Operation Guide for Manual-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 neutral 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 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 neutral gear and apply the
handbrake;
- After having checked and determined that the parking requirements have been
met, the examiner will instruct the candidate to drive the vehicle to the area for the
“turn around in a narrow road” manoeuvre.

(3) “Turn around in a narrow road” manoeuvre

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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 neutral 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 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
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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 neutral gear and apply the handbrake;
- The examiner will get off 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, change into neutral;
- Apply the handbrake 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 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 must not exceed the statutory speed limit. 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.
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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 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
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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) Uphill deceleration

Requirements:

Slow down the vehicle by changing down and riding the clutch (coordinating the clutch
petal and the accelerator pedal) without applying the handbrake or footbrake.
(Change down from third gear into second, then into first, or from second gear into
first)

Procedures:
- Drive to the designated section of the road test route and slow down according to
the examiner’s instruction.
- Shift from a higher gear to a lower gear (first gear);
- When engaged in low gear (first gear), ride the clutch (coordinating between the
clutch petal and the accelerator pedal) to slow down the vehicle;
- After the examiner has checked and determined that the requirements are met,
the examiner will ask the candidate to resume normal driving.

(8) Stop uphill, pause and then move off

Requirements:

1) Stop the vehicle to the left of the roadway; 2) Change into first gear and hold the
vehicle stationary; 3) While the vehicle is held at a halt, it is not allowed to roll back or
move forward; 4) When moving off, the vehicle should move forward steadily without
rolling backward.

Procedures:
- Stop the vehicle according to the examiner’s instruction;
- Make use of the rear view mirror to observe traffic conditions;
- Give appropriate signals;
- Pay attention to the movements of the vehicles behind to avoid accident;
- Stop the vehicle to the left;
- Apply handbrake;
- Hold the vehicle stationary, per the examiner’s instruction;
- By coordinating the clutch petal and the accelerator pedal, hold the vehicle in a
stable position on an uphill section without applying the handbrake. The vehicle

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 may not roll back or move forward (failing to hold the vehicle in a stable position is
regarded as not meeting the requirements);
- After the examiner has checked and determined that the requirements are met (by
the candidate holding the vehicle stationary for the duration agreed by the
industry), the examiner will ask the candidate to move off;
- Give appropriate signals;
- Check rear view mirror and (mandatorily) look back to check blind spots to ensure
that no vehicles are approaching from behind;
- Pull out the vehicle.

(9) Going downhill (along designated road section)

Requirements and procedures:

The candidate should change to a lower gear when travelling downhill on the
designated road section. (This is intended to help the driver understand and master
the techniques for driving on a long or steep downhill road in a lower gear in order to
avoid accident.)

Going downhill

When going downhill, the gear selected by the candidate should not be higher than
that used to go uphill. (If third gear or second gear is engaged to ascend an incline,
the candidate should not engage fourth gear or third gear when going downhill the
same stretch of road.)