Examples of Serious Faults on Actual Driving Tests Volume 2

After some interesting discussions here is another collection of clips showing serious faults on actual driving tests with explanations of the errors committed to help you avoid making the same mistakes on test.

[bilmohammed]

Why am I watching I've passed already???

[jiriskala]

So when there is a Stop sign, you stop, pull the hand brake, turn off the engine, and get out of the car to make the examiner absolutely sure you did come to a complete stop.

[Aaron]

First clip is stupid. 30mph is far too low for that kind of road, even with the roadworks. It would be dangerous to slow to 30mph before the sign. Speed doesn't kill, speed difference does. The majority of the traffic would still be going 50mph+ by the time they hit the sign.

[DanniV]

If somebody would actually drive as legally as you need to to pass a driving test, you'd probably be pulled over for suspicious driving. Nobody drives like that, probably not even the examiner during his free time. These tests are way too harsh.

[RM-gczk]

I passed my auto test first time due to a left leg Injury in which that was my only choice, recently just passed my manual with 0 faults/minors. The best advice is to keep as calm as you would on a normal casual lesson.

[AAARREUUUGHHHH]

That last one is so sly lol I know it's a complete stop but the driver was going maybe half a mile an hour...

[babylonian]

pull the handbrake up at a stop sign? Thats the dumbest thing I ever heard

[technicalscience]

The last clip may be to the law, but it's a silly law really. 1mph for a few seconds is enough to judge safety to pull out. I know stop means stop, but that's as good as stopped...

[gp]

I remember the stupidity of driving lessons. Putting your handbrake on for a half second stop. Physically moving your head to show you are looking in mirrors. Driving at 29 in a 30 to be on the safe side. Stopping in the middle on the road blocking the way for everybody else when asked to pull up somewhere safe.

[HomeworkRadio]

2:20 is such a perfect example, the kid on the bike may have only looked left when coming out of his house as that's where he expects traffic to be coming from.

[dubious]

3:20 Light was yellow and it only turned red cause they used the brake instead of accelerating

[soundworksvectra]

Driving in test mode would in most circumstances hamper your concentration on traffic around you. Dropping to 30 in the first clip would also be more dangerous as most vehicles will always be going much faster

[papanapofficial]

On the roundabout when the light turned yellow, I bet £100 that it was the instructor that pressed the brakes.

The car would have gone through quick enough before the lights went red, I know because I live in Oxford.

Now I understand the instructor is only being uptight because the examiners are even worse but we need a lot of changes in the driving test.


We need the driving test to reflect realistic driving, and acknowledge road etiquette that isn't in the books.

[peterthomas]

*Nobody* drives in 'driving test mode' after they pass their test - NOBODY, including examiners and people with advanced driving certificates. You learn the silly rules and adhere to them to get yourself through the test. Then, and only then, you start learning how to drive properly. That's why young drivers have the bad safety record - they pass their test & think they're the best driver there's ever been, but it takes time (and not adherence to the ridiculous 'fails' in this video).

[MalcolmCrabbe]

The first clip was unfortunate, as the nearside speed sign is hidden by the tree and only clearly visible a couple of car lengths. Normally you would see advance notice of the lane closure and to reduce speed (often 20mph below the speed limit on a dual carriage way ). But in this instance these did not exists and as the revised speed limit signs can be seen for a good 10 seconds before the zone, so the instructor is quite correct in the assessment.

[davidpnewton]

The serious fault on that penultimate one was correct according to the signage and law. However it shows the problems that occur because of two things:

1. Poor signage and road markings;2. Inappropriate speed limits;
Why is that red tarmac there? Why is it across the whole road? Looking at Google Streetview imagery from 2008 before the tarmac wore down dangerously it has a 30 painted on it. Clearly it is there to remind drivers coming the other way of the speed limit. There is no extra hazard to remind drivers going in the direction of the test candidate of.
So why do drivers have to be reminded of the speed limit? Could it be that the road is not actually an urban one? Could it be that therefore a speed limit of 30 mph is NOT appropriate for that road? I do believe that is the case. So if a 30 mph speed limit is not appropriate for that section of road what is? It is not fully rural so national speed limit would not be appropriate. How about 40 mph? Yes that sounds about right.
The speed limit should change from 30 mph to 40 mph pretty much where the red tarmac is. The speed limit should then be 40 mph until changing to national speed limit where it actually changes from 30 mph to national speed limit. On that section of road there are only a limited number of houses on one side of the road, each of which is a considerable distance apart.
The highways authority have caused a hazard on that road by an inappropriate speed limit for the road conditions. In order to remind drivers of the inappropriate speed limit they have created another hazard by putting coloured tarmac across the road which wears quickly, thus becoming ambiguous and distracting to drivers. Nice going Oxfordshire County Council.

[jaumegenaro]

why didnt the student at 1:30 just pull over 10 meters ahead on the parking spot?

[sric]

Nice work BRM. These vids are a good idea.
I like the fact that people are discussing the content. Some of the comments are a real eye opener into the minds of UK drivers.

[ligleaper]

"You need to change your speed BEFORE the sign"

Then later in the video,

"You cannot change your speed until AFTER the sign"

What a great instructor.

[deanmoncaster]

I remember one time i was pulled over by a police officer for not stopping at a stop sign. he said to me "you didn't stop at the stop sign that is going to land you some points" so i replied "don't worry about it i slowed down its the same thing!" that is when the police officer pulled out his baton and started smacking me around the head really fast and shouted...."do you want me to stop or just slow down?" i got the point.