Watch driving test routes in St Helens

Route 1 from St Helens test centre is a long loop north of the town centre. It runs along the 40 mph Linkway, Eccleston Street and Knowsley Road, then through the 20 mph Alder Hey Road and out to the 60 mph East Lancashire Road, before coming back through Haresfinch and the busy town centre streets with shops, buses and people crossing.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Navigation Road give wayTricky spot 01

   A give way line at the end of Navigation Road, where we turn right onto a busy road with lorries. Look both ways and creep forward until you can see. Soon after, there is another give way line just after traffic lights.

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2. 2:33
   Linkway East

   The limit is 40 mph, so we check our speed and move into the right lane early for the roundabout.

3. 2:59
   Linkway East roundabout right laneTricky spot 08

   A big roundabout reached on two lanes at 40 mph. We turn right for Liverpool, so we go almost all the way round and leave back onto Linkway West. Choose the right lane early.

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4. 5:06
   Westfield Street and Eccleston Street

   Left at the roundabout onto Westfield Street, then the right lane for the lights onto Eccleston Street. Oncoming traffic still goes first, even with a green filter arrow.

5. 8:51
   Knowsley Road

   We stay on Knowsley Road to the right turn into Alder Hey Road, giving way to oncoming cars.

6. 10:22
   Alder Hey Road

   A 20 mph zone with parked cars on both sides and school KEEP CLEAR markings. We slow down and give way when the gap is tight.

7. 12:22
   Kiln Lane

   A give way and a sharp left onto Kiln Lane, back to 30 mph with parked cars on our side, then a give way and right onto Millbrook Lane.

8. 13:17
   Bleak Hill Road

   KEEP CLEAR markings, then a give way and left onto Rainford Road, with a yellow box at the junction.

9. 15:05
   Rainford Road

   The limit is 40 mph. We keep to the right lane and wait for the green arrow to turn right onto the East Lancashire Road.

10. 16:48
    East Lancashire Road

    The limit is 60 mph, not 70. We overtake, move back when we see the car in the interior mirror, then take the right lane for Green Leach Lane.

11. 19:57
    Green Leach Lane

    The limit drops to 30 mph and we go straight on at a roundabout.

12. 20:53
    Haresfinch Road mini roundaboutTricky spot 07

    A right turn at a mini roundabout onto Haresfinch Road. We give way to the right and go round the centre.

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13. 22:49
    College Street

    We stay in the right lane to go straight ahead, then turn right into Crab Street, giving way to oncoming traffic.

14. 24:14
    Crab Street

    Straight on over a crossroads with give way lines, then a give way and left onto Duke Street.

15. 25:36
    Duke Street

    A busy street with shops and people stepping out between parked cars, then right at the roundabout onto Baldwin Street.

16. 27:00
    Ormskirk Street and Bridge Street

    A narrow shopping street with people crossing and buses at the stops. We give way at the end of the pedestrian zone, turn right at the roundabout onto Chalon Way West and pick our lane for the lights.

17. 29:36
    Linkway West

    Left at the lights onto Linkway West at 40 mph. We pass a lorry, move back and keep left for the A570 Bolton.

18. 30:53
    Linkway East roundabout left laneTricky spot 04

    A fast 40 mph road ends at a busy roundabout. We pick the left lane early and go straight on towards Parr Street, where the limit drops to 30 mph.

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19. 31:34
    Atlas Street and Pocket Nook Street

    Left onto Atlas Street, the right lane for the lights onto Pocket Nook Street, where oncoming traffic goes first, and left into Navigation Road.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Navigation Road
2. 2Pocket Nook Street
3. 3Atlas Street
4. 4Parr StreetA58
5. 5Linkway EastA58
6. 6Linkway WestA58
7. 7Westfield StreetA58
8. 8Eccleston Street
9. 9Knowsley Road
10. 10Alder Hey Road
11. 11Kiln Lane
12. 12Bleak Hill RoadB5201
13. 13Rainford RoadA570
14. 14East Lancashire RoadA580
15. 15Green Leach LaneA571
16. 16Haresfinch ViewA571
17. 17Haresfinch RoadA571
18. 18College StreetA571
19. 19Crab Street
20. 20Duke Street
21. 21Baldwin Street
22. 22Ormskirk Street
23. 23Bridge Street
24. 24Chalon Way West
25. 25Linkway WestA58
26. 26Linkway EastA58
27. 27Parr StreetA58
28. 28Atlas Street
29. 29Pocket Nook Street
30. 30Navigation Road

Route 2 from St Helens test centre heads north along the A58 and Chain Lane to the 60 mph East Lancashire Road, then back through Cowley Hill and the King Street roundabout. It finishes through Thatto Heath and Elephant Lane, with a long run on the 50 mph James Roby Way and a big roundabout with lights.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Pocket Nook Street

   A give way and left onto Pocket Nook Street, with parked cars on our side, then a give way and left onto Park Road over a yellow box.

2. 0:59
   Park Road and Blackbrook Road

   Along the A58, where two lanes become one and cars are parked on both sides. Left at the lights onto Chain Lane, stopping at the first line, not in the cycle box.

3. 3:21
   Chain Lane

   A school area with parked cars, straight on at a mini roundabout and a low narrow bridge with a bend. Then right onto Carr Mill Road and left at the lights onto the East Lancashire Road.

4. 6:27
   East Lancashire Road

   A dual carriageway with a 60 mph limit, not 70. We move right past roadworks in the left lane, move back, slow to 40 mph and take the left lane for Rainford Road.

5. 10:21
   Rainford Road

   The limit drops to 30 mph, then left onto Hard Lane at a give way line.

6. 11:42
   Hard Lane and Gamble Avenue

   Parked cars on our side, right into Gamble Avenue with speed humps, then straight over a crossroads onto Cowley Hill Lane.

7. 13:59
   Cowley Hill Lane

   Parked cars on both sides, then a stop sign where we stop at the line and look all ways.

8. 15:41
   North Road

   Right at the roundabout onto King Street.

9. 16:36
   King Street

   Along King Street towards a busy roundabout, where a long queue builds up.

10. 17:40
    King Street two lane roundaboutTricky spot 10

    A busy two lane roundabout with a long queue. We take the right lane for Westfield Street (A58 Liverpool) and wait for a gap.

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11. 18:15
    Westfield Street and Borough Road

    We stay in the left lane and go straight on to Borough Road.

12. 19:30
    Prescot Road

    Two lanes become one, then left at the lights onto Lugsmore Lane, with parked cars on both sides.

13. 21:14
    Thatto Heath Road

    A bus stopped ahead, a 20 mph zone and a yellow box, then the left lane for the lights onto Elephant Lane.

14. 23:09
    Elephant Lane

    The limit goes back to 30 mph. A give way and right onto Sherdley Road, then a give way and left onto Elton Head Road.

15. 26:09
    Elton Head Road

    The left lane marked A570 and left at the lights onto James Roby Way, looking right as we join.

16. 27:23
    James Roby Way

    A 50 mph road where we keep left. The limit drops to 30 mph at a speed camera, and we follow the A570 markings to the next roundabout.

17. 30:04
    James Roby Way roundabout lightsTricky spot 14

    A busy roundabout with traffic lights at the entry and lanes painted on the road. Even on green we look right before we go.

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18. 30:59
    James Roby Way roundabouts

    The limit is 40 mph. Straight on at one roundabout in the lane marked A570, then the right lane at the next for the A570 Bolton.

19. 32:15
    Linkway East and Parr Street

    We stay in our lane at the roundabout, as the left lane is for the M6, then 30 mph on Parr Street, left onto Atlas Street and right at the lights onto Pocket Nook Street with no green arrow.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Navigation Road
2. 2Pocket Nook Street
3. 3Park RoadA58

Route 3 from St Helens test centre heads south through Sutton and Grange Park, with two right turns at big traffic lights with no green arrow. It takes in the 40 mph Scorecross, the long Elton Head Road and quiet residential streets, then two busy T junctions onto Prescot Road and Knowsley Road before coming back over the big Westfield Street roundabout and the Linkway.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Navigation Road give wayTricky spot 01

   A give way line at the end of Navigation Road, where we turn right onto a busy road with lorries. Look both ways and creep forward until you can see. Soon after, there is another give way line just after traffic lights.

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2. 1:40
   Parr Street

   Left onto Parr Street, then straight away into the right lane: mirrors, right blind spot, signal right.

3. 2:05
   Parr Street lights right turnTricky spot 02

   A big junction at traffic lights with no green arrow for the right turn. We wait in the middle of the junction for oncoming buses, lorries and cars.

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4. 2:42
   Jackson Street

   The right turn lane for Gaskell Street, then right at the lights when there is a safe gap in oncoming traffic.

5. 5:17
   Sutton Road

   Along Gaskell Street and Sutton Road to Sherdley Road.

6. 6:12
   Sherdley Road

   Roadworks with works vans on our side, then a queue past a crossing, where we wait behind the stop line.

7. 8:03
   Scorecross roundabout

   Left at the roundabout in the lane marked A569, then the limit goes up to 40 mph.

8. 9:28
   Marshalls Cross roundabout right turnTricky spot 17

   A roundabout where we turn right onto Marshalls Cross Road from the right lane, while a lorry on our left goes left. The limit drops to 30 mph straight after.

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9. 9:49
   Marshalls Cross Road

   We stay in the right lane for the right turn onto Elton Head Road.

10. 11:44
    Marshalls Cross Road lights right turnTricky spot 21

    A right turn at big traffic lights with no green arrow. We queue in the right turn lane and then wait in the junction for oncoming traffic.

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11. 12:25
    Elton Head Road

    The limit goes up to 40 mph, the lane marked B5204 straight on at the lights, then 30 mph and a 20 mph zone. We let a lorry pass before turning right into Nutgrove Hall Drive.

12. 15:51
    Nutgrove Hall Drive

    A give way at a crossroads where walls and hedges block the view, so we creep forward until we can see.

13. 17:07
    Heath Street

    A 20 mph zone by a school, with parked cars on both sides.

14. 17:50
    Scholes Lane

    Parked cars on both sides. We keep it slow and give way to oncoming traffic when blocked.

15. 19:16
    Cumberland Avenue

    Parked cars and cars coming, a give way line and someone walking in the road, then Lowther Crescent and Seascale Avenue to the A58.

16. 20:29
    Prescot Road T junctionTricky spot 23

    A right turn onto the A58, a fast 40 mph road, with traffic coming from both sides. Often there is a long wait for a safe gap.

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17. 21:21
    Prescot Road

    The limit is 40 mph, then 30 mph, roadworks in a bend and two lanes becoming one, then left at the lights onto Dunriding Lane.

18. 23:36
    Dunriding Lane

    A give way where we stop if needed, then the right lane for the junction with Knowsley Road.

19. 24:41
    Knowsley Road T junctionTricky spot 18

    A busy T junction where we take the right lane and turn right with traffic from both sides. The wait can be about 30 seconds, so do not feel rushed.

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20. 25:22
    Knowsley Road

    Parked cars on our side and a queue, then Eccleston Street and a cyclist at the lights before we turn left onto Westfield Street.

21. 27:46
    Westfield Street

    The right lane for the busy roundabout ahead. A crossing in the queue, which we only move onto when there is room on the other side.

22. 30:15
    Westfield Street big roundaboutTricky spot 11

    A big, busy roundabout where we give way to traffic from the right. We keep right to turn onto Linkway West.

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23. 30:57
    Linkway West

    A red light with people crossing, then 40 mph and left at the roundabout for the A570.

24. 33:23
    Linkway East

    The left lane for the next roundabout, where we go straight on towards Parr Street.

25. 33:47
    Linkway East roundabout left laneTricky spot 04

    A fast 40 mph road ends at a busy roundabout. We pick the left lane early and go straight on towards Parr Street, where the limit drops to 30 mph.

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26. 34:18
    Parr Street

    The limit drops to 30 mph and we take the left lane for the lights onto Atlas Street.

27. 34:59
    Atlas Street

    Our lane is for straight on and right. We turn right at the lights onto Pocket Nook Street and back into Navigation Road.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Navigation Road
2. 2Pocket Nook Street
3. 3Atlas Street

Route 4 from St Helens test centre takes the Linkway out of town and then heads into the countryside on narrow B roads with 40 and 50 mph limits. It joins the 60 mph East Lancashire Road from a give way and comes back through Rainford Road, Haresfinch and College Street, with ten roundabouts along the way.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Navigation Road

   A give way and right onto Pocket Nook Street, the left lane straight on at the lights, then left at the lights onto Hall Street and a give way where we watch for cyclists.

2. 1:47
   Phoenix Brow

   A queue for the roundabout. We stop where we can still see the tyres of the car ahead.

3. 2:18
   Phoenix Brow roundaboutTricky spot 03

   A long queue at the give way line of a busy roundabout. We wait behind the car ahead and judge the gaps from the right.

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4. 2:51
   Linkway East

   The limit is 40 mph. We move into the right lane in good time for the roundabout.

5. 3:23
   Linkway East roundabout right laneTricky spot 08

   A big roundabout reached on two lanes at 40 mph. We turn right for Liverpool, so we go almost all the way round and leave back onto Linkway West. Choose the right lane early.

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6. 4:24
   Linkway West

   The limit drops to 30 mph and we only go when our exit is clear in the queue.

7. 7:09
   Linkway West two lane roundaboutTricky spot 12

   A slow queue in two lanes leads into a big roundabout. We turn right for the A571 Wigan, so we stay in the right lane.

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8. 7:44
   Lowe Street

   Left at the lights onto Lowe Street, then a give way and left onto Duke Street.

9. 8:21
   Duke Street

   Shops and people stepping out between parked cars, then a queue at the lights.

10. 9:39
    Dentons Green Lane

    A zebra crossing, then the left lane for the lights onto Kiln Lane.

11. 11:12
    Kiln Lane

    A parked lorry and parked cars on our side, then a give way and left onto Millbrook Lane.

12. 13:01
    Millbrook Lane

    Left at a mini roundabout onto Church Lane, then right at another mini roundabout onto Burrow's Lane.

13. 14:57
    Burrow's Lane

    The limit goes up to 40 mph, then a T junction where we creep forward and turn right onto Gillars Lane.

14. 16:25
    Gillars Lane

    A rural road on to Catchdale Moss Lane.

15. 17:12
    Catchdale Moss Lane

    The limit goes up to 50 mph on the way to the A580.

16. 18:31
    Joining the A580 East Lancashire RoadTricky spot 24

    A give way, then a left turn onto the A580, a fast dual carriageway. Look right, pick a gap and build up speed.

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17. 19:02
    East Lancashire Road

    All the way round a roundabout and back onto the A580 from the right lane, then we overtake a slow lorry and move back. The limit drops to 40 mph and we take the right lane for Rainford Road.

18. 22:36
    Rainford Road

    The limit drops to 30 mph, with SLOW on the road and a school ahead, then left onto Hard Lane.

19. 24:15
    Hard Lane

    Parked vans by the school, parked cars and a roadworks barrier, then left at a mini roundabout onto City Road.

20. 26:24
    Washway Lane

    Right at a small roundabout to stay on Washway Lane, then right at the next roundabout onto Haresfinch View.

21. 27:43
    Haresfinch Road mini roundaboutTricky spot 07

    A right turn at a mini roundabout onto Haresfinch Road. We give way to the right and go round the centre.

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22. 29:32
    College Street

    Left onto Standish Street.

23. 30:21
    Standish Street

    We keep to the left lane and turn left into Navigation Road.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Navigation Road
2. 2Pocket Nook Street
3. 3Standish Street

Route 5 from St Helens test centre runs through the town centre and out along the A58 to Thatto Heath and Sutton. It has 20 mph zones, a yellow box, Elephant Lane with cars parked on both sides, a left turn across a cycle track, railway bridges and a long wait at a busy give way, before the big Peasley Cross Lane roundabout back to Parr Street.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Pocket Nook Street

   We turn right at the end, creeping forward to look both ways, then take the lane with the straight ahead arrow at the lights.

2. 0:30
   Standish Street

   A cyclist ahead and a crossing with lights, then the left lane for the lights onto College Street.

3. 2:17
   College Street

   A KEEP CLEAR marking, then the roundabout where we follow the A570 onto Duke Street.

4. 3:12
   Duke Street

   A busy shopping street with people stepping out between parked cars and another KEEP CLEAR, then left at the lights onto Boundary Road.

5. 4:42
   Boundary Road and Kirkland Street

   A short merge lane, then a long queue where we stop with the tyres of the car ahead in view.

6. 7:44
   A58 Liverpool roundabout right laneTricky spot 09

   Two lanes form on the approach to a busy roundabout. We turn right, so we queue in the right lane and leave onto the A58 Liverpool.

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7. 8:09
   Westfield Street and Borough Road

   We signal left as we leave the roundabout, then move back to the left lane.

8. 9:42
   Prescot Road

   Two lanes become one, then left at the lights onto Lugsmore Lane.

9. 11:10
   Lugsmore Lane

   A bus coming towards us, then a 20 mph zone.

10. 12:02
    Thatto Heath Road

    A yellow box, then the left lane for the lights onto Elephant Lane.

11. 12:18
    Elephant Lane

    The 20 mph zone ends and the limit is 30 mph again.

12. 13:05
    Elephant Lane parked carsTricky spot 20

    A long street with cars parked on both sides, oncoming traffic and people by the cars. Slow down and be ready to give way.

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13. 14:32
    Sherdley Road

    A give way and right onto Sherdley Road, then a give way and left onto Elton Head Road.

14. 15:09
    Elton Head Road

    The lane marked B5204 straight on at the lights, then the right lane and the green filter arrow for Marshalls Cross Road.

15. 17:59
    Marshalls Cross Road

    We keep to the left lane for the lights at Mill Lane.

16. 18:28
    Mill Lane cycle trackTricky spot 22

    A left turn at traffic lights onto Mill Lane, across a green cycle track. Cyclists may be coming beside us.

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17. 18:48
    Mill Lane

    A parked van on our side, a lorry coming towards us, then parked cars and vans on our side. We look well ahead and give way if needed.

18. 21:01
    Leach Lane and Gerards Lane

    Left at a mini roundabout onto Leach Lane, watching for people crossing, then parked cars, a railway bridge and a right turn into Waterdale Crescent.

19. 22:44
    Waterdale Crescent give wayTricky spot 19

    A busy give way at the end of the road, with traffic from both sides and a long wait. We turn right onto Ellamsbridge Road.

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20. 24:06
    Sutton Road

    A give way and left onto Sutton Road.

21. 24:26
    Sutton Road roundabout zebraTricky spot 16

    A roundabout with a zebra crossing straight after our exit. It is easy to miss while we are leaving.

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22. 25:57
    Peasley Cross Lane

    Right at the lights onto Peasley Cross Lane, giving way to oncoming traffic, then a lorry ahead turning left.

23. 27:24
    Peasley Cross Lane big roundaboutTricky spot 05

    A big roundabout with a lane painted A58E M6 on the approach. We follow the A58 Bolton and leave onto Parr Street.

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24. 28:24
    Atlas Street

    Right at the lights onto Pocket Nook Street, looking for oncoming traffic on green, then left into Navigation Road.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Navigation Road
2. 2Pocket Nook Street
3. 3Standish Street

Route 6 from St Helens test centre heads east through Parr to the open roads around Collins Green, where Bold Lane has 40 and 50 mph limits and sharp bends. It comes back through Sutton and the big A570 roundabout to the Linkway, then through the King Street roundabouts and narrow streets with parked cars.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Navigation Road give wayTricky spot 01

   A give way line at the end of Navigation Road, where we turn right onto a busy road with lorries. Look both ways and creep forward until you can see. Soon after, there is another give way line just after traffic lights.

   Watch the clip
2. 1:04
   Parr Street lights right turnTricky spot 02

   A big junction at traffic lights with no green arrow for the right turn. We wait in the middle of the junction for oncoming buses, lorries and cars.

   Watch the clip
3. 3:34
   Jackson Street

   The left lane for the lights, where we turn left onto Gaskell Street.

4. 5:20
   Gaskell Street

   A 20 mph school zone with KEEP CLEAR markings, then right and straight away left into Granville Street.

5. 6:43
   Granville Street

   A 30 mph road with parked cars on our side and a van coming.

6. 8:25
   Chancery Lane

   We follow the A572 along Chancery Lane and Broad Oak Road.

7. 10:24
   Derbyshire Hill Road

   Straight on at a small roundabout into Fleet Lane.

8. 11:33
   Fleet Lane

   Parked cars on our side, a bridge with a car coming, then a give way and right onto Bold Lane.

9. 13:29
   Bold Lane

   The road narrows, then the limit goes up to 40 and 50 mph, with sharp bends where we brake on the straight before each bend.

10. 15:12
    Travers' Entry and Bold Road

    A right turn, the limit back to 40 mph, another sharp bend and 30 mph, then the right lane for Helena Road.

11. 16:56
    Helena Road

    A low railway bridge with a car coming, then a give way and right onto Cecil Street.

12. 17:50
    Cecil Street

    Parked cars on both sides with a van coming, then a parked lorry in a bend along Watery Lane and Providence Avenue.

13. 19:42
    Sutton Road roundabout zebraTricky spot 16

    A roundabout with a zebra crossing straight after our exit. It is easy to miss while we are leaving.

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14. 22:57
    Sherdley Road

    Roadworks with cones, then the big roundabout with lights, where we go right for the A570.

15. 24:18
    Big A570 roundaboutTricky spot 15

    A big roundabout with a two lane approach and road numbers painted in the lanes. A lorry can be alongside, and it is a long way round.

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16. 25:09
    James Roby Way

    The limit is 40 mph. Straight on at a roundabout, then the left lane in the queue for the A570 Wigan.

17. 26:27
    Linkway West

    The right lane for the roundabout ahead, and the limit drops to 30 mph.

18. 28:18
    Linkway West roundabout from Collins GreenTricky spot 13

    A slow queue leads into a big roundabout, where we stay in the right lane for the A571 Wigan. A van enters on our left while we are on the roundabout.

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19. 28:54
    King Street

    A crossing with lights and people waiting, where someone crosses ahead.

20. 29:15
    King Street crossing and roundaboutsTricky spot 06

    A crossing with lights right before a roundabout, then a mini roundabout and another crossing, all close together. We follow the lane marked A571 round to the right.

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21. 29:53
    Birchley Street

    Left onto Birchley Street, with parked cars that narrow the road, a crossroads with give way lines, then a give way and right onto Standish Street.

22. 31:36
    Standish Street

    Back to the test centre on Navigation Road.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Navigation Road
2. 2Pocket Nook Street
3. 3Atlas Street