Moving off
Observation, control and joining traffic safely.
Driving faults: 0No serious fault
Use this practice score sheet with an instructor, supervising driver or on a structured practice drive. Mark ordinary driving faults, serious faults and dangerous faults, then see the result and weak areas.
Observation, control and joining traffic safely.
Effective mirror use before changing speed or direction.
Correct timing, necessity and cancellation of signals.
Observation, approach speed, judgement and emerging safely.
Lane choice, observation, signalling and safe gaps.
Lane discipline, clearance and positioning for hazards.
Appropriate speed, legal limits and adapting to conditions.
Making safe progress without unnecessary hesitation.
Safe separation and planning around traffic ahead.
Responding correctly to signs, lights and markings.
Smooth use of steering, gears, clutch, brakes and accelerator.
Reading hazards early and anticipating other road users.
Passing parked vehicles, cyclists and obstructions safely.
Observation and control during the manoeuvre requested.
Using demisters, wipers, lights or other controls without losing control.
A mock is useful only if it is realistic.
Do not repeatedly drive a memorised route. DVA does not publish test routes because the test is intended to assess safe driving in realistic conditions.
Instead of saying “junctions were bad”, record whether the issue was approach speed, observation, gap judgement, lane position or hesitation. Fix the skill, not one location.
A stronger sign of readiness is several mock drives without serious safety concerns, not one lucky run with a low number of faults.