Ask anyone who has taken an ICBC road test what they were marked on and observation comes up quickly. A missed shoulder check is one of the easiest marks to lose, and one of the easiest to fix.
What a shoulder check is
Your mirrors do not show everything. On each side of the car there is an area they miss, the blind spot, and it is big enough to hide a cyclist or a small car. A shoulder check is a quick look over your shoulder, through the side window, to see that space for yourself. Chin to shoulder and back. It takes about a second.
When to do one
- Before you change lanes
- Before you pull away from the curb, and before you pull over to it
- Before a right turn, for cyclists and pedestrians beside you
- When you merge onto a highway
- Before you back up
The order matters. Mirror, signal, shoulder check, then move if it is clear.
Turn your head. The examiner can only mark a check they can see.
Three common mistakes
Checking too early. A look three seconds before you move tells you about three seconds ago. Check, then go.
Looking for too long. The car drifts toward where you are looking, and the road ahead keeps changing. One quick look is enough.
Skipping it on right turns. Bike lanes run along the curb on many Vancouver streets, so the right shoulder matters as much as the left.
How to practise
Pick one quiet route and say each step out loud as you drive it: mirror, signal, shoulder, go. It feels silly for a day or two. After that it happens without thinking, which is what the examiner is hoping to see.
If you would like a second pair of eyes on your observation before test day, book a lesson and we will work on it together. See our lesson rates or call 604-773-5001.
