving Lessons

2/1/2018

Don't ride the clutch around corners:
For example if you are coming up to a right turn and you can see its clear, you going into second gear but keep the clutch in all the way through the turn. (Riding the clutch though the turn is the same as coasting in neutral around corners)

Don't change gears around corners:
Only change gears when the car is straight roads.

Don't excessive using gears to slow down:
For example if you are driving in 4th gear (60km) and you drop down into 2nd gear (20km) and let go of the clutch (excessive) to slow down.

If you do 4th, 3rd and then 2nd gear, that will be fine.

Don't use wrong gears:
Taking off in 3rd or 2nd gear when starting to move or in high speed zones change from 4th into 3rd and not 5th gear

How to Drive a Manual Transmission [Guide]

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Mt Wellington / Sylvia Park Common Errors for October 2017

30/10/2017

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Common Errors for October 2017 running through Mt Wellington / Sylvia Park VTNZ Restricted and Full and Overseas Conversion Driving Test. From start to finish all tested overlapped.

Leaving the Carpark:

Angle parking let the car roll out, in REVERSE (Not Neutral)
Before moving back, turn your head and look back, Don't just use the mirrors
Indicate before moving
Look out for other learner driver backing out
Use the space around you and keep on your side of the road (oneway street)

Duallanes - Changing Lanes and Merging:

Keep in your lane and look ahead for merging traffic and parked cars
Be prepared to change lanes
Don't drive in other vehicles blind slot
Don't move suddenly left or right
Don't brake / slow down for no reason
Don't change lanes near intersections or when other vehicles are turning or changing lanes

Dont Rush / Nothing Sudden

Look out for Hazards car, people and animals

U-Turn / 3 Point Turns:

Indicate and Check your Blind Spot
Keep left and use the space around you
Recheck your blind spot
Look at the yellow triangles on the road (Fire Hydrants) keep on the let off them.

Intersections (Ped-X, Traffic Lights, Roundabout and Controlled Cross Roads)

Check both sides, even if you have the right of way
Look for Police Cars, Fire Engines and Ambulances
Green lights will always change, be ready before

Dual Lane Roundabout - Right and Left Turn

Angling the car to the left, will make it easier to turn left, right and go straight at roundabouts.
Indicate out and always check both sides [Refer to lesson notes: You are going to give way to vehicles on your right but, they will give way to vehicles on there right and so on back to you]
Stay in your lane
Comfortable speed - Aim for 20km
Look at the indicators of the other vehicles and check which lane is going were?

Right Turns

Keep on your side and don't be too wide
Don't cut corners

Stop Signs

You have to fully stop
Stop, wait and then go
You can also fail if you wait after the full stop for more then 5seconds if it is safe to move

Keeping Left

You can drive over empty bus stops.
Wide Roads keep reasonably to the left

Braking

Don't Brake Hard
Before braking know who is behind you - Check you center mirror

Turn Right and Left:

Dont rush, look ahead and be ready before the last car passes to move out.
You will be driving at the speed limit, presume everyone else are running late and will being rushing.
Check both sides 100metres / 3 lamp posts.
Know where everyone else should go.

Moving on and off:

Release your hand brake
Indicate before moving on /off
Check your blind spot before moving
You don't want to feel the car moving left or right
Keep indicating till you have fully stopped

Giveway Left Turn at Traffic Lights:
Angle the car to the left and go a bit wide to make a safe turn in the left lane

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Highbrook Driving Test Notes - Common Errors - October 2017

29/10/2017

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Common Errors for October 2017 running through Highbrook VTNZ Restricted and Full Driving Test Routes, Overlapping all Test Routes.

Leaving the Carpark:

Before moving back, turn your head and look back, Don't just use the mirrors
Indicate before moving
Look out for other learner driver backing out
Use the space around you and keep on your side of the road
Aim for 20km in the carpark and let the car roll

Combo Turns: (Turn Left/Right and immediately turn Left/Right when safe)

Indicate for 3seconds
Check your center mirror (Know what is behind you, before braking)
Comfortable speed (aim for 20km for the turns) you don't want to feel the car moving left or right.
Keep on your side of the road
Don't cut corners

Sharp Corners / Blind Turn (Where you can't see 100metres around the corner)

If you can't see what's ahead of you, There is always someone coming towards us
If you cant see them, they cant see you (oncoming vehicles)
Keep left
NO need to indicate

Other Vehicles on the Road

Trucks / Buses - Large Vehicles will go wider and take more room to turn, They will also be slower to take off and slow around corners, compared to cars and motorcycles.
Keep an Eye out for Pilot Vehicles
Truck and Trailer units will normally move more right to turn left. Keep an eye on which way they are indicating and moving, When exiting and entering driveways

Testing Officer - Instructions

They will tell you to turn left or right and when to stop.
Don't keep asking them which way on straight roads.
You will be turning into streets and Roads. the only drive you will enter and exit will be the one at VTNZ
Look at the road marking and layout, If you are asked to move into the left or right lane look at the arrows painted on the road. At the traffic lights we will turn left, you need to move into the lane that is turning left.

Shoulder Check / Blind Spot Checks:

Alway presume there is a vehicle in you blind spot. If you are going to move over 0.5metres left or right. Check your blind spot, the side you are moving to.
DON'T Check while turning it is too late

Oncoming Vehicles:

Narrow Roads - Let the car roll past

Hand Position:

Dont twist your hands
Keep both hands on the wheel, till you have full stopped
Dont palm the wheel, use both your hands
Left hand for turning left and right for turning right

U-Turn / 3 Point Turns:

Indicate and Check your Blind Spot
Keep left and use the space around you
Recheck your blind spot

Moving on and off:

Release your hand brake
Indicate before moving
Check your blind spot before moving
You don't want to feel the car moving left or right

Turn Right and Left:

Dont rush, look ahead and be ready before the last car passes to move out.
You will be driving at the speed limit, presume everyone else are running late and will being rushing.
Check both sides
Know where everyone else should go

Cross Roads with Giveway Signs - Driving Straight:

Aim to stop / aim for 20km, if you can see 100 metres on each side (3x lamp posts)
Know who will go first and who will give way
Make sure the other cars are indicating and slowing down before you move

Turning Right Flush Medians and waiting:

Stop Straight in the flush median, indicate and check your blind spot before moving out.

Narrow Roads:

If all 4 wheel are over the center line, Indicate right and keep indicating till you get to the second last car and then indicate left
Always to a shoulder check to the side you are moving
If you are move 1/2 over the center line (indicate and) should check [Refer to lesson notes: What is safe and unsafe. If you indicate other driver might think you are turning to a driveway. ]

Roundabouts:

Indicate out and always check both sides [Refer to lesson notes: You are going to give way to vehicles on your right but, they will give way to vehicles on there right and so on back to you]
Angling the car to the left, will make it easier to turn left, right and go straight at roundabouts.
Comfortable speed - Aim for 20km

Duallanes - Changing Lanes and Merging:

Keep in your lane and look ahead for merging traffic and parked cars
Be prepared to change lanes
Don't drive in other vehicles blind slot
Don't move suddenly left or right
Don't brake / slow down for no reason
Don't change lanes near intersections or when other vehicles are turning or changing lanes

Braking / Slowing Down:

Before braking know who is behind you - Check you center mirror

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New Lynn Full Driving Test Lesson Notes / Key Points

14/10/2017

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Key Points To Remember (10:20am)

Focus on Indicating, mirror usage and shoulder checks (Blindspot)
Speed and Braking don't rush
Position overall keep left
Gap Selection - don't rush to go, be ready before and always aim to stop
Steering and Hand Position - don't twist your hands

Full Driving Test Route 1

Keep Left (Narrow Roads / Blind Corner)
Indicate Right when doing a U-Turn and check you right blind spot
Don't Rush - Drive to the road conditions (NOT the speed limit on narrow roads)
Left Turn - Angle the car, easier to turn left on narrow roads
Parked Vehicles - If all 4 wheels are over the center line while overtaking you need to keep indicating.
Moving on and off the road don't make sudden turns. You don't want to feel the car moving on / off the road
Narrow Roads - Avoid creating a bottle neck, make it easier for your self to get through
3 Point Turn / Not enough room to do a U - Turn. You have to Indicate and check your blindspot.

Full Driving Test Route 2

Stop Sign - Stop, wait, look and go
Roundabout - know which exit to take before you enter
Dual lanes going straight always aim for the left lane

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Feedback notes from solo drive / Driver Observation Mode

27/7/2017

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Feedback notes on student getting ready to do there restricted driving test.

Distance Covered : 16.98 km
Duration: 41 minutes
Max Speed: 99km/h
Average Speed: 28km/h
Road Conditions: Night / Wet Roads

Leaving carpark - make sure the other vehicles are actual turning left before turning right. Make sure they are slowing down before you move on the road.
Dual lanes - Larger vehicles, turning left or right will generally move in the opposite a little bit while staying in there lane to turn. As you approach staying in you lane, but move a little bit away from them.
Dual lanes - Position yourself so no is next to you.
Wet Roads / Dark - Maintain a minimum of 4 seconds following distance.
Lane Changing 50km Zone - Check before changing lanes, don't look while you are changing lanes it is too late, once you are entering the other lane it is too late. Don't brake for no reason (IF)
Dual lane right turn - Stay in your lane all the way through the turn. (IF)
Motorway onramp too slow to speed up. As you pass the speed sign / motorway begins sign speed up.
High Speed Zone - Lane changing - Nothing Sudden. (IF)
Going past onramps - searching / check for other vehicles entering the motorway.
Entering Turning / Right Turn - Shoulder Check
Speed control - 10km over speed limit / failed to notice speed sign (IF)
Parallel Parking - Indicate before stoping (CE)
3 Point Turn - Indicate and Check (CE)
Hard braking at speed bumps and curved roads.
Roundabout Positioning and indicating out (IF)

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Manual Driving Lessons

Mt Wellington / Sylvia Park Common Errors for October 2017

Highbrook Driving Test Notes - Common Errors - October 2017

New Lynn Full Driving Test Lesson Notes / Key Points

Feedback notes from solo drive / Driver Observation Mode

Driving Test Tips and Advice

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