Mont. Admin. r. 23.3.124

Current through Register Vol. 23, December 6, 2024

Rule 23.3.124 - ROAD TEST DESCRIPTION AND SCORING

(1) For purposes of this rule:

(a) "ACC" means accident;

(b) "DA" means dangerous action;

(c) "LV" means law violation;

(d) "NC" means lack of cooperation;

(e) "TD" means more than permitted deductions;

(f) "VC" means vehicle condition; and

(g) "INC" means incomplete.

(2) The basic test is patterned on a figure eight. Subsections (3) through (20) contain the requirements and scoring for the test.

(3) Starting from curb, parallel parking. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Does not look, does not signal........................................................................DA

(b) Uses mirror, does not signal...........................................................................6 points

(c) Looks properly, does not signal......................................................................3 points

(d) Does not look, signals.....................................................................................6 points

(e) Uses mirror, signals.........................................................................................3 points

(f) In any case above, when street is not

clear...............................................................................................................................DA

(4) Starting from curb, angle parking. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Does not look, backs quickly or unevenly.......................................................DA

(b) Uses mirror, backs quickly or unevenly...........................................................6 points

(c) Uses mirror, backs smoothly............................................................................3 points

(d) In any case above when street is not

clear..............................................................................................................................DA

(5) Right Turn. Incorrect method, scoring:

(a) Completes turn beyond center line of street entered:

(i) Four lanes marked........................................................................................DA

(ii) Two lanes not marked.................................................................................6 points

(b) Completes turn just to right of center street entered:

(i) Four lanes marked........................................................................................6 points

(ii) Two lanes not marked................................................................................3 points

(c) Begins turn from just to right of center of street left.

(i) Four lanes marked.......................................................................................6 points

(ii) Two lanes not marked.................................................................................3 points

(d) Right turning signals.

(i) Wrong signal.................................................................................................6 points

(ii) No signal or less than 25 feet.....................................................................6 points

(iii) Signals, 75 feet or less...............................................................................3 points

(iv) Arm signal during turn.................................................................................3 points

(e) Right turning speed.

(i) Has to stop abruptly, causing tires to skid and squeal......................................................................................................................DA

(ii) If not a proper speed for turn, reduces speed by five miles per hour or less................................................................................6 points

(iii) Reduces speed by ten miles per hour or less................................................................................................................................3 points

(6) Left Turn. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Completes turn left of center line of street entered.

(i) Four lanes marked.......................................................................DA

(ii) Two lanes not marked........................................................8 points

(b) Completes turn to far left of street entered:

(i) Four lanes marked..................................................................8 points

(ii) Two lanes not marked.................................................................................4 points

(c) Begins turn from just to right of center of street left.

(i) Four lanes marked.......................................................................................8 points

(ii) Two lanes not marked.................................................................................4 points

(d) Left turning signals.

(i) Wrong signal.................................................................................................8 points

(ii) No signal or less than 25 feet................................................................8 points

(iii) Signals, 75 feet or less................................................................................4 points

(iv) Arm signals during turn...............................................................................4 points

(e) Left turning speed:

(i) Has to stop abruptly, causing tires to skid and squeal...................................................................................................DA

(ii) If not a proper speed for turn, reduce speed by five miles per hour or less......................................................................8 points

(iii) Reduce speed by ten miles per hours or less.................................................................................................................4 points

(7) Judgment at intersections. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Does not look or reduce speed, conflicting traffic present.........................................................................................................DA

(b) Does not look or reduce speed..........................................................................8 points

(c) Looks one way, does not reduce speed.............................................................8 points

(d) Looks carefully, does not reduce speed, conflicting traffic present..........................................................................................8 points

(e) Looks carefully, does not reduce speed..............................................................4 points

(f) Looks carefully, reduces speed, does not yield right of way.....................................................................................................4 points

(g) Stops for traffic when not necessary....................................................................4 points

(h) Stops and waits for traffic an unreasonable time..........................................................................................................................4 points

(8) Lane change. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Does not look, does not signal, conflicting

traffic present...........................................................................................................DA

(b) Does not look, does not signal, street clear........................................................................................................................6 points

(c) Uses mirror, does not signal, street clear........................................................................................................................6 points

(d) Looks, does not signal, street clear......................................................................3 points

(9) Stop sign or stop light. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Does not stop for stop light or sign.......................................................................LV

(b) Creeping through sign or light...............................................................................8 points

(c) Less than walking speed.......................................................................................4 points

(d) Stops in intersection at stop light or sign...........................................................................................................................8 points

(e) Stops ahead of stop sign or in crosswalk...............................................................4 points

(10) Parallel parking. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Backs over curb with one or more wheels.............................................................DA

(b) Makes contact with other vehicle or object, other than bumper contact, no damage.......................................................................DA

(c) Makes contact with other vehicle or object, causes damage........................................................................................................ACC

(d) Is unable to park within a reasonable time, two minutes...............................................................................................................8 points

(e) Strikes other vehicle or object with bumper (sharply) no damage......................................................................................8 points

(f) Leaves vehicle more than twelve inches in excess of legal limit from curb.................................................................................8 points

(g) Leaves vehicle less than twelve inches in excess of legal limit from curb.................................................................................4 points

(h) Backs without looking..........................................................................................4 points

(i) Bumps curb (not just touch)..................................................................................4 points

(j) Unnecessary jockeying to center vehicle.................................................................4 points

(k) Crowds other parked vehicles...............................................................................4 points

(l) Makes right turn signal when stopping to

park (grade under slow signal)...................................................................................4 points

(11) Slow signal, incorrect method, scoring:

(a) Does not signal......................................................................................................8 points

(b) Wrong signal.........................................................................................................8 points

(12) Judgment of distance, incorrect method scoring:

(a) Strikes another vehicle or object with other

than bumper, no damage.............................................................................................DA

(b) Strikes another vehicle or object, causes damage.......................................................................................................................ACC

(c) Comes close to another vehicle orobject, creating hazard............................................................................................................6 points

(d) Comes close to another vehicle or object, no hazard....................................................................................................................3 points

(13) Stalls motor, scoring (only if not a mechanical defect) :

(a) Stalls in intersection................................................................................................8 points

(b) Other stalls............................................................................................................4 points

(14) Use of clutch. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) "Floor boards" accelerator whenstarting or shifting....................................................................................................................4 points

(b) Jumps clutch and stalls motor......................................................................4 points

(c) Jumps clutch and does not stall motor..........................................................2 points

(d) Slips or rides clutch unnecessarily...................................................2 points

(e) Grinds gears when shifting or starting..............................................2 points

(f) Does not use compression to slow..................................................2 points

(15) Attention to driving. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Takes eyes off the road.........................................................................................2 points

(b) Considerable irrelevant conversation...........................................................2 points

(16) Shifting ability. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Does not shift when necessary.....................................................................4 points

(b) Shifts while turning.................................................................................................4 points

(c) Starts in improper gear.................................................................................4 points

(d) Coasts...................................................................................................................4 points

(e) Shifts too soon or too late (speeds).........................................................................2 points

(f) Jerky shifts..............................................................................................................2 points

(17) Following or overtaking. Incorrect method scoring:

(a) Crowds other vehicles, less than one-half car's length for each 10 miles per hour........................................................................8 points

(b) Crowds other vehicles, more than one-half car's length for each 10 miles per hour........................................................................4 points

(18) Right of way. Incorrect method. Scoring:

(a) Does not yield right of way when required, makes pedestrian or vehicle stop or use defensive action...........................................................LV

(b) Does not yield right of way when making a left

(c) Makes left turn between traffic when not clear to do so (bluffs)....................8 points

(d) Yields but interferes with other traffic........................................................................4 points

(e) Right of way not taken when rightfully yielded by other.............................................................................................................................4 points

(f) Uses horn in attempt to gain right of way....................................................................4 points

(19) Scoring the road test. Each item must be graded separately and compounded. In other words, each turn, stop,

intersection, etc. is a separate part of the test and should be so graded. If an applicant makes an improper maneuver more than once, he must be graded for each error. For example, if an applicant creeps through a stop sign constituting a four point deduction and at the next stop sign repeats the error, the examiner would deduct another four points.

(20) Causes for disqualifications. If any of the following conditions are met the driver is disqualified. The road test must be discontinued. If a return to the starting point of the test might be hazardous, the vehicle must be left in a safe place, pending arrangements for its removal.

(a) Accident, however slight: Any contact with another car except slight bumper to bumper, any contact with a pedestrian except from the pedestrian's intention, or any contact with a fixed object except a slight bumper.

(b) Dangerous action: Any action that would cause a driver or a pedestrian to take defensive action, stalls car in middle of busy intersection, or drives one or more wheels over curb or onto sidewalk.

(c) Clear violation of any traffic law: Any action for which a driver must be arrested.

(d) Lack of cooperation or refusal to perform: Offers bribe or gratuity, refuses to try to do any maneuver or states "I cannot do that," accuses examiner of discriminating against him.

(e) Various or repeated minor mistakes: Causes the deduction of more than the permitted number of points on the road test score.

Mont. Admin. r. 23.3.124

Eff. 12/31/72; AMD, Eff. 12/5/76.

Sec. 44-1-103, MCA; IMP, Sec. 61-5-101 et seq., MCA;