Key points
- 'Positioning: normal driving' is on the DVSA's list of the most common reasons for failing.
- Learners often don't know where the car is on the road.
- Drill: Reference points.
- Your DriveSQ Student Portal tracks this skill lesson by lesson.
Driving too close to the kerb, too near the middle of the road, or straddling lanes — positioning faults are less dramatic than junction faults but just as likely to appear on a DVSA marking sheet.
What the examiner is looking for
Keeping a safe, sensible position: normally about a metre from the kerb, in the centre of your lane on multi-lane roads, and following lane markings.
What it looks like on test
- Hugging the kerb so you'll hit drains and gutters and can't see ahead.
- Drifting towards the centre line on bends.
- Straddling two lanes on a wide road.
- Staying in the right-hand lane of a dual carriageway after overtaking.
Why it happens
Learners often don't know where the car is on the road. Reference points — where the kerb appears in the windscreen — fix it fast.
How to fix it: drills we use
Reference points
Learn where the kerb and centre line appear from the driver's seat at 1 metre.
Lane-centre focus
Look far ahead down the middle of your lane, not at the line next to you.
Keep left
After overtaking, return to the left lane when it's safe.
Where it catches learners in Greater Manchester
Dual carriageways like Broadway near Chadderton and St Peter's Way near Bolton; long residential roads around Sale. Our test-route guides list the exact roads.
Self-check before your test
Can you tick all of these?
Be honest — if not, tell your instructor and practise it on your next lesson.
In the DriveSQ Student Portal your instructor marks "Positioning: normal driving" as its own skill after each lesson, so you can watch it move from "introduced" to "independent" before you book.
DriveSQ Student Portal
Every SQ Driving School learner gets the DriveSQ Student Portal free — so you always know where you stand, not just how many hours you've had.
- 23 driving skills tracked after every lesson
- Theory library and 50-question mock tests
- Test-readiness checklist and instructor messaging
Why SQ Driving School?
SQ Driving School is owned and managed by DriveSQ — the Greater Manchester driving school behind the Student and Instructor Portals.
- Manual & automatic, same price: £35/hr
- 10 hours £350 — £320 for NHS staff, students and M16/M18/M19
- Door-to-door pick-up across Greater Manchester
Frequently asked questions
Is positioning during normal driving a common reason for failing the driving test?
Is a positioning: normal driving fault always a fail?
How do I stop making positioning during normal driving mistakes?
How many minor faults can you have and still pass?
Sources
- GOV.UK — Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test
- GOV.UK — DVSA reveals top driving test faults
- GOV.UK — What happens during the driving test
- The Highway Code (GOV.UK)
Published by SQ Driving School, a brand owned and managed by DriveSQ. Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and test centres change — always confirm on GOV.UK before you book.