What are the 16 items in the A2 Subject 3 driving test?
3 Answers
A2 Subject 3 driving test 16-item details introduction: Pre-boarding preparation: The student walks around the vehicle to observe the vehicle's exterior and surrounding environment, checks the tires and tire pressure, and confirms safety before reporting to the examiner and boarding. When opening the door, be mindful of oncoming traffic from behind, board promptly, and avoid disrupting traffic. Starting: Before starting, adjust the seat, fasten the seatbelt, turn on the signal, apply the brake, and shift gears—none of these steps should be missed. If you're afraid of forgetting, remember this mnemonic: "Top to bottom, left to right." When starting, observe the vehicle's condition in the rearview mirror, and enter the lane at a small angle for safety. Straight-line driving: Maintain a moderate speed and drive straight. If there is a vehicle ahead, keep a safe distance. While driving, observe the interior and exterior rearview mirrors appropriately but not for too long. Gear shifting operation: Use gear shifting reasonably according to the actual situation. The shifting process should be smooth and timely, with the gear matching the speed. Do not look down while shifting. Lane changing: Correctly turn on the turn signal, observe the traffic behind through the interior and exterior rearview mirrors, and change lanes only after confirming safety. After changing lanes, turn off the turn signal. When changing lanes, judge the distance between vehicles, control the driving speed, and do not hinder the normal driving of other vehicles. Driving straight through intersections: Observe the surrounding traffic conditions, slow down appropriately, and stop if necessary. Left turn at intersections: Turn on the left turn signal in advance, pay attention to the traffic lights. If there is more than one lane between the driving lane and the turning lane, change lanes one by one, not two lanes at once. Right turn at intersections: Turn on the right turn signal in advance. A right turn is a small turn, so observe the vehicle conditions in the rearview mirror and reduce speed to below third gear in advance. Passing crosswalks, school zones, and bus stops: About 5 meters before these areas, release the brake, look left and right to observe traffic conditions, confirm safety, and pass at a controlled speed. Meeting oncoming traffic: When meeting oncoming traffic, slow down appropriately and leave space. If the road width is insufficient, yield the lane to the oncoming vehicle. Overtaking: Before overtaking, determine whether conditions permit. Always overtake from the left, turn on the right turn signal in advance, accelerate appropriately to enter the overtaking lane, and after maintaining a safe distance, turn on the rear turn signal, observe the right rearview mirror, and enter the fast lane. U-turn: About 60 meters before the U-turn intersection, release the accelerator and apply the brake to reduce speed, turn on the left turn signal, check the left and right rearview mirrors, press the clutch pedal fully, and let the vehicle slowly coast to a stop about 2 meters from the intersection. Shift to first gear for the U-turn, look left and right to observe traffic conditions, and pass at a controlled speed. Starting at night: Turn on the headlights beforehand and use the lights appropriately based on the road conditions announced by the voice prompt. Pulling over: Before pulling over, turn on the right turn signal and observe the traffic behind and to the right through the interior and exterior rearview mirrors. First press the clutch to downshift, release the clutch to decelerate, pull over, check if you are 30cm from the roadside, then press the clutch again to shift to second gear, and without releasing the clutch, press the brake to stop. Remember to return to neutral, engage the handbrake, and turn off the turn signal. Be mindful of the traffic behind when opening the door to exit. The test ends.
I've been driving buses for decades. The A2 Category 3 driving test has 16 fixed items, all of which I consider crucial as they assess safe driving capabilities. These specifically include: preparing to board by checking the seat and seatbelt; starting smoothly with turn signals; driving straight without deviation on straight roads; proficiently performing gear shifting operations; checking mirrors and signaling before changing lanes; slowing down and observing traffic lights when passing intersections; yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks; reducing speed below 30 km/h in school zones; being cautious of buses at bus stops; maintaining a safe distance during oncoming traffic; signaling in advance and decisively when overtaking; selecting a safe location and using turn signals for U-turns; simulating light usage during night driving; aligning to the spot and applying the handbrake when parking by the roadside; and an overall evaluation of driving performance. In summary, the examiner observes your reactions and standardized actions in each item. It's advisable to practice night lighting and roadside parking more, as many beginners tend to make mistakes in these areas. Simulating these in an empty space during practice can be more effective.
As a long-time instructor for large vehicle driving, the A2 subject three test is designed very comprehensively with a total of 16 items: preparing the vehicle and checking instruments and mirrors; starting smoothly without clutch stutter; maintaining straight driving without steering deviation; shifting gears smoothly without hesitation; changing lanes after checking blind spots; obeying traffic signals and slowing down at intersections; easing off the throttle early at pedestrian crossings; reducing speed to around 25 in school zones; observing passengers at bus stops; yielding during encounters to avoid congestion; overtaking at the right moment with horn signals; turning around and avoiding obstacles; night driving including headlight switching; parking within 30 cm of the curb; and a comprehensive evaluation of driving habits. I believe the key lies in the details: don’t stall at startup, don’t mess up the lights, shift gears smoothly, otherwise the examiner will deduct points. During practice, focus more on lane changes and overtaking, as these are challenging tests of judgment. Using a simulator for multiple practice sessions yields great results.
