Top 12 Mistakes Learners Make During the VicRoads Driving Test

Written by

Chamitha Lokuwithana — Ex-VicRoads Licence Testing Officer

1,800+ official drive tests conducted · Founder, Lessons2Drive

1

🔴 Immediate Termination Error (if another road user takes evasive action)

If you fail to check the mirrors AND fail to do a head check before diverging and another road user takes evasive action, the examiner records an Immediate Termination Error (Fail to Give Way) and your test ends immediately. Even if no one takes evasive action, a Critical Error (Fail to Look) is recorded. The head check is also required when pulling out from the kerb — it must be done immediately before moving, not several seconds earlier.

"This was one of the most common failure points I saw. Students would check mirrors but forget the head check, or do the head check too early then drift. The criteria say 'immediately before moving' — and they mean it. I was watching for both, every single time."

Fix it: Build a consistent sequence: internal mirror → external mirror → signal → head check → move. The head check is the last thing you do before the wheel turns. Practise this on every single lane change until it's automatic.

2

🟡 Critical Error (Fail to Signal)

There is a distinction the criteria make that most students don't know: if you signal but do it too early or cancel it too soon, the examiner records No for Signalling but does NOT record a Critical Error. A Critical Error (Fail to Signal) is only recorded when you omit the signal altogether. However, you also must not signal so early that it misleads other drivers about which street you intend to turn into.

Fix it: Signal every time — every turn, every lane change, every time you pull away from or into the kerb. For roundabouts, the direction of your signal depends on which exit you're taking: left signal for the first exit (if less than halfway around), no signal for the halfway exit, right signal for exits more than halfway around. These rules catch a lot of students off guard.

3

🔴 Immediate Termination Error (Fail to Stop)

A complete stop means wheels motionless, behind but within 2 metres of the stop line. Stopping partly over the stop line (but not into the pedestrian crosswalk) is also recorded as an Incomplete Stop — a Critical Error. If you stop over the stop line and intrude into the pedestrian crosswalk, that becomes a Block Pedestrian Crosswalk error.

"Many students think they stopped. They didn't. The wheel is still rolling at 2 km/h as they check for traffic. That counts as a fail in the criteria. I had to mark it every time I saw it — even when I could see the student genuinely believed they had stopped."

Fix it: Count "one thousand and one" after you come to a stop. If you're still saying it while moving, you haven't stopped. Wheels must be completely still before you check for traffic and move off.

4

🔴 Immediate Termination Error (Fail to Give Way)

If your gap selection is so poor that another road user has to take evasive action (swerve, brake, slow), the examiner records an Immediate Termination Error (Fail to Give Way). The criteria also clarify that you are not penalised for missing a gap that appeared before you had a reasonable opportunity to observe approaching traffic — for example, a gap that existed the moment you arrived at a Stop sign before you'd had time to check.

"Students who rushed into an unsafe gap often did so because they didn't want to look slow or indecisive in front of the examiner. The opposite is true — VicRoads always values safety over speed. Waiting an extra 10 seconds at a give way line is far better than forcing a termination."

Fix it: Only go when the gap is genuinely safe. But also build the confidence to take a safe gap when it's there — hesitating through multiple safe gaps is also penalised. Practice on your actual test route matters enormously here.

5

🟡 Critical Error (Too Slow)

The Too Slow Critical Error is only recorded once per stage — but it will be recorded. There is an exception: if road or traffic conditions (wet road, congested traffic, unsealed road) genuinely make it unsafe to drive closer to the speed limit, no penalty applies. Conditions must be the cause — nervousness is not an accepted reason.

Fix it: Build confidence to drive at or close to the posted speed limit when conditions are suitable. When the light goes green, move off promptly. When the crossing is clear, proceed without stopping. Decisiveness is part of what VicRoads is assessing.

6

🔴 Immediate Termination Error (Excessive Speed)

Speed advisory signs (yellow diamond warning signs) do not set a speed limit. You are not required to drive at or below an advisory speed if conditions allow you to proceed safely at a higher speed. These are often confused with speed limit signs. Only regulatory speed limit signs (white rectangle with black numbers) count for the test.

"Speed awareness isn't just reading signs. It's adjusting for conditions — rain, school zones, heavy traffic. The most common speed terminations I saw happened on downhill sections where students let the car drift above the limit without noticing. Learn your test route — know where the speeds change and where the hills are."

Fix it: Know every speed zone on your test route. On downhill sections, actively manage your speed rather than letting the car creep up. School zones are zero tolerance — if operating hours apply, treat them as absolute.

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7

🟡 Critical Error / 🔴 Immediate Termination if dangerous

The Stage Assessment Item for Lateral Position is lenient — up to two breaches across the stage are allowed before it becomes a No. But if one of those breaches occurs during an assessable task, it's also recorded as No for that specific task item. Three or more breaches in a stage means No for the stage-level item. Importantly, if you cut a right turn so severely that there's oncoming traffic, it can escalate to an Immediate Termination Error (Other Dangerous Action or Intervention).

Fix it: Give yourself time on turns — position before you turn, not during it. Keep 1.2 metres from parked cars consistently. On right turns in roads without marked lanes, move to near the centre line before turning. These are learnable with deliberate practice on the actual test route.

8

🟡 Critical Error (Mount Kerb) / 🔴 Immediate Termination if 2+ wheels mount

There is a difference between touching the kerb and mounting it. Light tyre contact with the kerb that doesn't cause discomfort to occupants and doesn't result in a wheel mounting carries no penalty. But if one wheel mounts the kerb and no road user takes evasive action, that's a Critical Error (Mount Kerb). If two or more wheels mount, or one wheel mounts and someone takes evasive action, the test ends immediately as a Collision. Also: you must look out the rear window immediately before reversing — this is a separately assessed item (Parking Observation).

Fix it: Learn reference points for the reverse park that work consistently. Don't rush — the 2-minute limit is generous. Signal before stopping to park, signal before leaving. Look out the rear window before reversing, every time without exception.

9

🟡 Critical Error / 🔴 Immediate Termination if pedestrian takes evasive action

There is one exception: if you genuinely cannot see approaching traffic without moving forward onto the crosswalk (such as at some left-turn slip lanes), the first queued vehicle may stop on the crosswalk. But you must take all reasonable care to ensure no pedestrian has to take evasive action. This exception applies only to the first vehicle in a queue — if another vehicle is already at the crosswalk and you're queuing behind it, you must not encroach onto the crossing until the first vehicle has departed.

Fix it: Stop before the crosswalk, every time. If you're in a queue at traffic lights, leave enough space so you don't creep forward into the crossing area when traffic starts moving. Know where the crosswalks are on your test route.

10

🟢 Minor Error (Task Assessment Item — No for Following Distance)

Following Distance is assessed as a Task Assessment Item — it's only formally recorded during an assessable straight drive. If there's no vehicle within 5 seconds ahead, the item is recorded as N/A. While this is not a Critical Error in itself, consistently poor following distance signals to the examiner that your hazard awareness is underdeveloped, which can affect other items being scored.

Fix it: Pick a fixed object on the road ahead — a sign, a line, a shadow. When the car in front passes it, count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two." If you reach the object before you finish counting, you're too close. Move back. Make this a habit on every straight drive.

11

🟢 Stage Assessment Item — No if 3+ breaches in a stage

Up to two Control breaches in a stage is still a pass for that item. Three or more means No. This is generous compared to other criteria — but if nervousness is causing you to brake suddenly, accelerate sharply, or bunny-hop at intersections repeatedly, those add up quickly. For manual drivers, coasting in neutral or with the clutch down for over 50 metres is specifically prohibited.

"Nervousness often shows itself in vehicle control first. The fix isn't 'try to relax' — it's preparation. When you've driven the test route many times under assessment-style conditions, the familiarity removes the surprise, and the control comes naturally. We run full mock tests for exactly this reason."

Fix it: Practise smooth braking by looking ahead further — the earlier you see a hazard, the smoother your response. For manual drivers, never coast out of gear approaching an intersection. Select the right gear early and brake progressively.

12

🔴 Immediate Termination Error (Other Dangerous Action)

There is an important exception in the criteria: if you create a situation that would have been dangerous if more traffic were present, but is not immediately dangerous because no traffic is present, an Immediate Termination Error is NOT recorded. The danger must be actual and immediate — not hypothetical. This matters for students who drift slightly wide on a quiet street — as long as there's no approaching traffic and a clear view, this is a lateral position error but not a termination.

Fix it: Never stop on a railway level crossing even in slow-moving traffic. Never overtake when you cannot see the road clearly ahead. When you give way to a right-turning vehicle unnecessarily, check your mirrors first — don't create a surprise for the car behind you. Awareness of what's behind you is just as important as what's in front.

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