An 11.7 km route from St Albans DVSA Test Centre completed in about 27 minutes, heading west and south through Townsend, Chiswell Green, St Julians, and St Stephens. This route has 7 roundabouts, the most of any St Albans route, and reaches 70 mph on the North Orbital Road (A405). With 17 traffic signals and only 17 turns, it is a roundabout-heavy, signal-dense route that tests your ability to handle fast dual carriageway driving alongside tight urban junctions.

Watch Out For

• North Orbital Road (A405). 70 mph dual carriageway. You must build up speed confidently when joining. Driving too slowly on a 70 mph road is marked as a serious fault.
• Give way junction near Tippendell Lane. Merging back from a side road onto faster traffic. Check mirrors, signal early, and match the flow speed quickly.
• Give way at Chiswell Green. Visibility limited by buildings. Multiple give way signs in quick succession here require constant observation.
• Fishpool Street. Narrow historic street with 20 mph limit. Parked cars force single-file traffic. Give way to oncoming vehicles at pinch points.
• Redbourn Road. Transition from 30 mph residential to the start of the faster section. Check your speed as the limit changes.

Route Features

• 8 left turns and 9 right turns, 17 total. The fewest turns of any St Albans route alongside #771.
• 7 roundabouts. More than all other 10 St Albans routes combined.
• 17 sets of traffic lights, the most of any route from this centre.
• Speed range: 20-70 mph. From narrow 20 mph streets to 70 mph dual carriageway.

Test Manoeuvres

• Pull up on the left near the test centre.

Key Tips

• On the A405, use the slip road to build speed before merging. Check mirrors and blind spot, signal, then merge smoothly.
• With 7 roundabouts, practise the give-way-to-the-right rule. On larger roundabouts, choose the correct lane early and signal left when passing the exit before yours.