The Driving Test explained in brief
- The practical driving test lasts approximately 40 mins and includes the following:
- Meeting the Examiner, checking of your licence and the signing of the Driving Test Report (DL25)
- Reading a car number plate. Distance: New style 20 metres or 20.5 metres for old style.
- Answering 2 Show Me / Tell Me questions
- Forward Driving for a minimum of 30mins of which 8-10 mins will be Independent driving following directions or road signs, or a combination of both.
- One manoeuvre containing reversing
- Possibly the Emergency stop (not all tests are required to do one)
- On arrival back at the test centre shortly after parking and switching off your engine you will be given the result of the test.
- Pass or Fail you will be given the opportunity for your Instructor to listen in on the de-brief of the test.
The Marking System
The Examiner will be observing you’re driving and assessing 4 levels of faults.
- A not worthy fault. A fault in the driving which maybe a lack of technic but will improve with experience but as no consequence to others.
- A Driving Fault.(Commonly referred to as Minor Faults) A fault in the driving which due to the circumstances at that particular time did not affect any other road user including pedestrians or the vehicle and passengers.
16 or more driving faults would result in a fail.
Serious Fault. A fault in the driving which is assessed as potentially dangerous. A habitual driving fault can also be assessed as serious when it shows a serious weakness in a candidate’s driving. A single serious fault will result in a Fail.
- Dangerous Fault. A fault in the driving which when committed is assessed as having caused actual danger to any other road user including pedestrians. This may result in the Examiner having to take action either verbally or physically.
A single dangerous fault will result in a fail.
The true indication of the quality and standard of which someone drives is not whether they pass or fail a test but on the level of driving faults which are committed on the test.
If a candidate drives with very few driving faults during the test they demonstrate a good level of consistence in their driving than someone who is committing faults all through a test.
The fewer driving faults you commit the less likely you are to commit a serious or dangerous fault so the more likely you are to pass the test, also more importantly the more likely you are going to be a confident and safe driver on the road after you pass your test.
After all any fault in your driving is not good and should never be referred to as MINOR.