METRO SAFETY COUNCIL FLORIDA ROAD TEST PROCEDURE 1
Metro Safety Council This program is designed to assist those taking the required Florida Road Test to obtain their Class E Driver s License with the applicable driving procedures. This booklet will show the proper way to perform each of the procedures required. However there are no guarantees, stated or implied that an applicant will pass the required road test. The procedures in this booklet are for instructional purposes only and to aid the driver s license applicant. It is highly recommended that an applicant practice these procedures until they can execute them to the satisfaction of themselves and comply with the requirements of Driver s License Examiner. Metro Safety Council Post Office Box 9833 Winter Haven, FL 33880 All Rights Reserved 2
CONTENTS I. General Instructions II. III. IV. Straight in Park Parking on a Hill Turn-about V. Quick Stop VI. Backing 3
GENERAL INFORMATION Once you have practiced the enclosed procedures to your satisfaction that you can correctly perform these procedures and feel you are ready to take the road test, call the office where you wish to take the road test and make an appointment. If you fail to do this you may be there all day and not be able to take the road test. In addition, you should arrive at the place of the road test at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled road test. You will be required to check in and in the event of a long line; you are assured that you will be able to take the road test as scheduled. If you are late you may not be allowed to take the road test due to others that arrived on time and there could be delays on some test for many varied reasons. A help hint is to take the test in a small vehicle. It may be difficult to perform some of the required maneuvers in something like a large SUV, van or pickup truck. Prior to taking the road test you may be required to take an eye test. If you vision is not corrected to at least 20/40 you will need to obtain glasses, contacts or other corrections to meet the requirement. If you must use a cushion to sit on to take the road test you may be restricted to the use of a cushion when you are driving. When you take the road test anything you have as a restriction must be in use by you or you will not be allowed to take the road. Control nervousness. This will affect your ability to pass the road test. The Examiner will not try to trick or mislead you because they want you to pass just as much as you want to pass. If you become nervous, take a couple deep breaths; focus on the information given to you by the Examiner and the procedure you are attempting to complete. When your name is called the Examiner will conduct a safety check of your vehicle. If you vehicle fails this safety check you will not be allowed to take the road test. Make certain that the following items are working properly: 4
1. Horn 2. Windshield Wipers 3. Lights, including tag light 4. Tires 5. Brakes 6. Steering-No more that 3 loose steering 7. Functional Safety Equipment 8. Turn Signals Once the safety inspection has been concluded and both of you have entered the vehicle, the Examiner will give you very precise instructions. These instructions are important and necessary. The Examiner will not talk to you except to give you necessary instructions. You should not talk to the Examiner, except to ask questions for clarification of the instructions, to repeat instructions or to let the Examiner know that there may have been words you did not understand. If you proceed to talk to the Examiner about unnecessary things, you will lose valuable points. You must have no less that seventy (70) points to pass the road test. Listen carefully to the instructions given by the Examiner and obey them to the best of your ability. The Examiner is there to make sure that you meet the minimum requirements to obtain your driver s license and are not there to cause you to be disqualified. The remainder of this booklet is designed to teach a driver s license applicant the proper way to perform the required maneuvers in addition to the required general driving. The general driving covers such procedures as stop signs, traffic lights, yield signs, etc. 5
STRAIGHT IN PARK The following instructions relate to the proper procedure to do a straight in park correctly. The Examiner will provide the following basic information: The next maneuver will be the straight in park. See the orange traffic cones, please park between them as though you were parking between two vehicles. Do you have any questions. The proper way to perform the straight in park is: 1. Park your vehicle close to the road edge without allowing any portion of your vehicle onto the road shoulder. 2. Align your left outside rear-view mirror with the first traffic cone. 3. Without allowing your vehicle to move, turn your wheels all the way toward the parking space. 4. Allow your vehicle to move slowly toward the parking space. 6
5. As your vehicle is entering the parking space, it will appear to straighten in line with the traffic cones. Immediately begin slowly straightening your vehicle so as to center your vehicle inside the traffic cones. Do not over steer. Failing to center you vehicle inside the parking space or if your vehicle is angled, you will lose valuable points. 7
6. Complete the park by stopping your vehicle so it is centered in the parking space and there is equal space to the left and right of your vehicle. Make sure that your vehicle is completely within the parking space and does not travel too far to the front as to leave the parking space. 8
PARKING ON A HILL Chances are that you will not have to do a park on a hill because Florida has very few hills. However you must know the proper procedure if you are required to park on a hill. The Examiner will give you the following instructions: The next maneuver is parking on a hill. If you were to leave your parked (uphill/down and with or without a curb) what would you do? Do you have any questions. Please memorize the following (P-A-R-K) in order: 1. P-Put your transmission lever in PARK 2. A-Apply your parking/emergency brake 3. R-Rotate your wheels the correct way 4. K-Turn off the key (engine) The basic rule for turning your wheels is as follows: If you are parking your vehicle uphill with a CURB, turn your wheels to the left. All other times turn your wheels to the right. When parking uphill with a curb, the reason you turn your wheels to the left is that the backside of the wheels will strike the curb and, hopefully, stop the vehicle. If you are parking uphill and there is no curb, you turn your wheels to the right. The reason is that the vehicle will roll back toward the edge of the road and onto a safe place. It will not continue moving. Anytime you park downhill, with or without a curb; you always turn your wheels to the right. The vehicle is heading off of the road. If there is a curb, the vehicle should stop. If there is no curb the vehicle will exit the roadway. 9
TURN-ABOUT The turn-about is also known as the three-point turn, Y turn, and broken U turn. This maneuver involves the use of two lanes between the width of 24 feet to 30 feet. The intent is to make a 180-degree turn without leaving the roadway so as to proceed in the opposite direction. This maneuver, though not as difficult as it might sound, needs a lot of practice. The Examiner will give the following instructions: The next maneuver will be the turn-about. It is also know as the three-point turn, Y turn and the broken U turn. Please turn you vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction. You may not leave the roadway or use a driveway or side street. Do you have any questions. 1. Stop your vehicle as close to the road edge as possible without letting any portion of your vehicle onto the road shoulder. 2. Turn on your left turn signal. 3. Turn your steering wheel all of the way to the left. 4. Look over your shoulder for traffic, even if you are on a closed driving course. 5. Begin your movement to the left side of the street. 10
6. Try to turn your vehicle as close to a 90-degree angle as possible. Stop your vehicle and look for traffic. 7. Shift your transmission into reverse. 8. Turn your steering wheel all of the way to the right. Back slowly. 11
9. Shift your vehicle in to a forward gear (automatic or standard transmission) and drive to your side of the roadway. 12
QUICK STOP The quick stop is an easy maneuver but must be performed properly. You will take your vehicle speed up to approximately 20 miles per hour and apply your brakes. You must stop your vehicle within 20 feet without sliding or skidding your tires. If you are using anti-lock brakes, apply your brakes hard and do not let up. The anti-lock brakes will consider this as an emergency stop and will not allow the vehicle to slide or skid. Just don t let up. If you don t have anti-lock brakes, press the brake pedal quickly, but not so quick the wheels will slide or skid. You may need to use the press-release method of stopping. Practice this maneuver until you have it down correctly. The Examiner will give you the following instructions: The next maneuver will be the quick stop. Take your vehicle up to 20 miles per hour and when I say stop, bring your vehicle to a complete stop without sliding or skidding your tires. Do you have any questions? 13
BACKING Backing is something all drivers must perform as one time or another and in many different situations. When you perform the backing maneuver for the Examiner and you reach 20 miles per hour or perform this in an unsafe manner you may be disqualified. In order to perform this maneuver properly and safely cover you brake and do not use the accelerator. Allow the idle to pull your vehicle backwards if possible. The Examiner will give the following instructions: The next maneuver will be backing. Please back your vehicle as straight as you can until I tell you to stop. Do you have any questions? 1. Prior to beginning the backing maneuver, shift your body to the right toward the Examiner. 2. Make sure the bend of your right knee is resting against the seat. 3. Place you hand behind the Examiners seat and pull yourself toward the rear. This will take the pressure off of your neck thereby making the backing maneuver much easier. 4. Slowly remove your foot off of the brake and allow it to pull itself backwards. Take your time. 5. When you have backed approximately 50 feet the Examiner will tell you to stop. Make a smooth stop and do not look forward until you feel the vehicle rock from your complete stop. 14
GENERAL DRIVING General driving consists of those things you would do ordinarily in the course of driving such as; stopping behind stop signs, obeying yield signs etc. The following information is designed to help you obey the law when driving based on general driving techniques. But first you need to know what the color of a sign means. Any sign with a red color has to do with stopping and is backed by Florida law. A red sign, Stop, Yield, Do Not Enter, etc. has to do with stopping the driving procedure that you may be doing at the time. For example, a Do No Enter sign is telling to stop and proceed no further. A sign that is black and white is Florida law backed up by Florid Statutes. You must obey these signs. Speed signs, one way street signs, enter, do not enter will always be black and white. A yellow diamond shaped sign is a warning sign and the lettering or logo will advise you of the reason. An orange diamond shaped sign is a temporary sign in a construction zone and the logo or lettering will advise you of the reason for that sign. A brown sign advises drivers of a federal or state park. A blue sign will advise drivers of restaurants, gas stations, lodging or hospitals. STOP SIGN Always stop behind the stop sign unless there is a white stop bar. Then you must stop before crossing the white stop bar regardless of where is has been placed. In the event of a blind intersection and you cannot see, stop behind the stop bar or 15
stop sign. Once you have mad a complete stop you may proceed forward to obtain a better view. Never enter a pedestrian crosswalk. YIELD SIGN You are not required to stop at a yield sign, but you must yield to any traffic approaching so close as to constitute a hazard. Look and be prepared to stop. You do not have the right of way. RAILROAD SIGNS The round yellow sign with the R X R is a warning that they are approaching a train track. The black and white sign is referred to as a cross buck and is a warning that the driver is at the railroad crossing. Look, Listen and be prepared to stop. These are only a few of many road signs. You should know them all by know. If you wish to know more about road signs go to our web site and click on DVR.lIC. Practice Test. The site is Free to anyone that would like to use it. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Metro Safety Council at (863) 875-5772. We will be glad to answer question you need to know about safety. 16