This 8.1-mile Gloucester DVSA route takes about 25 minutes, following a loop through Quedgeley, Grange, Podsmead, and Kingsway. Speed limits range from 30 to 60 mph, with the bulk of driving at 30 mph. The route shares a very similar path to Route 653, taking the same Grange estate streets and A38 dual carriageway section, but with slight variations in the residential streets. It features 9 roundabouts and 8 traffic signals.

Watch Out For

• Holmleigh Road. Residential street with parked cars on both sides. Give way to oncoming traffic where the road narrows to one lane.
• Windsor Drive. Tight street through the Grange estate. Parked cars and tight bends require careful speed control.
• Stroud Road junction. Joining the A4173 from Grange Road. Fast traffic from the right requires confident gap judgment.
• Waterwells Drive roundabout. Busy multi-exit roundabout. Signal clearly and choose the correct lane for your exit before arriving.

Route Features

• 9 roundabouts including the Tesco Roundabout, Waterwells Roundabout, and A38 roundabouts
• A38 dual carriageway at 60 mph between Kingsway and Waterwells
• Residential driving through the Grange estate on Windsor Drive and Ivory Close
• 5 school zones along the route between Quedgeley and Grange
• 8 traffic signals, concentrated along Bristol Road and the Cole Avenue corridor

Test Manoeuvres

• Pull up on the left is conducted on Falcon Close. Check mirrors, signal, and stop close to the kerb.

Key Tips

• If you have practised Route 653, this route will feel familiar. The Grange estate section and A38 section are nearly identical.
• On Grange Road, anticipate the right turn into the estate. Signal early and position in the centre of the road.
• At the Cole Avenue stop sign, make a full stop. This junction appears on most Gloucester routes and examiners always check for a complete stop.