Changes to the driving test will start on the 04th of December.
Do you think these changes will improve road safety?
The 4 driving test
changes
1. Independent driving part of the test will increase to 20
minutes
The
independent driving part of the test currently lasts around 10 minutes. During
this part of the test, you have to drive without turn-by-turn directions from
the driving examiner.
This
part of the test will be made longer, so it’ll last around 20 minutes - roughly
half of the test.
2. Following directions from a sat nav
During
the independent driving part of the test, most candidates will be asked to
follow directions from a sat nav.
The
examiner will provide the sat nav and set it up. You won’t need to set the
route - the examiner will do this for you. So, it doesn’t matter what make or
model of sat nav you practise with.
You
can’t follow directions from your own sat nav during the test - you have to use
the one supplied by the examiner.
You’ll
be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you’re going if you’re
not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a fault while doing it.
One in
5 driving tests won’t use a sat nav. You’ll need to follow traffic signs
instead.
3. Reversing manoeuvres will be changed
The
‘reverse around a corner’ and ‘turn-in-the-road’ manoeuvres will no longer be
tested, but you should still be taught them by your instructor.
You’ll
be asked to 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 (the examiner
will tell you which you have to do)
· pull up on the right-hand
side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and re join the traffic
4. Answering a vehicle safety question while you’re driving
You’ll
be asked the:
· ‘tell me’ question (where
you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test,
before you start driving
· ‘show me’ question (where
you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving - for example,
showing how to wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers