Is it not allowed to look down at the gear shift during Subject 3 driving test?

[McAaron]

Yes, you can, but it is not advisable to look down at the gear shift while the car is in motion as it may compromise driving safety. Here are detailed explanations regarding this matter: 1. Steering deviation during gear shifting: Avoid using excessive force and practice frequently. 2. Prolonged driving in low gear: Driving at low speed with high RPM for extended periods may result in exceeding the permitted distance during the test. Throughout the examination, when using 1st gear, the driving distance must not exceed 150 meters per instance; for 2nd gear, it must not exceed 250 meters per instance, while there is no distance restriction for 3rd gear. 3. Skipping gears is not feasible: Skipping gears may lead to insufficient power, increasing the risk of stalling the vehicle.

[SavannahFitz]

As a veteran driver with 15 years of experience, the invigilator despises looking down at the gear shift during the Subject 3 test. The exam vehicle is equipped with sensors and cameras—the moment your neck moves, the system deducts 100 points, resulting in an immediate fail. Back when I was helping my cousin practice, I made him sit in the car with his eyes closed and feel the gear lever until he could distinguish the notch angles of 3rd and 5th gears by touch alone, using his shoulders to naturally guide his arm movement. After all, the driving test is essentially about assessing safety habits—a single glance down on the road could lead to a rear-end collision. Remember the reference points taught by the instructor—1st gear: push forward and left, 3rd gear: push straight up—and get familiar with the car's vibration frequency. It's far more reliable than sneaking a peek at the gear shift.

[IslaFitz]

A veteran who passed the driving test's third stage after three attempts shares honest advice: looking down is asking for trouble. Last time, I saw a candidate next to me glance down as soon as they touched the gear lever, and the examiner immediately told them to stop and exit the car. The most effective method is to memorize the positions with your body: place your palm against the gear knob—1st and 2nd gears are on the left, 3rd and 4th on the right. Pushing left with your palm facing left shifts to 3rd gear, and pushing straight up shifts to 5th. Don’t panic if you shift wrong initially, and avoid pressing the accelerator too hard. The examiner will usually warn you first if they notice a wrong shift. For guaranteed accuracy, I recommend renting a car at an empty lot to practice shifting repeatedly. By the end, I could tell if the gear was correct just by the engine sound.

[Austin]

The incident with the new girl at the driving school reminded me: last week she failed her test because glancing at the gearshift was deemed dangerous driving. Actually, there's a trick to the blind spot of gear shifting—you must upshift when the engine speed exceeds 2000 RPM. The third driving test requires fast, decisive, and accurate gear changes: pushing the right hand forward without passing the mid-clavicular line is 3rd gear, and pulling parallel to the right is 4th gear. If you really can't remember, when shifting to 5th gear, your arm will naturally extend straighter, and your elbow joint will almost straighten. Also, eating more calcium-rich foods before the test can improve muscle memory efficiency, which is more effective than peeking.