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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Jessica Sansome

Driving tests are set to change from April - here's what's happening

From April, driving tests are set to change in a bid to boost accessibility.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced that from April 14, future drivers will sit a new UK driving theory test.

Instead of the written scenarios, learners will be asked three questions after watching a driving clip of up to 30 seconds.

They will be able to watch the clip as many times as they need before answering the multiple-choice questions.

Video clips may include a car being driven through a town centre or on a country road while questions may be asked around safe overtaking or why motorcyclists are considered vulnerable road users.

They say that the change is being implemented after research found learners with reading difficulties and disabilities felt more comfortable with video scenarios than written ones.

As a result, the DVSA worked worked with the National Autistic Society, the British Dyslexia Association and the British Deaf Association to help make the test more accessible.

DVSA chief driving examiner Mark Winn said: "Being able to drive can be life-changing and the DVSA is committed to helping everyone access the opportunities driving can offer.

"We have worked closely with road safety experts and learners to create a theory test which fully tests a candidate's knowledge of the rules of the road and is more accessible."

The exam currently involves 50 multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test.

Before a learner can take their practical test, they must pass both sections of the theory test.

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