Is Civilized Driving Part of Subject Three?

[Gabriel]

Civilized driving is part of Subject Three. The differences between Subject One and the Subject Three civilized driving test: Subject One primarily covers theoretical driving knowledge, including traffic signals, road markings, and driving techniques. The Subject Three safety and civilized driving test focuses on civilized and safe driving, with more scenario-based multiple-choice questions. These questions assess which driving practices are most appropriate in given situations, often presenting multiple viable options. About the safety and civilized driving test: The safety and civilized driving knowledge test is a new component of China's motor vehicle driver examination. It evaluates understanding of civilized driving practices, safe driving in adverse weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling procedures (such as tire blowouts), and post-accident response protocols. The test is scored out of 100 points, with 90 being the passing mark.

[FaithLee]

I work as a driving school instructor, taking students through the Subject 3 test every day. Civilized driving and the Subject 3 exam go hand in hand! The test includes many details specifically designed to assess your awareness of civilized driving: you must turn your head to observe when approaching a crosswalk, automatically slow down below 30 km/h in school zones, and use turn signals and check mirrors before overtaking. The worst is when students rush through yellow lights—last year, a young guy almost failed because of this. During training, I focus on these habits; if someone changes lanes without signaling, I immediately hit the co-driver brake. After all, if an accident happens on the road later, these details are key factors in determining liability.

[CaliAnn]

As someone who just passed the driving test, let me tell you, the third subject is essentially a practical test of civilized driving. During my exam, I was extremely nervous, but I still remembered to slow down and look both ways when passing a bus stop. The examiner specifically watched to see if you turned your head to observe – miss checking the rearview mirror even once and you’d lose points. During practice, the instructor would often yell, 'If you don’t yield to pedestrians, don’t bother coming next time!' There was a section of the test route with a mixed pedestrian and vehicle intersection – driving too fast there would definitely result in failure. Parking more than 30 cm from the roadside line also cost points, all testing your driving discipline. Now, as I drive on my own, I’ve developed the habit of checking blind spots, which truly helps avoid many accidents.

[Rhett]

For those studying traffic safety, here's some practical insight. The items in the Subject 3 driving test hide the Ministry of Transport's code for civilized driving: walking around the car before starting checks for surrounding obstacles, slowing down and keeping right when meeting oncoming traffic demonstrates courtesy, and driving straight without crossing lines tests lane discipline. One trainee suddenly stopped in third gear to yield to an elderly pedestrian and got penalized—not because yielding was wrong, but because they failed to observe, anticipate, and slow down in advance. This exam uses point deductions to instill defensive driving habits, proving far more effective than written tests alone.

[KayleeLee]

A person who has served as a driving test examiner for the Category 3 test several times revealed some insights. On the tablet we hold, the 'observation' item alone accounts for 15 points. If you don't check the rearview mirror and look over your shoulder when changing lanes, the system automatically deducts points if the action isn't completed within 3 seconds. Last summer, a girl took the test—her performance was flawless throughout, but she failed to turn off the high beams when parking at the end, resulting in all safety points being deducted. Nowadays, all test vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking, and exceeding the speed limit for the section immediately results in a fail. Don’t think we’re being too harsh—you wouldn’t believe how many people with driver’s licenses end up hitting electric bikes at crosswalks.