Should You Turn Off the Engine or Unfasten the Seat Belt First in Subject 3?
3 Answers
In Subject 3, you do not need to turn off the engine. After parking, restore the turn signal and gear, then pull the handbrake, and finally unfasten the seat belt. Here are some additional details: 1. The safety and civilized driving knowledge test includes: safe and civilized driving operation requirements, safe driving knowledge under adverse weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling methods for situations like tire blowouts, and post-accident handling knowledge. 2. Road driving skills: The Subject 3 road driving skills test includes: preparation before driving, starting, straight-line driving, gear shifting operations, lane changing, pulling over, driving straight through intersections, left turns at intersections, right turns at intersections, crossing pedestrian crosswalks, passing school zones, passing bus stops, meeting oncoming vehicles, overtaking, making U-turns, and night driving for large buses, trailers, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, and small automatic transmission passenger cars for the disabled. The test content for other permitted vehicle types is determined by the provincial traffic management departments of the public security authorities.
I remember when I was taking the driving test for Subject 3, my instructor repeatedly emphasized that after parking, you must turn off the engine first before unbuckling the seatbelt. This sequence isn’t arbitrary—it’s based on safety considerations. Turning off the engine ensures the vehicle is completely stationary, preventing accidental movement if the accelerator is mistakenly pressed, which could lead to an accident. Unbuckling the seatbelt too quickly might make the examiner think you’re being careless or not following proper procedures, resulting in point deductions. I once made this mistake during practice: I unbuckled before turning off the engine, and the car slid slightly, earning me a stern lecture from the instructor. Once I developed this habit, the test went much smoother. I still follow this routine when driving normally, especially when parking on slopes—turning off the engine and shifting to P gear makes it more stable. In the test, details make or break your performance. Practice a few more times, and it’ll become second nature—don’t let small mistakes waste your efforts.
When beginners learn to drive, they often get stuck on these small steps. During the parking phase of Subject 3, the examiner's eyes are sharp. The experience I've gained is to turn off the engine first, wait until it stops, and then unbuckle the seatbelt. Why? Because the moment you unbuckle signifies the end of the test, and if the car is still running, it might be counted as not fully stopped. I once had a friend who forgot to turn off the engine during a mock test, unbuckled directly, and ended up with a poor score. The same applies in real driving—after an emergency stop, turning off the engine before unbuckling is safer, especially on rainy or snowy days. Wait until the car is stable before leaving the seat. In short, these rules teach us to develop good habits and avoid potential risks. It may sound troublesome, but after a few practices, it becomes easy.
