Photo: Kadeem J, Pexels
A critical driving error on the California DMV drive test is an automatic fail, however well the rest of the drive goes. There are eight categories, from examiner intervention to lane violations. Use this checklist in practice drives so none of them happen on test day.
Key facts
- One critical driving error means you fail.
- Three attempts to back the vehicle, or three stalls from poor clutch or gear use, are critical errors.
- Driving 10 mph over the limit, or 10 mph under it when conditions don’t call for it, is a critical error.
- Rolling through a stop sign, flashing red or right turn on red faster than a brisk walk (4 mph) is a critical error.
The California critical driving errors checklist
1. Examiner intervention
- Anything you do, or fail to do, that makes the examiner step in physically or verbally (for example, shouting “Stop”).
- Making 3 attempts to back the vehicle.
2. Striking an object
- Hitting a vehicle, object, cyclist, pedestrian or animal you could have avoided.
- Driving over a curb or onto a sidewalk.
3. Disobeying a traffic sign or signal
- Going through, or going faster than 4 mph, at a stop sign, flashing red light or right turn on red.
- Not stopping and waiting for green at a red light or a red freeway ramp meter. A right on red is fine after a full stop, if safe and not banned by a sign.
- Stopping for no reason at a green light or green ramp meter.
- Ignoring other signs or markings: lane drops, painted arrows, painted islands, curb markings, traffic cones.
4. Disobeying safety personnel or vehicles
- Passing a school bus with flashing red lights. Traffic in both directions must stop unless you are on a divided highway. See school bus stopping laws.
- Not pulling over for an emergency vehicle. See pulling over for emergency vehicles.
- Disobeying a law enforcement officer, firefighter or other safety personnel.
5. Dangerous maneuver
- Anything that makes another driver or pedestrian take evasive action.
- Not checking with your head and eyes at an uncontrolled intersection when a hazard is present.
- Stopping for no reason in a freeway merge lane.
- Blocking an intersection so cross traffic can’t get through.
- Not checking mirrors and over your shoulder before a lane change, merge, backing, a right turn with a bike lane, or pulling away from the curb.
- Stalling in an intersection, or stalling 3 times through poor clutch or gear use.
6. Speed
- Driving 10 mph over the speed limit.
- Driving 10 mph under the limit when conditions don’t require it.
- Driving too fast or too slow for safety. See the basic speed law.
7. Auxiliary equipment
- Not using wipers, defroster or headlights when weather or darkness calls for them.
8. Lane violations
- Driving more than 200 feet in a bike lane or a two-way center left turn lane.
- Driving straight through from a turn-only lane.
- Entering oncoming traffic when you don’t need to.
- Turning from a straight-only lane, or from the wrong lane.
The habits that prevent most critical errors
| Error | Habit to build |
|---|---|
| Rolling stops | Count “one, two” at a complete stop before the limit line, every time |
| Missed head checks | Say “mirror, shoulder” out loud in practice before every lane change, merge and curb pull-out |
| Bike lane and center lane misuse | Enter a bike lane or two-way left turn lane only within 200 feet of your turn |
| Too slow | Check the speedometer after every speed limit sign; nerves make people creep |
| Backing attempts | Practice straight-line backing (3 car lengths, within 3 feet of the curb) until it’s routine |
| Wipers and lights | Find the wiper, defroster and headlight controls before the test; you will be asked to |
Common questions
What is an automatic fail on the California driving test?
Any critical driving error from the eight categories above.
Is going 5 mph under the speed limit a fail?
The critical error is 10 mph under without a reason. Driving too slowly for the situation can still be marked as an ordinary error.
How many times can I stall?
Stalling 3 times through poor clutch or gear use is a critical error, and so is stalling once in an intersection.
Can I fail without a critical error?
Yes. More than 15 errors on the scored maneuvers is also a fail. See what the examiner scores.
What if a pedestrian steps out and I brake hard?
Reacting safely to a hazard is what the examiner wants to see. The critical error is causing someone else to take evasive action.
Is touching the curb while backing a fail?
It can be. The score sheet lists “strikes object/curb” as a critical driving error, and the criteria include driving over a curb.
More: the pre-drive safety check, common reasons people fail and learning to drive in California.
Sources
- California DMV, “Driving Performance Evaluation (DPE) Scoring Criteria” (dmv.ca.gov)
- California DMV, “Driving Performance Evaluation Score Sheet Sample” (dmv.ca.gov)