L Driver Errors

According to the DSA, the most common causes for driving test failure are; Eyesight Test: unable to read a vehicle number plate at 20.5m (67ft) or 20m (66ft) for the new style plate. Highway Code: Knowledge of the Highway Code ( and application of it during the drive) weak or strong. Precautions before starting engine: handbrake not applied, neutral not selected, when starting or restarting engine. Make proper use of: - - - - Accelerator: erratic, fierce or jerky use; poor co-ordination of the clutch. Clutch; not depressed far enough, causing noisy changing or stalling; poor coordination with accelerator. Footbrake; not used when needed; used late, harshly or erratically; Gears: incorrect selection; coasting; not in neutral when needed; harsh control of the gear lever; looking at the lever; reluctant to change; incorrect use of selector on automatic; - - - Handbrake; not applied when required; not released when moving; used before stopping; Steering; ( position of hands on the wheel): one hand off; both hands off; hands on spokes; hands crossed unnecessarily; elbow on window ledge; Steering; ( oversteer); erratic control of steering; wandering on wheel; late correction; over or understeering; jerky or fiddling movements; Moving off angle, hill, level, straight; not done smoothly; not safe; not controlled; causing inconvenience or danger to others; not using mirrors; not looking around or acting on whats seen; not signalling when needed; incorrect gear; lack of coordination of controls;

Emergency stop; slow reactions; like a normal stop; footbrake / clutch used in a manner likely to cause a skid; handbrake used before stopping; both hands off the wheel;

Reverse left/ right; rushed; stalling; poor coordination of accelerator and clutch; incorrect course; mounting kerb; steering wrong way; too wide or close ( not realised); not looking around before / during reverse; not acting on whats seen;

Turning in the road; rushed; stalling; poor coordination of accelerator and clutch; not using the handbrake; incorrect steering; mounting or bouncing off kerb; uncontrolled footbrake or accelerator; more moves than needed; lack of observation before or during manoeuvre; danger or inconvenience to others; looking but not acting on whats seen;

Reverse park; rushed; stalling; poor coordination of accelerator and clutch; incorrect course; too wide or too close to parked car; lack of observation before or during manoeuvre; danger or inconvenience to others; or response to other road users; not using handbrake; not finishing exercise correctly;

Effective use of mirrors; not looking in good time; not looking around or acting on whats seen; omitted or used too late; used as or after movement is commenced; not used effectively before signalling, changing direction, slowing or stopping; omitting final look when necessary.

Give signals correctly; signals omitted; given wrongly, or given late; too short to be of value; not cancelled after use; not repeated when needed; arm signal not given when needed.

Prompt action on signal; failing to comply with signals or signs; stop, keep left, no entry, traffic lights, police signals, school crossing wardens, signals given by other road users.

Use of speed; not exercising proper care in the use of speed; too fast for conditions or limits, too close to vehicle in front in view of speed, weather, road conditions.

Making progress; not making normal progress; too low speed for conditions; crawling in low gear; no speed build up between gears; speed not maintained; undue hesitation at junctions; overcautious to the point of being a nuisance.

Crossings and junctions; incorrect regulation of speed on approach; late appreciation of, or reaction to, junctions or crossroads; not taking effective observation before emerging at a crossroads or junction; not being sure it is safe to emerge before doing so; incorrect assessment of speed and distance of other vehicles, including cyclists; incorrect positioning for right turns, at or on approach; position taken late, too far from centre, wrong position out of narrow road, or from one way street, wandering, wrong position at the end of a right

turn; incorrect position for left turn; at or on approach; too far from the kerb; swinging out before turn; striking or running over the kerb; swinging out after the turn; cutting right turns when entering or leaving. Overtaking/ meeting/ crossing other traffic; overtaking unsafely; wrong time or place; causing danger or inconvenience to others; too close or cutting in afterwards; inadequate clearance from oncoming traffic, causing vehicles to swerve or brake, turning right across oncoming traffic unsafely. Normal position; unnecessarily far out from the kerb. Adequate clearance; passing too close to cyclists, pedestrians or stationary vehicles. Pedestrian crossings; approaching too fast; not stopping when necessary, or preparing to stop if pedestrian waiting; overtaking on approach; not signalling by arm (if necessary) when needed; giving dangerous signals to pedestrians. Normal stops; stopping unsafely or in an inconvenient place; not parallel to kerb; too close to other vehicles or hazards, compounding hazards. Awareness and anticipation; lack of awareness or anticipation of others actions. Late hurried or muddled decisions. Use of ancillary controls; not using equipment that is necessary for the conditions.

Whooooooopsy!