Immediate Failure Mistakes (Critical Errors)
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Ignoring Right-of-Way (Vorfahrt):
- Gross disregard of right-of-way rules at any intersection, roundabout, or merging situation. This includes:
- Failing to yield to vehicles already in a roundabout.
- Ignoring priority road signs (the yellow diamond).
- Disregarding pedestrian crossings (Zebrastreifen) – failing to stop for pedestrians waiting to cross or already on the crossing. Crucially, even if no one is waiting, not slowing down and actively checking both sides of a pedestrian crossing on a 50 km/h road is a failure.
- Ignoring the right-of-way of oncoming traffic when turning left.
- Failing to yield to emergency vehicles with sirens and flashing lights.
- Not yielding to public transport vehicles (trams, buses) leaving a designated stop when they signal their intention to re-enter traffic.
- Not meticulously observing “rechts vor links” – even slight hesitation or failing to adequately reduce speed and check is a major error.
- Not giving way to cyclists on designated cycle paths that have priority.
- Turning left incorrectly at an intersection: Not turning in front of an oncoming vehicle that is also turning left (the “American” left turn). You should pass each other on the right-hand side, not cut across each other’s paths.
- Gross disregard of right-of-way rules at any intersection, roundabout, or merging situation. This includes:
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Disobeying Traffic Signals/Signs (Verkehrszeichen und -signale):
- Ignoring a flashing amber light at a pedestrian crossing (requires stopping if a pedestrian is waiting).
- Failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign (wheels must stop moving for at least 3 seconds). Rolling stops are immediate failures.
- Ignoring “No Entry” signs (Einfahrt verboten).
- Ignoring mandatory direction signs (e.g., turning right when a “straight ahead only” sign is present).
- Ignoring temporary traffic control signs (e.g., at construction sites).
- Failing to stop at a railway crossing (BahnĂĽbergang) when the lights are flashing or the barriers are down/moving. Stopping on the crossing due to traffic is also an immediate failure.
- Ignoring “No Parking” signs (Parkverbot) and stopping in a designated no-parking zone. This is distinct from “Halteverbot,” which allows brief stops for loading/unloading.
- Disregarding traffic light arrows – proceeding straight when only a left-turn arrow is green, for example.
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Dangerous Maneuvers (Gefährliche Fahrmanöver):
- Making a lane change without checking mirrors and performing a shoulder check (Schulterblick) – this is one of the most common and serious errors.
- Turning without checking for cyclists and pedestrians, especially when turning right across a cycle lane.
- Entering a one-way street in the wrong direction.
- Reversing in a dangerous manner (e.g., too fast, without looking, into a main road). When asked to reverse park or turn, the speed should be extremely slow – essentially letting the car roll.
- Driving onto the sidewalk (even a slight touch with the tires is a failure, especially while parking).
- Sudden, unnecessary braking without a valid reason (can cause rear-end collisions).
- Spinning the wheels or losing control of the vehicle.
- Turning into a prohibited street after being instructed to turn (demonstrates lack of attention and planning).
- Incorrect lane usage when exiting a 30 km/h zone: Failing to merge back into the main traffic flow correctly (often involves yielding and proper observation). If there’s a dedicated lane for exiting the 30 zone (often a short merging lane), using it improperly is a critical error.
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Endangering Others (Gefährdung anderer Verkehrsteilnehmer):
- Driving too close to vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, children, elderly, people with disabilities). This includes not giving them enough space and not anticipating their potential actions.
- Failing to react appropriately to children near the road (they are unpredictable).
- Improper behavior around buses and trams:
- Passing a stopped bus with hazard lights at more than walking speed (around 7 km/h). Some interpretations say 20km/h.
- Failing to stop completely if a bus is stopped at a bus stop with its hazard lights on and passengers are boarding or disembarking on your side of the road.
- Overtaking a tram in a way that endangers passengers.
- Driving in a way that forces the examiner to intervene (grabbing the steering wheel, using the dual controls to brake or steer). This is a clear indication of unsafe driving.
- Any action that causes another road user to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
- Failing to give way to a vehicle with a blue flashing light without a siren (often indicates a vehicle responding to a less urgent situation, but still requires yielding).
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Causing an Accident
- Any kind of accident will end the test
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Stopping in Dangerous Places
- Stopping on a pedestrian crossing.
- Stopping on a cycle path.
- Stopping on a railway crossing (BahnĂĽbergang).
- Stopping in a way that obstructs traffic flow.
- Stopping in a no-stopping zone (Halteverbot).
- Stopping on the Autobahn without a valid emergency (breakdown).
Accumulating Minor Mistakes (Repeated Errors Lead to Failure):
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Poor Observation (Beobachtungsmängel):
- Infrequent or inadequate mirror checks (before braking, changing lanes, turning, at regular intervals). Examiners will often look for exaggerated head movements to confirm mirror checks.
- Failing to perform the shoulder check (Schulterblick) in all situations where it’s required:
- Before changing lanes.
- Before turning right or left.
- Before pulling away from the curb.
- Before merging with traffic.
- Before overtaking.
- Not scanning the road ahead for potential hazards (pedestrians, cyclists, parked cars, intersections).
- Crucially, failing to look over both shoulders and through the rear window while reversing.
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Speed Control Issues (Geschwindigkeitskontrolle):
- Exceeding the speed limit, even by a small amount.
- Driving significantly below the speed limit without a valid reason (impeding traffic flow).
- Failing to adjust speed appropriately for conditions (rain, fog, curves, poor visibility).
- Driving too fast in residential areas (30 km/h zones) – meticulous attention to “rechts vor links” is expected.
- Driving too fast in “Spielstraßen” (play streets) – walking speed (around 4-7 km/h) is mandatory.
- Failing to recognize and react to changing speed limits (e.g., entering or leaving a built-up area).
- Driving too fast when approaching a green traffic light that might change.
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Spacing and Distance (Abstand):
- Following too closely (tailgating) – not maintaining a safe following distance (at least 2 seconds, more in poor conditions).
- Not maintaining adequate lateral distance from parked cars, cyclists, or other obstacles.
- Driving too close to the vehicle in front when entering a highway.
- Cutting off other vehicles when changing lanes or merging.
- Not leaving enough space when passing parked cars, especially if a door might open.
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Uncertainty/Hesitation (Unsicherheit/Zögern):
- Excessive hesitation at intersections or roundabouts when it’s safe to proceed (but not reckless haste). This is a balance – being overly cautious to the point of disrupting traffic flow is a problem.
- Unnecessary stopping when it’s safe to continue.
- Indecisiveness in lane selection.
- Repeatedly failing to take an opportunity to proceed when it’s safe and legal to do so.
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Signaling Errors (Blinker):
- Failing to signal intentions clearly and in a timely manner (before turning, changing lanes, pulling away from the curb, entering/exiting roundabouts).
- Signaling too late.
- Signaling for too short a period.
- Leaving the signal on for too long after completing a maneuver.
- Giving a misleading signal.
- Not signaling at all
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Vehicle Operation Mistakes (Fahrzeugbedienung):
- Rough or incorrect gear changes (stalling, grinding gears, selecting the wrong gear).
- Poor clutch control (jerky starts, rolling back on hills).
- Inability to smoothly operate the steering wheel.
- Incorrect use of lights (headlights, fog lights, high beams).
- Failing to release the parking brake before driving off.
- Unnecessary use of the horn.
- Failing to use the handbrake (parking brake) when parked on a hill.
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Safety Check Failures (Sicherheitskontrolle):
- Not knowing how to check basic vehicle functions (lights, tires, brakes, horn, indicators, mirrors).
- Not adjusting the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel correctly before starting.
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Positioning on the Road (Fahrbahnbenutzung)
- Driving too close to the curb or too far to the left.
- Straddling lanes.
- Using the incorrect lane at intersections or roundabouts.
- Incorrect positioning within the lane (e.g., consistently driving too close to the center line).
- Failing to position the vehicle correctly for a turn (e.g., not moving far enough to the right for a right turn).
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Roundabout Errors (Kreisverkehr):
- Failing to signal on exit. Signaling on entry is only required if you’re taking the first exit.
- Using the wrong lane within the roundabout.
- Stopping unnecessarily within the roundabout.
- Entering the roundabout too quickly.
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Autobahn Errors (Specific to Autobahn driving):
- Failing to accelerate to an appropriate speed on the acceleration lane before merging.
- Merging onto the Autobahn at too slow a speed.
- Staying in the left lane unnecessarily (the right lane is for driving, the left lane is for overtaking).
- Failing to signal well in advance before exiting.
- Signalling too early before exiting (before a sign with 3 lines)
- Braking sharply on the Autobahn without a valid reason.
- Not maintaining a sufficient safety distance from the vehicle in front, even at high speeds.
- Using the hard shoulder (Standstreifen) without a legitimate reason (breakdown or emergency).
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General Demeanor:
- Appearing nervous, stressed or lacking confidence.
- Not following the examiner’s instructions promptly and accurately.
- Arguing with the examiner.
- Repeatedly asking for clarification of instructions when they were clear.
- Failing to maintain a calm and controlled demeanor throughout the test.