Has the Ramp Fixed-point Parking and Starting Been Cancelled?
4 Answers
Ramp fixed-point parking and starting will be cancelled. Here is the relevant information: 1. Reason: To improve the content and procedures of the driving test, adjust the test items for small and medium-sized automatic transmission vehicles, and cancel the "ramp fixed-point parking and starting" item in the second subject test. The number of test items will be reduced from 5 to 4, making it more aligned with actual driving regulations and easing the pressure on students during the test. 2. Note: Adjust the test scheduling time. For applicants of small and medium-sized automatic transmission vehicle driving licenses, the interval between the first subject test and the third subject test will be shortened from 30 days to 20 days after passing the first subject. For large and medium-sized passenger and truck driving licenses, the interval will be reduced from 40 days to 30 days, thereby reducing waiting time.
A couple of days ago, my neighbor's kid came back from his driving test and mentioned that the slope parking and starting test has indeed been canceled for automatic transmission vehicles, while manual transmission tests still include it. This policy has been in place since 2021, mainly because automatic cars come with hill-start assist, significantly reducing the risk of rolling back. However, as an experienced manual transmission driver with over a decade behind the wheel, I believe this skill is still crucial. In steep slopes like those in underground mall parking lots, if the car in front suddenly stops, drivers who haven't practiced hill starts might panic. You can still see new trainees practicing this maneuver at driving schools, with instructors emphasizing that even if it's not tested, mastering it is essential for real-world driving safety.
When I was taking the C1 driver's license test, what I feared the most was the hill start. I stalled every time during practice. Last year, when I took my cousin to enroll, I learned that if he chose an automatic transmission, he wouldn't have to take this test. The driving school instructor explained that automatic cars now have anti-rollback features, making the test simpler and more aligned with real-world driving. However, manual transmission students don't get this benefit—they still have to practice. In reality, there aren't many opportunities to perform a steep hill start in daily life, but in a mountainous city like Chongqing or in underground parking lots, this skill can help avoid rear-end collisions. I heard some driving schools use the saved lesson hours to focus more on parallel parking training.
Last weekend at a gathering, a friend who runs a driving school mentioned that there are now three times more students learning automatic transmission than manual. The exam reforms came just in time. Removing the hill start test has indeed reduced the burden on students, especially since 90% of new cars today are automatic. However, the manual transmission test is still retained because it requires the skill of coordinating the clutch and accelerator. From my personal experience, the hardest part of hill starts isn't stopping at the designated point, but finding the critical point when releasing the clutch—slight carelessness can stall the engine. In five years of actual driving, I've only encountered two situations requiring steep hill starts, both in scenic area parking lots. The policy change is good, but I recommend that students proactively ask their instructors for some hill start practice during lessons.
