You’ll be assessed on the following skills during the restricted driving test.

Learn and practise them while driving on various roads and traffic conditions.

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Observation

You need to be aware of the changing environment all around you.

Look ahead – check for intersections, traffic lights, speed limit signs and pedestrian crossings.

Scan ahead for people and hazards – on the road, on footpaths and driveways.

  • In a 50km/h zone, look about 2 city blocks (around 170 metres).
  • In a 100km/h zone, look as far as you can see.

Find out what’s going on around your car, especially vehicles beside and behind you, and in your blind spots.

Check your rear view and side mirrors, especially before you signal, brake, turn or change lanes.

Check over your shoulder. Do this before you pull out from the kerb, change lanes, merge, reverse, or before you turn.

Signalling

You must signal for at least 3 seconds before you:

  • pull out from the kerb or pull into the kerb
  • turn
  • change lanes
  • turn left or right at a roundabout, and leave a roundabout
  • merge into another lane (where your lane ends)
  • move left or right by the width of your car or more
  • stop next to a parked car to start a reverse parallel park.

Use your indicator, even if you can’t see anyone else.

Turning your indicator on too early confuses other people.

When driving through small roundabouts, you won’t be able to signal for 3 seconds. Just signal as soon as you can.

Gap selection

Picking a safe gap in traffic means you have time to pull out and get up to speed without forcing other road users to change their speed or change direction to avoid a collision.

Take the first available safe gap, so you don’t delay others.

Pick safe gaps in traffic when you:

  • cross an intersection
  • merge or change lanes
  • pull out from the kerb
  • enter a roundabout
  • start a three-point turn.

Speed choice

Drive at or under the speed limit if traffic and road conditions are good. You may need to drive slower in wet weather, slow traffic or on an unsealed road.

Obey temporary speed limits such as at road works.

Slow down before you get to the sign for a lower speed limit. Only speed up after you have passed the sign for a higher speed limit.

Following distance

This is the gap between you and the vehicle in front. It should be 2 seconds in good conditions.

If it’s wet, hard to see, or on an unsealed road, your following distance should be at least 4 seconds.

After you change lanes or join a traffic flow, correct your following distance as soon as possible.

Road position

Always position your vehicle safely.

  • Use a flush median or right turning bay, if there is one, when you turn right off a busy road.
  • Get in the correct lane for where you want to go at intersections and multi-laned roundabouts.
  • When turning into a multi-laned road, turn into the nearest lane unless the road markings guide you into a different lane.
  • Drive in the appropriate lane. On multi-laned roads this means using the left lane unless you’re passing, preparing to turn right, or the left lane is full of traffic.
  • Stay out of bus lanes or cycle lanes unless you need to cross one to get to a parking space or driveway, or to make a turn, in which case you can drive in the special vehicle lane for up to 50m.
  • Keep at least 1.2 metres from parked vehicles and 1.5 metres from cyclists whenever possible.

Parking

You will normally be asked to do a reverse parallel park during the test, but in some cases, you may be asked to do a three-point turn.