Tractor or specialist vehicle driving test
Understanding your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test result, including what was assessed, what sorts of things counted as faults, and how to improve in each area.
To pass your driving test, you needed to make:
- no more than 15 driving faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)
- no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)
If you did not pass
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You needed to show you can use the vehicle’s secondary features and controls and know when to use them. This includes things like windscreen wipers, and heating.
You needed to show you can use these while driving, without losing control.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- not turning on the windscreen wipers when it starts to rain
- losing control of the vehicle when using one of the controls
- not using the demisters to clear the front windscreen when needed
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should practise using the controls safely while driving.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You needed to show you can:
- anticipate other road users’ actions and potential hazards
- react in good time, not at the last minute
You should have been extra careful around more vulnerable road users. This includes:
- motorcyclists
- cyclists
- horse riders
- pedestrians
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- not anticipating or showing awareness of the actions of cyclists and other vulnerable road users
- not anticipating or showing awareness of other road users
- pulling up behind a queue of parked vehicles
- not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross the road at any time
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 204 to 225 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You needed to keep a safe amount of distance when passing other road users, stationary vehicles or hazards - at least one metre when possible.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- being too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space
- moving back in too soon after passing the vehicle or hazard
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rule of The Highway Code 152.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You needed to show you can use all the vehicle’s primary controls smoothly and at the correct time. This includes the:
- accelerator
- clutch
- gears
- brake
- handbrake or parking brake
- steering
Your examiner will have monitored this throughout the test.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- over-steering when making a turn, and mounting the kerb
- keeping the clutch pedal held down (coasting) reducing your control of the car
- selecting the wrong gear causing a sudden reduction in your speed, forcing vehicles behind you to slow down
- pressing the brake too hard, or not hard enough
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 117 to 126 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on how you reacted to the examiner’s signal to stop and your control of the vehicle while stopping.
When the examiner asked you, you needed to safely bring the vehicle to a stop. You should have done this without locking the wheels and losing control of the vehicle.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- reacting too slowly when asked to stop
- locking the wheels causing a skid, particularly for vehicles without an anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, you should check rules 118 to 120 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
Your examiner will have started the test by asking you to read aloud a number plate of a parked vehicle. You will have had 3 chances to do this correctly.
If you did not read it correctly, you will have failed and not been allowed to continue with your test.
You have to book another test and pay again if you failed. If you need glasses or contact lenses, you must bring them to your next test. If you have dyslexia, you can declare this when you book your test. You can then write down the vehicle registration instead of reading it out.
You needed to keep a safe distance when driving behind other road users.
Your distance from the vehicle in front should have been appropriate for the conditions of the road.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- driving too close to the vehicle in front
- not adjusting your distance when there is bad weather, such as rain, ice or fog
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rule 126 and rule 151 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You will have been asked:
- 5 questions about the highway code rules
- to identify up to 6 different traffic signs
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should:
-
read up on The Highway Code
-
check The Highway Code’s sections on traffic signs, road markings and signals by authorised persons
-
read ‘Know Your Traffic Signs’
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on:
- overtaking
- meeting
- crossing
You needed to show good judgement when overtaking, meeting and crossing other road users, such as knowing when to proceed, and when to wait for a safer opportunity.
You needed to make your intentions clear, and understand the intentions of the other road users.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- not giving way to road users that have priority
- reacting late when meeting an approaching vehicle
- being too close to a cyclist when overtaking
- crossing the path of an oncoming vehicle when turning right
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 162 to 169 and rules 179 to 183 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on:
- approach speed - your ability to approach junctions at an appropriate speed
- observation - your effective observation and judgement of your surroundings
- turning right - your position when turning right
- turning left - your position when turning left
- cutting corners - your ability to avoid cutting corners when turning
You needed to show you can drive through junctions safely. You should have observed your surroundings, made your intentions clear, followed road signs and signals, and properly controlled your vehicle.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- incorrectly judging the speed of an oncoming vehicle, forcing it to slow down when emerging from a junction
- not checking for other road users when emerging from a slip road, onto a dual carriageway
- being positioned too far to the left when turning right onto a minor road, holding up vehicles behind you
- approaching a junction too fast, making it difficult to make observations
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 170 to 190 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on:
- control - your ability to control the vehicle
- safety - your ability to perform this action safely
You needed to show you could move off safely and under control throughout your test. This included:
- from the side of the road
- on a slope or hill (gradient)
- from behind a parked vehicle, so you have to move off at an angle
- at junctions
You should have used your mirrors and checked blind spots to observe your surroundings, and signalled when necessary. Your control of the vehicle should have prevented it from rolling backwards or stalling.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- trying to move off without appropriate control and rolling back
- not properly checking your blind spots
- moving off into the path of an oncoming vehicle
- repeatedly stalling when moving off throughout your test
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 159 to 161 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You needed to recognise each type of pedestrian crossing and react correctly to each.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- stopping on a crossing (not before)
- moving off before a pedestrian has completely cleared the crossing
- approaching a crossing too fast
- failing to stop at a crossing
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 191 to 199 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
When asked to by your examiner, you needed to bring your vehicle to a complete stop. This should be done at an appropriate part of the road.
When stopped, your vehicle should not have been a hazard to other road users.
You need to perform this exercise twice during your test.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- partially or completely blocking a driveway
- obstructing other road users
- parking too far from the kerb
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 239 to 252 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on:
- normal driving - your position of the vehicle when driving such as not driving too close to the kerb or lines
- lane discipline - your ability to maintain your position within the lane
You needed to show you can keep your vehicle correctly positioned on the road, staying within the correct lane, without driving too close to the lines.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- driving too close to the kerb, putting pedestrians at risk
- driving too close to the centre of the road, putting other road users at risk
- straddling lanes causing issues for other road users
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 135 and 137 of the Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
Before you started driving, you should have performed a few safety checks. This includes making sure:
- your seat is positioned correctly and you can reach all the controls
- your mirrors are positioned correctly
- all doors are shut
- the handbrake or parking brake is on
- the gear is in neutral
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- starting the vehicle with the gear not in neutral
- adjusting seat or mirrors while driving
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rule 97 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on:
- appropriate speed - your ability to drive at an appropriate speed for the road and traffic conditions
- undue hesitation - your ability to maintain progress, and not hesitate and slow down when you did not need to
You should have driven at a speed appropriate for the road and traffic conditions, without holding up other road users.
Your examiner will have monitored this throughout the test.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so
- driving too slow unnecessarily, holding up following traffic
- driving well below the speed limit on clear roads
- waiting unecessairly for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rule 146 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on:
- signalling - your ability to make good rear observations when signalling
- change direction - your ability to make good rear observations when changing direction
- change speed - your ability to make good rear observations when changing speed
You needed to show you can use your vehicle’s mirrors to see what’s behind you. This should be done in good time, before appropriate situations.
When mirrors were not enough to cover blindspots you must look directly (‘lifesaver check’).
Your examiner will monitor this throughout your test.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- making rear observations too late when changing position
- trying to exit a roundabout without making effective rear observations
- spending too much time looking in your mirrors, so you miss things ahead
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rule 161 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You should have recognised and reacted correctly to signs and signals on the road. This included:
- road signs
- road markings
- traffic lights
- traffic controllers
- other road users
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- taking up space meant for cyclists when stopping at a red traffic light
- reacting late or not at all to a speed limit change sign
- not stopping at a compulsory stop sign
- driving in a bus lane when sign says you should not
- driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should:
- check The Highway Code’s sections on traffic signs, road markings and signals by authorised persons
- read ‘Know Your Traffic Signs’
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You will have been asked to perform a reverse manoeuvre (unless your vehicle is unable to reverse). Your examiner will have asked you to perform one appropriate test for the vehicle you are driving. This could have included:
- reversing around a corner
- turning in the road
- reverse parking
You needed to show good control and effective use of all round observations.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- touching or driving over the kerb
- not taking all round effective observations
- not being aware of a hazard of other road user
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rules 200 to 203 of The Highway Code.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
You were marked on:
- necessary - your ability to use signals when you needed to
- correctly - your ability to use the correct signals
- timed - your ability to use signals that are not too late or too early
Throughout the test, you should have used appropriate signals to let everyone around know what you were about to do. This should have been done in good time.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- signalling left or right, but not turning
- signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead
- signalling too late for the signal to be effective
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during your test, or if you want to improve in this area, you should check rule 103 , rule 110 and rule 112 of The Highway Code and the section on signals to other road users.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
Before you started driving, your examiner will have asked you 2 safety check questions relevant to your vehicle.
- 1 show me question
- 1 tell me question
These questions could of related to things like tyre pressure and fluid levels.
You needed to correctly answer both questions.
You should only rebook your tractor or specialist vehicle driving test when you’re ready. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.