Will points be deducted for not making independent lane changes in Subject 3?
5 Answers
No points will be deducted. During the motor vehicle driver's license Subject 3 examination, not making independent lane changes has no impact. Below is relevant information about the driving test Subject 3: Introduction: Subject 3 includes road driving skills test and safety and civilized driving knowledge test, which is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment. It is the abbreviation for the road driving skills and safety and civilized driving knowledge test subjects in the motor vehicle driver's examination. The road driving skills test content varies for different permitted driving vehicle types. Specific test content of Subject 3: The road driving skills test generally includes: vehicle preparation, light simulation test, starting, straight-line driving, gear shifting operation, lane changing, parking by the roadside, going straight through intersections, turning left at intersections, turning right at intersections, passing pedestrian crossings, passing school zones, passing bus stops, meeting vehicles, overtaking, U-turns, and night driving. The safety and civilized driving knowledge test generally includes: safety 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, etc.
When I was taking the driving test for Subject 3, my instructor mentioned that voluntary lane changes aren't actually a mandatory requirement. The test mainly evaluates whether you follow instructions while driving. If the examiner doesn't ask you to change lanes, it's perfectly fine to stay in your own lane the whole time. However, it really depends on the road conditions. For example, if the car in front suddenly brakes hard or there's a large pothole on the road, failing to change lanes when you should might result in being penalized for insufficient observation. My friend encountered a sanitation truck blocking the lane during his test - he obediently waited for instructions and failed. The examiner said not taking initiative to change lanes when necessary showed weak awareness of safe driving. In summary, normal driving won't get you penalized, but you should change lanes when special circumstances require it.
Subject 3 mainly tests instruction execution, and autonomous lane changing is not a fixed item. Last time I took students for the exam, the examiner specifically mentioned that not changing lanes when not instructed would not result in point deductions. However, two points should be noted: first, driving too close to the edge and crossing the line will lead to point deductions; second, unexpected situations test adaptability, such as when a delivery e-bike suddenly rushes out. If you don't proactively change lanes to avoid it in such cases, the safety officer will directly fail you for dangerous operation. It is recommended to develop the habit of frequently checking the rearview mirror during practice, maintaining the lane while always being ready to yield. Safety points are even more important than operation points.
Just checked the exam manual for my cousin, autonomous lane changing is not a separate point deduction item. The key during the test is to follow instructions to complete lane changes; changing lanes arbitrarily can easily lead to mistakes. However, remember that there is a safety assessment item in the Subject 3 scoring sheet, and failing to actively avoid obstacles may result in point deductions. For example, if there's construction ahead occupying the lane and you don't change lanes in advance, the examiner may consider your anticipation ability poor. It's best to simulate various road conditions during practice. When encountering sudden situations, signal, observe, and change lanes decisively, but avoid turning the steering wheel too much as it's easy to cross the line.
Changing lanes is not required in Subject 3 and won't result in point deductions! This is a key point emphasized by driving instructors. During the test, lane changes are performed based on voice commands, as independent maneuvers can be risky. However, there's an exception: sometimes parked vehicles obstruct part of the lane along the test route. If you don't change lanes at least 15 meters in advance to avoid them, the examiner may fail you for disrupting traffic. Students who retook the test advise carefully checking three mirrors and one light: use rearview mirrors to judge distance, complete lane changes within three seconds after signaling, and turn the steering wheel no more than a quarter turn to maintain stability.
