Road Test!!!!?

Question

I went to the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission website, and it had a list of items that would be tested:

Driving in reverse

Stopping at appropriate signs

Nearing corners or intersections

Stopping smoothly

Sitting properly

Turning around

Steering properly

Parallel parking

Yielding to right-of-way

My questions are about driving in reverse and yielding to right-of-way. How do they test your reverse driving? and What are the basic rules of yielding to right-of-way? -- like when I'm at an intersection without a traffic light... who goes first? is it in the order of arrival? or should the car going straight go first? oh, and when you're coming to a stop sign, and you can't really see if cars are coming from the other road, do you stop first at the sign and then go out a little bit to see the cars or do you pass the sign a little bit to see the cars and then stop there?

i'd appreciate any general tips/advice for the road test... (:

Answer 1

For driving in reverse, they'll mainly look to see whether you actually turn, and look behind you, or if you simply look in your mirrors. Typically, they just have you back up a certain amount of space, or may have you move between some cones. It's a very easy segment, but most people use the mirrors, which is the incorrect method.

As far as yielding: Typically, it goes in a clockwise pattern. Unless it's obvious that someone got there first. Technically speaking, it's not wrong to say that you just yield to whoever is there. Just because you have the right of way, doesn't mean you can't wave on the other driver and let them go.

Do not inch past the stop sign. You either stop at it, or move past it. Crawling to a stop, or crawling past it, is generally something you can get a ticket for.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Driving in reverse.. ouch. New York doesn't require reverse driving, but i'd assume that they're making sure you check all mirrors and over the shoulder, being aware of your surroundings etc.  The key importance is making sure you're confident but cautious.  

About the stop sign, make sure you come to a complete stop first, (before the white line).  Then, while keeping your foot on the break, inch up slowly.  If you remove your foot from the break, the tester might assume that you're just bolting out into the intersection, so make sure it's obvious that you're being cautious.  They'll know that you're doing that because it's hard to see. That's why they gave you that particular location!

When you come to an intersection, the person to your right gets the right-of-way.  Otherwise it's whoever gets there first.

I took my road test about 5 months ago, and I really worked myself up over nothing. Don't fret too much and good luck!

..and just to put it out there, don't try sucking up. just drive exactly how they want you to and you'll pass.

Answer 3

Reread the manual

Answer 4

Put your dominant hand on the top of the steering wheel. Lock your arm and turn your head over your right shoulder before backing up to make sure there you will not hit anything as you start to drive backwards.

Put the car in reverse and go slowly at first before building up speed. Never go fast in reverse.

Go as straight as you can for as long as you can.

Turn your steering wheel to the left to make the back end of the car veer left. Make sure the front end of the car won't hit anything when you turn, as it will swing out to the right.

Use your side mirrors to guide you as you turn the back end to the right by turning the steering wheel to the right. This turn is a bit trickier since it is more difficult to see as you turn.

The faster you go in reverse the more sensitive the steering becomes. Therefore, slow down if you have to drive around an obstacle while driving backwards.