What is the process for the nighttime driving test in Subject 3 for large vehicles?
4 Answers
Exit from the left rear door, walk counterclockwise around the vehicle to the outside of the passenger seat to hand over your ID card. Adjust the seat, fasten the seatbelt, turn the steering wheel, press the clutch and brake pedals a few times, and adjust the angle of the interior rearview mirror. Upon hearing the command to start, turn on the left turn signal, turn your head significantly to look at the left rearview mirror, switch between high and low beams, press the clutch, step on the brake, shift into first gear, and release the handbrake. While driving, approximately every 20 seconds, scan the left and right rearview mirrors significantly. When encountering intersections, curves, or pedestrians, switch between high and low beams to alert them. Upon hearing the command to stop, first observe whether the road section is suitable for stopping. If it is not suitable, explain the reason to the examiner; if it is suitable, reduce speed and stop the vehicle.
I was so nervous during my heavy vehicle night test. Before the exam, the instructor repeatedly drilled us on light operations, simulating every step from starting to pulling over. On the exam night, we gathered at the test center, and the examiner called roll to assign groups. When it was my turn, I adjusted the seat, mirrors, and fastened the seatbelt before the light test: flashing high beams for 'passing through an intersection at night' and switching to low beams for 'meeting another vehicle'—a mistake here meant instant failure. After passing the light test, I drove along the designated route, making sure to signal turns three seconds in advance and scanning left and right at intersections. Finally, I pulled over, turned off the lights and engine, and listened to the examiner's feedback. My mistake was being a beat too slow in switching between high and low beams during overtaking, but thankfully, I passed on the second attempt.
Our night driving test process is quite standardized. After the theoretical test in the afternoon, we proceed directly to the night test. The examiner takes us to the site, focusing on testing the combined use of lights and reaction speed. Before getting in the car, fingerprint verification is required. During the simulated lighting test, you must wait for the voice prompt to finish completely before operating; acting too hastily can easily lead to point deductions. On the actual road, the main points to observe are three: driving with low beams to assess road condition reactions, switching between high and low beams when encountering obstacles; remembering the 3-second rule for turn signals when turning or changing lanes; finally, turning off all lights when parking, ensuring the car is stable before pulling the handbrake and shifting to neutral. The entire test takes less than 20 minutes, but making two mistakes with the lights results in failure, with a higher failure rate than daytime tests. It's essential to practice the feel of the light lever regularly.
The night test mainly focuses on light operation and real-road condition response. Before starting, you need to walk around the car to check if the lights are functioning properly. After getting in the car, voice prompts will indicate different scenarios: for example, 'unlit road' requires turning on the high beams, while 'following a car' means immediately switching to low beams. On the road, the examiner will randomly set up obstacles; when I suddenly encountered a pedestrian ahead, I promptly alternated flashing the high beams to alert them. The speed must not exceed 30 km/h throughout the test, and you must noticeably slow down at crosswalks. The examiner places the most emphasis on safety awareness. For the retake, I specifically practiced the light operation for night-time encounters, familiarizing myself with the light switch positions in advance. During the test, I kept my hand on the lever, ready to switch lights at any time.
