Preparing for the Colorado Driving Skills Test

The driving skills test is your opportunity to show that you can operate a vehicle safely and legally. You are scored throughout the entire test on three areas: recognizing traffic conditions and hazards, controlling the vehicle, and directing your attention where it is needed. The examiner will not ask you to do anything illegal.

Top Scoring Priorities from the Colorado Driver Handbook:

Choose and hold the correct lane: Approach and leave intersections in the proper lane, stay within lane markings, avoid curbs, and finish turns centered in the appropriate lane.

Make complete, well-positioned stops: Stop with no forward motion before the stop line or crosswalk. Keep the wheels straight until the turn begins and leave enough room to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead touching the road.

Search actively: Scan approaching intersections, look left-right-left before entering, use your mirrors, physically check blind spots, and look behind after turns. Driver-assistance technology may be used, but it does not replace active observation.

Signal at the correct time: Signal continuously at least 3 seconds before a turn or lane change. Cancel the signal within three seconds after completing the maneuver.

Control speed smoothly: Adjust your speed for traffic and road conditions, maintain a steady speed during lane changes, decelerate without holding up traffic, and approach turns at a speed that avoids braking or stopping during the turn.

Accelerate smoothly: Avoid jerking, coasting, stalling, clashing gears, or impeding traffic.

· Use safe steering control: Keep both hands on the wheel and use an approved method such as hand-over-hand or push-pull steering.

· Obey every law, sign, and signal: Your overall steering, braking, acceleration, observation, and lane use are evaluated throughout the test.

What You Will Demonstrate:

· Left and right turns

· Stopping at and driving through intersections

· Lane changes in traffic

· Merging into and leaving traffic

· Safe general driving behavior

Only the driver and examiner may be in the vehicle during the test; family, friends, interpreters, translators, and pets are not allowed. Ask any questions before the test begins, because unnecessary conversation after it starts can interfere with your performance. The examiner will take notes and score you throughout the drive, which is a normal part of the process.

Notes from the Instructors:

To be ready to pass the test, focus on the following:

1. Study the Colorado Driver Handbook.

2. Come to a complete stop. The ground should no longer appear to be moving.

3. Always stop before the pedestrian area.

4. Maintain control of the steering wheel. Do not oversteer, palm or hook the wheel, or allow it to slide back after a turn.

5. Check the mirror after every maneuver, including each stop, turn, and lane change. Continue checking the mirrors as you drive.

6. Master lane changes so that every step is smooth and steady. First, signal. Check the center mirror and the appropriate side mirror—left or right—then look over your shoulder to check the blind spot. Move smoothly into the new lane while maintaining a steady speed. Check the mirror again, then cancel the signal.

Students also need plenty of in-town driving practice—20 hours or more—on Main Avenue, Highway 160, Camino del Rio, in neighborhoods, and in traffic.

Throughout the test, every maneuver should be smooth and controlled. Imagine the tester is holding a cup of hot coffee and that every slosh counts as an error.