St Helens test centre Driving practice routes

Route types

• First drive

  Quiet streets and simple junctions — a few easy turns

  • Routes: 29
  • Typical length: 0.9 mi
  • Typical time: 3 min

• Parking

  A short drive that ends in a street with free kerbside bays

  • Routes: 30
  • Typical length: 0.7 mi
  • Typical time: 2 min

• Junctions

  Give way, STOP and unmarked junctions on the side streets, with turns across the oncoming traffic — who goes first when there are no lights

  • Routes: 27
  • Typical length: 1.2 mi
  • Typical time: 4 min

• Roundabouts

  One or more roundabouts on the way

  • Routes: 18
  • Typical length: 2.2 mi
  • Typical time: 7 min

• Rush hour

  Busy avenues through the centre: traffic lights, lanes, turns across traffic

  • Routes: 17
  • Typical length: 2.1 mi
  • Typical time: 7 min

• Driving test practice

  A drive like the practical test: from a test centre and back where one is known, over the roads and junctions the examiner covers.

  • Routes: 3
  • Typical length: 9.5 mi
  • Typical time: 31 min

Test practice loops

The test drive here lasts 35–40 min. Each loop starts and finishes at the test centre.