Automatic Fail: 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid on the Oklahoma Driving Test

Passing your Oklahoma driving test isn't just about performing maneuvers correctly; it's about demonstrating to the examiner that you are a safe, responsible, and law-abiding driver. While you can lose points for minor errors, some mistakes are considered so critical that they will result in an immediate, automatic failure of your test.

Knowing what these "deal-breakers" are ahead of time is your best defense. Be mindful of these 10 common mistakes, and you'll significantly increase your chances of walking away with your license.

1. Disobeying a Traffic Sign or Signal

This is the most fundamental and easiest way to fail. An examiner cannot and will not pass a driver who ignores traffic controls.

• The Mistake: Rolling through a stop sign without a complete stop, running a red light, or ignoring a "Yield" or "Do Not Enter" sign.
• How to Avoid It: Always come to a full and complete stop behind the white line at stop signs. A "rolling stop" is an automatic fail. Be vigilant and constantly scan for signs and signals as you approach intersections.

2. Speeding

Exceeding the speed limit, especially in a school or residential zone, shows the examiner you lack control and respect for the law.

• The Mistake: Driving any amount over the posted speed limit. Examiners are particularly strict about this.
• How to Avoid It: Be constantly aware of the posted speed limit and frequently check your speedometer. If no limit is posted, remember the statutory limits (e.g., 25 mph in residential areas). Driving too slowly can also cost you points, so aim for the limit when conditions are safe.

3. Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way

Forcing another driver or a pedestrian to react to avoid a collision is a major safety violation.

• The Mistake: Pulling out in front of oncoming traffic, failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, or not yielding correctly at a four-way stop. [6]
• How to Avoid It: Be patient and cautious. Always look left, right, and then left again before pulling into an intersection. Make eye contact with pedestrians and other drivers. When in doubt, it's always safer to yield.

4. Causing a Collision

It might seem obvious, but any contact with another vehicle, pedestrian, or fixed object (like a curb or signpost) is an automatic failure.

• The Mistake: Bumping the car in front of you, scraping a parked car, or driving over a curb during a turn or parking maneuver.
• How to Avoid It: Maintain a safe following distance (the three-second rule) at all times. Practice your maneuvers, especially parallel parking, in a low-stress environment until you are confident in judging the dimensions of your vehicle.

5. Examiner Intervention

If the driving examiner has to take control of the vehicle or give you a direct verbal command to prevent an accident (like yelling "Stop!"), your test is over.

• The Mistake: Drifting into another lane towards another car, or approaching a stop sign too quickly, forcing the examiner to react.
• How to Avoid It: This comes down to avoiding all the other mistakes. Drive proactively and defensively, always aware of your surroundings. Stay focused and anticipate potential hazards before they become emergencies.

6. Unsafe Lane Change

Changing lanes is a common maneuver that is fraught with potential errors if done incorrectly.

• The Mistake: Changing lanes without signaling, failing to check your blind spot, or cutting off another driver.
• How to Avoid It: Every single time you change lanes, use the SMOG method: Signal, check your Mirrors, look Over your shoulder into your blind spot, and then Go when it's clear.

7. Hitting a Cone During Parking

The driving test often involves parking maneuvers using cones or markers. Hitting one shows a lack of vehicle control.

• The Mistake: Striking, bumping, or running over a cone during the reverse 2-point (parallel) parking portion of the test.
• How to Avoid It: Practice, practice, practice. Find an empty parking lot and set up your own cones. Learn the reference points on your car that tell you where your wheels and bumpers are in relation to the markers.

8. Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road

Unless you are on a one-way street, your vehicle must remain to the right of the center yellow line.

• The Mistake: Drifting over the center line on a straight road or, more commonly, cutting a left turn too sharply and entering the lane of oncoming traffic.
• How to Avoid It: Focus on your lane positioning by looking well ahead down the road, not just at the ground in front of your car. When making a left turn, proceed into the intersection and turn smoothly into the correct lane.

9. Lack of Basic Vehicle Control

The examiner needs to feel that you are in complete command of your car at all times.

• The Mistake: Consistently jerky acceleration or braking, taking turns far too wide, or fumbling with vehicle controls like windshield wipers or headlights.
• How to Avoid It: Get very comfortable with the specific vehicle you will be using for your test. Practice in it until controlling the gas, brake, and steering is second nature.

10. Violation of Any Traffic Law

This is a general but critical category. Any illegal action, even if it seems minor, can be grounds for failure.

• The Mistake: Making an illegal U-turn, failing to wear your seatbelt, or using your phone for any reason during the test.
• How to Avoid It: Know the Oklahoma Driver's Manual inside and out. Turn your phone completely off and put it away before the test begins. Make following the law your top priority.

By keeping these critical errors in mind, you can focus on driving with the safety and confidence that the examiner is looking for.