Operation Guide for Automatic-transmission Light Vehicle Practical

Driving Test

I. Off-street test

(1) Preparation

Before starting the engine, the candidate should check that all the vehicle
doors are closed, the handbrake is applied, the gear stick is in “P” position, the
rear view mirror is properly adjusted, the position of the driver’s seat is properly
adjusted and the seat belt is fastened.

(2) Start the vehicle, reverse and execute a parallel parking manoeuvre

Requirements:

1) After changing into reverse gear, the candidate should complete the
manoeuvre in one continuous motion, during which pauses are allowed
but, it is not allowed to change into forward gear to adjust the vehicle’s
position. After parking in the parking space, all four wheels of the vehicle
must be within the white frame of the parking space. The vehicle body
must not overlap the white frame or the pavement. After the parking
manoeuvre is completed, the candidate should pull out and drive forward
in a single continuous motion without making further gear change or
hitting any obstacles.

2) A candidate who failed to meet the above requirements but did not hit
the pavement or any obstacles is allowed a second or a third attempt. A
candidate who failed all attempts to park successfully will be considered
to have failed the test and it will be terminated.

Procedures:
- Park the vehicle in the parking space designated by the examiner;
- Give appropriate signals;
- Change into reverse gear;
- Release the handbrake;
- Start reverse parking;
- When the parking manoeuvre is completed, change into “P” gear;
- After having checked and determined that the parking requirements have
been met, the examiner will instruct the candidate to drive the vehicle to the

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 area for the “turn around in a narrow road” manoeuvre.

(3) Narrow-road three-point turn

Requirements:

After changing into reverse gear, the candidate should reverse into the
turn-around area in one continuous motion. After the vehicle has completely
entered the turn-around area, the candidate should stop the vehicle to the left
of the location considered suitable for turning around (no part of the vehicle
may overlap the white dividing lines or the poles at the turn-around area). After
the vehicle has stopped completely, the candidate should make a
“three-forward, two-backward” turn. After the manoeuvre is completed, the
candidate should stop the vehicle as close to the left as possible, during which
the vehicle must not hit any obstacles.

Procedures:
- Drive the vehicle to the parking space in the turn-around area;
- Give appropriate signals;
- Change into reverse gear;
- Reverse into the turn-around area;
- Make a “three-forward, two-backward” turn, during which the candidate
must give appropriate signals;
- After the turn is completed, change into P gear and apply the handbrake;
- After the examiner has checked and determined that the requirements are
met, the examiner will instruct the candidate to drive the vehicle out of the
turn-around area for the road test.

(4) Reverse perpendicular parking

Requirements:

1) After changing into reverse gear, the candidate should complete the
manoeuvre in one continuous motion, during which pauses are allowed
but, it is not allowed to change into forward gear to adjust the vehicle’s
position. After parking in the parking space, all four wheels of the vehicle
must be within the white frame of the parking space. The vehicle body
must not overlap the white frame or the pavement.

2) A candidate who failed to meet the above requirements but did not hit

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 the pavement or any obstacles is allowed a second or a third attempt. A
candidate who failed all attempts to park successfully will be considered
to have failed the test and it will be terminated.*

* (Remark: A candidate who failed to successfully carry out the parallel parking
and the perpendicular parking manoeuvres, for a total of three times, will be
considered to have failed the test and it will be terminated.)

Procedures:
- After the road test, drive the vehicle into the perpendicular parking area;
- Stop the vehicle at the space designated by the examiner;
- Change into “P” gear and apply the handbrake;
- The examiner will get off of the vehicle and instruct the candidate to
reverse the vehicle into the designated perpendicular parking space;
- Give appropriate signals;
- Change into reverse gear;
- Reverse park the vehicle;
- After the process is completed, apply the handbrake;
- Change into “P” gear and turn off the engine;
- After the examiner has checked and determined that the parking
requirements are met, the practical driving test is completed. The candidate
may collect a temporary driving licence at the registration room.

II. Road Test

(1) Driving and speed control

The candidate needs to master a variety of driving techniques in order to cope

with different road conditions, such as going uphill and downhill, approaching
junctions or roundabouts. Appropriate coordination of steering wheel, clutch,
accelerator pedal and footbrake is necessary to avoid rolling forward or
backward when the vehicle stops or moves off or instability when travelling
along the road.

The candidate should be careful to control speed and change gear as

appropriate under the road and traffic conditions. When approaching a junction,
a zebra crossing, a pedestrian or an object, or when changing direction, the
candidate should slow the vehicle down. Under normal traffic conditions, the
candidate should not drive only in low gear and at low speed throughout the
test, otherwise the examiner will - according to the actual situation - regard this

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as serious mistake (Article 9 of the Driving Test Centre Report), resulting in the
failing of the driving test. If the road is clear and safe, the candidate should
change into an appropriate gear to adjust the driving speed to a reasonable
level, but without speeding. If the road conditions are less good, the candidate
should change into a lower gear and reduce speed accordingly to ensure
safety.

(2) Judgment of vehicle distance

The candidate should always maintain an appropriate distance from the

vehicle ahead. When overtaking an object or stopping, the vehicle should be
kept at a safe distance from the object.

(3) Overtaking

When overtaking, the candidate should effectively utilise the rear view mirror to
observe vehicles behind and those coming from the opposite direction. Before
starting the manoeuvre, the candidate should give appropriate signals, as well
as, before steering, check the rear view mirror and look back to check the blind
spot, to ensure safety. During overtaking, the candidate should pay attention
to the distance from the object in front and properly control the vehicle speed.
After overtaking, the candidate should return to the original lane as soon as
traffic conditions allow, but should not forcibly cut into the lane.

(4) Judgment of road conditions

The candidate should continuously observe road conditions, and react

promptly and properly to road signs, vehicles parked at the roadside,
pedestrians, junctions, changes in road conditions and emergencies.

(5) Pedestrian refuges, roundabouts and junctions

When entering or leaving a roundabout or junction, the candidate should give

appropriate signals, drive at an appropriate speed, use the designated lane,
pay attention to “Give way” or “Stop” signs and give way to vehicles that have
the right of way. When approaching a junction, the candidate should correctly
control the vehicle, react correctly to warning, regulatory and advisory signs,
select the correct lane as early as possible, give appropriate signals in time
and check the rear view mirror. Before driving on to a junction, the candidate
may stop the vehicle at an appropriate position if necessary. The candidate
should first look to the right, then to the left and then to the right again, to
ensure that it is safe before proceeding ahead. When crossing a junction, the

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candidate should keep checking the traffic conditions on both sides. When
making a turn, the candidate should control the vehicle speed to keep within
the occupied lane; for example, when turning left, the candidate should note
the position of the vehicle and should not deviate from the occupied lane, hit
the kerb or touch the pavement. When turning right, the candidate should
maintain careful control of the vehicle. Turning the steering wheel or turning it
back too early or too late will cause the vehicle to deviate from the occupied
lane.

(6) Travelling of the vehicle and lane changing

The candidate should keep left when driving. Before reaching a junction, the
candidate should have decided whether to turn left, turn right or proceed
straight ahead. Before changing lane, the candidate should make full use of
the rear view mirror to observe traffic conditions and give appropriate signals in
advance. Before steering, the candidate should check clearly with the rear
view mirror and look back to check the left, right and rear blind spots to ensure
safety..

(7) Stop uphill and then move off

Requirements: 1) Stop the vehicle to the left of the roadway; 2) Change into
“D” to move off; 3) When moving off, the vehicle should move forward steadily
without rolling backward.

Procedures:
- Stop the vehicle according to the examiner’s instruction;
- Give appropriate signals;
- Stop the vehicle to the left
- Apply handbrake;
- Move off as per the examiner’s instruction;
- Give appropriate signals;
- Check rear view mirror and must look back to check blind spots to ensure
that no vehicles are approaching from behind;
- Release the handbrake and pull out the vehicle.

(8) Going downhill (along designated road section)

Requirements and procedures: The candidate should change to an

appropriate lower gear when travelling downhill on the designated road section.
(This is intended to help the driver understand and master the techniques for

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driving on a long or steep downhill road in a lower gear in order to avoid
accident.)

Going downhill

When going downhill, the speed of the vehicle should not exceed its uphill
speed.