You may know how to drive well, but there are things you can keep in mind that will make your driving test go more smoothly.

Before you ever leave home, check your turn signals, brake lights and headlights. These will be tested before you ever leave the parking lot for your road test. Make sure you have any paperwork that must be turned in, and take your learner’s permit with you. Travel to the testing location with a licensed driver. Getting turned down and rescheduled is not an auspicious beginning to this banner day in your life.

Get to the testing location on time. Most license bureaus are quite crowded and there are sometimes long waits beyond your appointed time. Bring a book to keep you occupied in the lobby if this happens to you.

Either leave your cell phone at home or turn it off. The middle of your road test is not a good time to receive a phone call. Try to relax with your examiner. Be friendly, but let him do most of the talking. Remember, he does not know you, and he is about to go into traffic not knowing if you can drive safely or not. He may be as nervous as you are!

Listen to your examiner carefully. He will not ask you to do any maneuvers you haven’t already become familiar with in your driving manual. Hopefully you’ll have studied it and practiced a great deal. If you are unsure what it is he wants you to do, ask for clarification. He would rather you understand his request than have you do something wrong, or dangerous.

Keep your eyes on the road as much as possible when you are driving. Check your speedometer often but briefly. Do the same with your rear-view mirrors. Your examiner needs to know that you are aware of the traffic around you. This tells him you are prepared to react in case of an accident or unexpected move by another vehicle.

Brake as evenly as you can. Use your turn signals at all times when making lane changes, or right/left turns. Do what the examiner asks you to do with as much finesse as you can muster.

Be prepared with the maneuvers many people have trouble with. Practice parallel parking every chance you get until it becomes second nature to you. Three-point turns are also difficult for some. Go over these and anything else that gives you trouble. Remember the rules for three- or four-way stops. Go to a location where you can practice these, but remember to watch out for other drivers. They aren’t as freshly tutored in the rules as you are.

Stay calm and trust the examiner. If you have practiced your driving sufficiently and you know the rules well, you’ll have no trouble passing the driving portion of your test. Congratulations, new driver! Now go get your picture taken. You won’t like the way it turns out, but that won’t stop you from showing it proudly to your family and friends every chance you get.

Oh man. It’s today. Your palms are sweaty and your face just broke out because you’re so stressed. You get to drive with a complete stranger, watching your every move and judging you to see if you are worthy of a drivers license. Oh man, oh man, oh man.
Hey, don’t worry. You can do this!

The road test is the last hurdle you’ll have to clear to get your driver’s license. The testing officer will ride with you in your vehicle and will assess the skills you’ve learned and practiced. It can be nerve-wracking, sure, but if you’ve studied carefully and practiced sufficiently you should be well prepared for this. And no, it’s not a good idea to bring your Rules of the Road pamphlet with you for quick, easy reference during the test, even though you really want to. Reading during driving is discouraged.

Your examiner will go through a short routine before you hit the road, making sure that your signals and brake lights are working properly. Double-check these before you leave home. This would be a bad time to find out that your rear tail light is busted so you have to reschedule.

Once you’re under way remember to use your signals at all appropriate times. You will also likely be asked to use hand signals to ascertain whether you know how to use them if your turn signals don’t work. Always be certain the hand signals you use with other drivers are the ones in the book. And breathe. Remember to breathe.

Your examiner will ask you to do routine maneuvers such as changing lanes and merging with other traffic. Use your rear-view mirrors and look over your shoulder when doing these. Show the examiner that you’re aware of the traffic around you. Stay within the speed limit at all times and listen carefully to his instructions. This is not a good time to answer your cell phone if it rings; in fact you should turn it off or leave it home altogether.

Be aware of all traffic signs and obey them. Come to complete stops at stop signs and know the routine for four-way stops. Keep in mind that most people have forgotten how to navigate these, and you must still be careful even if you have the proper responses down pat and it’s your turn to go first at a stop sign.

Parallel parking is traditionally the hardest part of the test. You can perfect your parallel parking by setting up cardboard boxes in a deserted parking lot somewhere and practicing until you can do these with your eyes closed. Remember to open them for the actual test.

During the exam you’ll have to demonstrate that you can back up, do a three-point turn, and park correctly on a hill. Before you know it your test will be over and you will have earned your driver’s license. Congratulations! Celebrate your achievement, but remember that it’s harder to get your license back than it is to earn it in the first place. Keep your record clean and clear of points and you will never have to go through this again… until you are seventy years old.