Driving test consultation: the proposed changes explained

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The proposals are to:

  • increase the ‘independent driving’ part of the test from 10 to 20 minutes
  • ask candidates to follow directions on a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs
  • replace current manoeuvres such as ‘reverse around a corner’ with more real life scenarios for example, driving into and reversing out of a parking bay
  • ask one of the two vehicle safety questions while the candidate is driving, for example, asking candidates to use the rear heated screen

We will let you know when this process goes from consultation stage to driving test adoptation

Research shows that some learner drivers only learn what they need to so they can pass the driving test. This causes them to take their test before they’re properly ready, which results in a lower overall driving test pass rate.

The driving test can’t cover all of what learners need to know but where new drivers tend to get it wrong are when they are confronted by fast rural roads and complex junctions so the test will focus on these higher risk areas.

The new manoeuvres are used in every day driving and will mean that whilst the turn in the road and reverse around a corner should feature in the training syllabus, they will not be part of the test which will remove the need to spend time in the quieter low risk roads.

 

The driving test can’t cover all of what learners need to know but where new drivers tend to get it wrong are when they are confronted by fast rural roads and complex junctions so the test will focus on these higher risk areas.

We want the test to be like a real journey and by making use of sat nav we can see that new drivers can manage this distraction safely. Those involved in the trial have said this helps them to concentrate on their driving and forget about the examiner!

Theory Test is 20 years old

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Top 3 reasons that people fail the theory test.

Not everyone passes their theory test first time. The pass rate in 2014 to 2015 was 49.3%.

Some of the top reasons people fail include:

  • road and traffic signs
  • safety margins
  • rules of the road

How the theory test developed

The theory test was introduced as a written part of the driving test process, replacing questions asked by the driving examiner during the driving test.

It later became a computer-based test, with a hazard perception test introduced to test candidates’ awareness of developing hazards.

Since its introduction, the hazard perception test has been shown to reduce non-low-speed accidents by an estimated 11% for novice drivers in their first year of driving.

Modernising hazard perception clips

The filmed video clips were replaced with high-quality computer generated imagery (CGI) in January 2015. These contain more modern vehicles, roads, and surroundings.

In the future, DVSA wants to introduce CGI clips that show situations with vulnerable road users, like children, cyclists, and motorcyclists. These can be used to create situations that would be too difficult or dangerous to film.