Passing the road test and acquiring the highly anticipated driver’s license is a common goal for every teen. In most states teens take the written driver’s exam, get their permit, sign up for a driver’s ed. course, and practice, practice, practice before taking the road test. It’s not unusual to take the road test more than once before passing. With careful practice and preparation your teen can easily be equipped with the skills needed to pass the road test the first time. Here are some essential tips to know before taking the road test.
Safety First – This may seem like common sense, but safety needs to be the #1 priority every time you get behind the steering wheel. You don’t ever want to do anything that could potentially cause an accident or put anyone at risk. Any maneuver that could potentially cause an accident, such as pulling out too closely in front of another vehicle, will cost you big points on the test and can cause you to fail. If you consider safety first in all your decisions, everything else will fall into place.
Obey the Speed Limit – Pay close attention to your speed and always drive within the speed limit. Even going 1 mile an hour over the speed limit will cost you big points on the road test. It’s better to be cautious, especially if weather or road conditions are poor.
Do Head Checks – Head checks are essential to passing the road test. Remember to look both ways, look behind you, check your mirrors, and use your blinker. Do head checks each time you pull out from a parked position, when changing lanes, stopping at stop signs, turning, etc. Show the instructor that you are aware of your surroundings. Failure to head check can cost you the test.
Stay within the lines – Pay attention to the lines on the road. Don’t cross yellow lines. Don’t cut corners when making turns. Always stay within your own lane and always stop behind crosswalks.
Beware of parked cars – Be careful not to drive too closely to parked vehicles, or any other vehicles for that matter. This can be especially tricky if you’re driving in narrow residential areas. It can be easy to get caught up in worrying about staying out of the way of oncoming traffic and, therefore, not paying enough attention to the distance between your own car and cars that may be parked on the side of the road. Driving too closely to a parked car will cost you big points on your road test.
Timing is everything – Practice judging distances. Make sure you don’t tailgate. Stay at least a car’s length away from the vehicle in front of you. Make sure you have plenty of time to enter traffic before you pull out in front of another vehicle. Be careful not to cut anyone off or make a left-hand turn in front of an oncoming vehicle if there’s not enough time. Timing and judging distance takes a lot of practice. It’s best to be cautious.
Practice Parking – Practice basic parking, parallel parking, uphill parking, u-turns, changing lanes, and other basic maneuvers. These are all required to pass the road test, but they aren’t worth many points. You can lose points on parking maneuvers and still pass the test.
Following these tips will help your teen be prepared for the road test as well as become a better driver. Be sure your teen gets as much practicing in as possible in all kinds of conditions, in heavy traffic, and in residential areas. Self-confidence behind the wheel comes from practicing, and it will show when it comes time to take and pass the test.
