Will the driving examiner use hidden tricks during the test, such as purposely not wearing a seatbelt to see if I notice?

Detailed answer

During your driving test, the examiner is evaluating your ability to operate a vehicle safely under real-world conditions, which includes managing the safety of your passengers. A common hidden test scenario occurs right at the beginning of the exam. When the examiner enters the vehicle, they might intentionally leave their seatbelt unbuckled. This is not an oversight; it is a deliberate assessment to see if you possess the situational awareness and the confidence to prioritize safety over politeness. If you start the car and begin to pull away without noticing, you will likely receive an automatic failure or a critical error deduction of 4 points, as moving with an unbuckled passenger violates fundamental safety protocols. At Mon Ami Driving School, we explicitly train our students to perform a comprehensive 360-degree visual checklist before turning the key. This means checking your own seatbelt, adjusting mirrors, and actively verifying that your examiner or any passenger has securely fastened their seatbelt. If you notice the seatbelt is unbuckled, you must politely but firmly state, 'For our safety, please fasten your seatbelt before we begin.' Another hidden trick examiners use is giving a direction to turn at an illegal location, such as a 'No Turn on Red' intersection. You must obey traffic laws over the examiner's verbal instructions. Remember, the examiner's job is to ensure you are a safe, responsible driver who takes control of the vehicle environment, not just someone who steers and uses pedals.