Transcription
Driving Skills TestStudy Guide
Table of ContentsPurpose of This Study Guide. 3Driving Skills Test Administration. 3Driver Testing Requirements. 5Reporting Improper, Illegal, or Fraudulent Testing Activities. 6Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 6Foreign Language Interpreters. 7Facilitators. 7Requirements for Taking the Driving Skills Test. 8Scheduling a Driving Skills Test. 9What to Take to the Driver Testing Business. 9Tests Terminated Due to Defective Equipment. 10Safety Inspection. 10Other Automatic Failures. 11Dangerously Inexperienced Drivers. 12Components of the Driving Skills Test. 13Basic Control Skills Test Requirements. 13Figure 1: Forward Stop Line. 14Figure 2: Curved Path Backing (Sight-Side). 14Figure 3: Curved Path Backing (Blind-Side). 15The On-the-Road Test. 15Driving Skills Test Requirements. 161
Driving Skills Test Scoring Standards. 16Turns. 16Stop Intersections. 18Through Intersections (Do Not Require Stopping). 19Expressway or Rural Highway. 19Urban and Residential Areas. 21Curves. 21Railroad Crossings. 22Turn Fan (or Radio) On/Off. 22Crash Avoidance (Simulated Head-On Collision). 22General Driving Habits. 23Search. 23Speed and Brake Control. 23Direction and Space Control. 24Steering Control. 25Timing. 25Miscellaneous Traffic Violations. 26Completion of the Driving Skills Test. 26Student Driving Experience Log. 272
Driving Skills Test Study GuidePurpose of This Study GuideAs a new driver, you must pass the driving skills test before you are eligibleto receive a Michigan driver’s license from the Secretary of State office. Thisstudy guide will prepare you for the driving skills test you are required totake.Driving Skills Test AdministrationIn Michigan, all driver testing is mandated by state and federal laws. TheDepartment of State administers driver knowledge (written) tests onlythrough a branch office. Driving skills testing services are provided onlythrough a privatized, testing program. This program utilizes a statewidenetwork of public and private driver testing business authorized by thedepartment to conduct the driving skills tests. The department is committedto assuring that driving tests (both written and skills) are given by qualifiedpersons trained to administer the tests in a fair, honest, and reliable manner.You should familiarize yourself with the procedures and requirements for yourdriving skills test. While the Driving Skills Test Study Guide provides someinformation about all driving tests, its primary focus is on the auto drivingskills test. For more information on skills tests required for a motorcycleendorsement or a commercial driver license, obtain one of the followingguides from a Secretary of State branch office or Michigan.gov/SOS. Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116) Commercial Driver License Manual (TS-004)Drivers should question any driving skills test that doesn’t include allthe test components as described in the appropriate study guide. Thefollowing table illustrates the required driving skills test components and theapproximate time needed to complete each.3
The times are estimates based on an average length driving route, goodweather conditions, light traffic and a well-prepared driver. Skills tests mustinclude all the segments listed below. A test may take more time than shownin this table, but shouldn’t take significantly less time.TESTVEHICLEBASICON-STREETTOTALTYPEINSPECTION CONTROLDRIVINGTIMESKILLSTEST5 minutes10 minutes 30 minutes45 min.Automobile (not scored)(scored)1 hour (scored) 1 hr., 15 min.5 minutes 10-20 minutes15-25Motorcycle (not scored)N/A(scored)minutes1-2 hours 20-30 minutes 40 minutesCDL2 hours(scored)(scored)1 hour (scored) 3 hrs., 30 min.Group ACDLGroup B30 minutes20-30 minutes 40 minutes- 1 hr., 30 min.1 hour(scored) 1 hour (scored) 2 hrs., 30 min.(scored)CDLGroup C20-30 minutes 20-30 minutes 40 minutes- 1 hr., 20 min.(scored)(scored)1 hour (scored)2 hoursDuring the test, examiners must always: Read standard instructions to each applicant for each part of the test(a list of instructions is provided to the examiner for this purpose). Use only department-approved forms and test procedures. Use only department-approved off-street exercises and on-street drivingtest routes.Any driver testing business or examiner who intentionally misrepresentsa driving skills test by omitting any test requirement or participates in anyillegal activity related to driver licensing is subject to severe penaltiesincluding loss of testing authorization, criminal prosecution and restitutionfor monetary damages to the test applicant and/or the Department.4
A person (not limited to the examiner or driver applicant) who knowinglyencourages, facilitates or participates in improper, illegal or fraudulentdriving skills testing is subject to criminal prosecution.Any person found to have been improperly, illegally or fraudulently testedmust take the test(s) again. The driver testing business will be liable for thecosts associated with retesting.Improper, fraudulent or unlawful driver’s license tests result in illegallicense applications. Public Act 300 of 1949, also known as the MichiganVehicle Code, includes the following concerning illegal driver testing. A person who makes a false certification regarding any driver licenseapplication is guilty of a felony. A person who bribes or attempts to corrupt a person or agency thatconducts a driving skills test under an agreement entered into with theSecretary of State with the intent to influence the opinion or decisionof the person or agency conducting the driving skills test is guilty of afelony. A designated examining officer appointed or designated by the Secretaryof State who conducts a driving skills test under an agreement enteredinto with the Secretary of State and who varies from, shortens, or in anyother way changes the method or examination criteria prescribed underthat agreement is guilty of a felony. A person who forges, counterfeits, or alters a Driving Skills Test Receiptissued by a designated examining officer appointed or designated by theSecretary of State is guilty of a felony.A felony committed under these laws shall be punished by imprisonment fornot less than one year nor more than five years and fines up to 5,000 for thefirst offense. Subsequent convictions result in additional penalties.Driver Testing Business RequirementsDriver testing business must adhere to certain business practices andadminister driving skills tests according to established standards andprocedures described in a formal, legal agreement with the department.Among many contract requirements, driver testing business must: Be approved by the department before testing services are offered. Maintain an established place of business and obtain written permissionto use a testing site.5
Respond to testing inquiries within one business day. Publish and make available a printed fee and refund policy. Provide a receipt for payment. Important note: fees aren’t regulated bythe department. Maintain a surety bond that provides for reimbursement if an applicantmust be retested due to examiner misconduct. Ensure examiners conduct driving skills tests in compliance withdepartment requirements.Reporting Improper, Illegal or Fraudulent Testing ActivitiesImproper, illegal or fraudulent testing activity should be reportedimmediately to the Michigan Department of State. Information neededincludes the name(s) of the person(s) and organization(s) involved, thedate(s) of the incident(s) and a detailed description of the activity observedor discussed. All legitimate reports will be investigated. A written statementmay be required. This information should be submitted by mail, fax oremail to:Michigan Department of StateDriver Testing SectionDriver Programs DivisionLansing, MI 48918Phone (517) 241-6850Fax (517) s for the Deaf and Hard of HearingA deaf or hard of hearing individual may use a sign language interpreterduring the driving skills test. The driver may bring an interpreter to thetest or may request that the tester arrange for an interpreter. In either case,state compensation is available to an interpreter who is registered as a statevendor. Applicants who will use an interpreter should let the tester knowwhen scheduling the test.To be paid for services rendered during a driving skills test, interpreters forthe deaf or hard of hearing should submit an invoice to the driver testingbusiness. The organization will forward the invoice to the Department ofState for processing. The invoice must include:6
Date, itemized cost and description of the service given. Name and driver license number of the applicant. Name (or business name), mailing address, and the Federal ID or SocialSecurity number of the interpreter.Foreign Language InterpretersAn applicant may bring a foreign language interpreter to translateinstructions on an auto or motorcycle skills test. The department does notprovide compensation to foreign language interpreters. All interpreters mustbe at least 16 years old. An interpreter can’t be used for a CDL skills test,including preparatory conversation before the test and feedback after thetest.The interpreter must present their driver license or other photo identificationto the examiner at the test site. The examiner must record the interpreter’sname and identification information. If the interpreter is unwilling toprovide this information, the driving skills test won’t be administered.During the test, the interpreter may only communicate with the driver totranslate each set of instructions as the examiner presents them. Additionalcomments by the interpreter aren’t permitted except in an emergency.The examiner may terminate the driving skills test after giving one warningof unnecessary interaction with the driver.FacilitatorsA facilitator is a person who assists a driver license applicant in obtaining adriver license and may provide language interpretation, offer driver training,schedule appointments or transport applicants to the test site.Some persons, driver education providers, and other businesses that aren’ttesters advertise testing, but they are actually facilitators who charge a feeto take applicants to an approved tester. You can save money by dealingdirectly with an approved tester.You also should beware of facilitators who offer to prepare you for yourdriving skills test without first giving you a written agreement that identifiesthem as a certified driver education provider. It is illegal for anyone tocharge a fee for instruction unless they are certified by the Department ofState.7
Requirements for Taking the Driving Skills TestApplicants under age 18 must meet the following requirements beforetaking the driving skills test: Complete Segment 1 of an approved driver education course. Obtain a Michigan Level 1 license from a Secretary of State office andhold the Level 1 license for a minimum of 6 months prior to testing. Yourdriving skills test examiner must verify that you have held your Level 1license for the required time. Complete Segment 2 of an approved public or private driver educationprogram. You must present your Segment 2 completion certificate to yourdriving skills test examiner. Log a minimum of 50 hours of practice driving, 10 hours of which musthave occurred at night, with a parent, legal guardian, or a licensed adult21 years of age or older with parent permission. The driving
Drivers should question any driving skills test that doesn’t include all the test components as described in the appropriate study guide. The following table illustrates the required driving skills test components and the approximate time needed to complete each. 4 The times are estimates based on an average length driving route, good weather conditions, light traffic and a well-prepared .
