Learner drivers will now have to be able to follow directions from a sat nav and drive into a parking space to pass their test.
Ministers have announced four changes to the current test which will come into force on 4 December.
Drivers will also be expected to answer vehicle safety questions while on the move and complete 20 minutes of independent driving rather than 10.
The RAC Foundation said it would be a “far more realistic assessment”.
Changing behaviours
The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which is in charge of running driving tests and approving instructors, said it wanted the test to have “more real life scenarios” such as driving into and reversing out of a parking space.
It said it wants the test to reflect the changing behaviours of drivers.
Manoeuvres such as “reverse around a corner” will be replaced in the new test and examiners will test a driver’s ability to use a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs.
About half of all car drivers now have a sat nav and using them teaches drivers to better manage distractions, the DVSA said.
The “show me” and “tell me” question at the beginning of the test will become a “show me” question while driving such as asking candidates to use the rear windscreen heater.
The DVSA said increasing the time candidates had to do independent driving would allow the examiner to better assess the driver’s ability to drive safely on high risk roads.
Currently, learner drivers spend a large amount of test time on low risk roads such as housing estates.
Transport minister Andrew Jones said despite the UK having some of the safest roads in the world, the government was “always looking to make them safer”.
Mr Jones said: “Ensuring the driving test is relevant in the 21st century - for example, the introduction of sat navs, will go a long way towards doing this.”
Evolving technology
The DVSA said a public consultation on the changes received almost 4,000 responses, with 71% agreeing with asking candidates to follow directions from a sat nav.
Some 88% agreed with increasing the length of the independent driving part of the test, it said, while others agreed with the changes to the reversing manoeuvres and “show me” questions.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: "We are very supportive of the revisions DVSA is making to the practical driving test, which will mean candidates undergo a far more realistic assessment of their readiness to take to the road unsupervised.
"Much has changed since the first driving test was taken in 1935, and it must be right that the test evolves, just as the cars we drive are themselves changing to incorporate ever more driver assist technology such as inbuilt sat nav systems.
“Novice drivers need to demonstrate the right skills and driving style to cope with the new environment.”
In December 2016, the Department for Transport announced plans to allow learner drivers on the motorway. Results from this consultation will be released later this year.
Disabled Motoring UK also supports the changes because many disabled drivers use sat navs regularly.
Off you go then lads!
P.S. If Pat Hasler wants to enter his opinion via proxy, I’m sure switchlogic would love the task!
My person opinion is that I’m now wondering whether in 10 years, there will be a test to ensure I can raise a spoon to my lips, just to ensure I can feed myself…
Can’t any moron just programme and follow a sat-nav FFS, even Robroy manages it?
I think the bit about driving into a parking space and reversing out is the wrong way round but it’s probably an improvement anyway.
“examiners will test a driver’s ability to use a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs”
But isn’t drivers blindly following a sat-nav and ignoring road signs what’s currently causing a lot of problems
tachograph:
I think the bit about driving into a parking space and reversing out is the wrong way round but it’s probably an improvement anyway.
Well it is best to leave your boot facing out when unloading that shopping trolley!
tachograph: “examiners will test a driver’s ability to use a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs”
But isn’t drivers blindly following a sat-nav and ignoring road signs what’s currently causing a lot of problems
Given it says more than half of cars now have SatNav, and 90% of people have smartphone wouldn’t it be better to learn how to safely update your status whilst drinking your cappuccino? After all that is a more realistic everyday situation we all see.
Seriously. Sounds like a reasonable update. It doesn’t say “follow satnav whilst ignoring roadsigns”. It seems to accept people use satnav and shouldn’t be distracted by them. Maybe a question about “Your satnav says next left turn, but there is a red circular sign with a white bar. What should you do?”.
An incorrect answer would be punishable by death. After all the candidate would het a second chance to join us on the roads if it was merely a fail.
This has just got to be a wind up from Viz mag or some sort. A sat nav ffs, anyone can do that?? I suppose trying to teach some of the divs we have on the roads how to read a map would be too much of a challenge…facebook updates while negotiating a roundabout would be far more useful.
If DVSA brought out revisions to the HGV test like how to save time by preparing food on the move i’d be all for it, theres currently far too many swerving all over the place trying to do a simple task like peeling the spuds or baking a sponge cake, the test as it currently stands is pretty much useless…
Evil8Beezle:
My person opinion is that I’m now wondering whether in 10 years, there will be a test to ensure I can raise a spoon to my lips, just to ensure I can feed myself…
Can’t any moron just programme and follow a sat-nav FFS, even Robroy manages it?
Not every time, …you know I had to ring you. Anyway I’m grasping it I think, I’ve finally managed to switch it on myself, so I’ll give you another bell Mon morning.
What exactly is the difference between being told to “turn left” by an examiner, and "turn left’’ by a sat nav.
tachograph:
I think the bit about driving into a parking space and reversing out is the wrong way round but it’s probably an improvement anyway.
“examiners will test a driver’s ability to use a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs”
But isn’t drivers blindly following a sat-nav and ignoring road signs what’s currently causing a lot of problems
That is what they will be looking for - to see if the learner can do both at the same time
tachograph: “examiners will test a driver’s ability to use a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs”
But isn’t drivers blindly following a sat-nav and ignoring road signs what’s currently causing a lot of problems
^This.
I seriously hope that’s just poor reporting/phrasing, cos if they’re going to teach learners / new drivers to blindly follow sat-navs, and let them on motorways… frankly we’re all ■■■■■■!
They should be teaching them the exact opposite, not to blindly follow them, and to use them in conjunction with roadsigns. I’m sure the local instructors/examiners could amongst themselves find routes that sat-navs will use inappropriately, and that the students should be taught to read the road (and signs) and take appropriate action, rather than just blindly following the ■■■■■■■ thing.
I realise not every test area has a motorway but for those that do motorway driving as part of a test would be beneficial and perhaps a simulator for those areas without could suffice. Bay parking is a great idea and there’s no need to teach kids how to use a sat nav as they’ll better than us oldies with that kind of stuff anyway.
Obviously the trick will be to take the test in a very basic car with no gadgets like satnavs or heated screens. It took me weeks of regular driving to negotiate all the gizmos on my new car; how could a learner cope in a car they may never have driven before.
I am all in favour of an update, but maybe we should have been consulted…
This just illustrates how out of touch these muppets are.
Sat in their plush ivory tower style office boardroom in a meeting.
‘‘Item 1, How to revise and improve the driver training and test situation anybody any suggestions?’’
''What about motorways, we could stress the importance of lane discipline, the awareness of potential dangers of a car having to share a motorway with 44 tonne trucks, side swiping.
Giving good time and notice when leaving and joining a M.way
More roundabout training, the standard of that is atrocious.
We could do probationary licences for 12 months with re.tests.
There are all sorts of changes and improvements we could implement, what do you think Mr Chairman’’
‘‘Nah, all it needs is a bit of sat nav training, and how to park your car in Asda car park…Next item’’
I see they are also axing the three point turn and reverse round a corner.
Yeah that sounds like a great idea. Lets not bother teaching them things you need to know for every day driving to get out of tricky situations to make room for knowing how to press a few buttons so they dont get lost. The irony is if they DO get lost they wont know how to turn around without finding a roundabout.
The way some drivers (term used loosely) behave today it would make better sense to give in and make it part of the test to prove you can update your facebook and drive at the same time. At least that way they will get tips on how to do it better rather than them over thinking their skillset and ploughing up the embankment or into a hedge
robroy:
More roundabout training, the standard of that is atrocious.
My cousin thought she’d be smart and take her lessons and test in an area that was quiet, had 2 sets of traffic lights, had no roundabouts, dual carriageways, major junctions or anything like that.
Trouble was, she didnt think long term. She passed her test then next day went out all smiles to drive to her work. Problem was she only had driving experience on quiet A roads and wasnt quite prepared for the 0730am Glasgow rush hour where its dog eat dog and less than 24 hours after passing her test she lost her bottle at a roundabout because she had no idea how to use it let alone when it was mobbed, shot out in a gap in traffic that wasnt big enough and got side swiped by a 7.5 tonner.
bald bloke:
I realise not every test area has a motorway but for those that do motorway driving as part of a test would be beneficial and perhaps a simulator for those areas without could suffice. Bay parking is a great idea and there’s no need to teach kids how to use a sat nav as they’ll better than us oldies with that kind of stuff anyway.
Bay parking was in the test before but it was a reverse in, I can’t see how driving in is an improvement at all. I always reverse into spaces, much easier to get out of.
I cannot see the logic behind it other than ‘most people do it now’, which has to be the stupidest reason for implementing something into a test I’ve ever heard
I know it’s been stated to death, but I also think there is a great need for the HGV training course and test to be revised, judging by some of the limp dicks ‘‘driving’’ trucks lately.
Especially with emphasis to sharing the road with other trucks with safety, empathy and common courtesy (as it always was) …and definitely with a reference to Sat navs NOT being the Gospel be all and end all, but an aid to initiative.
Anyway I’m grasping it I think, I’ve finally managed to switch it on myself, so I’ll give you another bell Mon morning.
