The DVSA is starting a three-month trial period of changes to the driving test in an initial group of 20 test centres across the UK.
There are three specific changes that affect the structure of the driving test, but not the content of what learners need to take on.
The changes have been sparked by data showing that 48% of casualties in collisions involving young car drivers take place on rural roads, compared to 42% for other age groups.
This has led to a renewed focus on test conditions that replicate ‘real-world’ driving situations, including driving on rural roads.
They are designed to allow more time on rural and high-speed roads, without affecting what actual content or skills the learners need to study or practice. Here’s a closer look at what’s in store.
Which driving test centres are involved in the trial?
Here’s the full list of which driving test centres will be involved in the trial.
- Avonmouth
- Bishopbriggs
- Bolton
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Dudley
- Halifax
- Hendon
- Hereford
- Hornchurch
- Isleworth
- Maidstone
- Middlesbrough
- Musselburgh
- Norris Green,
- Norwich (Peachman Way)
- Nottingham (Chilwell)
- Oxford
- Portsmouth
- Wakefield
Officials will be reaching out to those with tests booked at these centres to offer reassurance and answer any questions about the upcoming changes.
What are the changes to the driving test?
Here is the full list of new DVSA rules being trialled across the country.
Reducing the number of stops during the driving test
Where in current tests, learners must complete four stops, they will now only do three under the new three-month trial.
This is because these stops need to take place on lower-risk roads with lower speed limits and the time to find these areas limits the distance that can be covered on a test.
Reducing the number of stops from four to three aims to increase flexibility for test routes to spend more time on higher-speed roads, including rural roads.
Changing the amount of emergency stop tests
Emergency stops, much like normal stops, must also be carried out on lower-risk roads with lower speed areas, which once again limits the distance that can be covered on tests.
That means that the number of emergency stops will also be reduced from one in three driving tests to just one in seven.
Offering the choice to increase the time of independent driving on the sat nav
As it stands, tests include a period of independent driving using the sat nav for 20 minutes, but this will now be increased to the entirety of the test.
This is also in aid of recreating real-world scenarios, where many drivers use sat navs while driving.
The trial of these changes will continue for three months and then the findings will be studied. Depending on what results are found, these new changes could become the standard for all test centres.
