New driving test launched  04 | 12 | 2017

LEARNER DRIVERS FROM today face a more realistic assessment of their driving ability, as the driving test is modernised to help prepare them for a lifetime of safe driving.

As part of the new test, learner drivers will drive for around 30 minutes, and will be expected to:

* drive independently for around 20 minutes (an increase from the current 10) while following directions from a sat nav or a series of traffic signs

* do one of 3 possible reversing manoeuvres:

— parallel park at the side of the road

— park in a bay - either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out

— pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic

* answer a vehicle safety question while driving - for example, showing the examiner how they’d wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers.

These changes are part of work set out in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s 5-year strategy for 2017 to 2022 — ‘Helping you stay safe on Britain’s roads’.

“DVSA is committed to helping drivers through a lifetime of safe driving,” DVSA Chief Driving Examiner, Lesley Young said. “The new test will help prepare new drivers for driving on modern roads and support a reduction in the number of young people killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“We’ll continue to explore opportunities to further develop driver training and testing to make sure the driving test reflects real-life driving.”

Earlier this year, the government announced that learner drivers will be allowed to take motorway driving lessons with an approved driving instructor from 2018, to help make sure more drivers know how to use motorways safely.

With the introduction of autonomous or semi-autonomous cars by 2021, DVSA will explore how learner drivers will need to demonstrate that they can use new technology safely, and without distraction, while driving.

DVSA will continue to work with a wide range of organisations to make it easy for drivers to keep their knowledge and skills up to date, helping them through a lifetime of safe driving.

DVSA is also updating the way people qualify to become a driving instructor, so that they have the skills needed to provide high-quality driving lessons to learner drivers.

Supportive statements from various road safety experts

AA president, Edmund King OBE:

“The new driving test now reflects real life driving conditions and will produce safer drivers.

“The longer period of independent driving, use of sat navs and more typical parking manoeuvres will challenge new drivers and should mean those passing the test will have more confidence when driving solo.”

RAC Foundation Director, Steve Gooding:

“Coming up with revisions to the driving test that better reflect the real world challenges of driving in traffic must be a good move. Hopefully the result will be better prepared, more confident, safer drivers.”

Chair of Road Safety GB, Sonya Hurt:

"We fully support the changes that have been introduced in the new practical driving test, which we believe will provide a more realistic assessment of a candidate’s ability to drive without supervision.

“Modern vehicles feature an increasing array of driver assist technology, and as such it is sensible and realistic to test the candidate’s ability to use a sat nav system.

"We also welcome the fact that the new regime will allow test candidates more time on the rural road network, where the consequences of inexperience can be particularly devastating.

“We are looking forward to the roll-out of a driving test designed for the 21st Century.” 

Chair of the National Association Strategic Partnership for driving instructors, Carly Brookfield:

“If we want to launch the next generation of safer new drivers on to our busy roads, then we need a test that better assesses a candidate's readiness for real-life, independent driving.

“The changes to the driving test are designed to achieve those key, road safety goals, and have already undergone one of the largest and most rigorous trials and consultation processes ever seen in driver education to enable it to help deliver on that vision.”

The Motor Schools Association, General Manager, John Lepine:

“We welcome the changes to the driving test and believe that the key to safer drivers is better training and preparation. Improving the driving test will give new drivers more of the skills needed for everyday driving.

“The new test will help to prepare new drivers for a safer driving career and help support a reduction in reduce road casualties. Our members have enjoyed being involved in the development of the new test and hope it will reduce new driver casualties.”

Driving Instructor Association Chief Executive, Carly Brookfield:

'It's been exciting to be so closely involved in the shaping of the new test and to help develop something which will better focus new drivers on shaping up for the challenges of driving independently. We're greatly encouraged by the openness the agency has in seeking the inputs of those at the coalface of driver education in such initiatives."

Bill Plant Driving School Head of Training, Peter Brabin:

“The changes to the driving test are to be welcomed as a positive move in preparing learners for driving safely on their own.

“The aim of the new driving test is to add as much realism as possible to everyday driving situations such as bay parking at the supermarket, following directions to a new location via sat nav, knowledge of the vehicle and independent safe driving.”

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Jim McGill