The Carlton test route, mapped.

The route, turn by turn

1. 01

   Exit centre · onto Lygon Street

   Pull out from the 459 Lygon Street forecourt. Lygon is 60 km/h here with tram tracks down the centre and route 1/8 trams in regular service. Mirror, signal, head check — and watch for a cyclist filtering up the door-zone before pulling out.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Missing a cyclist in the door-zone blind spot before pulling out from the kerb.

2. 02

   Lygon Street · 60 km/h with tram tracks

   Hold the kerbside lane unless overtaking. Drivers must stop behind any stationary tram with doors open and wait until doors close and passengers have cleared. Avoid wheels on the tram line where possible — they grip differently in the wet.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Overtaking a stationary tram while passengers are still boarding or alighting.

3. 03

   Right turn across the tram tracks · the #1 Carlton fail

   Right turns from Lygon onto Faraday, Elgin, or another east-west cross street take you across the tram tracks. The examiner is watching whether you enter the tram lane to wait for a gap (illegal — must stay clear if a tram is approaching from behind) and whether you complete the turn into the correct receiving lane.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Entering the tram lane to wait for the right-turn gap while a tram is approaching from behind — the most common Carlton fail.

4. 04

   Rathdowne Street · 40 km/h residential

   Rathdowne runs parallel to Lygon, one block east. Quiet residential 40 km/h zone with parked cars both sides. Hold the speed at 40 — drift to 50 and the examiner records a Critical Driving Error; any speed over 40 in a school zone during operating hours is an Immediate Termination Error.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Drifting to 45–50 km/h between intersections in the 40 zone.

5. 05

   Lygon precinct · pedestrian and cyclist density

   The Carlton precinct around the University of Melbourne is one of the densest pedestrian and cycling environments on any Victorian test route. Scan for pedestrians stepping out between parked cars and for cyclists in dedicated bike lanes alongside.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Missing a cyclist in the bike lane on a left turn — head check is mandatory, not optional.

6. 06

   Drummond Street · single-lane residential

   Drummond sits one further block east of Rathdowne. Effectively single-lane two-way with parked cars both sides. Yield correctly — the driver who reaches the clear gap first has priority. Make eye contact with oncoming drivers if needed.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Forcing through when an oncoming car had the clear gap first.

7. 07

   Manoeuvre · reverse parallel park OR three-point turn

   The examiner calls one of two manoeuvres — most often a reverse parallel park between two parked vehicles on Elgin or Rathdowne, sometimes a three-point turn on a quiet side street. Finish within 30 cm of the kerb (parallel) or in three movements where the street width allows (three-point).

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Over-correcting on the second turn-in of the parallel park, or no head check before reversing into the second phase of the three-point.

8. 08

   Re-entry from a side street · gap selection

   Pulling back onto Lygon, Rathdowne or Drummond from a side street after the manoeuvre. Pick a gap large enough that no following or oncoming vehicle has to brake. Wheels straight while waiting.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Pulling out into a marginal gap and forcing a following car to ease off.

9. 09

   Signalised intersection · multi-lane right turn

   A signalised right turn at one of the major Lygon Street intersections (Princes, Elgin or Faraday depending on route). Pick the correct turn lane on approach and finish in the receiving kerbside lane — drifting into the offside lane across a tram line is a marked fault.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Drifting from kerbside into the offside lane on exit, across the tram tracks.

10. 10

    Tram stop · passenger safety zone

    Approaching a tram stop with passengers boarding or alighting. Stop level with the rear of the tram and wait until the doors close and passengers have cleared the carriageway before moving off. There is no shortcut around this — even an empty-looking tram stop requires a check.

    ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Creeping past the tram while the doors are still open.

11. 11

    Roundabout · Princes Hill / Carlton North edge

    Small single-lane roundabout on the northern edge of the route. Yield right correctly, signal left as you pass the prior exit, and watch for cyclists filtering on the inside line — bike traffic between Princes Hill and the CBD uses these streets heavily.

    ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Forgetting to indicate the exit on a small roundabout, or missing a cyclist on the inside line.

12. 12

    Return to centre · park on Lygon Street

    Final approach. Mirror checks for cyclists in the door zone before pulling into a bay on Lygon. Park between the lines, handbrake on, gear in park. The examiner debriefs you in the bay.

    ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Opening the door or pulling in without scanning for a cyclist filtering up the kerbside.