As an Ex-VicRoads Tester, I can tell you the Drive Test isn’t about if you can drive, but how you drive. We assume you have basic car control; what we’re actually testing is whether you are a safe, low-risk driver who can manage the environment, not just the vehicle.

The key to passing is turning your “doing” into “demonstrating”. Here are the five critical elements we look for immediately, which determine if you are a safe driver or a potential hazard—starting before you even leave the curb.

1. Preparation and Confidence (The First Impression)

The test begins the moment you meet your examiner. We are looking for immediate professionalism, respect for safety, and vehicle mastery. Show the tester you are a confident driver.

• Setup is Non-Negotiable: You must check and adjust your seat and all mirrors before the examiner tells you to start the engine. This shows us you prioritize proper control and visibility as a fundamental habit.
• Ready-to-Go Attitude: We are observing your composure. Confident drivers execute the pre-drive checks (seatbelt, handbrake release, gear selection) smoothly. Fumbling suggests nervousness or a lack of routine, both of which increase risk.

2. Situational Awareness & Continuous Observation

This is the number one area where drivers lose marks. It’s not enough to check your mirrors when changing lanes; you must be constantly aware of your surroundings.

• Mirror Habits: We look for the rhythmic flick of your eyes to the centre and side mirrors, roughly every 5 to 8 seconds. This demonstrates you are building a mental picture of the traffic behind you.
• The “Head Check” as a Reflex: Anytime you move the car laterally (pulling away from the curb, changing lanes, reversing), the head check (blind spot check) must be an exaggerated, obvious reflex.
• Back Window Check During Reversing: Before initiating any reversal (including manoeuvres), you must check through the back window. This is a clear demonstration that you are prioritizing the area of greatest risk during the move.

3. Hazard Anticipation and Identification

A good driver reacts to a hazard; a great driver anticipates it. We are constantly monitoring how far ahead you are looking and what you do with that information.

• Reading Parked Cars: Maintain a safe distance (the “dooring zone”). More importantly, if you see brake lights or, crucially, white reverse lights come on (meaning a car is in reverse gear), we need to see you slow down and adjust your road position immediately. That white light is an active hazard—failing to adjust shows poor anticipation.
• Lane Positioning: Are you driving too close to parked cars on the left or too close to the centre line? Poor road position, especially when approaching potential hazards, will score poorly.

4. Zero Tolerance for Speeding

This is a point many candidates misunderstand. The speed limit is the absolute maximum, not a suggestion.

• Immediate Termination Error: Exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 5 km/h for any duration is classified as a critical error and usually results in the immediate termination of the test. We are watching for you to scan and obey all speed signs and adjust perfectly.
• Velocity Discipline: We’re also checking for dangerous under-speeding (holding up traffic for no reason) and poor speed adjustment for conditions (like driving too fast through a winding residential street).

5. Commitment and Gap Selection

How you enter or merge into traffic is a direct measure of your risk assessment.

• Quality of the Stop: If you fail to bring the vehicle to a complete standstill at a Stop sign or red light, it’s a critical error (a “rolling stop”). We look for a definite, full stop behind the limit line.
• Avoiding Hesitation: We need to see you pick a safe, reasonable gap and commit to the manoeuvre smoothly. Constant, excessive hesitation at intersections shows us you have poor judgment and are reluctant to assert your position safely when the opportunity arises.

The Bottom Line:

The driving test is a test of your safety habits. If you display constant, confident, and automatic observation and hazard perception in those first five minutes, the examiner is immediately reassured that you are a competent, low-risk driver.