The Driving Test is changing. From 4th December 2017, all car driving tests will follow a new format, which has been introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to combat high numbers of fatal accidents involving young people.
In the new format the cost, pass mark, and overall length of the driving test will remain the same, but some major changes to the manouveres and independent driving section are being made.
Independent Driving part of the test will double in length - Learner drivers will have to proved they can safely use sat navs. Currently this part of the test, where the driver follows turn-by-turn instructions, last about 10 minutes. This is being increased to 20 minutes, taking up roughly half the test.
During the independent driving part of the test, most candidates will now have to follow directions from a sat nav, which is being provided by and set up by the examiner. It won`t actually matter if you make a wrong turn, as lomg as you don`t make a fault while doing it, and candidates can ask the examiner for confirmation of where they are going if they are not sure.
Not all tests will use a sat nav; one in five driving tests won`t, and drivers will be asked to follow traffic signs instead.
Manouveres will be changed - The reverse around a corner and turn-in-the-road manouveres will no longer be tested. Candidates will be asked to do one of three possible manouveres;
- 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 rejoin traffic
Answering vehicle safety question whilst driving - One vehicle safety question will be asked while the car is in motion. The examiner will ask the candidate two vehicle safety questions, one while they are driving. Currently both questions are asked before the test.
The "tell me" question, where the candidate explains how they would carry out a safety task, will be asked before the driving starts.
The "show me" question, where the candidiate shows the examiner how they would carry out a safety task, will be asked while they are driving. For example, this could include showing how to wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers.
All car driving tests taken from 4th Decembver 2017 will follow the new format. This includes if you fail a test before this date, and retake your test from the same date, or if your test is cancelled or moved for any reason, and your new test date is from December 4th 2017.
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