Practical Driving Test Tips - Signals
| Problem | Reason | Solution |
| You acknowledged a courtesy by taking your hand off the wheel | Because you were unaware of the possible consequences | Nod your head and smile to acknowledge courtesy. Taking your hand(s) off the wheel will reduce your control by 50% |
| You didn’t reapply the signal when it cancelled | Because you were unaware it had cancelled | Listen for the clicking of the indicator, and look for the blinking of the light to alert you to the indicator being on. Reapply immediately if it cancels |
| You didn’t signal | Because you were unaware of its necessity | Signal When you intend to turn from one road to another. In other situations give signals if it would help or warn others |
| You didn’t signal when it was necessary | Because you didn’t check effectively before deciding | Look ahead, check in mirrors and act on the information before deciding whether to signal |
| You didn’t time your signal correctly | Because you didn’t act on the information from your mirrors and / or what was happening ahead | Adjust the timing of your signal to help and warn other road users, including pedestrians |
| You gave an unofficial signal (headlight flash, head or hand movement and so on) | Because you thought it was helpful | Use only officially recognised signals. Other signals could be misinterpreted and lead others to proceed unsafely |
| You signalled incorrectly | Because you took your hand off the wheel to do so | Use your longest, usually middle, finger to operate the indicator. |
| You signalled incorrectly | Because you signalled the wrong way | Move the lever in the direction you want to go: left for left and right for right |
| You signalled incorrectly | Because you slammed it on | Use a smooth positive movement |
| You signalled incorrectly | Because you didn’t use enough pressure on the lever | Use a smooth positive movement with enough pressure to ensure the signal stays on |
| You signalled incorrectly | Because you’re holding it down | Once the lever has clicked into place release your finger pressure |
| You signalled incorrectly | Because the signal cancelled (and you didn’t re-apply it) | Look and listen for clues that the signal has cancelled: no light blinking, no clicking. Re-apply it immediately |
| You signalled incorrectly by arm | Because you only used your hand | Use the full extent of your arm. They are arm signals, not hand signals |
| You signalled incorrectly by arm | Because you used the wrong arm movement | Use only those arm signals shown in the Highway Code. Advise the pupil about the correct arm signals, and get them w demonstrate, whilst stationary |
| You signalled incorrectly by arm | Because you gave it for too long, reducing your steering control | Give the signal for as long as it takes to say slowly, ‘I am slowing down or stopping’. Return the hand to the steering wheel and, if necessary, repeat after a short interval, say, 5 seconds. |
| You signalled incorrectly by arm | Because you didn’t give it for long enough | Give the signal for long enough, say, for 3 seconds, so that others can see it and react to it |
| You signalled the wrong way | Because you moved the indicator stalk the wrong way | Move the indicator stalk in the same direction as you want to go |
| You signalled too early | Because you didn’t realise there were two turnings close together | Signal once you are halfway across the first turning. Until that point, use your brake lights to warn following traffic |
| You signalled too late | Because you weren’t aware of when you should start signalling | Signal earlier, say, 3 car lengths earlier than you did |
| You signalled too late | Because you were unsure where the turning was | Signal no earlier than about 6 -7 car lengths, as a general guideline, from the turn. The higher the speed the earlier the signal; on Mways and unrestricted DCs this would be at the 300 yard marker |
| You signalled unnecessarily | Because you were unsure about whether to give a signal or not | Only signal to pull up if it would help or warn another road user - this includes pedestrians, cyclists and drivers / riders to the front, sides and / or rear |
| You signalled unnecessarily | Because you signalled automatically | Signal only if it would benefit others. An automatic signal could cause inconvenience or danger |
| You signalled unnecessarily (before moving away / pulling up) | Because you just signalled automatically | Signal only if it would help or warn other road users, including pedestrians, before moving away |
| You signalled unnecessarily (when passing parked vehicles obstructions) | Because you thought it was necessary | Signal only if it would help others. Signalling to go around parked cars can often confuse or mislead, rather than inform. Early positioning will often ‘signal’ your intentions more clearly |
| You used the indicator stalk incorrectly | Because you took your hand off the wheel | Keep your hand on the wheel and use your longest, usually Middle, finger to operate the stalk |
| Your signal was ineffective | Because you didn’t realise that turning one way then another could affect the indicators | Be aware of situations when this would happen - steering one way then another, for example |
| Your signal was ineffective | Because you gave it too late to be of use to others | Signal earlier, say 3 car lengths earlier, and in good time |
| Your signal was misleading | Because you only let it click twice and then cancelled it | Signal for long enough that others have time to see it and react to it |
| Your signal was misleading | Because you-gave it too early | Signal later, say 2 car lengths, to give a clearer indication of your intentions |