Taking a driving test is can be extremely stressful for most people, however if you are properly prepared and have enough driving practice, you don’t have to be too anxious. Being properly prepared and ensuring you remember to do all the things that the Examiner is checking, will make it much easier for you to walk out of the ICBC licensing centre with your driver’s license.
Below we have compiled a list of 7 of the most important things to ensure you do while taking your test. Keeping these tips in mind, can make or break your success.
Make sure you come well prepared and be sure to try to breath. The examiner is just there to determine if you are ready to be an independent, capable and safe driver on the roads!
When you are driving and on your road test, you need to check your rear view and side mirrors regularly. You should check your rear view mirror every 8 to 10 seconds. Before making turns and lane changes, you must check not only the rear view mirror but your side mirror too. Before entering any intersection, be sure to scan from left to right. Doing these things, tells the Examiner that you are a diligent driver who is aware and watchful of all his/her surroundings.
You need to make sure that you do not drive too fast or too slow during the exam. Doing either can cause you to fail your test. Be sure to always be vigilant in checking and knowing the speed zones In 30 zones, going over by even 2 points, can cause you to fail. In the other zones, be sure to keep it at the speed limit or no more than 3 points above. With enough driving practice, you will get used to checking the speedometer often and keeping the accelerator at the proper speed so you can ace this skill during your test.
You must shoulder check before every turn and lane change. Every time you forget your shoulder check is a mark off and too many can cause you to fail your test. As well, you need to do a complete 360 degree check every time before backing up. If you miss these critical checks, it can mean the difference between a pass or fail on your test.
Be sure to come to a complete stop at every stop sign and red light. Rolling stops, ones where you do not stop completely, can cause you to fail. Also, missing stopping at every white line. If you stop past the white line or don’t stop at all, can mean an instant fail.
Be sure to always keep proper space between you and other drivers at all times. When you stop, you need to see the tires as well as some road space between you and the car in front of you. If you come too close to anything while driving, can result in you failing your test.
When it comes to Parallel parking and reverse stall parking, the Examiner will want to see that you know what you are doing. You don’t have to nail it on the 1st try but you should be able to do either of these parking maneuvers within 3 attempts. This is where most people have the most trouble so ensuring you take lessons from a reputable driving school can make all the difference between passing or failing the test.
You will be asked to do several curb parks during your road test. You then will be asked to turn your wheels the proper way if and when on a hill. Keep in mind that if you hit a curb at any time during your road test, can mean an instant fail. You also must shoulder check everytime before doing your curb park. When you are asked to back in a straight line, be sure you do your 360 degree check and that you are able to back up in a reasonably straight line next to a curb. This is where getting the right amount of driving practice can make or break your success in walking out of the ICBC testing facility with your driver’s license.
Last but not least, do not forget to take a deep breath before your test. If you are properly prepared and have the right amount of lessons and practice, you should be fine. Just keep these tips in mind and and do your best. Remember, if you don’t pass, it simply means, you didn’t get enough practice or driving lessons.
If you are looking for a reputable driving school in the Greater Vancouver area that has a high success rate in helping it’s students pass on their 1st try, then you can contact Streetwize Driving School. With over 10 years experience helping students to drive safe and pass their road test, you can rest assured, you will get the right assistance you need to not only ace your test but drive safely and confidently.
Streetwize Driving School provides lessons to students from all different skill and ages. It has the best Driving Instructors in Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver. Check their reviews on Google as well as their many testimonials by former students who have passed their road test on the 1st try.
Streetwize offers consultations to help you choose the right number of lessons to successfully pass your test. They also offer a Road Test Guarantee when you book their car for your road test.
Check out their website for more information and/or to book your 1st lesson!
You will not be able to learn how to drive overnight! Just like any other skill that requires practice and patience, learning how to drive also requires the same. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind!
Practice, practice and when you think you are done, practice some more! The thing about driving is that the more you drive, the more confidence you gain and ultimately the better driver you become.
When learning how to drive, you will find that coordination is key. If you are driving a manual car, coordination becomes even more important. They only way you can do so by practicing.
Here are a few maneuvers that you should practice.
Most people know how to drive but fail to park properly. In order to be a fully competent driver and pass your road test, you will need to know how to reverse stall park and parallel park properly. This is where a good driving school can help you to properly learn the techniques.
How much should you steer the driving wheel for a sharp turn as opposed to a slight turn? This is something that you will learn with practice. And with this effort, you will become confident in your driving
How much force should you apply to the brake pedals? Just like steering, you will learn this with time behind the wheel.
When you change lanes, coordination is required. Before you steer, first you check your mirror and when the coast is clear, you indicate in the direction you are lane changing, then you must shoulder check to make sure no one is in your blind spot, then you can recheck your side mirror and then steer into the lane if no one is there. Changing lanes effectively is also a necessary part of driving and passing your road test.
There are plenty of driving course in Surrey BC available. It is always a good idea to take lessons through a registered driving school. Driving instructors provide a comprehensive feedback regarding the mistakes that you do along the way in your learning and teach you exactly what you need to know to pass your road test and as well to drive defensively on the roads
There is no point in learning how to drive, if you don’t learn about road safety. Driving Schools also provide lessons related to road safety. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind:
Streetwize Driving School provides driving course in Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Greater Vancouver. Whether you are a first-time driver or are returning to driving after a long time, we provide lessons to all skill and confidence levels.
Check out the packages that we provide on our website. You can also read some comments made by previous students who have taken our courses on our Testimonials page. Check out our website for more details.
There are an overabundance of driving schools in the Greater Vancouver area, including ones that are offered at lower than average rates so with all of these driving schools to choose from, how do you choose the right one?
In this blog, we will reveal to you all of the criteria you will want to consider when choosing the right driving school for you. Please take a moment to read over the main things we have listed when choosing the best driving school for you.
Some driving schools may look good on the surface but there are ones where people have had bad experiences so how do you make the right choice before investing your hard earned money? One obvious way is to read the previous students testimonials and/or reviews. Another way is by asking around to see if others have used driving schools in your area and if so, what their experience was. Another thing you can do is you can check forums like Reddit or Facebook groups and see if anyone has mentioned any of the driving schools in their posts or comments. In those forums, you can also make a post and see what people recommend. Taking time to do your due diligence beforehand, can possibly save you a lot of headache and frustration down the road.
Another way of determining if a school is good for you is to call them and ask targeted questions. You can discover a lot by doing this. Is the person who talks to you on the phone, knowledgeable, professional and friendly? Do they sound like they know what they are talking about? How experienced do they sound? What do they cover in the lessons, what is their pass rate? What do their prices include? Do they include pick up and drop off? Find out how much experience their Instructor has and their qualifications. Do they offer a refund policy or some sort of satisfaction guarantee? What do they cover in the lessons? Call around a few schools until you are satisfied with the answers given over the phone and how friendly and open they are to provide you with the information you are seeking.
Of course another way of testing the waters is by taking a trial lesson first but sometimes making an informed choice on only 1 lesson is not long enough. However, it is a good way of seeing if the Instructor is a good fit and as well any other things that could potentially be a problem. Just use good discernment because, making a choice on only 1 lesson isn’t foolproof. Basing your decision on some of the other factors said previously such as whether or not they offer a refund policy or satisfaction guarantee, may be a better way to go.
If pricing is a consideration or you are on a budget, you can do a Google search and look at several different websites to compare, however, when it comes to service and quality, sometimes you do not want to skimp. If your goal is to get quality lessons that will not only help you to pass your road test on the 1st try but help you to be a safe and confident driver on the roads, then you might want to consider not choosing a school based on price. As the old adage goes, “you get what you pay for”.
Streetwize Driving School is a school that offers competitive pricing with quality lessons. They also offer a refund policy on top of a satisfaction guarantee should you book their car for the ICBC road test. They have a consistent rate where 97% of their students pass their road tests on their 1st try. Their Instructor Lisa comes with over 10 years Driving Instructing experience and as well is GLP certified. She has over 45 years driving experience. She also holds a Class 4 Unrestricted license and has experience driving school buses as well as Shuttle buses. Lisa has an impeccable driving record and is an expert driver. The main thing is that when you take lessons from her that you will be assured to not only pass your road test on the 1st try, but also be a safe driver for all of your driving years as when she teaches her students how to drive, she passes on all of her knowledge and years of experience onto her students.
Check out their website at www.streetwizedrivingschool.ca and be sure to give them a call to find out what they offer. And remember, whatever choice you make, please ensure to make it an informed one that helps you to achieve your desired driving goals.
If you need to refresh your driving skills, there are plenty of driving schools out there that cater to individual student’s requirements. Streetwize Driving School offers you female driving instructors in Surrey BC.
Being a defensive driver means that you don’t put yourself and others at risk and that you are aware of your surroundings. To become a defensive driver, you need to be a responsible driver and avoid risks.Here are a few things that you should keep in mind!
Do not use your phone while driving. This cannot be stressed enough! Majority of road crashes happen because the driver was easily distracted. One of the key aspects of driving is to stay alert and focused at all times. Phones and other distractions will divert your attention and so you will fail to be alert.
When your drive a vehicle at higher speed, it becomes difficult to control it. It is a road safety hazard that should be avoided at all costs! Remember that although speed thrills, it also kills!
If you feel tired, you should avoid driving, especially at night. When you are tired, you lose focus. It also leads to safety hazards. You can only be aware of your surroundings if you are alert and have enough amount of rest.
Driving too close to a car will increase chances of collision. Keep 2 to 3 cars distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. In case the car ahead of you brakes abruptly, you will have enough reaction time to stop your vehicle without crashing into the vehicle in front of you.
If you can, you should avoid driving during rain and snow. In such weather, the visibility is poor. Not only this, but roads have a higher chance of being slippery. This can cause your vehicle to skid if your tires are old.
These are some tips that will help you in becoming a safe and defensive driver. Remember all accidents can be avoided if you take precautions.
Drive safe!
About Streetwize Driving School
Streetwize Driving School provides highly specialized lessons for each and every student. Whether you are a first time driver or refreshing your driving skills, Streetwize Driving School provides a variety of packages for you to choose from.
Apart from having female driving instructors in Surrey BC, the schools offers instructors that are ICBC certified.
You can find more details regarding the lesson packages we provide. Read student testimonials to get an idea regarding the services that we provide. Contact us if you have any further questions.
A new ICBC survey reveals that nine in 10 drivers worry about hitting a pedestrian at night and in wet weather, and eight in 10 pedestrians don’t feel safe in these conditions.
In preparation for the darker skies and drizzly weather to come, today, ICBC, government and police are launching a pedestrian safety campaign across the province.
Alarmingly, a disproportionate number of pedestrian-related crashes and injuries happen in just four months of the year—43 per cent of all crashes that injure pedestrians happen between October and January as visibility and conditions get worse.*
Pedestrian safety is a serious concern in B.C. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road user to get injured when a crash occurs. These preventable crashes are also contributing to the rising number of injury claims in our province—the largest single cost pressure on B.C. insurance rates.
Dark and rainy conditions can seriously impact visibility. ICBC’s new radio and online advertising builds on this by reminding drivers: you see pedestrians when you really look for them. Keep your eyes on the road: take a break from your phone, be extra alert at intersections and be ready to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
The most important tip if you’re walking is to take extra care to help drivers see you: stay focused on the road and make eye contact. ICBC and community policing volunteers will be handing out reflectors and safety tips in high pedestrian traffic areas across the province to help pedestrians stay visible.
In addition to this month-long campaign, ICBC helps make roads safer for vulnerable road users through its road improvement program. Last year, ICBC invested in more than 160 pedestrian and cyclist-related projects in B.C. These projects included crosswalks, sidewalks, countdown timers and pedestrian-activated flashing crosswalks.
Every year in B.C., 59 pedestrians are killed and 2,500 are injured, with 76 per cent of these crashes occurring at intersections.*
As the majority of pedestrian crashes occur at intersections, the intersection safety camera program is one of the ways we are working to improve road safety for everyone sharing the road. A partnership between ICBC, government and police for almost 20 years, there are 140 cameras set up at the highest-risk intersections in 26 communities in B.C. to change driver behaviour and reduce the number of crashes at intersections. We are working with our partners to extend the activation to be 24/7.
Find more pedestrian safety tips on icbc.com.
Chief Constable Neil Dubord, Chair of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee
“Distracted driving and failing to yield the right-of-way remain the top contributing factors for drivers in crashes involving pedestrians,” said Chief Constable Neil Dubord, Chair of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee. “These are dangerous driving behaviours which will not be tolerated by police.”
Lindsay Matthews, ICBC’s director responsible for road safety
“Three-quarters of pedestrian crashes happen at intersections,” said Lindsay Matthews, ICBC’s director responsible for road safety. “Unfortunately, pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to be hurt when involved in a crash. These crashes contribute to the rising number of injury claims in our province, which is the largest single cost pressure on B.C. insurance rates, but the reality is, these crashes are preventable. We all need to do our part to keep our roads and pedestrians safe.”
In the Lower Mainland, on average, 1,400 crashes at intersections involve a pedestrian every year.
On Vancouver Island, on average, 190 crashes at intersections involve a pedestrian every year.
In the Southern Interior, on average, 110 crashes at intersections involve a pedestrian every year.
In the North Central region, on average, 35 crashes at intersections involve a pedestrian every year.
*Crash statistics from ICBC data based on five year average from 2011 to 2015. Injury statistics from ICBC data based on five year average from 2012 to 2016. Fatality statistics from police data based on five year average from 2011 to 2015.