In our last blog we flagged those things that will earn you an instant fail or test termination during your heavy vehicle drive assessment (if you missed it you can read it here).
At this point we need to make something clear – whether your pass or fail your heavy vehicle drive assessment is not as simple as just driving around the test route without doing something that earns you an instant fail (at Armstrongs at least…). There are a whole lot of little things that, if neglected, can accumulate and also ruin your day.
These are the skills that we like to think of as ‘low hanging fruit’. They are your bread ’n’ butter. You just spent a whole course doing these things over and over. So why stop doing them come test time? We don’t know either! But unfortunately a lot of clients do!
It’s the ‘small’ lapses in concentration that can result in ‘big’ consequences (like an instant fail)
Armstrongs wants all its students to succeed – first time. But sometimes our students mistakenly think that WE failed them. Remember – ARMSTRONGS doesn’t fail anyone , STUDENTS fail themselves! It surprises our trainers to no end when they see really good students looking like they are actually going out of their way to get themselves failed by not paying enough attention to the ‘small’ things.
So read on for a list of tips and skills to keep focussed on during your drive assessment:
- Failure to Down Change Gears Before an Intersection
This is normally caused when students don’t allow enough time to prepare themselves and the vehicle for the upcoming intersection or hazard. If you leave your gear change to the last second you risk missing the gear, selecting the wrong gear, putting stress on yourself to hurry up and find any gear and….whoops, you just went through the intersection in neutral. Fail. It’s not the fact that you were in neutral that just got you failed per sae, it’s the fact that you just went through an intersection and you were not in control of the vehicle.
- Failure to Use Signals When Turning
This is also normally caused when students don’t allow enough time to prepare for the upcoming intersection or hazard. Remember, by law, you are required to signal. Failure to signal is not what gets you failed per sae, it’s the fact that you just breached the road law.
- Failure to Stop at Stop Signs
This is normally caused by students being distracted, or sadly, not knowing what ‘STOP’ means. Last time we looked, the word ‘stop’ meant ‘a cessation of moment’ or simply put, no longer moving. There are not different types of stop. Stop is stop. We think the message is clear. But don’t think this only applies to a situation where you drive straight through a stop sig. This also applies where you slow right down and then roll over the white line.
- Mounting Curbs
We spoke about the back wheels doing some landscaping in the last blog and how this can earn you a fail. But the thing to remember is that mounting curbs is normally caused by students incorrectly positioning the vehicle (too close to the curb) and not using their mirrors correctly as they enter and exit the corner.
- Poor Mirror Use
Students who don’t use their mirrors properly (that is, checking them regularly) will generally suffer from poor vehicle positioning during the whole time they are on their drive assessment. Not using your mirrors properly will mean you increase your risk of crossing lane markings, not being aware of cut in and tail swing, and potentially creating dangerous situations – which as we know results in a fail.
Following Distances
Remember, you should be no closer than 5 seconds behind the vehicle in front when driving a heavy vehicle. Depending on how close you are to the vehicle in front and the traffic conditions this could earn you a warning and a mark off your final score. But if you insist on tailgating the vehicle in front, your assessor may deem this to be creating a dangerous situation and we all know what that means by now…
For more information on all your heavy vehicle course options go to our heavy vehicle courses page. Armstrongs – Your Licensing Specialist.