Instructor says driving mistake can result in test fail

He showed four distinct approaches – ‘crossing hands’, ‘palming’, ‘sliding through’, and ‘pull push’ – asking followers which would achieve a pass on a UK driving test. The footage rapidly attracted interest, with numerous drivers adamant that only specific methods were correct. One user said: “Pretty sure you can’t cross hands,” while another said: “My instructor told me that as long as I’m in control of the vehicle I could steer with my nose – and yes I passed first time, however I didn’t use my nose.”

A third user stated: “My instructor said sliding through is a fail.” Meanwhile, another said: “I used one hand on my test and still passed, and he said he has never seen a new driver control a car that good with one hand.”

Nevertheless, the instructor subsequently explained that all four techniques can be permissible – provided the driver retains complete control of the steering wheel throughout.

This aligns with Highway Code guidance, which says: “Drivers should maintain control by keeping both hands on the steering wheel or handlebars where possible. Driver assistance systems can be used according to manufacturer instructions.”

This follows another instructor pointing out a different error many drivers commit when turning right at junctions – an oversight that can easily result in traffic congestion.

In another TikTok video, the account @roosterinsurance questioned viewers about whether a car was correctly positioned while waiting to turn right.

They clarified: “This is a common fail on the driving test. When you want to turn right into a road, if you position your car too far to the left while you wait for oncoming traffic to clear, it will cause delays to the traffic in your lane.”

Instead, motorists should place their vehicle just left of the centre line, if the road is sufficiently wide, enabling other cars to overtake on the left while they await a safe gap. Despite being deemed basic driving knowledge, numerous drivers still make this mistake, often leading to unnecessary traffic jams and annoyance for other road users.