It’s important to understand your vehicle's pedal and steering sensitivity. Newer cars are often more responsive. Take time to test your stopping distance, steering lock, and acceleration response in a safe, open space before driving in traffic. If you’ve borrowed or hired a vehicle for your test, familiarise yourself with control locations (wipers, indicators, lights) before you start driving.

​

Be aware of your vehicle's dimensions, including:

Width: Understand how much space you have on each side, especially near cyclists, parked cars, or when passing trucks.

Length: Judge your stopping distance and turning radius accurately, particularly in larger vehicles. Be aware of front and rear overhangs that can swing wide when turning.

 

Steering

​​

Your steering technique forms the foundation of safe vehicle control.
 

• Grip: Hold the wheel at the “9 and 3” position with thumbs resting lightly along the rim — not hooked around it. This improves control and keeps your arms out of the airbag’s deployment path.
   

• Movement: Use smooth, deliberate inputs rather than sudden or jerky turns. In most everyday situations, use a “push–pull” method to feed the wheel through your hands while keeping both hands in contact.

  • In the push-pull method, one hand pushes the steering wheel up while the other pulls it down. Keep your hands at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions for smoother turns. If your hands are too close together your movements will be jerky. You can watch a demonstration of the Push-Pull method here. ​

  • This gives you the best control and protection if your airbag deploys (if your arms are across it this can cause serious injuries).
     

• Wheel Awareness: Always know where your wheels are pointing — especially before pulling away from the kerb or after reversing. If unsure, gently roll forward while watching which direction the vehicle moves.

 

Steering control in emergencies

• If you need to veer away from a hazard, your response will be faster if both hands are already in position and the wheel is not spinning freely through your fingers.

• Letting the wheel self-centre after a turn may feel convenient, but it won’t always finish pointing straight, and it leaves you vulnerable in sudden avoidance situations.

​

Extra tips and tricks

• Avoid letting the wheel spin back on its own after a turn. While it can feel natural, it’s unreliable for precision, and if you need to swerve suddenly, your grip won’t be ready.

• Small inputs, big effect — especially at high speeds, even a few centimetres of wheel movement can shift your lane position dramatically.

• Adapt your steering style — at low speeds, hand-over-hand steering is fine for large angles; at high speeds, keep movements small and smooth to avoid overcorrection.
   

Acceleration and speed​

 

Smooth acceleration isn’t about being slow — it’s about being controlled.

​

DO:

• Lightly tap the pedals to help maintain control and keep your speed consistent, and avoid lurching.

•  Use only as much acceleration as the situation requires — more for merging into fast traffic, less for tight turns or poor road surfaces.

• When taking a gap, apply firm but controlled acceleration, then ease off when you’re about 5 km/h below your target speed to prevent overshooting (especially at motorway speeds).

•  Use the pedals to encourage or discourage momentum before it affects your vehicle, especially when driving up and down hills. For example, if you feel your speed increasing downhill, lightly tap the brakes.

​

DON'T:

• Repeatedly press and release the pedal; this slows you down more than it speeds you up. Think of it as walking pace transitioning into a jog, not sprint-stop-sprint.
   

Extra tips and tricks​

• Know your vehicle’s limits — heavier vehicles or those with smaller engines will take longer to accelerate; practise judging your available power for safe merging.

• Driving 10 km/h below the speed limit without a valid reason (such as hazards, corners, or intersections) is considered a critical error for your test. Aim to drive at the speed limit, maintaining a range of +0/-5 km/h.

• When you enter a lower speed zone, you should be at that new speed before reaching the sign. If you are entering a higher speed zone, you should maintain your current speed until after passing it.  

• Always keep an eye out for speed signs. Be aware that some speed signs may be painted on the road or temporary signs could be partially obstructed.

• Remember that temporary speed signs represent your maximum speed until you pass a speed increase or 'Works End' sign, stick to the speed, regardless of how other motorists behave. 

• Keep track of your following distance and consider adding an extra second to the standard 2 and 4-second rules for added safety. For large trucks and buses, always maintain a following distance of at least 4 seconds. 
   

Braking 
 

Good braking means stopping smoothly and predictably.
 

DO:

• Look ahead to brake less — by scanning 12 seconds ahead, you’ll anticipate slowdowns and ease off the accelerator earlier, reducing the need for hard braking.

• Brake in stages — start light to signal intent to drivers behind, then increase pressure smoothly. This reduces the risk of rear-end collisions. Ease off slightly just before the vehicle stops to prevent a jolt.

• Look ahead so you can brake earlier and more gently. Early braking also conserves fuel, and while you’re braking more often, your brake pads will endure less strain and last longer. 

​​

DON'T:

• Ride the brakes: Continuous light pressure generates heat and reduces braking efficiency — keep your foot clear unless you’re actively slowing.

• Rest on the brake — this confuses drivers behind and can wear out components. Instead, keep your foot ready but off the pedal unless actively slowing.

​

Extra tips and tricks:

• When braking for hazards, always check your mirrors first if you have time — abrupt braking without awareness of traffic behind can cause rear-end collisions.

• In emergencies, apply firm, consistent pressure and steer smoothly around hazards rather than stamping the brake while yanking the wheel.

• To minimise the risk of being rear-ended, start braking early when approaching traffic lights and intersections. This gives a clear signal to drivers behind you, especially those who may not be fully attentive.

• Only brake when necessary. If you have the right of way, braking more than you need to can disrupt traffic flow. 

• If your vehicle has sensitive brakes, just apply light pressure rather than pushing the pedal down hard. Once the vehicle is at a stop, press the brake pedal fully. ​​​

 

Bringing it all together

 

•  Brake before turning, accelerate out — braking mid-turn can destabilise the vehicle; instead, enter at a safe speed and power out smoothly.
   

• Multi-tasking awareness — when you must steer, accelerate, and scan at once (e.g. roundabouts), prioritise steering and hazard detection, letting speed control be secondary.
   

• Gradual blending — in advanced driving, inputs blend together: easing off the brake as you begin to steer, then feeding in power as the wheel straightens.​

​

​

​