Crashing
into another vehicle or road user (eg. pedestrian or bicyclist) will
immediately end your test and you will fail. Even a small collision is a
sign that you need to develop more safety-related skills before driving
on your own.
Hitting
or running into the kerb or footpath is a serious safety issue. It puts
pedestrians and other road users at risk and is a sign that you do not
have safe control of the car. This will immediately end your test and
you will fail. This penalty is less severe if you hit the kerb gently
while performing a reverse-park. This error is a potential safety
problem. It suggests you need more practice with this manoeuvre, but it
usually doesn't place anyone in immediate danger.
Driving
too fast for the conditions and exceeding the speed limit causes
crashes. Speed related crashes are a big problem for young drivers. The
speed limit is the
maximum safe speed at which you
should drive. If you exceed the speed limit by more than 5 km/h during
your test drive the test will be stopped and you will fail. This is
regarded as a serious error because it creates an unsafe situation.
It is also a serious error to exceed the speed limit by any amount.
Exceeding the speed limit by even a small amount may result in a
penalty.
If the traffic is very busy and moving at a speed slower than the
speed limit, you should choose an appropriate speed to fit into the
traffic flow. However you may be penalised if you drive too slowly for
the conditions during the test because you are meant to be driving in
normal, day-to-day driving conditions.
Other
drivers should not have to avoid a collision because of something you
have done while driving. It is your responsibility to choose a safe gap
when you are entering traffic, turning at an inter-section, changing
lanes, or merging.
If you fail to give way to another road user and they have to avoid a
collision with you, the test will be terminated and you will fail. This
is a serious, safety-related error.
Entering traffic, turning, or changing lanes without looking or
signalling is obviously dangerous. Even if there are no other cars
around, this type of behaviour increases the risk of a collision. For
this reason it is treated as a serious error and you may fail the test
if you don't look or signal when required.
When
you stop the car – either to park or at an intersection – you must stop
in a safe position. This means that your car should not be in a
position where other road users have to change their behaviour to avoid
you.
You will fail the test if other drivers or road users do have to
avoid your car, and you may fail if you stop in a location where other
drivers or road users might have to avoid you.
It
is not unusual for licence applicants to fail the on-road test because
they go through a Stop sign or traffic light without stopping. This is
very unsafe behaviour. You are required to STOP at a Stop sign or red
traffic signal.
If you do not stop at a red traffic signal or red arrow that applies
to you, the test will be terminated and you will fail. This is extremely
risky behaviour.
If you drive through a Stop sign the test will be terminated and you will fail.
Some experienced drivers do the wrong thing by slowing down at a Stop
sign to observe for hazards without actually stopping the wheels of the
car completely. This is illegal and may not be safe – you will be
penalised if you do this in the test. You will have a Critical Error
recorded and may end up failing the test even if there were no potential
hazards nearby. If you create an unsafe situation by doing this, the
test will be terminated and you will fail. You must Stop at a Stop
sign.
The
licence testing officer is able to terminate the test if you do
anything that creates an unsafe situation. The licence testing officer
is able to terminate the test to prevent an unsafe situation occurring.
You are being assessed on your ability to drive safely so you, your
passengers, and any other road users are not put at risk. If you do
something that creates an unsafe situation, this is a sign that you are
not ready to drive on your own.
If someone else does something that creates an unsafe situation, you
will not be penalised as long as you detect the problem and react
safely.
There are many road rules and you are expected to know them all and obey them – during the
driving test and whenever you are driving.
If you disobey a road rule but it doesn’t put you or other road users
(or property) at risk, a Critical Error will be recorded and you may
end up failing the test. So it pays to be careful about obeying the
rules.