HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR MARYLAND NONCOMMERCIAL CLASS C DRIVER’S TEST   The procedures for taking your driver’s test have changed. After completing a driver’s education course, and driving with a supervising adult for at least 60 hours, you will qualify to take your driver’s test. You must make an appointment by computer to take your driver’s test. You can go to the MVA website or our website and follow the links to schedule your appointment. There may be a long wait for appointments remember you are competing with all of the other teens in the state for a spot on the calendar .   The new test is a combination of parking lot skills, and a public road course. In preparing to take that test we suggest that you go to the area of the MVA where you will be taking your test and driving around the surrounding areas. The MVA has established several routes for the driving segment of the test on public roads. The routes incorporate various situations that you may encounter in real life. Many of the routes rely heavily on constant mirror usage, proper lane positioning, and multiple turning lane situations. You should be prepared for this. Most of the routes take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You should always be aware of road signs, however, during the test you may be asked about signs that you encounter or have just passed. You should become aware of the various speed limit in the area. Speeding will not be tolerated during the test. Make sure you are ready to take the test. Do not tell friends when you are going to take the test (you don’t need the added stress of having to pass on your first try) . Keep a positive attitude and drive as you normally do. The examiners are not trying to trick or deceive you they just want to assure that you are ready to drive on public roads. If your have long, or longer hair, tie it up, wear a hat, shave it off, or do anything to ensure that you don’t keep touching and fixing your hair. This can fail the test for you. Just remember to use the information and skills that you have been taught, keep a good attitude, follow directions, and drive safely. Just remember “When in doubt, Don’t”. You Can Pass This Test General Information: • A supervising driver must accompany you for your driving test. Maryland law defines a supervising driver as one that is at least 21 years of age, has at least 3 years driving experience and is seated in the passenger seat when you are driving. If you do not have a “supervising” driver, any licensed driver may drive you to the test location and remain behind the wheel until the examiner checks their license. No one other than the applicant the examiner(s) and MVA approved interpreter are allowed in the vehicle during the test. • MVA allows the use of approved foreign language interpreters during the driving test at the applicant’s expense. Please see the list of MVA approved interpreters on our website at www.mva.maryland.gov. • Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing may request a sign language interpreter by emailing MVACS@mdot.state.md.us or by calling the following TDD telephone number: 1-800-492-4575. The MVA will schedule a sign language interpreter for the driving test at no cost to the customer. • New drivers must have successfully completed an approved driver education course. The Maryland driving school will electronically submit verification of completion. New drivers must also present the completed skills practice log and completed certification page along with your unexpired Maryland learner’s instructional permit. • Out of country license holders you must present your 3-hour drug and alcohol certificate. • You must present your current proof of insurance (policy, card, or FR-19) and your valid vehicle registration card for testing. If the vehicle you are using is a rental vehicle, your name must appear on the rental agreement as an authorized driver. • Because the vehicle you provide for your driving test will be driven on public roads, it will be required to pass an inspection prior to the test. You will also be required to demonstrate various controls on your vehicle to ensure they are safe and operable. Please be sure that you know how to operate all vehicle controls. The test will not be conducted if you are unable to operate any of the vehicle’s equipment/controls. A portion of your noncommercial driving test will be conducted on a closed course to test your basic control of the vehicle, and a portion will be conducted on a public road to further evaluate your driving skills. You must pass the closed course portion of the test before you will be permitted to continue with the public road portion of the test. If you do not pass the test, you will need to make another appointment to take the entire test again. You must provide a vehicle that is properly registered and meets the safety standards as described in this guide. The information provided in this guide serves only to assist you with preparing for your test and should be used in conjunction with the Maryland MVA Driver’s Handbook Test Information Closed Course Maneuvers: A test of your basic control skills will be conducted on a closed course before your public road test. It will assess your general driving ability along with the following two exercises: • Reverse Two-Point Turnabout • Right-Side Parallel Park  (EFFECTIVE MAY 19, 2015 PARALLEL PARKING IS NO LONGER BEING USED IN THE SKILLS TEST FOR LICENSING) Reverse Two-Point Turnabout –-You will be asked to drive past an area that represents a driveway or alley. You will be required to back your vehicle into the designated area on your right until the front of your vehicle clears the front set of cones. You will have 3 minutes to complete this exercise. Adjusting your position too many times will disqualify you. You will then be asked to exit the area to the right. You will be evaluated on your backing skills, visual skills, judgment of space, use of mirrors and turn signals, steering, braking, acceleration control and general driving skills Right-Side Parallel Park –You will be asked to park between flags/cones in a parking space parallel to a curb that will be on your right. You should drive past the parking space, then back your vehicle into the space. You must park your vehicle completely within the parking space, 12 inches or closer to the curb. You will have 3 minutes to complete this exercise. This exercise is designed to assess the skills necessary to safely maneuver a vehicle in a confined area. You will also be evaluated on visual skills, judgment of space, use of mirrors and turn signals, steering, braking, acceleration control, and general driving skills. Public Road Driving: After successful completion of the closed course maneuvers, you will drive on a pre-determined public road route that will have a variety of traffic situations. The vehicle must be operated in a safe manner at all times. For instance, you may not use your left foot to operate the brake petal and you may not palm the steering wheel. If your test is terminated for any reason, you will be asked to pull over to a safe location, and the examiner will drive the vehicle back to the MVA. General Driving Practices: You will be evaluated on general driving practices in order to determine your ability to safely operate the vehicle. Whether on the closed course or on the public road, you must obey all traffic laws and signs. Below are some tips to assist you with safe driving practices. Turns: • You must use the correct turn signal when preparing to make a turn or to enter or exit a designated area. • As you approach the turn, check traffic in all directions and activate the correct turn signal at the appropriate time. • Brake smoothly, evenly and safely, when necessary, to get into the correct lane needed for the turn. If you must stop before making the turn because of traffic, signals or signs, smoothly come to a complete stop behind the stop line, crosswalk, or stop sign. If stopping behind another vehicle, leave a safe gap. You should be able to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead of you touching the ground. You should also keep the front wheels straight. • When ready to turn, check traffic in all directions. Keep both hands on the steering wheel during the turn. Maintain smooth, even acceleration and yield to pedestrians and other traffic. Keep the vehicle in the proper lane and do not make contact with the curb. • Make sure you finish completing the turn in the correct lane and that your turn signal has cancelled. Accelerate to the speed of traffic and move into the right lane when safe to do so, if not already there. • Avoid getting too close to the curbs when making turns or performing an exercise. All tires must maintain contact with the roadway. Braking: Brake smoothly using steady pressure. • Come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights. Steering: • Keep both hands gripped on the outside of the steering wheel at all times unless using other controls. • You may not use the open palm of your hand to turn the wheel. Lane Usage: • Do not put vehicle over curbs, sidewalks or lane markings. • Complete turns in the proper lane on a multiple lane road. • Never change lanes at intersections. Head/Traffic Check(s): Always check your surroundings to ensure it is safe to proceed. • Check traffic and mirrors regularly, especially approaching, during, and after driving in intersections, making turns or lane changes.   Watch for hazards by searching left and right at intersections, driveways, store entrances, railroad tracks or other areas where traffic intersects. • Scan ahead, observe traffic and look for pedestrians in high volume areas where pedestrians are expected to be present. • Check for traffic in your “blind spots” by looking over your shoulder when necessary, such as when making lane changes, merging, etc. Stops: • When stopping at a stop sign or traffic signal, do not stop over a marked stop line, pedestrian crosswalk, sidewalk or other marker. • Do not stop your vehicle in an intersection. If there is no stop line or crosswalk; stop before your vehicle enters the intersection or roadway. Gear/Clutch Control: • When operating your vehicle, you must ensure it is in the proper gear. Intersections: • Check traffic thoroughly in all directions when approaching intersections. • Do not change lanes while proceeding through the intersection. • Once through the intersection, perform head/traffic checks. Lane Changes: • In areas where there are multiple lanes going in your direction, you should make necessary traffic checks first by looking in your mirrors and then checking your “blind spots” by looking over your shoulder. • Use the correct turn signal and smoothly change lanes when it is safe to do so. Cancel your turn signal upon completion of the lane change and check traffic behind you. Curve: • When approaching a curve, check traffic thoroughly in all directions. • Before entering a curve, reduce your speed so further braking is not required in the curve. Keep your vehicle in the lane while maintaining a safe speed through the curve and follow posted warning signs. Traffic Signs: • Always observe traffic signs and signals as they are located throughout roadways. You will be required to identify various road signs throughout your driving test. Dangerous Acts/Automatic Failure* – Your driving test will be terminated immediately if you commit any unsafe action. Examples of some unsafe actions are listed below: Failure to wear glasses or contact lenses, if required Failure to properly fasten safety belt (shoulder and lap belt, if equipped with both) Exceeding three minutes to complete either of the closed course exercise Moving a Cone/Flag Failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign Failure to obey signs, signals, any other traffic law If you are involved in an avoidable crash or if your vehicle makes contact with other vehicles, objects or pedestrians. If you commit any unsafe act or if another driver is forced to take evasive action in order to prevent a crash. If you put the vehicle over sidewalks or curbs. If you do not follow the examiner’s verbal instructions. If you impede the flow of traffic unnecessarily. If you remove both hands from the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion. If the examiner is forced to intervene; either physically or verbally to avoid a collision or unsafe act. * Your tests will also be terminated when excessive basic driving errors are accumulated( too many points deducted)