The D1+E practical driving test has a lower first-time pass rate than the standard car test, largely because of the additional complexity of towing a trailer. Understanding the most common reasons for failure helps candidates focus their preparation on the areas that matter most.
1. Poor Trailer Positioning When Turning
The trailer follows a tighter arc than the minibus when turning. Candidates who do not allow for this cut corners, mount kerbs, or swing the trailer wide into oncoming traffic. The solution is to take wider lines through junctions and roundabouts, and to practise turning until the trailer's path becomes instinctive.
2. Late or Insufficient Mirror Checks
The D1+E test requires frequent and effective mirror use. Candidates who check mirrors too late before signalling, changing speed, or changing direction accumulate driver faults. With a trailer attached, mirror checks are even more important — the trailer can swing or track differently from the minibus, and the examiner expects the driver to be aware of this at all times.
3. Reversing Errors
The reversing exercise is the most common source of serious faults in the D1+E test. Common errors include oversteering, losing control of the trailer's direction, mounting the kerb, and failing to correct early enough. Candidates should practise reversing until they can complete the exercise smoothly and accurately without guidance from their instructor.
4. Incorrect Road Positioning
Candidates who position the minibus too close to the kerb, too far from the centre line, or in the wrong lane on roundabouts accumulate faults. With a trailer attached, road positioning requires more planning — the driver needs to think further ahead to ensure the trailer tracks correctly through junctions and bends.
5. Not Allowing Enough Room at Junctions
A minibus-and-trailer combination is significantly longer than a minibus alone. Candidates who emerge from junctions without allowing enough room for the full length of the combination, or who stop too close to the vehicle in front, risk serious faults.
6. Poor Speed Planning
Braking distances are longer with a trailer attached. Candidates who brake too late, approach hazards too fast, or fail to adjust speed for road conditions accumulate faults. The examiner expects the driver to plan well ahead and manage speed smoothly.
7. Unsafe Coupling or Uncoupling
If the test includes a coupling or uncoupling exercise, errors in the procedure — failing to apply the trailer brake, not checking the coupling is secure, or forgetting to connect the electrical cable — result in serious faults. Practise the procedure methodically until it is second nature.
8. Nerves Under Test Conditions
Test nerves cause many candidates to rush, forget their training, and make errors they would not make in practice. The best preparation is thorough training — the more confident you are in your ability, the less test nerves will affect your performance. GS Driver Training's mock tests are designed to replicate test conditions and build confidence.
