This Section Covers
Your basic control skills could be tested using one or more of the following exercises off-road or somewhere on the street during the road test:
- Straight line backing.
- Offset back/right.
- Offset back/left.
- Parallel park (driver side).
- Parallel park (conventional).
- Alley dock.
These exercises are shown in Figures 12-1 through 12-6.
Encroachments
The examiner will score the number of times you touch or cross over an exercise boundary line with any portion of your vehicle. Each encroachment will count as an error.
Pull-ups
When a driver stops and reverses direction to get a better position, it is scored as a “pull-up”. Stopping without changing direction does not count as a pull-up. You will not be penalized for initial pull-ups. However, an excessive number of pull-ups will count as errors.
Outside Vehicle Observations (Looks)
You may be permitted to safely stop and exit the vehicle to check the external position of the vehicle (look). When doing so, you must place the vehicle in neutral and set the parking brake(s). Then, when exiting the vehicle, you must do so safely by facing the vehicle and maintaining three points of contact with the vehicle at all times. (Face forward when exiting a bus, and maintain a firm grasp on the handrail at all times.) If you do not safely secure the vehicle or safely exit the vehicle, it may result in an automatic failure of the basic control skills test.
The maximum number of times that you may look to check the position of your vehicle is two (2) except for the Straight Line Backing exercise, which allows one look. Each time you open the door and move from a seated position where in physical control of the vehicle or walk to the back of a bus to get a better view, it is scored as a “look”.
Final Position
It is important that you finish each exercise exactly as the examiner has instructed you. If you do not maneuver the vehicle into its final position as described by the examiner, you will be penalized and could fail the basic skills test.
12.2.1 – Straight Line Backing You may be asked to back your vehicle through an alley without touching or crossing over the exercise boundaries. (See Figure 12.1.)
12.2.2– Offset Back/Right
You may be asked to back into an alley that is to the right rear of your vehicle. You will drive straight forward and back your vehicle into that space without touching or crossing the side boundaries or other boundary established by the examiner. (See Figure 12.2)
12.2.3– Offset Back/Left
You may be asked to back into an alley that is to the left rear of your vehicle. You will drive straight forward and back your vehicle into that space without touching or crossing the side boundaries or other boundary established by the examiner. (See Figure 12.3)
12.2.4– Parallel Park (Driver Side)
You may be asked to park in a parallel parking space that is on your left. You are to drive past the parking space and back into it bringing the rear of your vehicle as close as possible to the rear of the space without crossing side or rear boundaries marked by cones. You are required to get your vehicle completely into the space. (See Figure 12.4)
12.2.5– Parallel Park (Conventional)
You may be asked to park in a parallel parking space that is on your right. You are to drive past the parking space and back into it bringing the rear of your vehicle as close as possible to the rear of the space without crossing side or rear boundaries marked by cones. You are required to get your vehicle completely into the space. (See Figure 12.5)
12.2.6– Alley Dock
You may be asked to back your vehicle into a driver-side alley, bringing the rear of your vehicle within 3 feet of the rear of the alley without touching or crossing the side boundaries, rear boundary or other boundary established by the examiner. (See Figure 12.6.)
