Vehicle control and manoeuvring
Domain 4 is about making the car do what you intend: pulling away, changing gear, cornering, overtaking, joining and leaving motorways, and parking. The exam rewards smooth, planned inputs over sudden corrections.
Before you move
Set the seat so the clutch can be pressed fully with a slightly bent knee, adjust mirrors until a sliver of your own car is visible, then check the blind spot over your shoulder. Mirror, signal, blind spot, move off - in that order, every time.
On the move
Brake before a bend and accelerate gently through it; braking while turning uses up grip you need for steering. Keep both hands on the wheel and let it slide back through your fingers rather than spinning it. Use engine braking on long descents instead of riding the brakes. With ABS, press hard and hold - the pedal vibration is normal, so do not pump it.
Overtaking, roundabouts and motorways
Overtake on the left, only where it is permitted and only if you can return without cutting anyone off. Leave cyclists about 1.5 m outside built-up areas and at least 1 m inside them. On a roundabout, traffic already circulating has priority; you need not indicate on entry but must indicate right before your exit. On a motorway, use the on-ramp to match traffic speed, check mirror and blind spot, then merge into a gap and keep right when not overtaking.
Worked example
You accelerate down an on-ramp at 70 km/h while motorway traffic runs at 100 km/h. Merging at 70 forces following drivers to brake. The correct sequence is to build speed to match the flow, indicate, check the mirror and blind spot, then slot into a gap and settle into the right lane.
Traps that cost marks
- Braking mid-corner and losing grip.
- Coasting in neutral downhill instead of using engine braking.
- Entering a roundabout without yielding to circulating traffic.
- Indicating left on a roundabout instead of right before the exit.