Easy systems to help learner drivers pass their practical test

Learning a set of simple routines will improve your chances of passing your practical driving test the first time. Some of these are a system of car control. You might find that your instructor will teach you one or more of them, but as a learner driver (or parent or supervisor of a learner driver) you can master these to accelerate your driving skills.

Getting into the habit of these driving routines will mean you are more confident in your test.

IPSGA: Information, Position, Speed, Gear, Acceleration

This is the system used by a large number of police forces worldwide via the Roadcraft system, and it is taught by the Institute of Advanced Motorists to private drivers.

• Information (this phase happens throughout the whole manoeuvre, not just at the beginning): you take in information by reading the road (scanning), your mirrors and other driver’s actions, then you give information by using your indicators if necessary
• Position: you move your vehicle to prepare yourself for your manoeuvre and to show intent to other drivers
• Speed: you adjust your speed so that you’re going at the right speed for the manoeuvre
• Gear: you change gear so you’re ready to accelerate if necessary
• Acceleration: unless you’re coming to a complete stop then you’ll be accelerating away.

Here’s how IPSGA works when approaching an intersection to turn right.

CMSBGA: Course, Mirrors, Signal, Brake, Gear, Accelerate

This is an alternative to IPSGA.

• Course: choose a safe speed and legal path
• Mirrors: keep checking your mirrors, as required, to understand where other drivers are
• Signal: signal if you intend to change your position, such as changing lanes, turning into another road or stopping on the side of the road
• Brake: reduce your speed (if necessary)
• Gear: change gear (if necessary)
• Accelerate: accelerate safely to complete the manoeuvre or avoid the hazard.

MSPSL: Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed, Look

This system expands on the original mirror, signal, manoeuvre that was taught 20 or more years ago. It’s best used approaching intersections such as roundabouts, t-intersections and crossroads, and when merging onto a motorway.

• Mirror: check your mirrors
• Signal: use your indicators
• Position: adjust your position ready for the manoeuvre
• Speed: adjust your speed so you’re not going too fast or too slow
• Look: do a final check before you complete the manoeuvre (e.g. a head check or lifesaver glance of your shoulder on a motorbike, or checking your blind spot in a car or truck).

DSSM: Door, Seat, Steering, Seat belt, Mirror

This is also called the cockpit check and it’s designed to make sure you are safely in your vehicle (car or truck – it doesn’t apply to motorbikes), and you’re able to control it.

• Door: the door is closed
• Seat: you’re in a comfortable position, not too upright and not too laid back, with the right height so your head isn’t touching the roof and you can see over the dashboard – see how to adjust your car seat correctly
• Steering: you’re at the right distance from the steering wheel (too close and you could be injured by the airbag; too far away means your arms are too straight and you won’t have good control of the wheel); the wheel is at the right height so that your knees don’t bang into it
• Seat belt: buckle up
• Mirror: check your mirrors are set up correctly

POWDER: Petrol, Oil, Water, Damage, Electrics, Rubber

This is taught to police drivers to help them do a vehicle safety check before they start.

• Petrol: do you have enough fuel for your journey? Check the gauge.
• Oil: do you have enough oil (or too much)? Check the dipstick.
• Water: check you can see water in the washer bottle and, unless your battery is zero maintenance, periodically check the caps.
• Damage: is there any damage such as a smashed headlight that will need to be repaired?
• Electrics: are all the lights working?
• Rubber: are the tyres pumped up correctly and do they have a legal tread depth? Are there any signs of cracking or damage on the sidewalls? Are there any problems with stones or other things lodged in the treads?

SCALP: Safe, Convenient And Legal Position

This predominantly refers to parking and means you must park your vehicle safely in a legal position where it is not dangerous to get into or out of it. If your instructor or examiner asks you to stop, then you need to be able to pick an appropriate place, e.g. not on a yellow line or in a bus stop.

LADA: Look, Assess, Decide, Act

This is similar to MSPSL but without being prescriptive about what you do with the vehicle. It’s useful to use when there may not be a need to indicate, brake or accelerate every time, for example when approaching a pedestrian crossing. You’re actually doing this all the time (when you are paying attention to the road), but being aware of it enables you to improve it.

• Look: observe what is going on around you
• Assess: does it look like a hazard is developing?
• Decide: choose what you will do (brake, change position, accelerate, signal, etc)
• Act: do what you decided.

POM: Prepare, Observe, Move

This system is best used when you are parked and want to get going.

• Prepare: check the vehicle is on and ready to go
• Observe: check all around you and ensure that if you start moving that you won’t cause a hazard
• Move: make the move, controlling your vehicle correctly (signalling, using the gears, using appropriate speed, etc).

Other systems

You might hear other mnemonics and systems:

“Only a fool breaks the two-second rule”  – keep at least two seconds between you and the vehicle in front in fine weather

“Slow in, fast out” – brake to the right speed before you get to the corner, then accelerate through and out of it.

“Brake on the straight before it’s too late”, or “speed, gear, steer” – finish your braking before you start turning

“Mirrors for information, shoulder checks for confirmation” – that final life saver or check of your blind spot lets you know whether the coast is really clear

“Early vision, early decision” – the sooner you see a hazard (e.g. through scanning or taking a better line through a corner) the more time you have to react.

There are many more – ask your driving instructor.