The Road Test: what the examiner scores

In the last skills test you drive a test route with real traffic. The examiner scores specific maneuvers (turns, intersections, lane changes, expressway, stop/start, curves, railroad crossings, bridges and signs) and your general driving habits (clutch, gears, brakes, lanes, steering, traffic checks, signals).

Basic rules of the road test

At all times: wear your seat belt, obey all traffic signs, signals and laws, and finish without a crash or a moving violation. Follow the examiner's directions; they will be given early enough, and you will never be asked to drive unsafely.

If the route lacks a situation (for example a railroad crossing), the examiner may ask you to simulate it: tell the examiner what you are doing or would do.

Unsafe coasting: being out of gear (clutch pressed or in neutral) for more than the length of your vehicle. Do not coast.

Turns

Before: check traffic in all directions; signal and move safely into the lane you need. As you get close: signal, slow smoothly, change gears to keep power, and do not coast unsafely.

If you must stop first: stop smoothly without skidding, behind the stop line, crosswalk or stop sign. Behind another vehicle, stop where you can see its rear tires on the road (a safe gap). Do not let the vehicle roll. Keep the front wheels pointed straight.

During the turn: check traffic in all directions, keep both hands on the wheel, and keep checking the mirror so the back of the vehicle clears everything on the inside of the turn. Do not move into oncoming traffic; finish in the correct lane.

After the turn: make sure the signal is off, get up to the speed of traffic, signal and move to the right-most lane when safe (if not already there), and check mirrors and traffic.

Intersections, urban business areas and lane changes

Approaching an intersection: check traffic in all directions, slow gently, brake smoothly and change gears if needed. If you must stop, make a complete stop (no coasting) behind stop signs, signals, sidewalks or stop lines, keeping a safe gap behind any vehicle ahead. The vehicle must not roll forward or backward.

Driving through: check traffic in all directions, slow down and yield to pedestrians and traffic in the intersection, do not change lanes in the intersection, and keep your hands on the wheel.

After: keep checking mirrors and traffic, and accelerate smoothly, changing gears as needed.

Urban business: check traffic regularly, keep a safe following distance, stay centered in the right-most lane, and keep up with traffic without going over the speed limit.

Lane changes: on multi-lane roads you will be asked to change left, then back right. Check traffic first, signal, and move smoothly when it is safe.

Expressway, stop/start and curves

Entering the expressway: check traffic, signal, and merge smoothly into the correct lane. On it: keep proper lane position, spacing and speed, and keep checking traffic in all directions. Exiting: check traffic, signal, slow down smoothly in the exit lane, and on the ramp keep slowing inside the lane markings with good spacing.

Stop/start: you pull over as if to check something on the vehicle. Check traffic, signal right, move to the right-most lane or shoulder, slow smoothly, and come to a full stop without coasting. Once stopped: the vehicle is parallel to the curb or shoulder, out of traffic, and not blocking driveways, fire hydrants, intersections or signs. Cancel the turn signal, turn on the 4-way flashers, set the parking brake, shift to neutral or park, and take your feet off the brake and clutch.

Resuming: check traffic and mirrors in all directions, turn off the flashers, signal left, release the parking brake and pull straight ahead when traffic allows. Do not turn the wheel before the vehicle moves. Check traffic, especially to the left, steer and accelerate smoothly into the lane, then cancel the left signal.

Curves: check traffic; slow down before the curve so you do not need to brake or shift in it; stay in your lane; keep checking traffic.

Railroad crossings, bridges and signs, school bus student discharge

All drivers at a railroad crossing: slow down, brake smoothly and shift as needed; look and listen for trains; check traffic; and never stop, shift gears, pass, or change lanes while any part of the vehicle is on the crossing.

Buses, school buses and placarded vehicles (unless the crossing is exempt): turn on the 4-way flashers as you approach; stop within 50 feet but not closer than 15 feet from the nearest rail; look and listen both ways; a bus driver may need to open the window and door first. Keep hands on the wheel while crossing, do not stop, shift or change lanes on the tracks, and turn off the flashers after crossing. Keep checking mirrors and traffic.

Bridge/overpass/sign: after passing under an overpass you may be asked the posted clearance (height); after a bridge, the posted weight limit; or to explain any other sign on the route.

Student discharge (school bus endorsement only): approach slowly while checking traffic; turn on the amber lights and right signal; move as far right as possible on the roadway; recheck traffic; stop at least 10 feet from students; put the transmission in neutral/park and set the parking brake; turn on the stop arm and red lights; communicate with students; check traffic; open the door; check for students. While students cross: check traffic, communicate with them, check for students. To leave: check all mirrors, turn off the warning lights and stop arm, close the door, check traffic, and accelerate away.

General driving behaviors (scored the whole time)

• Clutch (manual): always use the clutch to shift. With an unsynchronized transmission, double-clutch. Do not rev or lug the engine. Do not ride the clutch to control speed, coast with it pressed, or "pop" it.
• Gears (manual): do not grind or clash gears; pick a gear that does not rev or lug the engine; do not shift in turns or intersections.
• Brakes: do not ride or pump the brake; do not brake harshly — brake smoothly with steady pressure.
• Lanes: keep your wheels off curbs, sidewalks and lane lines, and stop before stop lines, crosswalks or stop signs. On a road with several lanes, a left turn ends in the lane next to the center line (on its right side), and a right turn ends in the curb lane. Move to or stay in the right-most lane unless it is blocked.
• Steering: do not over-steer or under-steer. Keep both hands on the wheel except when shifting, then return both hands.
• Traffic checks: check traffic and mirrors regularly; before, in and after intersections; and scan carefully in busy areas and where people may be walking.
• Turn signals: use them when required and at the right time, and cancel them after the turn or lane change.

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.