Lesson 3: Basic Driving Maneuvers — 3 of 5, Examiner Criteria
The 5 basic maneuvers according to FeV Annex 7: selection rules (3 out of 5), observation before movement, curb rules, emergency braking, and examiner criteria.
1.1 Mandatory Structure (FeV Annex 7 No. 2.1.4.2)
The examiner selects three basic driving maneuvers out of five — there is no mandatory single task:
- Group a — exactly 1 maneuver: ① Reversing to the right into a side street, intersection or driveway or ② Parallel parking in reverse (alongside the curb).
- Group b — exactly 2 maneuvers: ① Turning the vehicle around (Umkehren), ② Bay parking into a parking bay (perpendicular or angled — backwards or forwards), ③ Emergency stop with maximum possible deceleration (Gefahrbremsung).
The basic maneuvers are an independently assessed exam component (FeV Annex 7 No. 2.5.1) and do not count toward the 30-minute driving time (No. 2.3: driving time excludes basic driving maneuvers).
1.2 💡 Examiner Insights
- Golden rule: "Observation comes before movement":
- You park slightly crooked, but completely inside the marked space without obstructing traffic → passed.
- You park perfectly straight in one single move, but only watched the mirrors/camera, failed to do shoulder checks and didn't stop for an approaching cyclist → immediate failure.
- Corrective maneuvers (practical tip): When parking, you are permitted a maximum of 2 forward corrections. Never force the car into a space with an overly tight angle.
- Curb rules (practical tip): A light tap against the curb is your signal to stop and correct your angle. But hitting the curb with acceleration and mounting the curb → immediate failure.
- Standard procedure for "Reversing around a corner" (practical tip):
- Never roll backwards into the intersection before cross-traffic is fully clear — for every vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian: stop completely and wait until they have passed.
- When reversing, keep 30–50 cm parallel to the curb, move at walking pace, turn your upper body over the shoulder towards the rear, and continuously scan 360 degrees around the car.
- Emergency braking & the trap right after stopping:
- Accelerate to approx. 30 km/h (practical tip). As soon as the examiner shouts "Halt!" or "Stop!": stomp down on the brake pedal (and clutch in manual cars) as fast and hard as you can. The ABS will violently pulse through the pedal — do not ease off until the vehicle is fully at a standstill.
- ⚠️ The trap after stopping: Before setting off again, complete the full departure routine: interior mirror → left exterior mirror → left turn signal (if needed) → left shoulder check → only then drive off.
- After completing parking: If the examiner asks "Are you done?", then before saying "Yes", shift to P (or N/1st gear) and engage the parking brake — this demonstrates: the vehicle is fully secured for parking.