Learning to drive can be one of the most challenging skills that teenagers or new drivers will ever learn. A driver’s education course is designed to teach not just the rules of the road and traffic flow, but also the habits that prevent traffic accidents and keep everyone safe. Yet in every driving school, students make common driving mistakes that can limit their progress, cause trouble during the road test, or even lead to bad habits that last a lifetime.
Ignoring road signs, missing checks of interior and exterior mirrors, rolling through a stop sign, making improper lane changes, or forgetting to wear a seat belt may seem like small issues in the moment, but these errors are exactly what examiners watch for during the road test. More importantly, they can lead to serious accidents when left uncorrected, especially when driver inattention or unsafe lane behavior is involved.
The good news is that driver’s ed is exactly where students should be making these predictable mistakes, but they can still be avoided with practice, attention, and guidance from certified instructors. Instructors emphasize defensive driving techniques that help students stay alert to other vehicles, recognize emergency vehicles early, and anticipate potential hazards such as car failure or improper lane usage by many drivers on busy roads.
Students should also learn how to check registration and insurance documents, maintain awareness of the posted speed limit, and follow the correct procedures for parallel parking. These may sound simple, but they are part of the foundational habits that create a competent driver who understands how to operate motor vehicles responsibly.
Mistake #1 – Ignoring Mirrors and Blind Spots
One of the most common mistakes in driver’s ed is failing to use mirrors properly or neglecting to check blind spots. New drivers often focus too much on the steering wheel, speedometer, or road directly ahead and forget that hazards can come from the sides or behind. Others assume that a quick glance forward is enough, without realizing how limited their view is without frequent mirror checks.
Confusion can also come from not understanding how to adjust vehicle controls properly. Poor mirror placement makes it harder to detect vehicles in blind spots, while skipping mirror checks before lane changes, turns, or merging is a direct violation of traffic rules and safety laws. Examiners are trained to watch for these lapses during road tests, and missing a blind spot check is one of the quickest ways to lose points.
How to Avoid It
- Make mirror checks part of your routine: check rearview and side mirrors every 5–8 seconds while driving.
- Always perform a shoulder check before making a lane change or merging to cover blind spots.
- Adjust mirrors and seats before moving the vehicle to ensure clear visibility.
- Practice in a parking lot or roundabout where frequent lane positioning changes reinforce the habit.
- Remember: signaling is not enough. Turn signals must always be combined with a mirror check and a glance at the blind spot.
Learning these habits early will not only satisfy examiners but also prevent dangerous oversights that often cause collisions, especially at intersections, narrow bridges, and when merging onto busy roads.
Mistake #2 – Misjudging Following Distance
Tailgating—or driving too close to the car ahead—is one of the most dangerous and common driver’s ed mistakes. Students often underestimate how much space a vehicle needs to stop safely. Distracted driving, texting, or driver inattention makes this mistake even worse. Instructors frequently see students following other vehicles at one or two car lengths instead of observing the recommended time-based following distance.
Sometimes, new drivers overcompensate in the opposite direction, leaving too much space, which frustrates traffic behind them and disrupts the flow of traffic on the road. Examiners will mark down both extremes during a driving test, as proper speed control and following distance are critical elements of safe driving.
How to Avoid It
- Use the “three-second rule”: pick a fixed object like a road sign or stop sign. When the car ahead passes it, count “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand.” If you reach the object before three seconds, you’re too close.
- In poor weather, at night, or when following larger vehicles, increase the following distance to at least four or five seconds.
- Practice safe braking techniques to build muscle memory with brake lights and speed control.
- Pay close attention to speed limits, especially in residential areas, school zones, and on highways, where speeding tickets are common for drivers who fail to adjust.
- Stay alert for sudden stops at intersections or yellow lights, where tailgating often causes rear-end traffic accidents.
Building the habit of maintaining proper distance is not only a requirement in every DMV road rule manual but also one of the most important defensive driving skills students can learn.
Mistake #3 – Forgetting Turn Signals and Communication
Forgetting to use turn signals is one of the simplest yet most costly mistakes in driver’s education. Students often skip signaling when changing lanes, leaving parking spaces, or turning at intersections. Sometimes, it’s nerves that cause them to forget, while other times it’s overconfidence, as if other drivers can predict their next move. This is a direct violation of traffic laws and one of the first things examiners mark during a road test.
Proper signaling is about communicating with other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, who depend on your brake lights, turn signals, and lane positioning to know what you plan to do. Without that communication, you risk confusion at a four-way stop, dangerous lane changes, or even traffic accidents caused by misjudged right-of-way.
How to Avoid It
- Make signaling a reflex: use your turn signal every time you change lanes, merge, or make a turn, even if no one seems to be around.
- Signal at least 100 feet before making a turn, as required in most state driving manuals, including the DMV road rule manual and state-specific guides, such as Texas traffic laws.
- Practice signaling in all driving scenarios, from navigating roundabouts to pulling into a parking lot, so it becomes second nature.
- Remember that failing to signal can result in an automatic deduction or failure during the road test.
Mistake #4 – Speeding or Driving Too Slowly
Speed control is another challenge for new drivers. Some students focus so much on not exceeding the speed limit that they end up driving too slowly, frustrating other drivers and disrupting the flow of traffic. Others, especially in lighter traffic, creep above posted speed limits without realizing it. Examiners watch both ends of the spectrum closely; excessive speeding or overly cautious, slow driving can both result in points lost or a failed test.
Part of the problem is inattention: students may overlook traffic signs that post changing speed limits or fail to check their speedometer regularly. These mistakes can quickly lead to traffic tickets or, worse, collisions.
How to Avoid It
- Stay alert for speed limit changes posted on road signs and traffic signals, particularly in school zones, construction areas, and highways.
- Check your speedometer regularly to make sure you’re maintaining appropriate speed control.
- Use navigation systems if needed, many of which display current speed limits alongside the road.
- Practice both confidence and caution: drive at a steady pace that follows traffic rules and keeps you in line with the natural flow of the road.
Mistake #5 – Rolling Stops at Stop Signs and Intersections
One of the most common drivers ed mistakes is the “California stop,” where students slow down but don’t fully stop at a stop sign or four-way stop. Nervousness, impatience, or a simple misunderstanding of the law can lead to rolling through intersections. Examiners and certified instructors alike are quick to penalize this, since rolling stops create confusion about right-of-way and often lead to collisions.
This mistake is especially common when there are no other vehicles present, giving students a false sense of security. But whether at a busy intersection or a quiet residential road, a complete stop is always required by safety laws and traffic rules.
How to Avoid It
- Always come to a full stop before the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection. Count to three before moving again.
- Review right-of-way rules at four-way stops: the first vehicle to arrive goes first, and if two arrive at the same time, yield to the driver on your right.
- Practice stopping smoothly in a parking lot or quiet neighborhood before tackling busier intersections.
- Remember that examiners are trained to fail students who perform rolling stops, since they signal poor compliance with traffic laws.
Mistake #6 – Struggling with Parking and Parallel Parking
Parking maneuvers are often the most intimidating part of driver’s education. Students commonly misjudge distances, cut the steering wheel too late, or fail to use mirrors properly. Parallel parking in particular is stressful, especially with examiners watching closely during the road test.
The challenge often comes from limited spatial awareness and a lack of consistent practice. Without enough time spent in a parking lot working on turns, alignment, and mirror checks, students lose confidence. Mistakes like bumping a curb, failing to signal when pulling into a space, or taking too long can all cost points on the exam.
H3: How to Avoid It
- Break parking maneuvers into clear, step-by-step methods taught in your driving curriculum.
- Use mirrors and a full mirror check before and during parking to ensure safety.
- Practice regularly in parking lots with plenty of space before moving on to tighter situations.
- Learn and rehearse parallel parking with cones or markers before attempting it on the road.
- Focus on slow, controlled movements and steering wheel adjustments rather than rushing through the process.
Mistake #7 – Poor Lane Discipline and Lane Changes
Many students struggle with lane discipline, either drifting within their lane or hesitating during lane changes. In some cases, drivers rely too heavily on mirrors and forget to glance at blind spots. Others make abrupt movements without proper signaling, creating risks for nearby vehicles.
Poor lane control can be especially problematic at roundabouts, narrow bridges, and on multi-lane roads where precision is critical.
How to Avoid It
- Keep your vehicle centered in the lane by using road markings and the edges of the road as visual guides.
- Perform the complete sequence for lane changes: mirror check, turn signal, blind spot glance, and smooth steering wheel movement.
- Avoid oversteering or drifting during turns by practicing steady, controlled inputs.
- Anticipate upcoming lane changes early to avoid last-second maneuvers at intersections or exits.
- Reinforce habits in a controlled environment like a driving school parking lot before applying them in heavy traffic.
Mistake #8 – Forgetting Driving Etiquette and Passenger Awareness
Beyond technical driving skills, etiquette plays a crucial role in safe driving. Many new drivers in training ignore small courtesies such as yielding, signaling consistently, or respecting pedestrians. Others allow passengers to become a distraction, which leads to driver inattention and poor decisions. Examiners often mark students down when they demonstrate unsafe or discourteous habits, since these can quickly lead to traffic accidents.
This mistake is especially common when students practice with friends in the car. Excessive talking, loud music, or pressure from passengers to speed through yellow lights all create unnecessary risks.
How to Avoid It
- Limit passengers during early practice drives until driving feels natural and comfortable.
- Always yield properly and respect right-of-way rules, especially at intersections, roundabouts, and four-way stops.
- Use turn signals, brake lights, and headlight usage as communication tools for other drivers.
- Keep the focus on the road and discourage distractions such as texting or joking around with passengers.
- Practice courtesy by letting others merge when safe and by avoiding aggressive behaviors like tailgating.
Mistake #9 – Freezing Under Pressure During the Road Test
Even well-prepared students sometimes freeze up during the road test. Anxiety about impressing examiners, forgetting steps like mirror checks or signaling, or panicking at a red light can all cause performance issues. This often leads to mistakes that students typically avoid in practice sessions.
Stress and nerves can also cause overcorrection with the steering wheel, poor speed control, or forgetting basic traffic laws. While examiners expect minor errors, freezing entirely or making unsafe decisions can result in automatic failure.
How to Avoid It
- Simulate test conditions with your driving instructor before the real exam. Practice road signs, lane changes, parking maneuvers, and intersections under “exam-like” pressure.
- Familiarize yourself with the DMV road rule manual or study guides so you’re confident about state-specific traffic laws.
- Remember that small mistakes—like forgetting a mirror check once—may not fail you, but unsafe actions like running a stop sign will.
- Stay calm by breathing deeply, focusing on vehicle controls, and treating the test as just another drive.
Mistake #10 – Forgetting to Fasten Seatbelt and Remind Passengers
Forgetting to buckle up or to ensure passengers do the same is a simple but serious mistake. Examiners will immediately deduct points if a student starts the vehicle without fastening a seatbelt, and in some cases, they may not allow the test to continue. This error often comes from nervousness at the start of the exam or a simple distraction when starting the vehicle.
Failure to enforce seatbelt rules with passengers is equally concerning, since it violates safety laws and shows poor judgment. Students who overlook this step risk receiving a traffic ticket in the real world and being marked down heavily in testing.
How to Avoid It
- Make fastening your seatbelt the first thing you do after adjusting the seat and mirrors.
- Double-check that passengers are buckled before putting the vehicle into gear.
- Treat seatbelt use as part of your standard driving routine, just like mirror checks and turn signals.
- Reinforce the habit during every supervised driving session so it becomes automatic.
Mistake #11 – Confusion at Four-Way Stops
Many students struggle with right-of-way rules at four-way stops. Some hesitate too long, causing frustration and unsafe situations, while others move forward without properly yielding. This confusion often comes from not reviewing traffic laws closely enough or from nerves in front of examiners. A common error is assuming that a stop sign works like a traffic light, when in fact the order of arrival determines the flow of traffic.
How to Avoid It
- Remember the golden rule: the first vehicle to stop is the first to go.
- If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the right has the right-of-way.
- Practice four-way stop scenarios with your driving instructor in a quiet neighborhood.
- Review the DMV road rule manual and your driving curriculum to reinforce state-specific expectations.
- Don’t let nerves cause hesitation—decisive, safe movements show examiners you know the rules.
Mistake #12 – Speeding Through Yellow Lights
Another frequent error is treating yellow lights as a signal to accelerate rather than a warning to prepare to stop. Many students speed through a yellow light during practice or the road test, thinking examiners expect them to “keep traffic moving.” In reality, examiners are trained to mark this as a violation of traffic rules, since it often leads to collisions in intersections.
This mistake often happens because students fear braking too late and stopping in the middle of an intersection, but rushing through a yellow is far riskier.
H3: How to Avoid It
- Always treat a yellow light as a warning to slow down and prepare to stop.
- Learn to judge distance: if you’re too close to stop safely when the light changes, continue through with caution, but avoid accelerating.
- Use your brake lights early when slowing down so that vehicles behind you have time to react.
- Practice approaching traffic signals at different speeds so you’re comfortable making safe decisions under pressure.
Mistake #13 – Taking Too Long to Schedule the Driver’s License Test
Some students finish their driver’s education course and then wait too long to schedule the road test. Skills fade without consistent practice, and waiting months can make students less confident when they finally face the examiner. In some states, a long delay may even require retaking part of the program or reapplying for a permit.
How to Avoid It
- Schedule your road test soon after completing driving school, while classroom lessons and in-car instruction are still fresh.
- Continue supervised driving practice regularly until exam day to maintain sharp driving skills.
- Use study guides, the DMV road rule manual, and navigation system practice to stay prepared.
- Treat the test as the next natural step in the driver training process rather than an intimidating hurdle.
Mistake #14 – Not Paying Attention During Classroom Lessons
Some students underestimate the importance of classroom instruction, assuming that real driving skills are only developed behind the wheel. This leads to inattentiveness, distractions like texting, or simply treating classroom sessions as unimportant. But classroom lessons cover essential knowledge, traffic signs, traffic signals, safety laws, right-of-way rules, and headlight usage, which students will be tested on both in written exams and during the road test.
Students who don’t pay attention in class often struggle later with DMV study guides, miss details like California stop rules or speed limit changes, and risk failing their permit test or making dangerous mistakes on the road.
How to Avoid It
- Treat classroom instruction with the same seriousness as driving practice.
- Take notes, ask questions, and review the DMV road rule manual to reinforce what’s taught.
- Pay extra attention to traffic laws, traffic rules, and examiner expectations since they form the foundation of the licensing process.
- Remember: a strong classroom foundation makes in-car instruction and supervised driving much smoother.
Turn Mistakes into Mastery Before They Happen
Every driver makes mistakes while learning, but the purpose of driver’s education is to correct those errors before they become lifelong habits. From forgetting mirror checks to rolling through a stop sign, new drivers make plenty of common mistakes, and each one is an opportunity to improve driving skills and prepare for the DMV driving test. Whether a student is practicing how to properly hold the steering wheel, manage speed, or avoid distracted driving, every lesson helps build safer habits behind the car.
At Jungle Driving School, we take this philosophy further. Our immersive, story-driven classrooms and techniques turn mistakes into memorable learning moments. Students don’t just learn the rules of the road—they learn how to think like safe, confident teen drivers who can anticipate hazards, use defensive driving strategies, and make smart decisions under pressure during both their daily commutes and their road test.
With certified driving instructors, advanced feedback technology in every vehicle, and our unique “Jungle Cat” driver model, we prepare students not only to pass their drivers test but also to navigate the real world with skill and confidence. From building stronger awareness to understanding what the DMV looks for during evaluations, our training ensures students are fully prepared for the challenges of the road.
If you’re ready to move beyond common driver’s ed mistakes and become a driver who’s calm, prepared, and always aware, it’s time to train the Jungle Way. Enroll today at Jungle Driving School—and start your journey toward driving smart, safe, and ready for anything.