Minor And Major Driving Faults And How You Can Avoid Them

by Marsh Finance on Sep 18, 2024 10:10:09 AM

👉 A quick look at how a driving test works
👉 What are minor faults?
👉 How to avoid minor driving faults
👉 What are major faults
👉 How to avoid major offences
👉 Our other driving test support and advice resources
👉 A final word

Approaching your driving test and unsure how you’re marked? You might have heard of minor and major faults and wondered what these are. Let’s take a look at what minor and major faults are, and how to avoid them in your test. We’ve also provided some general tips for preparing for your test, plus links to other sources aimed at helping you pass.

Car manoeuvring around orange traffic cones during a driving test, symbolising precision driving, skill assessment, and road safety training

A Quick Look At How A Driving Test Works

Your practical driving test can last anywhere from 40 to 60 minutes, but might take even longer if your examiner thinks it’s necessary.

Your driving test is made up of the following sections:

Show me tell me questions.
Eyesight check.
General driving ability.
Manoeuvres.

The skills you have to display on the test are:

Make sure you can read a number plate from 20 metres away.
Answer two vehicle safety questions.
Show a general driving ability, which could include pulling away, pulling over, performing a hill start or performing an emergency stop.
Reverse the car successfully, which could include bay parking, parallel parking or reverse parking.
Drive on your own, following directions and reading road signs successfully.

For more information on driving tests, visit our blog dedicated to all things driving tests.

In order to pass your driving test, you need to avoid anymore than 15 minor faults and avoid committing a single major fault. Unsure of what classes as a minor and major fault? We’ve taken a look below.

A 3D warning sign sat against an empty white background.

What Are Minor Faults?

A minor fault is a small mistake that doesn’t endanger anyone’s lives or challenge the security of the car on the road. Minor faults are of course frowned upon, but they don’t directly cause you to fail. If you were to pick up more than 15 minor faults though, you will fail your test. Let’s take a look of some of the most common minor faults, so you can avoid getting caught out on your test.

Common minor faults on tests include:

Failing to check your mirrors.
Driving under the speed limit when it’s safe to drive to the limit.
Small errors when steering.
Poor car positioning.
Hesitating
Stalling.
Skimming the curb.
Incorrectly using the handbrake.

How To Avoid Minor Driving Faults

A lot of minor faults occur because you take your eye off the ball for a second or two, and make a tiny mistake. Try and stay focused throughout your test, and constantly keep checking your car speed, your road position and the traffic around you. Ensure that you never cross your hands when steering, and exaggerate all your mirror checks. This way, the examiner can see that you are fully aware of your surroundings. On top of this, try and relax. Your instructor believes you are test ready, so trust your abilities. It’s only when you start to second guess yourself that you begin to make silly mistakes. Other tips for passing your test include:

Find the right driving instructor: getting your driving instructor right is important. This person will help you learn and getting the perfect person for you is key. Take a look at our blog that looks at the things to look out for in a driving instructor.
Practice your manoeuvres over and over again.
Learn the area your test will be in.
Master the show me tell me questions to start the test on the right foot.
Refresh your theory knowledge, to help you read road signs and follow directions.
Focus on you, you’re there to drive, not examine yourself.

For a more detailed look at how to pass your practical test, visit our top ten tips to passing your test blog.

A hand holds up a small warning sign in red with a yellow exclamation mark, in front of a blue wall.

What Are Major Faults?

A major fault is one that brings into doubt your ability to drive a car successfully. Your action might put you and the examiner at risk, as well as other drivers on the road. Committing just one major driving fault is enough to fail the test. Let’s take a look at some of the most common major driving test faults:

Ignoring road signs and signals: This can include running a red light or emerging out of a junction without giving way.
Dangerous driving: Unsafe driver practices like cutting people off can put you and the driver in danger.
Driving above the speed limit for long periods of time.
Not following examiner instructions and display a lack of awareness at the wheel.
Causing an accident: Any accident, no matter how small, will likely result in a major fault.

How To Avoid Major Offences

Avoiding major offences is essential if you want to pass. The best way to avoid making major errors is to build up plenty of practice and experience behind the wheel. The more time you spend on the road, the more situations you experience and the more you learn about driving. Get used to reading road signs and following directions, and constantly keep an eye on your speed limit and the road around you. Approach junctions with caution, and look out for road signs or markings that direct you to give way. Be ready for the unexpected, and be on top alert for anything going on around you.

Ultimately, a major driving offence demonstrates an inability to meet the required driving standards. To guard against this, you should only take your test when your instructor feels that you are ready and once you have mastered your manoeuvres. For more tips on passing your test, and avoiding mistakes, visit our top ten tips for passing your test blog.

We’ve also had a look at the most common mistakes that people make on driving tests. Have a read of it here.

A climber reaches below to help someone up over a hill, representing teamwork and support.

Our Other Driving Test Support And Advice

We’ve covered all things driving tests. View our piece on driving tests here. We’ve looked at the following topics, get access to them below:

A Final Word On Minor And Major Test Offences

On your test, you cannot score more than 15 minors and must avoid any major faults. Being prepared and alert is key to avoid picking up faults, as well as trusting your instincts and building up significant amounts of experience. Getting test ready is a long process, but one you must go through to be ready to roam the roads.

Share this