Later in 2017 the UK driving test is changing. The DVSA has decided, in consultation, that changes to the Driving Test are necessary to ” make sure new drivers have the skills they need to help them through a lifetime of safe driving”
The new Driving Test launch date for the new driving Test is 4th December. Driving Instructors are now being briefed on the final format.
As part of the DVSA Practical Driving Test, candidates will be asked to follow the directions given by a Satellite Navigation devise, during the Independent Driving Part of the test, which has been extended to 20 minutes.
1 in 5 will not have to take directions from a “Sat Nav” system, they will simply be asked to “follow the signs to”.
This part of the test is not about testing a candidate to see if they can follow directions.
If a candidate goes the wrong way on the road correctly, the examiner will simply get them back on track and not register a fault. In other words, if a Driving Test candidate go’s off track following the correct road procedure, no fault will be recorded.
This latitude would only be given once or twice though!
The new Driving Test will have a few other changes, particularly with the reverse manoeuvres. The turn in the road, colloquially know as a “three point turn” and the left reverse, known as the reverse around a corner are being dropped.
Candidates will now either be asked to drive forward into a parking bay, reverse into a parking bay, or reverse park behind a car.
The 2 safety questions will now be asked on the move, rather than at the test centre.
The good news as far as candidates are concerned is the length of the test…………..it’s not changing!
