The Carlton test route, mapped.

The route, turn by turn

1. 01

   Exit centre · left onto a Carlton side street

   Inner-city pull-out. Tight kerbside parking, cyclists, and pedestrians. Mirror, signal, head check — and watch for a cyclist filtering up the inside.

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

2. 02

   Lygon Street · 40km/h shopping strip with tram tracks

   Tram tracks down the centre. Drivers must stop behind stationary trams loading passengers. Keep wheels off the tram line — they grip differently in the wet.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Overtaking a stationary tram unloading passengers.

3. 03

   Hook turn · right turn from the LEFT lane

   A Melbourne CBD-style hook turn. Approach in the left lane with right indicator on. Wait in the intersection until the cross-street lights go green, then complete the turn.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Turning right from the right lane in a hook-turn intersection.

4. 04

   Royal Parade · multi-lane 60km/h

   Wide multi-lane road with a central median. Hold lane confidently in 60km/h traffic. Mirror checks every 8–10 seconds — inner-city traffic shifts quickly.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Hesitant lane position at 60km/h with traffic banked behind you.

5. 05

   University of Melbourne school zone · 40km/h

   Active 40km/h zone near campus during teaching periods. Heavy pedestrian and cyclist activity. Proactive reduction at the sign, not after.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Cruising in at 60km/h and missing the limit change at campus signage.

6. 06

   Narrow residential street · Carlton North

   Single-lane residential with parked cars both sides. Effectively one-lane two-way. Yield correctly — first to a clear gap holds priority.

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

7. 07

   Reverse parallel park · tight inner-city kerb

   Tight gap between two parked cars on a 40km/h street. Reference points and reverse lock. Within 30cm of the kerb. The tester gives you one correction.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Mounting the kerb or ending up more than half a metre out from the kerb.

8. 08

   Three-point turn · narrow residential road

   Carlton terrace street, kerb to kerb. Full lock, head checks each phase. The road is narrow — anticipate needing one extra movement, not three.

   ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Forgetting the over-shoulder check before reversing into the second phase.

9. 09

   Multi-lane right turn · Lygon Street / Princes Street

   Right turn at a major signalised intersection. Pick the correct turn lane on approach. Finish the turn in the receiving kerbside lane.

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

10. 10

    Tram-stop interaction · passenger safety zone

    Approaching a tram stop with passengers boarding/alighting. Stop level with the rear of the tram. Wait for doors to close and passengers to clear before moving off.

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

11. 11

    Roundabout near Carlton Gardens · 2nd exit

    Small inner-city roundabout. Yield right correctly. Signal left as you pass the prior exit. Watch for cyclists on the inside line.

    ⚠ COMMON FAIL: Forgetting to indicate the exit on a small roundabout.

12. 12

    Return to test centre · parking with cyclists

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

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