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

Orange Lights

30/7/2014

The traffic lights will change !!!

As you approach traffic lights be prepared for them to change.

Left Turn using bus lanes

24/7/2014

In working towards the most efficient use of the city's roads, Auckland Transport is trialling new ways to mark bus and transit lanes. These changes are aimed to help motorists identify the 50m maximum entry point where they can move into a bus/transit lane in order to turn left at an intersection.

Changes to road markings include:

The use of a solid green line, adjacent to the solid white line, demarcating a bus or transit lane
Changing the solid green/white line (marking a bus/transit lane) to a broken green/white line 50 metres in advance of an intersection. This shows the maximum point where motorists can legally enter a bus/transit lane to make a left turn at an intersection.

School Zone and Stop Sign

22/7/2014

Its not a trick the testing officers play on you, to make you fail.

They are marking you on your Observation Skills.

As you turn left into East Coast Road, take note of the SCHOOL ZONE SIGN on the left.

As you turn left into Glenvar Road, take note of the STOP SIGN on the left.

You will need to FULLY STOP before moving

Intersection Controlled by a Giveway and Stop Sign

20/7/2014

Who will go first?

Fully Stop at the STOP SIGN check for vehicles on both sides of the road before moving.

Failing to stop will result in your test being terminated.

Highspeed Zone - East Coast Road

20/7/2014

STOP Sign on the corner of East Coast Road and Haigh Access Road

U-Turn and Left Turn at STOP Sign:

You are required to turn left at a STOP Sign on the corner of East Coast Road and Haigh Access Road.

Make sure you fully stop at the stop sign.

Make sure you stop where you can see at least 100 meters on both sides. The speed limit is 80km/h most vehicles will be travelling much faster. Don't be afraid to move closer to the yellow line if you can't see.

You are required to do a U-Turn on Awanohi Rd

Keep Left Unless Passing:

You are required to move into the right lane, when safe and then move back into the left lane.

The road is uphill you will need to keep your speed up and beware of vehicles coming for behind you.

The maximum speed limit is 80km.

Highspeed Zone / Open Road 100km

19/7/2014

U-Turn and Left Turn at STOP Sign:

You are required to turn left at a STOP Sign on a High Speed Zone.

Make sure you fully stop at the stop sign.

I have students that have slowed down, checked to make sure its safe and then moved off without fully stopping.

You are required to do a U-Turn on a main road where you can see 100 metres on each side

Whitford Road - Howick Restricted Test

17/7/2014

Overview of 3 areas my students have trouble with, When covering the country road / high speed zone part of the Restricted Driving Test at Meadowlands Howick.

Downhill approaching narrow bridge:

Keep left, line up your vehicle before moving on the bridge.

You will notice a 35km on the left that is not the speed limit but you need to be slow, once you are on the bridge speed up.

Beware of approaching vehicles (Trucks / Buses)

Slow Vehicle Bay:

Practice moving into the Slow Vehicle Bay, just like merging or changing lanes, you don't want to feel the vehicle moving left, It is uphill, don't brake to move into the slow lane.

Indicate left, left shoulder check and then move into the slow lane.

When leaving the slow lane, indicate right followed by a right shoulder check. Move over the white lines

U - Turn on a high speed zone:

You are required to move off the road and make a U - Turn. The testing officer will make you stop before a driveway and will ask you to turn around or do a you U-Turn. Move more left before doing a U-Turn, give yourself enough room and time; if you can't a U-Turn you'll need to do a 3 Point Turn on the High Speed Zone.

You will need to be able to see 100 meters on both sides of the road. This will give you enough time to speed up after turning.

Curved Road - 35 km Sign

16/7/2014

The signs below warn you that you are coming up to a tight curve or bend in the road. The number recommends a safe and comfortable speed to drive at around the curve – in this example the recommended speed is 35km/h. The arrows show which direction the curve goes.

Note: the recommended speed is for a light vehicle and may be too fast for a heavy vehicle, particularly when laden. Drive carefully and adjust your speed if necessary. If you are carrying a load, reduce your speed on a curve to at least 10km/h below the posted speed shown.

More Details Information

Critical vs. Immediate Failure Errors

14/7/2014

Critical Errors

A critical error is a serious driving error that does not meet the threshold for an immediate failure error. Critical errors are recorded at any time they occur during either stage of the test, whether or not the applicant was undertaking an assessable task at the time of the error. Most illegal driving actions are classified as critical errors (except errors that endanger any road user, which are classified as immediate failure errors). Critical errors are more important than the errors assessed by task assessment items, so critical errors have a greater influence on the outcome of the test.

Critical errors include:

Too slow
Mounting a kerb
Too fast
Stalling the vehicle
Failing to look
Incomplete stop at a Stop sign
Failing to signal
Other illegal action
Blocking a pedestrian crossing

Immediate Failure Errors

Immediate failure errors are recorded at any time they occur during either stage of the test regardless of whether or not the applicant was undertaking an assessable task at the time of the error. All driving actions resulting in immediate danger to any road user or to property are classified as immediate failure errors and would usually be when the applicant is operating the vehicle carelessly, dangerously or recklessly. Immediate failure errors are the most dangerous errors of all, and result in immediate failure of the test.

Immediate failure errors include:

Testing Officer intervention
Excessive speed
Failing to carry out an instruction
Stopping at dangerous position
Collision
Failing to stop
Failing to give way
Other dangerous action

Are you ready to sit your test?

Check out the test guides in the links below to get up to speed on what you will be assessed on.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/photo/docs/restricted-test-guide.pdf
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/photo/docs/full-test-guide.pdf

Please Signal Your Turn - Restricted / Full Test

10/7/2014

Please Signal Your Turn:

As you are driving down, over the motorway bridge on Main Highway you are required to turn left into Robert Street.

It is a sharp corner you will need to be around 30km to make the turn.

Normally you are not required to indicated when following the road, but the sign on the left states "PLEASE SIGNAL YOUR TURN".

You have the right of way there is a stop sign on the right and a giveway sign on the left.

You have the "right of way" as you drive down recheck both sides.

Intersection controlled by a STOP Sign for straight moving vehicles and Uncontrolled left turn.

Intersection controlled by a GIVEWAY Sign for vehicles moving right and straight.

Intersection controlled by a STOP and GIVEWAY Signs for straight travelling vehicles.

Searching as you drive for your driving test

7/7/2014

Searching as you drive for your driving test. Especially for the Restricted Test but also for the Full Driving Test. I have noticed that towards the end / on the way back to the test center after driving for 30-40 minutes my students start to lose focus and don't search as much as they were doing at the start.

Build up your tolerance, be able to drive for over 1 hour while being focused.