The DMV Drive Test:
Understanding the Driving Performance Evaluation

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Parking Lot Driving

PARKING LOT DRIVING
 The test actually BEGINS and ENDS in the DMV parking lot. That is what the "1" and "2" stand for.

The RED CIRCLES show parking lot "intersections", where traffic could come into conflict. This is an example of where you will be expected to look ahead-left-right-left as you proceed to turn or go straight, as permitted.

O

O

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O

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O

"Driver is observing traffic (vehicle and pedestrian) ahead, to the left, right and rear. Indicated by head and/or eye movement to the left and right and use of mirrors; Yields right-of-way to pedestrians and traffic when appropriate; looks towards other drivers and pedestrians when necessary; reacts safely to traffic situations; drives through the parking lot at a safe speed and in control of the vehicle."
     We often tell our female students to wear over-sized, "party-type" earrings for the DPE. The extra weight reminds them to move their head in a left-right-left motion, and the action of the earrings helps the examiner to "know" that such movement takes place. Despite the "eye" comment in the above paragraph, they can't always see the eyes of the driver, so we advocate slightly exaggerated head movements. Males can wear a baseball cap, with the brim foreward, to achieve the same effect.