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Quizzes · Driving skills

Lesson 18 of 18 · Traffic skills

Independent driving: sat nav and traffic signs

Following a sat nav and following signs, reading the screen, and what to do when you go the wrong way. Each step matches the numbers on the pictures, and there is a quiz at the end, with sat nav screens to read.

For part of the test, nobody tells you where to turn. You find the way yourself, while driving as safely as the rest of the time. It shows you can make your own decisions, as you will once you pass.

How it works · Following a sat nav · Signs come first · Following signs · Gone the wrong way? · Quiz

How it works on the test

  • You'll drive independently for 20 to 35 minutes.
  • You follow directions from a sat nav, traffic signs, or a combination of both. The examiner will tell you which you have to follow.
  • They'll set the sat nav up for you. You cannot use your own sat nav.
  • The examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning. They'll help you get back on the route if you do.

GOV.UK: what happens during the driving test.

300 yds2nd exit

Following a sat nav

  1. Listen, then glance

    The sat nav speaks each instruction. Keep your eyes on the road and only glance at the screen when it is safe, as you would at a mirror.

  2. Count the exits

    At a roundabout, count every exit as you go round, including ones that look like side roads. The screen shows the shape of the junction.

  3. Read the road as well

    Lane arrows, signs and markings tell you where to be. Get into the right lane early, as you would anywhere.

  4. Not sure? Ask

    If you missed an instruction or are unsure which turning it means, ask the examiner. It is better than guessing at the last moment.

The screen here is drawn for this page. The examiner's sat nav will look different, but every one shows the same things: the distance, the instruction and the shape of the junction.

A T-junction from above. The sat nav panel in the corner says turn left in 100 yards, but the road on the left has No Entry signs on both corners and a car coming out of it. Your car does not signal or turn: it carries straight on, and the sat nav finds a new route.

When the sat nav and the road disagree

  1. The sat nav says turn left

    Check your mirrors and start to plan the turn, but do not signal until you are sure you can take it.

  2. No Entry signs on that road

    It is one-way, coming out towards you. Signs and road markings always come before the sat nav.

  3. No signal, carry straight on

    Do not stop, swerve or reverse to put it right. Drive on normally and safely.

  4. The sat nav finds a new route

    It will soon give you a new instruction. On your test, a wrong or missed turning is not a fault in itself.

The same goes for a road that is closed, a bus gate, or a turn that would be unsafe: follow the signs and markings, and let the sat nav catch up.

Town CentreRiversideHHospital

Following traffic signs

The examiner names a place, such as the hospital, and you follow the signs to it.

  1. Find your place early

    Look for the name you were given on each sign. The arms on a map-type sign show where each exit goes.

  2. Work out your exit and your lane

    Here, Hospital is to the right, so take the right-hand lane for the roundabout unless markings say otherwise, and signal right.

  3. Look for the next sign

    After the junction, a sign or a route marker usually confirms you are on the right road.

  4. Cannot see a sign?

    If a sign is hidden, by trees for example, the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one.

Direction signs by colour: green for primary routes, blue for motorways, white for local routes and brown for tourist places. The sign here is drawn for this page.

Gone the wrong way?

  • Do not panic. A wrong turning is not a fault. The examiner or the sat nav will get you back on the route.
  • Never put it right suddenly. Cutting across lanes, braking hard or stopping in the road are the things that do earn faults.
  • Missed an exit at a roundabout? Go round again if it is safe, or take the next exit and let the sat nav reroute.
  • Forgot where you were going? Ask the examiner. A reminder is not a fault.
  • Keep driving well. Mirrors, signals, speed and position matter just as much while you are thinking about the way.

How to practise

  • Use a sat nav in lessons and practice drives, set up before you move off, never while driving.
  • Follow signs to somewhere new, such as a hospital, a station or the next town, without a sat nav.
  • Drive roads you do not know. The routes used on the test are not published, so learn the skill rather than a route.
  • Practise the busy bits: multi-lane roundabouts and junctions with lane arrows, where choosing your lane early matters most. See roundabouts and town driving.

Independent driving quiz

Ready when you are

  • 10 questions
  • About 3 minutes
  • Answers explained
  • Nothing saved

The plan from above, the sat nav screens and the sign are drawn for this page. GOV.UK: what happens during the driving test.

Questions people ask

How long is independent driving on the test?

GOV.UK says 20 to 35 minutes. You follow a sat nav, traffic signs, or a combination of both, and the examiner tells you which.

Is going the wrong way a fault?

No. The examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning, and will help you get back on the route. What matters is that you drive safely, so never make a sudden move to correct it.

Can I use my own sat nav?

No. The examiner sets up the sat nav for you, so you do not need to touch it.

Can I ask the examiner where to go?

Yes. If you are not sure of an instruction or forget where you are heading, ask. Needing a reminder is not a fault.

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Lesson 18 of 18 · Traffic skills

The driving skills course

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More to practise

Roundabouts

Lanes, signals and exits, step by step.

Road signs

Every sign you need to know, as a quiz.

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