How to Prepare for the Practical Driving Test
The practical driving test is one of the most important tests in our lives. Being able to drive is the key to freedom, and makes getting from place to place much easier. It is therefore essential to be prepared when going to take the practical driving test, as another appointment may not come along for months.
What to expect on the Practical Driving Test
The practical driving test will begin as soon as the instructor enters your car. Be sure to check all of your mirrors before taking the car out of park. This is vital because it shows that you have had some sort of training, and getting off on the right foot with your instructor may come in useful if you make a mistake later on.
The practical driving test will begin with you entering traffic, and the instructor will have you take a couple of left and right turns. Be sure to stop for at least three seconds at stop signs and stop lights, and also be sure to indicate your turns at least 150 ft before the turn.
The instructor will then have you perform a three point turn, one of the two main portions of the practical driving test. Be sure that you look both ways and check all of your mirrors when making each stage of the turn. Also remember to signal at each stage. While forgetting to do so will only cost you a couple of points, those points can add up quick.
The final, yet often most difficult, part of the practical driving test is parallel parking. This is a very tense situation since failing at parallel parking almost always leads to failing the practical driving test. The key is to remain calm and remember the method that you have practiced. A general rule of thumb is to pull up parallel to the front car and then turn your wheel 3 times in each direction.
Tips on Preparing for the Practical Driving Test
The best way to prepare for the practical driving test is to practice. While the minimum required hours of practice is 50, the more you go beyond that the more comfortable you’ll feel behind the wheel. Practice parallel parking by setting up two cones and trying to park in between them. Also make sure to get night driving and highway driving experience.
If it is within your budget, the easiest way to prepare for the practical driving test is hiring a driving instructor. This is helpful for parents who are nervous to get in a car with their children and are unable to teach them proper driving methods.
By knowing what to expect on the practical driving test, it is much easier to prepare and therefore greatly increase the likelihood of success.