>>>>>> NOTE : These details are subject to change <<<<<<<<<<<<<
New Driving Test Changes
The start date for the new practical test is currently set for October 4th 2010.
>>>>>> NOTE : These details are subject to change <<<<<<<<<<<<<
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>>>>>> NOTE : These details are subject to change <<<<<<<<<<<<<
The driving test is being changed from 4th October 2010. In late 2008 it was decided by the government that the test should be made harder and more thorough in an attempt to cut the number of new drivers involved in accidents. Currently, 1 in 5 new drivers is killed or seriously injured within a year of passing their test.
If you prefer to take the current test rather than the new one then we advise you start learning as soon as possible. October may sound a long way off but with an average waiting time of 2 months per test on top of the time it takes to learn and the fact that schools will start teaching these new topics in the summer, there isn’t much time left for the current test.
The new driving test will have two major changes from the current test.
The first change is that you will only be required to carry out ONE driving manoeuvre instead of the current requirement for two manoeuvres. This is to allow more time for the new INDEPENDENT DRIVING part of the test which is the 2nd and most significant change.
INDEPENDENT DRIVING-
The independent drive part of the test will last about 10 minutes.
The candidate will be asked to do ONE of the following:
- · Drive to a destination following traffic signs.
- · Drive following a series of verbal directions - Diagrams will be shown to candidates given verbal directions.
- · Drive using a combination of both of the above methods.
The diagrams may show a simple route path such as, Follow to a road end and turn right - at the next road end turn left- at the roundabout turn right.
During the Independent drive the candidate must still drive correctly as per the rest of the driving test including using correct observations, using mirrors correctly, obeying speed limits, road markings and signs etc etc, but completely independently, unaided and unprompted.
The test duration may also be increased to allow extra time for Independent Driving, and this may result in an increase in the test fee.
Independent driving - For 10 minutes of the test you’ll need to drive to a location using only diagrams and/or road signs without any directions from the examiner during the drive. The examiner will give you up to 4 directions while the car is stationary, for example they may say “Drive to the first roundabout then take the 2nd exit straight ahead, then take the third road on the right, the 4th exit on the next roundabout and then the 2nd left turn.”
Another way it will be done is a mixture of directions and instructions such as “Take the 3rd left, 2nd right and then follow road signs to Kings Norton railway station”. For some of these directions you’ll be given a diagram as shown below to help.
This part of the test will be quite challenging for many pupils. Once you have started driving the examiner will not repeat directions so if you forget where you’re going then you’re in trouble. It also means you’ll have to decide everything on your own such as where the turn is, which direction to follow at roundabouts, plan lanes and watch out for signs as you drive.
It was decided that the current test focuses too much on just car control and not other skills needed to drive such as map reading, navigation and reading the road. It’s not yet clear how this will be marked but it’s likely that going the wrong way will fail you.
Manouever changes - You will only do one manouever on a test instead of two. Current test routes are based on having to stick around quiet housing estates so there are enough opportunities to do manouevers. This will give you the chance to travel much further away from the centre so you may well drive in areas you have never seen before which will prove you are not just memorising test roads and routes.
Longer tests - It’s likely to now be around 50 minutes in length. The DSA are in the process of designing routes and will decide over the coming months whether or not the test time needs to be extended. This will give examiners much more time to assess your ability and cover as many different junctions and situations as possible. Currently there just isn’t time to test everything and you can pass a test having never even dealt with a crossroad, dual carriageway or high street.
Longer waiting times - If the test increases in length then there will be less tests done per day which could see the waiting times rise from the current 2 months up to 3 or 4 months per test. It will be more crucial than ever to make sure you are having high quality tuition to help avoid any possible chance of needing a retest.
Price increase - It is already rising in March 2010 to around £75 per test on a weekday and £85 on a weekend so will most likely be around £100 per test from October. If the length of the test increases then there will be less tests done per day which means they will have to earn more per test to balance the books.
Driver attitude test - This is currently going through its second phase of testing and is very likely to be introduced. You’ll be asked questions such as “You smashed into a parked car while driving, should you report it or drive off?” with the idea being that this will stop people with bad attitudes from getting a licence.