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

Merging

28/2/2013

Sometimes on a road, two lanes will merge into one lane.

The lanes merge where the broken lane lines stop. It's important to make sure that all vehicles from both lanes have plenty of space in which to merge safely. The instructions in this section show you how.

The best way to merge is like a zip – where a vehicle from the left lane goes and then a vehicle from the right lane goes, and so on.

As you merge, let one vehicle from the other lane go first, and then go.

Merge like a zip

Leaving a merge lane after turning right at an intersection

Some roads have a merge lane to help vehicles that have turned onto the road join the traffic flow.

If you are in a merge lane at an intersection:

show you want to merge by signalling for at least three seconds
move into a safe gap in the traffic
adjust your speed and following distance.

Using on-ramps when entering and leaving a motorway

Motorway on-ramps are similar to merge lanes.

When using an on-ramp to enter a motorway:

change your speed to match the speed of the motorway traffic
use the whole length of the on-ramp to adjust your speed – don't change speed suddenly just as you enter the motorway
signal right for at least three seconds
move into a safe gap in the traffic
don't enter the motorway at a sharp angle
adjust your speed and following distance.

When using an off-ramp to leave a motorway:

watch for exit signs
signal left for at least three seconds
move into the left-hand lane as soon as possible
keep up with the traffic flow until you are on the off-ramp
don't leave the motorway at a sharp angle
adjust your speed.

Orange / Yellow Traffic Lights

27/2/2013

A yellow signal means stop, unless you are so close to the intersection that you can't stop safely. A yellow signal indicates that the lights will soon turn red.

For your driving test:

Every traffic light will change... be prepared to STOP

There is only green and red traffic lights

Orange arrows only allow 1-2 vehicles through if you are the 3-4 vehicles be ready to stop

Try to see how long the light has be green for.. before you get to it.

If orange and there are no vehicles behind you, aim to stop safely.

Regents Park Place (3 Point Turn)

23/2/2013

All routes are designed to include a reverse parallel park, but this task may be replaced by a three-point turn if a safe location for a reverse park is not available when required in the test route.

When performing a three-point turn, the applicant must not make use of driveways on either side of the road nor may they complete the manoeuvre as a U-turn.

Positions the car parallel to and within 300 mm of the left kerb.
Moves across the road to the right kerb without hitting any kerb hard enough to cause discomfort to vehicle occupants and without allowing any wheel to mount a kerb.
Does not use a driveway and does not allow the vehicle to enter private property.
Reverses away from the kerb without hitting any kerb hard enough to cause discomfort to vehicle occupants and without allowing any wheel to mount a kerb.
Returns to the correct side of the road when diving off as the manoeuvre is completed
Completes the manoeuvre in no more than 2 minutes and without moving across the road to the right more than once.

Smales Road and Armoy Drive (Right Turn)

21/2/2013

When turning right from either Smales Rd or Armoy Drive, Keep an eye out for vehicles doing a U Turn.

Stop where you can see vehicles coming from the right while not block oncoming traffic.

Double white lines on Armoy Drive - Stop where you can see

Double white lines on Armoy Drive - Stop where you can see

Eight Faults for Parallel Parking

14/2/2013

It's NOT a question of maybe they will make me parallel park for the restricted test... THE TESTING OFFICERS WILL MAKE YOU PARALLEL PARK !!!!!

You are required to maintain a left turn signal at positions 1 through to 2

Eight Faults for Parallel Parking

You can forget to indicated as you pull over.
You can forget to look in the mirror before pulling over.
No indication to stay left or to reverse.
Forgetting to look over your left and right shoulder to check blind spots before reversing.
No head-searching before leaving the kerb.
Forget to indicate before leaving the kerb.
Not checking mirrors after leaving the kerb.
Going too wide when pulling away(leaving park)

Don't forget the basics - indicate, mirror and shoulder check / blind spot check

Leaving parking, using one reverse movement and one forward movement. ‘P’ indicates a parked vehicle

Teach me to Parallel Park

Failing your test in the last 5minutes

13/2/2013

Howick Driver Test Center

After completing all 3 parts of the test and heading back make sure you take note of the speed limits, no one else will be following the road rules, specially speed.

The roundabout on Whitford Road a killer, when it comes to a critical error.

You have just moved for a 60km zone into a 50km zone and its down hill you can see the driver test center ahead of you.

It feels like you are driving really slow.. NO ITS EVERYONE ELSE DRIVING FAST (+60km) DOWN THE HILL.

Keep calm, keep left. Let them overtake / undertake you if they want to pass.

Your goal is to pass the driving test not other driver get where they are going a few seconds earlier.

5 km over the speed for more then 5 seconds is a fail... "Critical Error !!!"
BUT ITS ONLY 5 SECONDS AND 5KM... (you only get a speed ticket if you are 10km over)
No one else was doing 50km.. I was holding up traffic

Failed Manual Test - Howick

8/2/2013

Results from a failed manual restricted test in Howick at 11:15 on the 8th of Feb 2013

Parallel Parking on Delray Place

Failed to indicate before getting to the parked vehicle (3 seconds)
Failed to right and left blind spots before backing.

Right Turn from Annagary Rise to Kilkenny Drive

Incorrect lateral position on a right turn, failing to keep left of centre when entering and leaving the intersection.

Lane Change on Chapel Road

Turned indicators off before all the way into the lane

Corner of Main Hwy and Ellerslie-Panmure Hwy

7/2/2013

Penrose Driver Test Center:

Dual lane right turn, before finishing the driving test, you will need to stay in your own lane, as you turn right from the left lane. Two lanes before you enter the intersection and 2 lanes as you leave. Know that there is another lane on your right side. Check to see if there is a truck, bus or car in that lane. If its a bus or truck they will go wide, be prepared for that. Position your vehicle so it will not be next to another, either be infront or behind but never next to another vehicle when turning a sharp corner.

View Larger Map

Things you must NOT DO during your driving test:

6/2/2013

Looking at the gear stick or feet when driving.
Driving with the clutch in too far before stopping.
Riding the clutch around corners / changing gears around corners.
Not stopping on an orange / amber light.
Failing to fully stop at a stop sign.
Only checking one side of the intersection.
Following too closely and stopping too close to vehicles at traffic lights.
Excessive using gears to slow down / using wrong gears.
Leaving your hand on the gear stick.
Driving with one hand, keeping your hands crossed after you have made a turn.

Driving Test Tips - As you drive:

6/2/2013

Search ahead for traffic. Use the 12 second rule, Identify your potential hazards.
Use your mirrors to identify traffic behind you.
Do a shoulder check (check your blind spot) when you need to change lanes or merge.
Use your indicates to communicate your intentions.
Brake smoothly aim to let the car roll and stop.
Adjust your speed that you are able to drive around and away from hazards, without sudden course corrections.
Position your vehicle to avoid oncoming traffic.
We can't see everything at once, look as far away as you can, aim high and keep your eyes moving. Get the whole picture, don’t just focus on one potential hazard and miss the other hazards.

The most common and most obvious reasons for failing your driving tests:

6/2/2013

Immediate Failure Errors

Testing Officer intervention
Excessive speed
Too slow
Too fast
Failing to carry out an instruction
Stopping at dangerous position
Collision
Mounting a kerb
Failing to stop
Failing to give way
Failing to look
Incomplete stop at a Stop sign
Failing to signal

Blocking a pedestrian crossing
Stalling the vehicle
Other illegal action
Other dangerous action

Failed your driving test, by only doing one thing wrong ?

6/2/2013

How to FAIL your Driving Test

6/2/2013

The learners, restricted and full New Zealand Driving Test's are easy to pass but they are also really easy to FAIL.

If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail your driving test.

To ensure you pass your test give us a call and we can run through a Simulated Mock Test and give you a break down of each part and any bad habits that you might have picked up.

The Most Common Reasons You Could Fail
• Failing to fully stop at a STOP sign
• Failing to give way or failing to follow the give way rule
• Running a orange/red light
• Exceeding the speed limit by more then 5km

Other Common Mistakes
• Following and stopping to close to other vehicles (Tail Gating)
• Driving with one hand (Incorrect hand position on wheel)
• Not searching to traffic on both sides of the intersection.

Additional Information
• 30km for Roadwork’s
• 20km when passing a parked school bus
• Keep Left on dual lane roads
• Don’t rush to get to the intersection
• Search for hazards, use your mirrors and check your blind spot

Automatic and Manual Lessons and Simulated Restricted and Full Driving Test
• To provide our customer’s professional and affordable driving lesson and simulated driving tests please contact us with your location and we will offer you a very competitive rate.

Going for your driving test for the first time?

4/2/2013

Going for your driving test for the first time?

One or more of these will happen to you:

You will forget where you parked the car or try get into someone else’s car.
Not be able to unlock the car doors, or set the alarm off in the process.
Lockup the steering wheel and won’t be able to unlock it.
The windscreens fogs up and stays fogged up.
During the pre test check list forget where the indicators, wipers, lights and footbrake are located.
Have no idea which side is left and which one is right.
Going into reverse to go forward and drive to go back.
Forget about the handbrake, or notice any other red lights on the dashboard. Seatbelt and doors are the most common.

All this even before you leave the car park.

Give us a call and we can take you though a simulated driving test.

Alert Driving School Auckland
0800 ALERTDRIVING
www.alertdriving.co.nz