How to Pass the Driving Manuverability Test

States such as Ohio have a maneuverability test as well as a road test. Many people underestimate this test and fail it the first time. Here's how to make sure you pass with flying colors.

Instructions

1. Practice - This is a given, but many people don't know exactly how to practice for this part of the test. It's unlike the road test, so driving on the road won't help as much as practicing with cones in your drive way or in an empty parking lot.

2. Use cones (or anything that can substitute for cones, such as lawn chairs) and set up the course. The box you start out in measures 9' x 20'. The point marker is 20' from the front two cones of the box and directly in the center. Once you've set up the cones, drive up to the box and stop when your front bumper aligns with the back two cones.

3. 

   Step 1 of the test is simply driving past the point cone. Drive forward and pass the point cone on either side. The instructor will tell you to go either way, so make sure you practice on both sides. When you pass the point cone, keep your car parallel with the course and stop just as your back bumper aligns with the point cone.

4. 

   Step 2 of the test is backing past the cone from where you stopped and into the box. Put your car in reverse and keep your steering wheel in the direction it was in when you drove past the point cone in step one. Back past the point cone and start to straighten the steering wheel once you've cleared it. Back into the box and stop when your front bumper is aligned with the two rear cones of the box. Make sure the car is parallel with the course when you stop.

5. Get your technique down. Figure out when you need to check your mirrors an shoulder check. Get a feel of the car's size compared to the course, figure out exactly how far you should turn the wheel, etc. Make sure you know your technique well before you go to take the test. Practice as much as you can, and be confident that you can do it.

Tips & Warnings

• Drive slowly. You don't lose any points for driving slowly or riding the brake. It's much easier to pass the test going slowly than it is to drive fast.

• You can stop and start over if you haven't lost too many points yet.

• Don't get nervous or let it get to your head. Be calm, and you'll be able to do it.

• If you don't pass the first time, don't worry. You can go back in a week and try again, but you only have 6 tries before you have to wait 6 months to try again.

• You lose points for the following:

• - Stopping to check your progress

• - Bumping cones

• - Not being parallel with the course

• - Misjudging stopping distance

• - Knocking down / running over a cone = immediate failure

Resources

• Manuverability Test Video