New
Driver
Special
Book
it!
W
ith 30 years of transporta-
tion experience as a driving
instructor, policymaker and
examiner, Steven Lee knows
his way around a road test.
The senior driver examiner with D-Tec
Driver Testing shares a few insider tips
for young drivers and their parents.
Who do road test examiners work for?
We are independent contractors
licensed by Alberta’s Ministry of
Transportation; we go through
rigorous training and monitoring by
the Government of Alberta. But we’re
independent—we are not dedicated to
any one registry in the province.
How many basic road tests do you
administer in an average week?
I typically do about 10 tests each day,
which translates to about five or six
hours a day. So in an average week,
I probably conduct about 50 exams.
44
Spring 2018
AMA inSider
Are there better times than others
to schedule a test?
Not really. I tell teens that it doesn’t
matter when you take the exam because
you will have to drive in those condi-
tions, at those times, at some point.
What kind of vehicle should
young drivers use for the test?
Whatever they are most comfortable
driving, be it a compact car or a pickup
truck from the farm. The important
thing is to make sure it’s in good work-
ing order: fully functioning signals,
brake lights and headlights, a crack-
free windshield and operational horns.
Which driving skills do you test?
We check if they have good control of
the vehicle and know how to handle
it. Then we see if they know how to
execute certain driving skills and
procedures, like parking, reversing and
turning. Finally, we make sure they
know the rules of the road and are not
committing any violations. Certain
violations, such as a collision or traffic
ticket, will result in immediate failure.
What are the most common
mistakes people make?
Getting too nervous. Nerves cause
stress and lead to mistakes. The key is
to stay calm and focus. Reversing and
parking can be challenging: Kids get a
bit scared when you even say the phrase
“parallel parking,” so I try not to say it.
Instead, I ask them to back up behind
that car or line up beside that curb.
How do you handle a driver who fails?
I don’t use the word “fail.” I might say
to a driver they haven’t been success-
ful this time and they need a bit more
practice. Then I go through the driving
checklist and point out the mistakes
they made and discuss how to correct
them. I also ask if they would like
me to review the checklist with their
parents, so they can help coach them.
Any other advice for young drivers?
I like to tell teens to stick to CPR: Con-
centrate, practice and relax. That’s all
they really need for driving success.
testing,
testing 1-2-3
independent examiner
Steven Lee on the dos
and don’ts of road tests
Book and take an
alberta road test with an
independent examiner
through aMa registries
ama.ab.ca/
RoadTests