Foreman gives tips to pass your driving test
The most stressful part of driving is the dreaded driving exam. Nerves are higher than ever when you have someone watching your every move. Driving is already hard when you’re 16 and new to the road, and having a judgmental passenger determining your future driving career based on one ten-minute ride seems impossible. To help you get through your test the first time, here are some tips.
1. Practice the course
Your instructor takes you around the parking lot and in the neighborhood roads right behind the Kentucky State Police building. So, practice! Know the road layout so you won’t be nervous due to the new environment – just the piercing stare next to you.
2. Use the parallel parking barrels
There are two sections of four orange barrels that examiners use to test your parallel parking skills. When you go to practice the course, take a swing at parking in between the barriers. It works well in teaching you how to park without risking your car or others.
3. Practice your three-point turn – and learn all the different names for it
One way that instructors like to check on your road knowledge is calling a three point turn a broken U turn, a C turn, or a roundabout. If you don’t know what something is called, you automatically fail. So, make sure to know your terms. When you stop to make your turn, you signal right, then signal left.
4. Check your mirrors and use your signals
The instructor will ask you to come to a stop. Don’t just stop. Check your middle mirror to see if anyone is behind you. When you pull away from the curb, check the left side mirror. Always use your signals. Whether it’s parking parallel, making a three-point turn or pulling out of the parking lot, your signals are your friend.
5. Be cautious, but not too cautious
If you’re turning left, make sure you do so. You don’t want to not go when it is your turn just because you are scared. They make point of when you go and when you don’t. Always double check your mirrors though. Remember: Left, right, left.
6. Know how to park on an incline/decline
When you are told to pull to the side of the road by your instructor, this is the part of the exam where you are going have to some driving knowledge. How do you turn your wheels? Do you engage your emergency brake? Where is your emergency brake? Ask your parents, or Google, before you step into the car to take the exam.
7. Park your car where you’re supposed to
When you go to the Kentucky State Police parking lot, they want you to park next to a large truck. There are signs that say, “reserved for the Kentucky State Driving Test.” That will make your whole experience smoother and faster, which we all prefer.
8. Learn from your friends’ mistakes
Hopefully, all of your friends passed the first time, but more than likely, they have some pointers. That is how many know to practice parking on an incline, stopping completely (include a lurch) and you automatically fail if you hit/don’t know something. Learn from their mistakes so you don’t make them.
9. Make sure your lights work
Before the instructor steps into the car, they have you roll down your window and they tell you to put on your front lights, turn signals, and your brake lights. Your vehicle needs to be fully operational before they trust you to drive them around the neighborhood.
10. Booking ahead
When you think you are ready to take your driving exam, more than likely you’re going to have a pretty long wait. Right now, next available dates go into March. You need to have your completed driving log (you can write this on a lined piece of paper or print it online), proof of insurance, a parent and your licenses before you can even take your exam. If you don’t pass the first time, that’s alright. Many people fail their first time and go on to become great drivers. There’s always another chance, so good luck on the road.