How To Pass the ICBC Road Test

Did you know that at least 50 percent of new drivers fail the ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) road test on their first attempt? However, you don’t need to be nervous about it; this article will cover important tips that will help you to pass the BC driving test so you can acquire your driver’s license.

Let’s get down to it!

Prepare Your Test Vehicle

The first thing the examiner will check before you start the ICBC road test is the condition of your test vehicle. If your test vehicle is unroadworthy, the examiner will cancel the road test. Because of that, you must tick the following things on your checklist:

• Working tail lights, headlights, and signal lights.
• Enough fuel in the tank.
• No illegal vehicle modifications.
• Working seatbelts.
• Valid insurance.
• Functioning horn
• Functioning doors and windows.
• No cracks or tints on the windshield and windows.
• Roadworthy tires.
• No faulty light on the dashboard.

If your vehicle is not roadworthy, it’s okay to rent or borrow from your friend as long as the insurance is valid. The car should also be registered in Canada.

Exaggerate Your Shoulder Checks

Apparently, most candidates fail the ICBC road test because the examiner doesn’t notice them doing a shoulder check to scan for blind spots. Even if you notice your surroundings while barely moving your head, the examiner won’t notice unless you’re doing exaggerated shoulder checks. Don’t forget to first scan your mirrors before you do shoulder checks, especially when you’re about to change your position on the road.

Don’t Get Distracted

If the examiner notices that you’re distracted during the road test, you could get an instant fail. For that reason, make sure that you turn off the radio and keep your phone on silent. Besides that, you should open your side window slightly so you can be alert in case any emergency vehicle with sirens is on the road. Remember if you encounter any emergency vehicle, you should pull up to let it pass.

Don’t Overspeed

Make sure you watch the speed limit signs on the roadside; if you exceed the posted speed limit, you could fail the driving test. However, that doesn’t mean that you should drive too slowly since that could also be grounds for failure. A good rule of thumb is to constantly check your speedometer and activate cruise control so you don’t exceed the speed limit. Of course, you should adjust your speed limit depending on the weather and road conditions.

Don’t Make a Rolling Stop

Forget what you see other drivers doing on the road; if you don’t come to a complete stop at a stop sign for a few seconds, you could fail the ICBC road test. In addition to that, you should come to a complete stop before you make a right turn at a red light, even if the examiner says otherwise.

Learn How to Park Properly

You don’t need to perfect when you’re completing a parking maneuver, but you must do it safely. That means you should avoid hitting the curb and don’t forget to engage the emergency brakes after you’re done. If your car is equipped with a backup camera, it could help you to adjust the wheel positions and avoid hitting any obstacles; but don’t forget to use your turn signals, check your mirrors and do proper shoulder checks.

Another thing; when you’re reversing, ensure the vehicle is moving at a walking speed.

Always Yield to Pedestrians

During the road test, the examiner will carefully watch how you interact with pedestrians on the road. Under no circumstance should you cut off pedestrians who are crossing the road? The best course of action should be to wait for pedestrians to cross the road at any marked or unmarked crosswalk; don’t proceed until the last pedestrian has stepped on the sidewalk.

Don’t Turn Too Wide

Most candidates fail the British Columbia driving test because they turn too wide and find themselves outside their lane. The only exception is if you’re driving a semi-trailer truck or a high-capacity bus and you need to swing out wide so you don’t hit other vehicles on a narrow road. But if you’re driving a regular car, you probably won’t get away with it.

How do you avoid turning too wide? It’s simple, just keep your eyes on where you want to go when making a turn. Also, don’t turn too late or miscalculate the steering wheel angle. To avoid that, make sure you practice adequately before the ICBC road test.

Treat Cyclists like other Vehicles

In B.C, cyclists operate under the same rules as any other vehicle on the road. This means that you must indicate your signal and change your lane when overtaking a cyclist. Not to mention, if you’ve parked your car, you must scan behind your vehicle for any cyclists or motorcycle before opening the door.