A 6.4-mile route taking about 23 minutes, heading southwest through Birkdale via Westcliffe Road and Waterloo Road, then south along Sandon Road to Liverpool Road. The return comes through Bedford Road, Kew, and Town Lane. With only 4 traffic signals and 4 roundabouts, this is one of the quieter Southport routes in terms of junctions, but 4 school zones and narrow Birkdale streets require careful observation throughout.

Watch Out For

• Grosvenor Road, Birkdale. A long residential road with parked cars narrowing it to single-lane in places. Give way to oncoming traffic when necessary.
• Waterloo Road. Parked cars and school zones combine to create hazards. Slow to 20 mph near schools even outside peak hours.
• Kew roundabouts. Mini-roundabouts near Bedford Road. Treat each separately with full observation, especially the closely spaced ones.
• Give way on Westcliffe Road. Limited visibility to the right at this junction. Edge forward cautiously before committing.
• Pedestrian crossing near Part Street. Frequent foot traffic near the test centre and town centre shops.

Route Features

• Southwestern loop through Birkdale, the only Southport route to explore this area
• 4 school zones along Waterloo Road and Liverpool Road
• Only 4 traffic signals, making it the joint lowest across Southport routes
• Mix of 20 mph residential and 30 mph through-roads with a brief 40 mph section near Kew

Test Manoeuvres

• Pull up on the left is tested on this route

Key Tips

• In Birkdale, the roads are wide but parked cars narrow the usable space. Check mirrors before pulling out around them
• School zones here are easy to miss. Look for the 20 mph signs and flashing amber lights
• With fewer signals, the examiner has more opportunity to assess your independent driving and road positioning