Back to Motoring news

Motoring news

Motoring news search

Search our archive of Motoring news.

		GO

Motoring news archive

Search our archive of Motoring
news by date.

2012

January
February
March
April
May

2011

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

2010

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

2009

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

2008

September
October
November
December

RSS feed

You can subscribe to receive the latest motoring news from Admiral with RSS.

	Motoring news RSS feed

'Real life' element to toughen up driving test

04/06/2010

Learners are set to face a more demanding examination later this year when the driving test incorporates an 'independent driving' component.

The new 10-minute section is designed to mimic the conditions faced in the real world when drivers must navigate between two points using their own resources - instead of simply responding to step-by-step commands from the examiner.

It is believed that learners will have to use road signs or remember directions to complete a route, the Independent reports. This will follow a briefing from the examiner on the journey they are expected to complete.

The new measure - to be introduced in October - is designed to recreate the situation of getting lost, and to address the suggestion that the current test does not equip learners sufficiently for the unaccompanied driving they will inevitably face if they are successful.

And even if they reach their required goal, drivers will reportedly have to perform a u-turn and retrace their steps to mimic taking a wrong turning.

According to the Independent, the revamped test is likely to be more demanding than the current version, which has a 42% pass rate. This slumped to 18% in testing which featured the independent driving element.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) hinted at the new element last week when it hailed the "road safety milestone" reached on 1 June, as the driving test turned 75. Chief driving examiner Trevor Wedge said the agency believed that the change "will lead to better and safer drivers".

The theory element of the test is set to remain.

And the Institute of Advanced Motorists - which last week called for an update to the driving test - welcomed the planned changes.

Chief examiner Peter Rodger said: "You take away the examiners' prompt to turn and instead have to work it out for yourself as you do in the real world.

"The changes will make the tests more realistic and increase the standard of those coming onto our roads."

However, Hugh Bladon, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, said that the new element of the test was "missing the point of stopping reckless drivers on the road", warning that it could simply add extra cost and time to the process of learning to drive.

Tweet