Instant Fail: 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid on the Connecticut Driving Test

You've passed your knowledge test, completed your driver training, and practiced for hours. The final step—the Connecticut behind-the-wheel road test—is finally here. Even drivers who feel well-prepared can fail due to simple, avoidable mistakes made under the pressure of being evaluated by a DMV examiner.

The examiner is looking for a driver who is confident, in control of their vehicle, and consistently follows safety protocols. Any action that demonstrates a lack of these qualities can lead to points off your score or, in some cases, an immediate failure. By understanding the most common pitfalls, you can consciously practice to avoid them.

1. The "California Stop" (Rolling Stop)

This is one of the most frequent critical errors. A rolling stop, where your vehicle's wheels never fully cease their rotation at a stop sign, is a guaranteed way to fail. The examiner needs to feel the car's momentum come to a complete halt.

How to Avoid It: Bring your vehicle to a full and complete stop behind the white limit line or crosswalk. If it helps, count "one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand" in your head after you feel the car stop. Only then should you look and proceed when it is safe.

The examiner isn't just watching the road; they are watching your head and eye movements. They need to see constant proof that you are aware of your entire surroundings.

How to Avoid It: Exaggerate your movements. Make it obvious. Check your rearview mirror every 5-8 seconds. Before every single turn or lane change, you must perform the full safety check: Signal, check your mirrors, and then physically turn your head to look over your shoulder into your blind spot.

3. Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way

This is a major safety violation that can cause an automatic failure. It means you forced another driver or a pedestrian to stop, slow down, or swerve to avoid a collision with you.

How to Avoid It: Be patient and defensive. When in doubt, yield. This applies to yielding to oncoming traffic on an unprotected left turn, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, and understanding the rules at four-way stops.

4. Poor Speed Control

This is a two-way street. Driving too fast is an obvious error, but driving excessively slow can also cost you points for impeding the flow of traffic.

How to Avoid It: Be constantly aware of the posted speed limit. Obey it in good conditions. If the weather is poor, slow down to a speed that is safe and reasonable. Driving 10-15 mph under the limit without a valid reason will be marked as an error.

5. Botching the Parking Maneuvers

The Connecticut road test will require you to demonstrate parking skills, which often includes the dreaded parallel park. Hitting a cone or the curb will result in lost points and can lead to a failure.

How to Avoid It: There is no substitute for practice. Find an empty parking lot and practice your three-point turn and parallel parking until they become second nature. Use reference points on your car to help guide you. Go slowly and check all your mirrors and windows.

6. Following Too Closely (Tailgating)

This is an aggressive and unsafe habit that shows the examiner you are not practicing defensive driving.

How to Avoid It: Use the "three-second rule." When the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object (like a tree or sign), start counting. You should not reach that same object before you have counted to at least three. Increase this distance in bad weather.

7. Hitting the Curb

Whether you are making a simple right turn or backing up, striking the curb with your tires shows a lack of vehicle control.

How to Avoid It: Know the dimensions of your vehicle. Give yourself adequate space on turns without swinging too wide into another lane. When backing up, look over your shoulder and use your mirrors to maintain a straight line.

8. Improper Turning

Clean, correct turns are a fundamental driving skill. Sloppy turns will cost you points.

How to Avoid It: For right turns, stay in the lane closest to the right-hand curb. For left turns, turn into the corresponding lane on the new street. Always signal well in advance and slow to a safe speed before initiating the turn.

9. Lack of Confidence or Being Too Timid

While examiners expect some nerves, being overly hesitant can be dangerous. Indecisiveness at an intersection can confuse other drivers and lead to unsafe situations.

How to Avoid It: The best cure for nerves is experience. The more you practice, the more confident you will become. Trust in your training and make safe, decisive actions.

10. Not Following Instructions

The examiner will give you clear, simple directions like "take the next right" or "pull over here." Failing to follow them, either due to nerves or not paying attention, will result in lost points.

How to Avoid It: Listen carefully to each instruction. If you are unsure what the examiner said, it is perfectly fine to calmly ask, "Could you please repeat that?" It's much better to clarify than to make a wrong move.

By being mindful of these common mistakes during your practice drives, you can build the safe habits needed to ace your Connecticut road test.