These are some notes that I took while taking my driving license - Class 3 in Singapore at CDC from August 2019 to December 2019. Some of the advice may/may not apply to you when learning to drive - so take all advice with a grain of salt.
Some of the advice below may also apply to those from Class 3A but most likely can skip all the bits regarding clutch control. That would make certain stages way easier - especially slope
Reminders #
List of important things to take note (Read them just before going for TP practical test)
- Signal then blindspot
- Always check blindspot before turning
- S course - full lock before exiting (Prevent wide turning point deducting)
- Reverse parking need delayed turning
- Be calm while switching lanes - don’t rush to next lane (Do proper rear view mirror checks and side mirror checks)
- Remember that reference points for reverse parking near crank course is different
- After emergency stop, do checks like moving off (Signal left and check blindspots etc)
- Turn at shoulder only for u turn and going out of reverse parking
- Be more left at zebra crossing (To prevent motorcylist from squeezing on your left)
- At traffic junction, always check pedestrian, then traffic then blindspot
- Drive slower in circuit so that got more time to turn
- Gear 2 for turns (on road)
- In circuit - don’t inch out at traffic light… later might get stuck at yellow box
- Accelerator should be on the ball of the feet
- Look out to where you want to go (thru the side mirrors etc)
- Bus stop yellow arrow is a yellow box
- Long filter lane - check 3 times. 1 check before entering filtee lane, 1 check when turning, last check befoee going out
- Turn right from reverse parking with crank course - towards parallel parking - move slightly left then when mirror cross solid white line - full lock right
Moving off #
- Signal
- Make sure in gear 1
- Check mirror and blindspot
- Check blindspot
- Release handbrake
Slope #
- Go up and stop before yellow line - need to accelerate a bit
- Signal to the kerb
- Handbrake on
- Then prepare to move off
- Biting point
- Accel to 2500
- Signal opposite side
- Release handbrake slowly (but not too slow)
- Put more accel and release more clutch accordingly
- Cancel signal on top
- Stop if got other vehicle in front at stop line
- Let go clutch a little and let vehicle roll
- Full on clutch on the way down with no brake
- Brake before the end and clutch in… hard brake is fine
Kerb side stopping #
- Signal left
- Check blindspot
- Inch towards stopping point
- Keep checking left side mirrors
- Once stopped… hazard light
- Put to neutral
- Handbrake on
Crank course #
- Full lock of steering wheel at the door lock
- Once vehicle is straightened turn 2 rounds back
- No need to check blindspot in the course
S course #
- You should not be at the centre of the road at the end
- Be more on the right of the road at the end - else rear left wheel might hit kerb when turning out
- Check blindspot before turning out
Direction change #
- Go into it
- Go as far in as possibly can
- Stop
- Put to reverse
- Check rear view
- Turn and check back
- Check spot is clear
- Reverse till required mark
- Check left blind spot before turning steering wheel
- Ensure parallel to kerb inside
- If too left, move out to the right before turning left out. If you do not this, your rear left wheel will go over the kerb
- If too right, its ok
Perpendicular parking (near s course) #
- Be closer to the line
- Move till next parking at kerb at shoulder
- Begin to turn when black bar in rear window touches right rear corner of parking spot
Perpendicular parking (near crank course) #
- Be center of lane
- Move till next kerb at shoulder
- Extend the yellow bar to the ends to become a lot
- Right bar of rear left window to cross it and then full lock
Perpendicular parking (common) #
- Check rear view
- Check back mirror
- Check spot is clear
- Reverse a little
- Check swing out
- Check mirrors
- Reverse till ok
Parallel parking #
- Kerb side stop - don’t be too close
- Left signal
- Stop when side mirror at stop line or sign to next bay
- Put to reverse
- Check rear view
- Check back window
- Move till front left door handle reach edge of kerb
- Check right blindspot
- Full lock left
- Look at right side mirror, check for middle for white and black kerb
- If 3/4 white or between white and black kerb, quickly make wheels straight
- Once at mid between kerb, stop vehicle and adjust mirrors
- CHECK REAR VIEW AND REAR WINDOW BEFORE CONTINUING
- continue till rear wheel crosses yellow line
- full lock right
- move as far as you possibly can
- switch to 1st gear
- straighten vehicle/wheel
- put to neutral and handbrake on
- await for approval from tester/instructor
- when going out… DO IT SLOWLY. USE CLUTCH ON-OFF TECHNIQUE
Parallel parking corrections #
- If rear wheel not in, move forward as much as you can
- Full lock left, move as far back as you need and straighten vehicle
Experiences during test #
- Car being used in practical driving lesson is vastly different from the cars used in TP. Cars used in TP seem to generally have more effective brake/clutch system. Judge the quality of brakes/clutch/accelerator accordingly - that is why the pre-practise round before actual TP is very important - it is to get used to the car
- After practise round (will be accompanied by random instructor - not much advice/tips will be given - only a quick test of circuit + external road) - you will stop vehicle infront of main lobby of CDC driving school and will be asked to get off. Instructor will be parking the car (there will be instructions on where you will find your car provided)
- When tester and you are in the car, you will need to start the vehicle, do safety checks and then leave the parking lot (don’t forget to turn out of parking lot by reference of shoulder) - check that traffic is clear before leaving parking lot.