How many seconds are you not allowed to drive on the dashed line in Subject 3?
4 Answers
In Subject 3, if you drive on the dashed line for no more than 5 seconds, no points will be deducted. Exceeding 5 seconds will result in an immediate failure. Avoid looking down at the gear shift: Especially during the 100-meter gear change exercise where you need to shift from 1st to 5th gear, when changing gears, your eyes must remain focused on the road ahead. Hold the steering wheel with your left hand and operate the gear shift with your right hand. Never look down at the gear shift while changing gears. Improper gear engagement and coasting in neutral: When changing gears, release the accelerator and press the brake. The brake must be fully depressed. If not fully depressed, it may be difficult to engage the gear properly. Coasting in neutral will result in point deductions. If the gear is not properly engaged, a sharp grinding noise may occur. Failing to fully depress the clutch promptly and re-engaging the gear may lead to stalling.
During driving license tests, in Subject 3 (road driving), candidates must not drive on dashed lines for more than 3 seconds, otherwise they will be penalized or fail immediately. I remember one student crossed the line while overtaking and, due to nervousness, stayed on it for five seconds. I immediately reminded him to control the steering wheel. This rule is based on safety: staying on the line too long may intrude into the opposite lane, increasing collision risks. During training, I instruct students to keep the vehicle centered by monitoring their position through rearview mirrors instead of staring at the lines. While real-world driving is more lenient, the test simulates high-pressure situations to reinforce safety awareness. I recommend practicing curve driving more to develop habitual centering skills and avoid delayed steering that leads to prolonged line contact. Nowadays, driving schools use timers for simulation, and practicing a few times with apps at home before the test helps adaptation.
I just finished my driving test (Subject 3). In actual practice, never exceed three seconds when driving over dashed lines! I failed because of this: during a left turn, I briefly touched the line—it felt like just a blink—but the examiner stopped me, saying it was over five seconds. I regretted not practicing timing beforehand. Later, I realized the strict rules are to prevent new drivers from forming bad habits and to improve judgment on the road. My instructor taught me a trick: look ahead, don’t nervously fixate on the dashed lines, and keep a relaxed grip on the wheel for minor adjustments. At home, I practiced with a phone stopwatch, keeping line touches under two seconds. Driving test videos also emphasize this time limit—once familiar, it becomes natural. I advise all test-takers not to overlook this small detail; failing the exam over it would be a huge loss.
From a traffic regulation perspective, the Category 3 driving test explicitly sets a 3-second maximum limit for driving on dashed lines, with any excess constituting a violation. This rule is designed to minimize driving risks: temporarily occupying the opposite lane for over 3 seconds may lead to accidents, especially on curves or at high speeds. During the test, examiners or monitoring systems conduct real-time detection, requiring candidates to maintain central lane positioning. While brief line-crossing is permitted in actual driving, the test aims to cultivate proper habits. During training, frequent simulation of complex road conditions and strengthened steering wheel control can effectively prevent violations.
