You’ve worked your way through driver’s training, studied the rules of the road and even know how to use a roundabout. You’re well on your way to getting a license, but you’re not there just yet. To avoid failing your big exam here are a few common reasons people don’t pass a driving test and some tips to avoid these pitfalls.
What NOT to Do
Surprisingly, statistics covering driving-test failures aren’t necessarily tracked by local or federal government. “Personally I’ve not seen any specific lists from states that describe why people would not pass an exam,” said Dr. William Van Tassel, manager of driver training programs at the AAA national office. Though he also said, “There are certainly some obvious mistakes on a driving test that would result in an instant fail.”
“If you cause a collision,” Van Tassel said, “You’re not going to be making it through the test.” Of course speeding, tailgating and ignoring stop signs are obvious no-nos, though he also mentioned that some states do not like it if you bump a curb while making a turn.
Some of these are rather silly reasons to fail a driving exam but Van Tassel said it’s “a little bit surprising how often that happens.”
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Responding via e-mail, Cindy Ferek, a teacher at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, Virginia and a driving instructor said, “People often fail driver’s tests because they think driving is a lot easier than it appears to be. Many times teenage drivers fail because they have little to no experience behind the wheel.”
According to Ferek, practical training is critical. She said, “[Teens] typically try to memorize written materials versus practicing in a hands-on environment.” This can cause problems when it’s time to hit the road. Additionally, she said young people will often mimic the driving habits of their parents, which aren’t necessarily the best.
Of course taking time to study for the written portion of a driving exam is extremely important to a successful outcome. Ferek said they “can be tricky.”
Common Driving Errors
Of course there are many widespread mistakes that even seasoned motorists make. These may not necessarily cause you to fail a test but they don’t look good, either. Van Tassel said not keeping both hands on the steering wheel is a common error, but this is hardly the only one. “Another huge mistake is not looking far enough ahead,” which allows you to see potential issues well in advance.
Van Tassel said failing to maintain situational awareness is another issue for many drivers. It’s important to know what’s going on around your vehicle at all times. Checking the mirrors, keeping an eye out for side-street traffic or pedestrians are all things that can prevent a deadly crash.
Finally, Van Tassel said another major error is “failing to adjust to the driving conditions.” If it’s raining or especially if there’s snow on the road it’s important to slow down, as stopping distances can be greatly lengthened. A lot of drivers may reduce speed during inclement weather, but often not enough.
How to Pass with Flying Colors
To help drivers, both young and old pass an upcoming exam Ferek said most DMVs across the country have booklets that are loaded with useful information. “I highly advise people to study this manual as most of the questions on the written portion of the test are pulled directly for this source.”
“I also highly recommend parents take their permitted teen driver(s) out as much as they can before they take their test,” said Ferek. “At the end of the day it’s about the hours and mileage you can get behind the wheel.” Practice makes perfect and the more you can get, the better off you’ll be.
Ferek also recommends focusing on a specific skill set during a particular outing, like parking for instance. Finding an empty lot where it’s safe to practice a variety of maneuvers can help hone a specific skill and even identify a particular weakness where more work is required.
Beyond these practical suggestions it also helps to be aware of any unusual requirements in your area. Van Tassel said, “In some states they don’t care what you do,” though obviously this isn’t the case everywhere in the Union. “Oregon has a strong program for instructor training, public funding and the curriculum for what the teens experience,” he said, describing it as the “brightest state at this point” when it comes to driver education.
The Future of Driver Training
Curiously there’s no national standard in the U.S. for teaching motorists so things vary widely from one state to another. Arguably the current patchwork of rules and regulations leaves much to be desired.
Van Tassel said, “We definitely need improved driver education.” However, he’s doubtful we’ll ever get to the complexity of some European countries. Germany for instance has notoriously difficult and expensive licensing standards.
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Van Tassel said the average driver education program in the U.S. includes 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of practical, behind-the-wheel training. However, the Association of National Stakeholders in Traffic Safety Education, ANSTSE for short, has published a list of guidelines for driver-education programs. This is an industry consortium that includes organizations like AAA, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
ANSTSE would like to see education averages increase to 45 hours of classroom training and 10 hours behind the wheel. But unfortunately at this time Van Tassel said these are merely suggestions as, “There’s no enforcement behind them.”
Moving ahead, Van Tassel said some states are implementing new processes for driver education. Ohio for instance is experimenting with computer simulations to help weed out motorists that aren’t ready for a proper road test. This “could be a time saver, a money saver” he said, in addition to something that expedites service at DMV offices.
Making the Grade
Regardless of what your particular state requires, there are a few keys to passing a driver’s test. First, fate favors those that are prepared. Make sure to study the rules of the road and hone your skills by getting as much practice behind the wheel as time permits. Finally, as in life, a little common sense goes a long way, so keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
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