METRO SAFETY COUNCIL
FLORIDA ROAD TEST
PROCEDURE
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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
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CONTENTS
I.
General Instructions
II.
Straight in Park
III.
Parking on a Hill
IV.
Turn-about
V.
Quick Stop
VI.
Backing
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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:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Horn
Windshield Wipers
Lights, including tag light
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
2.
3.
4.
P-Put your transmission lever in PARK
A-Apply your parking/emergency brake
R-Rotate your wheels the correct way
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.
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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.
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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.
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9. Shift your vehicle in to a forward gear (automatic or standard transmission) and
drive to your side of the roadway.
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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?”
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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.
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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
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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.
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