Almost ready to get your driver license? Make sure you have mastered these skills.

The journey to obtaining a driver's license is a significant milestone for many teenagers, offering a sense of independence and responsibility. However, to navigate Florida's driving skills exam successfully, new drivers must master a set of essential skills. Here are five critical areas where proficiency is key:
Skill #1 - Parking on a slope - with or without a curb
Parking on a slope is a crucial skill that tests a driver's ability to secure their vehicle on an incline. This involves correctly positioning the wheels to prevent rolling and ensuring the car is safely braked.
Here's an easy tip to remember: there's only one situation where the driver should turn wheels to the left: when parking uphill with a curb. When parking uphill, drivers must turn their wheels away from the curb (steering wheel to the left) and let the car roll back slightly until the tire touches the curb.
All other situations require the driver to turn the wheels to the right.
That's because when parking downhill, the wheels should be turned toward the curb.
If there is no curb, then the wheels also should be turned to the right, no matter which way the car is facing.
Even for new teen drivers in Tallahassee, there are hilly areas around town and Leon County driving examiners are likely to quiz you about this before you earn a passing grade.
Skill #2 - Normal parking procedures
Proper parking procedures extend beyond just finding a spot and stopping the car. New drivers must learn to park within marked lines, use turn signals when entering or leaving a parking space, and check mirrors and blind spots.
This skill also includes understanding different parking types, such as parallel, perpendicular, and angle parking.
Proficiency in parking procedures showcases a driver's ability to handle their vehicle in tight spaces and crowded areas, which is often tested in the driving skills exam.
Here's a few things the examiner will be looking for:
Cover the brake with your foot while approaching the center of the parking space.
Turn the steering wheel in the right direction.
Slowly maneuver the car in tight spaces.
Watch the front of the hood.
Check side to side to ensure you are centered in the space.
With a little practice, parking can become one of the easier tasks to master.
Skill #3 - Backing Up
Now that you're in a parking space, you'll need to be able to demonstrate that you know how to get out of it.
Backing up, or reversing, requires precision and spatial awareness. This skill involves maneuvering the vehicle backward - often while turning the car as necessary, maintaining control and avoiding obstacles.
New drivers must practice using their mirrors effectively, turning to look out the rear window, and steering accurately. In fact, one of the most important things the examiner will watch for is that the driver looks in the direction that the car is moving.
You may have top-of-the-line backup sensor system with a full 360-degree view around the car. But the driving examiner doesn't care because you might someday drive a car without such a system. Looking in the direction you are driving is critical.
Here's a step-by-step guide straight from the examiner training manual (bold and underlined emphasis is in the original manual):
Make sure the vehicle is centered in your lane, and your steering wheel is straight.
Place your left hand on top of the steering wheel to hold it straight.
Put gear in reverse.
Look left and right.
Covering brake, looking out of back window, do not turn head to look in mirrors or backup camera.
Allow vehicle to roll slowly until instructor says stop.
Student MUST not turn their head around until car is COMPLETELY stopped **{count 1, 2, 3} then turn around.
You may have top-of-the-line backup sensor system with a full 360-degree view around the car. But the driving examiner doesn't care because you might someday drive a car without such a system. Looking in the direction you are driving is critical if you want to pass the exam.
Skill #4 - Quick stop at 20mph
The quick stop, or emergency stop, tests a driver’s reaction time and braking control. This skill involves bringing the vehicle to a complete stop as quickly and safely as possible without losing control.
The examiner will be looking to see that the driver positions the vehicle in the center of the lane, and holds and braces the wheel at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. The driver will be instructed to accelerate to 20mph, remaining in the center of the lane.
When the examiner commands the driver to STOP, the driver should keep the steering wheel straight and stop quickly but without skidding or weaving.
It's important to note that this should be a FIRM stop, with the driver's foot staying on the brake without releasing pressure.
Skill #5 - Three point turn
New teen drivers in Tallahassee may not appreciate just how narrow some of the city's streets can be. Mastering the three-point turn is a fundamental maneuver that allows drivers to change direction on Tallahassee's narrower roads. This skill involves turning the vehicle in a limited space by making a series of moves: turning sharply to the left or right, backing up, and then turning again to complete the direction change. Practicing this maneuver helps new drivers develop a better understanding of their vehicle’s turning radius and control in confined spaces. During the exam, executing a smooth and efficient three-point turn is a key indicator of a driver’s competence and adaptability.
Here are the steps an examiner will want the driver to demonstrate during the driving skills exam:
Right turn signal on, pull the car over to the right, as though you are parking the car.
Stop the vehicle.
Left turn signal on, turn the wheel all the way to the left.
Make sure gear is in Drive.
Ensure you have a clear path all around the vehicle.
Ease forward to the opposite curb without making contact.
Put the car in Reverse gear.
Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right.
Look left, right and behind (all around the vehicle) to ensure a clear path
Cover the brake with your foot and slowly back the vehicle looking over your shoulder in the direction the car is moving.
Get as close to the curb as you can without making contact.
Put the car in Drive gear.
Check all around the vehicle again to ensure your path is clear.
Turn wheel left and proceed forward, keeping the car in your lane.
Practice, practice, practice
By mastering these five essential skills, new teen drivers will be well-prepared to tackle Florida's driving skills exam. Each maneuver tests different aspects of vehicle control and situational awareness, all of which are crucial for safe driving.
For Leon County residents looking for additional coaching and guidance for a new driver, consider enrolling in our New Driver Essentials Class, or scheduling some Behind-the-Wheel training offered by Burgess Driving School. Our Tallahassee driving lessons include pick-up and drop-off, and each lesson is custom-tailored to the student's experience level. We would love to help your new driver pass the driver skills exam.
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