Driving Test Don't stop on the Right!

I couldn't believe it while on a driving test with one of my learners, when asked to perform a normal stop in a convenient place the candidate stopped on the right hand side of the road behind a big lorry!

The road we were travelling on was narrow with vehicles parked on both sides, but it wasn't a one way street, and even then you should still not stop on the right during a driving test with a DSA examiner.



Unfortunately, the candidate failed the driving test due to this serious error because when moving off from behind the lorry it was impossible to see anything coming towards us from the road ahead.

At the end of the test I asked why the candidate had stopped on the right, and the response was they had thought it was a one way street and there was more space on the right. I asked if we had ever stopped on the right ever during driving lessons to which the answer was NO. So why do it on the test?
As I mentioned in my driving examiner instructions post, you will not be asked to do anything unsafe so if you can't find a safe position to stop, keep going.

What happened was out of character for my learner, and it might have been a hasty decision due to test nerves, but always remember if you are unsure of what the instruction was, ask for it to be repeated, so a question like 'did you say stop on the right' would have clarified any doubt.

The DSA offical guide to the test contains all the information you need to know about what is expected from you, so don't believe rumors friends or family tell you about what can or can't fail you. Finally NEVER do something new on the driving test, if you did not practice with your instructor, then not in fron the examiner should you be using your 'initiative'.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Don't just make a decision based on the red driving school TV advertisements, do the proper research and know all the ADI training options available to you.

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