Samples of Written Text

Below are some examples of the content c ontained within four of the selected Driving Test Handouts, namely:

Controlled Stop> promptness

Knowledge Position/Normal Stops - Procedure

Turn in the Road > observation - Positive points

Positioning > normal driving - Negative points

2. CONTROLLED STOP > Promptness - Knowledge

You should be aware that for the purposes of the driving test, you have a one in three chance of the driving examiner asking you to carry out the controlled stop exercise. If you have been selected in this way, you will be requested to pull up normally at the side of the road, after which the driving examiner will inform you, that you will shortly be required to stop as in an emergency as though a child had run out in front of you.
You will then be informed that the signal to stop will be given by the examiner raising their right hand, in a similar manner to the signal to stop, given by a police officer, and calling out the word STOP at the same time.
Before giving you the signal to stop, they will look behind to check that it is safe for you to carry out this exercise.

When carrying out this exercise on a driving test, this is the one occasion when it is not necessary for you to check the mirrors before stopping, equally you will not be required to give any signals, as there should not be any other road users around, who would benefit from such a signal.
When you are given the signal to stop, you must demonstrate extremely quick reactions, by getting your right foot onto the footbrake pedal as quickly as possible. You must then apply firm and progressive braking, which will enable you to bring the car to a stop under full control, in the shortest space possible.

25. POSITION / NORMAL STOPS>Procedure

When you are intending to carry out a normal stop, you should look ahead for a safe, legal and convenient place to stop, before taking rear observations in both the interior, and then the nearside door mirrors, after which you should consider if there are any other road users around, who may benefit from a signal.
If necessary, you should move the direction indicator stalk in the appropriate direction, before starting to turn the steering wheel slightly towards your left, to bring the car closer towards the left hand kerb, at this time you should line the front of the car up in a position, which is approximately less than half a metre from the kerb.
To bring the car to a stop, you should relax your pressure on the gas pedal, and pivot on your heel to cover the footbrake pedal.

When travelling at higher speeds in higher gears, you should apply progressive pressure to the footbrake pedal, then just before the car becomes stationary, press the clutch pedal all the way down to the floor.
Alternatively when you are travelling very slowly in first gear, you should use your left foot to press the clutch pedal all the way down to the floor, before applying very gentle pressure to the footbrake pedal.
You should retain both your hands on the steering wheel, until such times as the car has become stationary, and keep both feet fully down on both pedals, before placing your left hand on the parking brake lever.
You should pull the parking brake lever upwards, until you feel it has reached its maximum operating position, and then move the gear lever back into the neutral position, after which you should lift both your feet away from the pedals, then if necessary, you should cancel the left direction signal.

6. TURN IN THE ROAD - observation > Positive points:

You take effective all round observations before attempting each part of the manoeuvre, and maintain these observations while completing each part.

You show that you are prepared to stop to allow other road users to proceed past you from either direction, as and when necessary.

You keep a look out for pedestrians passing in front or behind you on either pavement, and show that you are prepared to stop for them as and when necessary.

Before reversing you carry out observation checks, by looking through all six windows of the car, commencing with the rear offside window, the drivers offside window, the front windscreen, the passenger nearside window, the rear nearside window, and the rear window of the car.

While reversing you take rear observations over your left shoulder during the first half of the reverse movement, then switch your observations to your right shoulder during the second half of the reverse movement.

23. POSITIONING > - normal driving

Negative points:
You drive along in the gutter, in a position which is far too close to the left hand kerb.
You drive too close to the left hand side of a traffic lane, when driving on roads with lane markings.
You weave in and out between stationary vehicles parked on the left at intervals.
You drive too close to the right side of the lane, when driving on roads with lane markings.
You drive along in a position which is close to the centre lines of the road, particularly when driving on wider roads.
You pass stationary vehicles, or other obstructions on the left, in an exaggerated position, which is much further towards the right hand side of the road than is necessary.
(All of the above faults would be marked as being DRIVING FAULTS)
(Where any one of the above faults has become a regular feature and has been repeated consistently, a SERIOUS FAULT would be recorded.)
You do not attempt to use bus or cycle lanes, when the times displayed permit their use.
You drive round left hand bends, in a position which is too close to the left hand kerb.
You drive round right hand bends, in a position which is too close to the centre lines of the road.
You drive along in a wide position which prevents following traffic from overtaking.
You drive along in a wide position which causes oncoming road users to take evasive action.
(All of the above faults would be marked as being SERIOUS FAULTS)
(Where any one of the above faults has resulted in the examiner or any other road user taking any form of evasive action, a DANGEROUS FAULT would be recorded.)