One of the frequently asked questions by the learner drivers who are appearing for the VicRoads drive test is that how many errors/mistakes are allowed in a VicRoads drive test? This article will give you an in-depth understanding of what the mistakes are during the drive test and how many maximum mistakes are allowed during the VicRoads drive test without failing the drive test.
First of all we will be covering what are the type of mistakes that could happen during the drive test. The type of mistakes could be categorised into 3 sections which are discussed below:-
Immediate Termination Errors - an immediate termination error is considered as a serious mistake which will result in the test being terminated on the spot. An immediate termination error could be as a result of :
- causing other road user to take evasive action
- causing immediate danger to other road users or property
- causing immediate danger to road users or property if the LTO/Driving Instructor does not intervene
- increasing the risk of collision
Immediate termination errors include :-
- Intervention by LTO/Instructor at any stage to take control of the vehicle
- Collison with kerb at high speed or mounting the wheels on the kerb
- Failure to give way to a vehicle at a give way/stop sign
- Failure to give way to a pedestrian at a pedestrian crossing
- Speeding for more than 5 kmph or going over the speed limit for more than 5 seconds
- Disobey direction of LTO for more than 2 occasions
- Stopping the car at a dangerous position
- Failure to stop at changing light if you can safely stop or entering intersection at a red light
- Driving more than 10kmph under the speed limit/obstructing other road users resulting in them taking evasive action
- Other dangerous actions in which the road users have to take evasive action.
Critical Errors - a critical error is considered to be a major mistake which is recorded if an applicant makes a serious driving error (including an illegal action) that does not meet the conditions for an immediate termination. In a drive test only up to two critical errors are allowed which includes one critical error in stage I and one critical error in stage II or two critical errors in stage II of the test. More than two critical errors or two critical errors in the stage I of the test results in immediate termination of the drive test.
Critical errors include :-
- failure to signal i.e. not using the indicators when required
- blocking pedestrian crosswalk
- mounting a wheel on the kerb while doing a three point turn/parallel parking
- the applicant stalls the vehicle at any time during the test
- failure to completely stop at a stop sign before moving off
- driving too slow i.e. more than 10 under the speed limit for a substantial part of the stage
- remaining stationary at the traffic lights for no reason for more than 5 seconds
- remaining stationary when vehicles queued up in front of the applicant have moved off
- fail to look i.e. while pulling off from a kerb
-fail to look into the mirrors and head check before doing a lane change
- crossing the solid line/stop line at the traffic lights when stopping at the red lights
- cutting the solid line when doing a lane change
Minor Errors/Observations/Points - the VicRoads drive test criteria is based on points based assessment i.e. for every task the applicant is marked as yes/no/not applicable. For each time a candidate is marked no for the observation, the candidate keeps on losing points in that stage. To continue on from stage I to stage II of the test the applicant does need 80% of Yes in the assessment tasks. If the candidate is not watching the mirrors or not doing the appropriate head checks where required then the candidate might fail the test based on observations. The candidate is required to check internal mirror before braking and signalling. Similarly head checks are required while crossing over a bike lane, lane changing, moving off from a stationary position, lane merging and internal head check while reversing the vehicle. In case the candidate keep missing on the observations i.e. cheeking the mirrors while driving then the candidate might fail the test overall based on lack of observations.
Conclusion
The drive test is conducted in two stages. Stage I of the test lasts for around 10 minutes and stage II which is around 20 minutes. Overall in the drive test a candidate can make up to 2 critical errors i.e. one critical error in stage I of the test and one critical error in stage II OR two critical errors in stage II while no critical error in stage I. In stage I only one critical error is allowed which means two critical errors in stage I would result in termination of the test.
Hope our learners would have a better clarification after going through the article that how many critical errors are allowed in the VicRoads drive test in Victoria. Please do get in touch with us if you would like an in depth knowledge of the drive test criteria or would like to book your drive test or to take drive test preparation lessons including mock tests to ensure that you do pass your drive test in the very first attempt. At Safe N Smart Driving School, we do ensure high standards of learning with 98% of our students passing the VicRoads drive test in first attempt. Please do leave your comments/feedback if you benefited from this article or would like any further information or clarification related to this article. We would like to thank the readers for taking out their valuable time for going through this article.
Be Safe N Drive Smart.