Almost 70% of the US citizens hold a valid driver’s license (based on the 2019 population census). No wonder you’d like to be one of them! Getting your driver’s license is undoubtedly an important step into adulthood. It’s necessary if you want to drive a car – however, you won’t be able to do so unless you pass your test first. Unfortunately, no matter how good of a driver you think you are, there are factors that could ultimately contribute to your success – or failure – during the exam.

This article contains a few tips that help you tackle the most important issues when it comes to passing your practical driving test.

Know The Basics… And More

Don’t settle on just the basic requirements you learned for your written test. Knowing the rules of the road like the back of your own hand can save you in a difficult situation you haven’t encountered before. That of course applies to your driving even further “down the road”, not only during the exam. Make sure you not only memorize (or at least have an idea of) the rules, but that you also understand them. 

Understanding is the key to your performance on the test. To help you with the theory even further, you can check the series called #CaughtOnBlackVue with dash cam footage sent to us by our Customers. These videos can be a vivid reminder of how not to behave while behind the wheel and help you understand the behavior (or the unpredictability) of the other drivers on the road.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Yogi Berra once said, “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” Practice makes perfect, and the same principle applies to driving. You need to apply your theoretical knowledge to practice by driving as much as you can, ideally in different weather conditions and during different times of the day. The best spots for practice are in areas without other drivers. A deserted office parking lot during the weekend or in the late evening might be a good choice.

The more you drive, the more comfortable and confident you will feel behind the wheel. Schedule your driving test only when you have plenty of practice under your belt.

NOTE: Practice your driving with an experienced supervisor.

Review Your Driving And Learn From Your Mistakes

Record your practice drives by installing a dashcam (such as the BlackVue DR970X-2CH Plus for both front and rear recording) in the car. 

In the heat of the moment you might not notice that you did something wrong – analyzing the footage afterwards will give you valuable insight and will let you learn from your own mistakes. With 4K UHD image quality and wide 146-degree angle you can be sure you won’t miss even the smallest of details. Having the video of your driving will give you reassurance once you get behind the wheel on the day of the exam – after all, you’ve rehearsed this!

Listen To Your Instructor/Examiner 

This one seems like a no-brainer, but in a stressful environment, such as during the exam, it’s easy to forget. You might be inclined to think that the person overlooking your exam is purposefully trying to fail you, but it’s usually not the case. So don’t ignore their words, especially when they give you some pointers or make you pay attention to certain situations on the road.

Conversely, don’t be afraid to ask questions, either. Especially if you are not sure if you heard the instructions right. You could lose points – or even fail your test – if you don’t do what you are asked to do. So it’s better to make the examiner repeat themselves than risk a guessing game (or, even worse, make the examiner think you’re ignoring them). Your driving test is not the time to be shy!

Don’t Be Nervous

Easier said than done – nerves can get the best of us in stressful situations, especially when taking a practical test. There are no take backs – once you make a mistake, you cannot really “fix it”. In cases like that, it’s important to stay calm and carry on. That one mistake is just that – one mistake. As long as you focus and don’t make other mistakes, your overall score should be fine. If you fixate on a mistake you made, it might affect your ability to think critically. It can even slow down your reflexes. Both are undesirable during an exam.

Although unavoidable, stress is something that we can learn to reduce through various stress management techniques. The most important part is not to let it overtake you completely during the test.

Hundreds of thousands of people take – and pass – their driving exam every year. With the tips above in mind, you can be one of them in no time. Good luck!

Thumbnail image by yanalya on Freepik