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So, you're going to the DMV for a behind-the-wheel driving evaluation.
Nervous? No need to be. Remember - the examiner is not out to get you.
The examiner is not prejudiced against your age, gender, race or religion.
If you flunk the driving test, you deserved to flunk it. If you refuse
to understand this, your driving will not improve and you should not
be allowed on the road with the rest of us. There, your Uncle Bob has
spoken.
OK. Are you ready to examine yourself? Maybe you should print the appropriate
section of this page and ask someone whose judgment you trust to act
as the examiner on a test drive.
The California DMV has two driving tests:
The Driver Performance Evaluation - this is the
standard test.
The Supplemental Driver Performance Evaluation
- this is the test given to:
- Those who fail the standard test three times without having their
license revoked for driving in a hazardous manner.
- Those who are referred to the DMV under the Potentially Unsafe
Driver referral system.
Follow the examiner's instructions. Though the process can be intimidating,
decide beforehand that you will relax, be friendly and compliant. They
do know their job. Help them do it and you will be better off.
The Driver Performance Evaluation
Approximately 15-30 minutes, depending on circumstances
The Pre-Drive Checklist
For their own safety, the examiner will want to confirm that the vehicle
they are about to enter works properly and that you know its operation.
SO - make sure that you can operate all of the equipment.:
Seat belts - Horn - Parking brake - Wipers - Defroster - Emergency flasher
- Headlights
- Driver side window - does it work? It must be down at the beginning
of the test.
- Windshield - Is it free of cracks? Are there any obstructions? The
law says that nothing can hang between the driver and the windshield
except a rearview mirror. This includes Disabled Parking Placards.
- Rear view mirrors - Are they in place and functional? You must have
a left mirror and either a center mirror or a right mirror.
- Turn signals front and back - Do they work?
- Brake lights - Do they work? They don't care about the "cyclops"
light (rear window brake light).
- Tires - Are there four and do they have enough tread to complete
the test?
- Foot brake - When you push on it, it must not hit the floor.
- Horn - Functional as installed by the manufacturer - no jury-rigging
allowed.
- Passenger door - Do you have one and does it work properly? You
must be able to open it from both the inside and the outside.
- Glove box - Does it close? It can be taped closed, but can't be
hanging open.
- Seat belts - You cannot take the test in a car which doesn't have
seat belts. Are they in good condition and functional? If your car
has automatic retraction for the shoulder belt, it must work.
If you have 4 or more errors on the next 6 items, you fail without
leaving the parking lot. Reminder: You must show that you can operate
all of the equipment on the vehicle.
- Emergency/parking brake - Functional?
- Arm signals - Do you know them? Remember that they are no longer
legally sufficient by themselves. You must use your blinker.
- Windshield wipers - In good shape and functional?
- Defroster (front) - Functional?
- Emergency flasher - Functional?
- Headlights - Legal? Functional?
The following 8 items are "Critical Driving Errors."
If you do any of the following, the test will be immediately terminated
and you will fail.
- Cause the examiner to intervene (includes #7 below)
- Strike an object
- Disobey a traffic sign or signal
- Disobey safety personnel (Cal Trans workers, police, fire, or fail
to pull to right curb when an emergency vehicle with lights and /or
siren activated is approaching from any direction.)
- Dangerous maneuver
- Unsafe speed - 10 mph over or 10 mph under the posted limit. Under
may be acceptable if there are hazardous conditions requiring a slower
speed (weather, heavy traffic, etc.).
- Auxiliary equipment use - Do you turn on your flashers in an emergency;
sound your horn when necessary; turn on wipers when it's raining;
use your blinkers for turns and lane changes?
- Lane violation - Are you in the correct lane for what you are doing?
Left turns from left lane, etc. No more than 2-3 feet from the curb
when turning right. Don't drive in the area reserved for parking at
the curb.
In The Parking Lot
- Watch for other traffic, especially pedestrians.
- Appropriate speed
On the Road
If you accumulate more than 15 errors from here to the bottom of the
page, you will fail.
Intersections
Driving Through an Intersection
- Check in all directions for traffic, including pedestrians, in
the following order:
Left - Right - Rear
- Appropriate speed
- Stop only when it is necessary. (I lost points on this when I was
17 taking my first driving test. I wanted to prove how careful I was
so I stopped at every cross street, even though my street had no stop
signs and all of the cross streets did). This is the seldom mentioned
"Failure to Accept the Right-Of-Way."
Stopping at an Intersection
- Check your rearview mirror.
- Slow smoothly.
- Stop completely - no "California" or "rolling"
stops - and stay stopped for 3 seconds before proceeding.
- Don't cross the limit line (the first line of the crosswalk).
- Don't leave more than a couple of feet between the front of your
car and the limit line.
- Always, when stopped in traffic, allow "The Gap," enough
distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you that
you can see where that vehicle's rear tires contact the pavement.
- When stationary in the middle of an intersection, remember to keep
your wheels pointed straight ahead, even if you intend to turn left.
If you are rear-ended with the wheels pointed straight ahead you are
safer and less likely to move into incoming traffic.
Accelerating from a Stop
- Check pedestrian and cross traffic.
- Yield when appropriate.
- No "jack rabbit" acceleration.
Lane Change
Proper Sequence is Important
- Signal with your blinker long enough for other traffic to be aware.
- Check mirrors for traffic.
- Check over your shoulder for traffic.
- Don't slow or accelerate while signaling except as appropriate
to merge.
- Maintain a safe following distance - make the lane change from
the same distance behind
the vehicle ahead of you that you would follow them.
- Steering control - Make a smooth lane change.
- Turn off your turn indicator.
Driving in a Business or Residential Area
- Scan - always be aware of surrounding traffic.
- Maintain an appropriate speed - Never faster than the posted limit,
slower if traffic is heavy, adjusting appropriately to weather and
other conditions.
- Maintain a safe following distance - an least 1 car length for
every 10 mph.
- Stay centered in your lane. Never drive in the area reserved for
parked cars.
- Backing - Though you will not be asked to parallel park, you will
be required to do what I call "Parallel Backing." This requires
that you pull to the curb and back down the street approximately three
car lengths. You will get three chances to get this right. Here is
my
recommended procedure (you might want to practice in advance):
- Put your elbow on the back of the seat (if
bucket seats, put your hand on the back of the passenger seat).
If you are not able to do this, at least shift your body so
that you can turn and look behind the vehicle. Let them see
that you are making the effort to look out the back window and
are not relying on the side mirrors.
- Do not back using mirrors only or by just turning your head.
- Do not hit the curb or allow the vehicle to drift away from
the curb. |
TURNS
The following are the same for left and right turns.
- The Approach
- Check traffic (scan), especially in the direction you are turning,
but also be aware of traffic which might attempt to occupy the
same space you intend to occupy.
- Always signal (I recommend at least 5 seconds on a street,
just like on a freeway) before turning.
- Control your speed - the gauge you want to use is "no
centrifugal force"- don't throw the examiner around the car.
- Be in the appropriate lane for the turn you intend to make.
Don't stop next to a 2-way left turn lane in the middle of a major
street - enter it if you're turning left. Don't make right turns
from more than 2-3 feet from the curb.
- Stop if safety or legality requires it. Otherwise, don't stop.
Inappropriate stops are unsafe because they are unexpected.
- If a stop is necessary when turning:
- Check the traffic behind you.
- Stop completely in an appropriate location.
- When turning left, keep your wheels pointed straight ahead
until you accelerate for the turn
- The turn
- Scan - always be watching all traffic.
- Yield until it is safe to proceed.
- Steer smoothly and stay centered - do not turn too wide or
too short.
- Turn into a legal, available lane.
- Right turns into the far right lane only.
- Left turns into any lane which is available and safe.
- When there are two turn lanes, be sure you turn into an appropriate
lane.
- Control your speed -- remember - no centrifugal force.
- Remember to turn off your turn indicator after the turn.
So, bottom line, the DMV expects you to drive legally, safely and appropriately.
Seems like a good idea.
Please, if you have suggestions for improving this section of our
site after taking the test, send them
over.
The Supplemental Driver Performance Evaluation
Approximately 45 minutes, depending on circumstances
The Pre-Drive Checklist
For their own safety, the examiner will want to confirm that the vehicle
they are about to enter works properly and that you know its operation.
SO - make sure that you can operate all of the equipment:
Seat belts - Horn - Parking brake - Wipers - Defroster - Emergency flasher
- Headlights
- Driver side window - does it work? It must be down at the beginning
of the test.
- Windshield - Is it free of cracks? Are there any obstructions? The
law says that nothing can hang between the driver and the windshield
except a rearview mirror. This includes Disabled Parking Placards.
- Rear view mirrors - Are they in place and functional? You must have
a left mirror and either a center mirror or a right mirror.
Turn signals front and back - Do they work?
- Brake lights - Do they work? They don't care about the "cyclops"
light on your rear deck.
- Tires - Are there four and do they have enough tread to complete
the test?
- Foot brake - When you push on it, it must not hit the floor.
- Horn - Functional as installed by the manufacturer - no jury-rigging
allowed.
- Passenger door - Do you have one and does it work properly? You
must be able to open it from both the inside and the outside.
- Glove box - Does it close? It can be taped closed, but can't be
hanging open.
- Seat belts - You cannot take the test in a car which doesn't have
seat belts. Are they in good condition and functional? If your car
has automatic retraction for the shoulder belt, it must work.
If you have 4 or more errors on the next 6 items, you fail without
leaving the parking lot. Reminder: You must show that you can operate
all of the equipment on the vehicle.Emergency/parking brake - Functional?
- Arm signals - Do you know them? Remember that they are no longer
legally sufficient by themselves. You must use your blinker.
- Windshield wipers - In good shape and functional?
- Defroster (front) - Functional?
- Emergency flasher - Functional?
- Headlights - Legal? Functional?
The following 8 items are "Critical Driving Errors."
If you do any of the following, you will fail, but the test will continue
in order to accurately determine the level of your unfitness to drive.
- Cause the examiner to intervene (includes #7 below)
- Strike an object
- Disobey a traffic sign or signal
- Disobey safety personnel (Cal Trans workers, police, fire, or fail
to pull to right curb when an emergency vehicle with lights and /or
siren activated is approaching from any direction.)
- Dangerous maneuver
- Unsafe speed - 10 mph over or 10 mph under the posted limit. Under
may be acceptable if there are hazardous conditions requiring a slower
speed (weather, heavy traffic, etc.).
- Auxiliary equipment use - Do you turn on your flashers in an emergency;
sound your horn when necessary; turn on wipers when it's raining;
use your blinkers for turns and lane changes?
- Lane violation - Are you in the correct lane for what you are doing?
Left turns from left lane, etc. No more than 2-3 feet from the curb
when turning right. Don't drive in the area reserved for parking at
the curb.
In The Parking Lot
- Watch for other traffic, especially pedestrians.
- Appropriate speed
On the Road
If you accumulate more than 20 errors from here to the bottom of the
page, you will fail.
Freeway
Yes, unless you have, or are willing to accept, a "no freeway
driving" restriction on your license, you will be required to drive
on a freeway.
- At the on-ramp signal light, be sure to signal a lane change when
the light turns green (you ARE merging with the other on-ramp lane,
you know.)
- By the time you get to the freeway lanes, be going the speed of
the traffic on the freeway.
- Signal again to indicate your intention to move into the freeway's
right lane.
- Check your left mirror
- Look over your left shoulder
- Merge smoothly, adjusting your speed to match that of the freeway.
Intersections
Driving Through an Intersection
- Check in all directions for traffic, including pedestrians, in
the following order:
Left - Right - Rear
- Appropriate speed
- Stop only when it is necessary. (I lost points on this when I was
17 taking my first driving test. I wanted to prove how careful I was
so I stopped at every cross street, even though my street had no stop
signs and all of the cross streets did). This is the seldom mentioned
"Failure to Accept the Right-Of-Way."
Stopping at an Intersection
- Check your rearview mirror.
- Slow smoothly.
- Stop completely - no "California" or "rolling"
stops - and stay stopped for 3 seconds before proceeding.
- Don't cross the limit line (the first line of the crosswalk).
- Don't leave more than a couple of feet between the front of your
car and the limit line.
- Always, when stopped in traffic, allow "The Gap," enough
distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you that
you can see where that vehicle's rear tires contact the pavement.
- When stationary in the middle of an intersection, remember to keep
your wheels pointed straight ahead, even if you intend to turn left.
If you are rear-ended with the wheels pointed straight ahead you are
safer and less likely to move into incoming traffic.
Accelerating from a Stop
- Check pedestrian and cross traffic.
- Yield when appropriate.
- No "jack rabbit" acceleration.
Lane Change - Proper Sequence is Important
- Signal with your blinker long enough for other traffic to be aware.
- Check mirrors for traffic.
- Check over your shoulder for traffic.
- Don't slow or accelerate while signaling except as appropriate
to merge.
- Maintain a safe following distance - make the lane change from
the same distance behind
the vehicle ahead of you that you would follow them.
- Steering control - Make a smooth lane change.
- Turn off your turn indicator.
Driving in a Business or Residential Area
- Scan - always be aware of surrounding traffic.
- Maintain an appropriate speed - Never faster than the posted limit,
slower if traffic is heavy, adjusting appropriately to weather and
other conditions.
- Maintain a safe following distance - an least 1 car length for
every 10 mph.
- Stay centered in your lane. Never drive in the area reserved for
parked cars.
- Backing - Though you will not be asked to parallel park, you will
be required to do what I call "Parallel Backing." This requires
that you pull to the curb and back down the street approximately three
car lengths. You will get three chances to get this right. Here is
my recommended procedure (you might want to practice in advance):
- Put your elbow on the back of the seat (if bucket seats, put
your hand on the back of the passenger seat). If you are not able
to do this, at least shift your body so that you can turn and look
behind the vehicle. Let them see that you are making the effort
to look out the back window and are not relying on the side mirrors.
- Do not back using mirrors only or by just turning your head.
- Do not hit the curb or allow the vehicle to drift away from the
curb. |
TURNS
The following are the same for left and right turns.
- The Approach
- Check traffic (scan), especially in the direction you are turning,
but also be aware of traffic which might attempt to occupy the
same space you intend to occupy.
- Always signal (I recommend at least 5 seconds on a street,
just like on a freeway) before turning.
- Control your speed - the gauge you want to use is "no
centrifugal force"- don't throw the examiner around the car.
- Be in the appropriate lane for the turn you intend to make.
Don't stop next to a 2-way left turn lane in the middle of a major
street - enter it if you're turning left. Don't make right turns
from more than 2-3 feet from the curb.
- Stop if safety or legality requires it. Otherwise, don't stop.
Inappropriate stops are unsafe because they are unexpected.
- If a stop is necessary when turning:
- Check the traffic behind you.
- Stop completely in an appropriate location.
- When turning left, keep your wheels pointed straight ahead
until you accelerate for the turn
- The turn
- Scan - always be watching all traffic.
- Yield until it is safe to proceed.
- Steer smoothly and stay centered - do not turn too wide or
too short.
- Turn into a legal, available lane.
- Right turns into the far right lane only.
- Left turns into any lane which is available and safe.
- When there are two turn lanes, be sure you turn into an appropriate
lane.
- Control your speed -- remember - no centrifugal force.
- Remember to turn off your turn indicator after the turn.
So, bottom line, the DMV expects you to drive legally, safely and appropriately.
Seems like a good idea.
Please, if you have suggestions for improving this section of our
site after taking the test, send them
over.
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