Your examiner knows that you can drive but is tasked with evaluating the risk that you may pose to fare paying passengers (risk level).
To pass your practical driving test you will have to be able to carry out all required driving skills consistently and without any prompting.
Remember your examiner is an observer, they are not there to instruct you as this is NOT a driving lesson.
PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!!!
Consider taking a driving lesson
An hour or two with one of Taxi Driver Tests approved driving instructors could help identify some of those bad habits that may have crept in over the years and may be money well spent.
You can book a lesson here.
Read the Highway Code
Although you will not be asked any questions from the current Highway Code, your examiner will expect you to know and drive to the rules of the road… see the “useful links” section.
Show Me / Tell Me
The examiner will ask you 2 maintenance related questions about your vehicle so look at the “useful links” section for the questions and answers.
Remember to;
Think about some of those bad habits
Bad habits to avoid include;
- Leaving your hand on the gear lever
- Resting your elbow on the door
- Coasting (clutch down first prior to braking)
- Neutral Coasting (placing the gear lever into neutral on the approach to hazards
Use your Mirrors
Mirrors should be used regularly especially if you have to speed up, slow down, change direction, turn, indicate or stop, or if you are approaching any hazard that may cause you to do any of these. You must check your mirrors as part of mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine.
Check Blind spots
When moving off from the side of the road or lane changing you need to check over your shoulder to make sure your blind spots are clear.
Watch your Speed
Safe and reasonable progress should be made according to the road, weather and traffic conditions, the road signs and speed limits. You must not exceed the speed limit and on the flipside avoid driving unnecessarily slowly and becoming a hazard to other road users.
Always drive at a speed so that you can stop within the distance that you can see to be clear on your side of the road.
A safe approach to all hazards should be demonstrated without being over-cautious. All safe opportunities to proceed at junctions should be taken.
Keep a safe following distance
You must maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead in all conditions, including when stopping in traffic queues, and must react promptly to any change in speed of the other vehicle.
When driving on good, dry roads you should use the two second rule as a guide to a safe separation distance. If the road is wet, increase to four seconds.
In queuing traffic conditions keep back from the vehicle in front (tyres & tarmac).
Use signals correctly
Remember to give signals clearly and in good time to warn other road users of intentions in accordance with the Highway Code. Signals should be cancelled after any manoeuvre has been completed.
Don’t signal so early that the signal becomes confusing to others, or so late that they don’t have time to react safely to it.
Never flash your headlights to tell another road user you are giving way to them.
Never wave at pedestrians for them to cross the road.
Stop in a safe, legal and convenient place
The examiner will ask you to pull in on the left or right hand side of the road in a convenient place as if alighting a passenger several times during the test. You will be left to decide where to pull in. To decide on a correct space, ask yourself these questions:
- Is it safe?
- Is it convenient?
- Is it legal?
Once the examiner has asked you to stop, you should do so as soon as it is safe to do so.
Look ahead and plan your drive
You should think and plan ahead and anticipate the actions of other road users and should demonstrate safe attitudes when dealing with vulnerable roads users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders.
By anticipating the movement of other road users and hazards your drive will be safer and more fuel efficient.
Controlled (Emergency) Stop
1 in 3 candidates will be asked to perform a controlled stop. When asked to do so, react quickly to the signal given and firm progressive braking should be demonstrated. Avoid putting the clutch down first (coasting) and keep both hands on the wheel until you come to a stop. When stopped, apply the handbrake and place the gear lever into neutral and wait for the examiner’s instructions.
Allow plenty of clearance to obstructions
Allow plenty of room when passing stationary vehicles and other obstructions that may be obscuring pedestrians.
When passing parked cars allow enough room for the car door to open. If you have to get closer than this, adjust your speed and slow down – the nearer you get to the car the slower you should drive.
Watch out when negotiating roundabouts
Demonstrate that you know the correct procedure at roundabouts.
The examiner will look to see that you:
- Know which lane to use.
- Take up your position in good time.
- Use the MSM/PSL routine when changing lanes.
- Take advantage of safe gaps when entering the roundabout.
- Select and maintain the correct lane in the roundabout.
- Make frequent and effective use of mirrors.
Slow speed manoeuvres (reversing exercise)
Your examiner will ask you to perform ONE reversing manoeuvre Good all-round observation is essential, as is responding correctly to other road users.
A choice of 4 (current driving test) manoeuvres includes;
- Reverse Bay Parking
- Parallel Parking
- Driving into a parking bay then reversing out
- Pulling up on the right behind a car, reverse back then drive off when safe to do so
The examiner will mark you on
- accuracy
- observations
- judgment
When parallel parking, you should park the car a reasonable distance from the kerb – meaning inches not feet.
When reverse bay parking you can move forward once in order to correct your position.
If your vehicle is fitted with a reversing aid (e.g. camera) you are permitted to use it. However your examiner will still expect you to maintain good all round observation.
Be careful at junctions
You must be able to judge both speed and distance of approaching vehicles. You must take advantage of safe gaps in the traffic but you must not cause any other road user to change speed or direction because of your action.
The assessor will look to see that you:
- Make good observations, in all directions, before emerging.
- Assess the speed of other vehicles accurately.
- Take advantage of safe gaps as they arise.
- Do not cause other vehicles to change speed or direction by your actions.
Taxi Driver Tests 