Most common driving faults

Ever wondered what parts of driving people are most likely to slip up on during their driving test? Want to be ahead of the game and ensure you are most ready to pass? Of course, every driver has different strengths and weaknesses, but there’s no denying that there are several common driving faults that contribute to good drivers failing their tests. We would like to take a look at these faults and help you prepare yourself for success!

Use of Mirrors

One of the biggest reasons why people fail their driving tests is not looking in the mirrors when you need to. Mirrors are there for multiple reasons, checking before changing speed, direction and for making sure you are safely maneuvering from one position to the next. It’s particularly important that any learner driver gets into the habit of checking both the interior and exterior mirrors before acting, especially when changing lanes and speed.

Inappropriate speed

A lot of learner drivers are cautious in their lessons and their test as they are worried to go over the speed limit which could cause them to fail. However, it is vital that you remember it’s just as important not to unnecessarily hold up traffic or cause danger by driving too slow. In your test you should adjust your speed accordingly for each road that you use.

Observations at junctions

Perhaps the most common driving fault of them all is not observing properly at a junction. When doing so, you’re not allowing your test instructor to be confident that you are turning into a new road safely. As a driver, it is important that you give priority when necessary and never to cause another driver to change their direction or speed. When approaching a junction, you must stop at the relevant signs and observe properly to ensure you are making the right move.

Reverse parking

Don’t feel confident with parking maneuvers? Communicate this with your instructor. During your test, it is extremely important that you are comfortable with whichever maneuver they ask you to perform. The most common failure point for maneuvers is reverse parking, and you must observe and move accurately to complete it sufficiently.

Use of signals

Not only can you fail your test for not signaling at all when necessary, but also for not signaling in time. Practice makes perfect, get yourself into a good habit of signaling at the appropriate time and place before taking your driving test.
If you do not feel comfortable when driving with any of the above faults or others that are not listed here, speak to your instructor about it. They will be happy to help you and are likely to help you gain confidence as you tackle your biggest challenges. Don’t risk taking your driving test and failing on a parking maneuver that you know you could have perfected beforehand, speak up and you’re already on your way to passing that test! Good luck!