Defensive Driving: Skills Test

Series Summary

Driving a vehicle is a very complex and confusing venture. There is a seemingly endless amount of information that must be absorbed and acted upon at a moment’s notice, or an accident can occur. Thankfully, our brains are capable of such a feat. Driving is also enforced by laws that create a safer driving environment and maintain organization when the roadways are heavily trafficked. For those of us who have been driving for a while, there is little about driving a car that seems difficult. However, many drivers learned incorrectly and need quite a bit of education. Also, to someone just beginning, operating a vehicle might seem a bit overwhelming. Just like anything else, driving will become almost automatic with proper instruction and practice.

This free motor vehicle video series will teach you valuable defensive driving skills. A professional instructor will take you through the skills test. He will teach you how to inspect the exterior of your car, paying special attention to the tires and lights. You will learn about proper following distance and driving in construction. Finally, you will receive helpful tips on turns and merging.

Video Transcript

"This will be the start of the skills test, which every driver must do in the yard. From a stopped position, you are going to drive up to a front line. You are going to stop with your bumper, as close to, the cones as possible. You will be unable to look out of the window. From here, you are going to back into a driveway, and this time, you may look out of the window. However, try not to hit any of the cones while backing into the driveway. Get the rear of the vehicle, as close as possible, to the three cones that are in the back and then stop your vehicle. After that is completed, you will then make a right turn and get into the parallel parking position. You may move your car out or get into that position, as you see fit. Once you have your car set in the position that you want, you will back into a parallel parking area. You will go in on a 45 degree angle, as I am doing. Once your front end clears the front cones, then turn your wheel very sharply. You do not have to be dead center in the parallel parking area. This is the end of the skills test in the yard."