How to Walk Around the Vehicle in the Subject 3 Driving Test?
4 Answers
Start walking around the vehicle from the left front door. Here are the detailed steps for the vehicle inspection in Subject 3: 1. Inspect the vehicle surroundings: Check the four tires for insufficient pressure, ensure all doors are properly closed, and look for any obstacles around the vehicle that may affect starting. 2. Observe traffic conditions: Pay attention to the traffic coming from both the front and rear lanes. If the road conditions are complex and potentially dangerous, promptly move to a safe area. Before opening the door, observe the traffic behind you again to ensure safety, then enter the driver's seat. 3. Deduction criteria: Failing to inspect the vehicle and surrounding traffic conditions, or improperly handling situations, will result in an immediate deduction of 100 points.
When preparing for the Subject 3 driving test, walking around the vehicle is a crucial step that I've practiced many times. After getting out of the car, first close the door properly to avoid giving the examiner the impression of carelessness. Then walk slowly clockwise around the vehicle with steady steps – don't rush. The key points are checking whether the tires are flat or damaged by feeling the tire tread with your hand, while also looking underneath the car for any kittens, puppies, or debris blocking the way. Next, observe if there are any obstacles around the vehicle like stones or branches, and quickly glance at the mirrors and lights to ensure they're functioning. The examiner will be watching from a distance during this entire process, so make obvious inspection gestures like nodding or bending down to demonstrate attentiveness. If you walk around hastily without proper inspection, it's easy to lose points and fail the test. Therefore, develop this habit during practice to ensure safety and attention to detail. The walk-around is the first step in accident prevention and shouldn't be taken lightly.
As someone who frequently guides new trainees, the walk-around inspection is crucial in the exam. Circling the vehicle is not just a formality but a fundamental safety step. After exiting the car, start from the front and walk slowly clockwise, maintaining focused eye contact throughout, paying attention to tire pressure and condition to prevent blowout risks. Simultaneously, inspect the surrounding environment of the vehicle, such as oil stains or potholes on the ground, to avoid accidents after starting. What the examiner values is whether the action process is standardized: you must walk close to the vehicle while observing, without running, jumping, or distractions. During the actual exam, many trainees overlook checking the adjustment of mirrors or cracks in the wheel hubs, which directly relates to driving safety. Developing the habit of walking around the vehicle can also reduce blind-spot accidents in daily driving. Don’t underestimate these few seconds—details determine success or failure.
During the invigilation of Subject 3, common mistakes made by trainees during the vehicle walk-around are observed. The correct method is to immediately walk clockwise around the vehicle after getting off, carefully inspecting each part. Most failures occur because they walk too quickly without observing details: for example, skipping directly without properly checking for flat tires or obstacles under the car. The test requires simulating a tactile inspection of the tires while scanning the vehicle's outline for scratches or foreign objects. Forgetting to adjust the mirror positions or overlooking lighting issues will also result in point deductions. When invigilators observe from a distance, they check if the steps are steady and the actions are coherent; running around or not completing the full walk-around will lead to point reductions. Practicing a few more times should suffice.
