Awareness
A complete breakdown of control-related faults assessed during junction work in the ADI Part 3 test.
Contact UsAwareness / Planning
Reasons to record a fault under awareness and planning include:
- Not considering vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders.
- Not anticipating road and traffic conditions in good time.
- Reacting to other road users at the last moment.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Late reaction to what other road users are doing. |
| Serious Fault | Last minute reaction to other road users compromising safety. |
| Dangerous Fault | Actual danger caused by last-minute reactions. |
Clearance
The pupil should allow plenty of room when passing stationary vehicles and obstructions.
- Be prepared to slow down or stop.
- Anticipate opening doors, children running out or vehicles pulling away.
- Record a fault if the pupil drives too close to stationary vehicles.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Passes too close to a stationary vehicle. |
| Serious Fault | Narrowly avoids a collision. |
| Dangerous Fault | Strikes or dangerously passes a stationary vehicle. |
Following Distance
The pupil should always maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead.
- Stopping distances increase in wet conditions.
- Leave space when stopped in queues.
- Avoid tailgating.
- Getting too close to moving vehicles.
- Stopping too close behind another vehicle.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Not maintaining full separation distance. |
| Serious Fault | Driving too close leaving little margin for error. |
| Dangerous Fault | Actual danger caused by dangerously close following distance. |
Use of Speed
Reasons to record a fault under Use of Speed include:
- Driving too fast for road, traffic or weather conditions.
- Exceeding the speed limit.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Driving too fast for road or traffic conditions for a short period. |
| Serious Fault | Driving too fast for road conditions or exceeding the speed limit. |
| Dangerous Fault | Actual danger caused by excessive speed and inability to safely deal with approaching traffic. |
Progress
On the marking sheet you need to record faults relating to:
- Appropriate Speed
- Undue Hesitation
The pupil should drive at a safe and suitable speed for the road and traffic conditions. Speed limits are not target speeds.
- Not driving at an appropriate speed.
- Holding up following traffic.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Driving at 20mph in a 30mph area without valid reason. |
| Serious Fault | Driving significantly below the speed limit and affecting other road users. |
| Dangerous Fault | Driving so slowly that other road users are encouraged to take risks. |
Undue Hesitation
Reasons to record a fault under Undue Hesitation include:
- Stopping unnecessarily at junctions.
- Not proceeding when it is safe to do so.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Lack of judgement by not moving off when it is safe. |
| Serious Fault | Waiting unnecessarily when it is safe and reasonable to proceed. |
| Dangerous Fault | Creating situations that encourage other road users to put themselves at risk. |
Response to Signs / Signals
The pupil should:
- Understand and react correctly to traffic signs and road markings.
- Respond correctly to traffic lights.
- Obey police officers and crossing patrols.
- React appropriately to signals from other road users.
- Going the wrong side of a Keep Left sign.
- Ignoring a Stop sign.
- Ignoring a No Entry sign.
- Driving in restricted bus lanes.
- Not complying with mandatory signs.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Late reaction to a clearly visible speed limit sign. |
| Serious Fault | Attempting to enter a road displaying a clearly visible No Entry sign. |
| Dangerous Fault | Instructor intervention required to prevent actual danger. |
Road Markings
Reasons to record a fault under road markings include:
- Crossing solid white centre lines unnecessarily.
- Not conforming to directional arrows.
- Stopping in a yellow box junction when the exit is not clear.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Straddling lanes with clear directional arrows on approach to a junction. |
| Serious Fault | Entering and stopping in a yellow box junction unnecessarily. |
| Dangerous Fault | A situation causing actual danger to other road users. |
Traffic Lights
Reasons to record a fault under traffic lights include:
- Waiting at a green filter light when safe to proceed.
- Failing to comply with a red light.
- Late reaction to amber lights.
- Remaining at the stop line when safe to move.
- Stopping beyond the stop line into cyclist areas.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Late reaction to an amber light with no impact on safety. |
| Serious Fault | Failing to comply promptly with traffic lights or legal requirements. |
| Dangerous Fault | Breaching traffic light requirements and creating actual danger. |
Traffic Controllers
Record a fault if the pupil fails to respond appropriately to:
- Police officers
- Traffic wardens
- School crossing patrols
- Roadwork traffic controllers
- Other authorised persons directing traffic
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Late reaction to a stop sign held by a traffic controller. |
| Serious Fault | No reaction to a school crossing patrol preparing to enter the road. |
| Dangerous Fault | Instructor intervention required to prevent danger to the public. |
Other Road Users
Record a fault if the pupil fails to react appropriately to signals given by other road users.
| Fault Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Driving Fault | Failing to continue safely when another vehicle is clearly waiting to turn. |
| Serious Fault | Waiting unnecessarily behind a stationary bus causing inconvenience. |
| Dangerous Fault | Instructor intervention needed to avoid danger. |
Examiner Took Action (ETA)
Record a fault under ETA if the pupil's driving becomes dangerous and the instructor has to intervene.
- Physical intervention.
- Verbal intervention.
Eco (Fuel Efficient Driving)
The pupil should drive in an environmentally friendly manner to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
- Plan ahead and select appropriate gears.
- Avoid harsh braking and excessive revving.
- Consider switching off the engine during lengthy stops.
- Drive smoothly and efficiently.
Eco-safe driving is assessed but does not affect the final test result. It is mainly used for feedback purposes.
Give Feedback at the End of the Test
The pupil will pass the test if they:
- Make no more than 15 driving faults.
- Do not commit any serious faults.
- Do not commit any dangerous faults.
When providing feedback you can:
- Give feedback as though you are the examiner.
- Ask the pupil how they think they performed.
- Discuss repeated driving faults.
- Answer any questions they may have.
