Skills Explainer
OBSERVATION
SPACE MARGIN
SPEED
STEERING
COMMUNICATION
FAILURE REASONS
OBSERVATION
OBSERVATION
• Prior to a change in direction
• Road position or pulling away from the curb
• Check to make sure the blind spot on that side is clear by doing a shoulder check.
• Road position or pulling away from the curb
• Check to make sure the blind spot on that side is clear by doing a shoulder check.
• Always scan when driving especially when approaching areas where hazards may be present
• Such as intersections and crosswalks.
• Such as intersections and crosswalks.
• Check your mirrors when changing lanes
• Turning
• Pulling out from — or over to — the side of the road.
• Turning
• Pulling out from — or over to — the side of the road.
• Before backing up
• Look all around the vehicle (360 degrees) to ensure the surroundings are clear.
• Look all around the vehicle (360 degrees) to ensure the surroundings are clear.
• Keep your eyes facing the direction you are travelling or the direction you will be travelling.
• When reversing
• Observe in that direction with occasional glances forward when necessary.
• Observe in that direction with occasional glances forward when necessary.
• Identify anything in your driving environment that could be a hazard to you and other road users.
• This is for any other observational errors not listed above.
SPACE MARGIN
SPACE MARGIN
• Choose the appropriate
• Legal and safe lane position that also provides good visibility and ensures safe space margins.
• Legal and safe lane position that also provides good visibility and ensures safe space margins.
• Maintain a safe following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
• Leave an appropriate distance between your vehicle and any stopped vehicle in front of you.
• Choose an appropriate space in traffic that doesn’t cause other road users to adjust speed and/or road
position
• Take safe gaps when traffic permits and when legally permitted.
• Take safe gaps when traffic permits and when legally permitted.
• Stop behind crosswalks to avoid blocking people from crossing.
• Maintain a suitable lane position during your turn and end in the correct lane.
• Do not turn wide or cut the corner.
• Do not turn wide or cut the corner.
• Stop the vehicle before entering an occupied crosswalk.
• When changing lanes, turning, stopping or parking,
• Ensure your vehicle is at a location safe for yourself and other road users.
• Complete the manoeuvre in a safe location.
• Ensure your vehicle is at a location safe for yourself and other road users.
• Complete the manoeuvre in a safe location.
• This is for any other space margin errors not listed in this section
• You must stop the correct distance from the legal stop position.
• Refer to “stopping at intersections” in the Learn to Drive Smart guide for more detail.
• Refer to “stopping at intersections” in the Learn to Drive Smart guide for more detail.
• When driving in a parking lot
• Position your vehicle to ensure it is visible
• Obey signs/posted instructions and provide room for other road users.
• Position your vehicle to ensure it is visible
• Obey signs/posted instructions and provide room for other road users.
• You must effectively and safely complete a 3-point turn (U-turn for motorcycles).
• Refer to the Learn to Drive Smart, or Learn to Ride Smart, guide.
• Refer to the Learn to Drive Smart, or Learn to Ride Smart, guide.
• When parking
• Leave adequate space for other vehicles and objects, park close to the curb
• Do not cover pavement markings
• And ensure you are obeying regulations.Smart
• Learn to Ride Smart, guide.
• Leave adequate space for other vehicles and objects, park close to the curb
• Do not cover pavement markings
• And ensure you are obeying regulations.Smart
• Learn to Ride Smart, guide.
• Cross train tracks at a safe angle to prevent your tires
from getting caught in the tracks.
SPEED
SPEED
• Choose a speed that is consistent
• Within the speed limit and is appropriate for the conditions.
• Within the speed limit and is appropriate for the conditions.
• Bring the vehicle to a complete stop when required (at stop signs
• Red lights and when exiting parking lots).
• Red lights and when exiting parking lots).
• When a light changes to amber
• You must stop before entering the intersection unless you are unable to safely stop in time.
• You must stop before entering the intersection unless you are unable to safely stop in time.
• You must accelerate/decelerate smoothly
• Without stopping or slowing unnecessarily.
• Without stopping or slowing unnecessarily.
• You must select the most efficient gear
• And change between gears safely and smoothly.
• Do not change gear directions (e.g. forward to reverse) while in motion and do not coast in neutral or with the clutch in (manual transmission).
• And change between gears safely and smoothly.
• Do not change gear directions (e.g. forward to reverse) while in motion and do not coast in neutral or with the clutch in (manual transmission).
• You must use the correct brake and gear control to prevent rolling back on a hill.
• This is for any other speed control errors not listed in this section.
• When you see a potential hazard, take your foot off the accelerator and cover the brake in preparation to stop. Also
• Keep the brake applied when stopped.
• Keep the brake applied when stopped.
• Fully apply the parking brake when parking and fully release it before moving.
STEERING
STEERING
• Use your turn signal to let people know you are planning to turn
• Change lanes
• Pull out or pull over.
• Change lanes
• Pull out or pull over.
• Signal well ahead of the intended action to provide plenty of warning
• But not so far ahead as to confuse other road users.
• But not so far ahead as to confuse other road users.
• Cancel your signal after you have completed the manoeuvre.
• This is for any other speed control errors not listed in this section.
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
• Maintain control of the steering wheel. Refer to “Steering” in the Learn to Drive Smart guide.
• Avoid angling the car or wheels to the left when waiting to turn left.
• Avoid angling the car or wheels to the left when waiting to turn left.
• This is for any other speed control errors not listed in this section.
• Turn your front wheels in the appropriate direction when parked on a hill.
• Do not initiate a turn with one hand on the inside of the steering wheel.
• Do not initiate a turn with one hand on the inside of the steering wheel.
• While in motion
• Kep your feet on the foot pegs and maintain a proper riding position.
• Kep your feet on the foot pegs and maintain a proper riding position.
FAILURE REASONS
FAILURE REASONS
• Inability to meet the minimum criteria for the driving skills listed in each of the core competencies: Observation
• Space Margin Speed
• Steering
• and Communication.
• Space Margin Speed
• Steering
• and Communication.
• A driver’s action or lack of action which could result in a collision or loss of control of the vehicle.
• Driver Examiner or other vehicle must take action to prevent collision.
• Driver Examiner or other vehicle must take action to prevent collision.
• Where observed behaviour exceeds the range in the applicable criteria and is typically a ticketable offence e.g.,
• Does not stop at red light.
• Does not stop at red light.
• Inability to operate equipment once test has begun. Unwilling or unable terform manoeuvre. Hitting