Changes to the Test 2017

“Hi Anne, I am bursting with pride for Jess! I really don’t think we could have done this without you. I was happy to support from the sidelines but it was all down to you. I really am so grateful to you for everything and for giving Jess the confidence to believe in herself. Love Lisa xx” Mum of Jess 

Changes to the Driving Test 2017

The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) made four changes to the driving test in England, Scotland and Wales on Monday 4th December, 2017.

1. The independent driving part of the test has increased to 20 minutes

During half of the test you have to drive independently without turn-by-turn directions from the driving examiner, instead reading road signs one by one as they are given by the examiner, or following directions from a Sat Nav. One in five tests gets road signs, whilst four in five tests gets Sat Nav. We need to be ready for either.

2. Following directions from a Sat Nav

During the independent driving part of the test, most candidates are now asked to follow directions from a Sat Nav. The examiner will provide the Sat Nav and set it up. You won’t need to set the route – the examiner will do this for you. You can’t follow directions from your own Sat Nav during the test – you have to use the one supplied by the examiner.

You’ll be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you’re going if you’re not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a fault while doing it.

One in 5 driving tests won’t use a Sat Nav. You’ll need to follow traffic signs instead.

3. Reversing manoeuvres 

The ‘reverse around a corner’ and ‘turn-in-the-road’ manoeuvres are now no longer tested.

You’ll now be asked to do one of 4 possible reversing manoeuvres:

4. Answering a ‘Vehicle Safety’ question while you’re driving

The examiner will ask you two Vehicle Safety questions during your driving test – these are known as the ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ Questions. You’ll be asked the:

  • ‘Tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving
  • ‘Show me’ question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving – for example, showing how to wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers

The pass mark, length of test and cost has not changed.

The pass mark has stayed the same. So, you’ll pass your test if you make no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. The examiner still marks the test in the same way, and the same things still count as faults. The overall length of the driving test has not changed. You still drive for around 40 minutes. The driving test cost has also stayed the same, £62 or £75 for evening and weekend tests.

Watch this quick video about the 2018 driving test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dZRbU2MiDk

Motorway Driving

Historically, learner drivers have not been permitted on motorways. However, as of June 2018, learner drivers are now entitled to take driving lessons on motorways before they pass their practical test, although this is voluntary.

Lessons on a motorway must only be taken with an approved driving instructor (ADI) and in a car fitted with dual controls. It is up to the driving instructor to decide when the learner driver is competent enough to have a motorway lesson.

Allowing learner drivers to have lessons on motorways helps to make sure more drivers know how to use motorways safely. The changes allow learner drivers to:

  • get broader driving experience before taking their driving test
  • get training on how to join and leave the motorway, overtake and use lanes correctly
  • practice driving at higher speeds
  • put their theoretical knowledge into practice

Why the changes to the Practical Test were made

Road collisions are the biggest killer of young people. They account for over a quarter of all deaths of those aged between 15 and 19. The DVSA wants to make sure that training and the driving test reduce the number of young people being killed in collisions.

The changes mentioned above have been made because:

  • most fatal collisions happen on high-speed roads (not including motorways) – changing the format of the test will allow more of these types of roads to be included in driving test routes
  • 52% of car drivers now have a sat nav – DVSA wants new drivers to be trained to use them safely
  • research has shown that new drivers find independent driving training valuable – they can relate it to driving once they’ve passed their test

The changes were supported by the public

The changes follow:

  • a public consultation that over 3,900 people took part in
  • a trial of the changes involving over 4,300 learner drivers and over 860 driving instructors

The proposals were widely supported by the public. The results of the consultation show that:

  • 88.2% agreed with increasing the length of the independent driving part of the test
  • 70.8% agreed with asking candidates to follow directions from a sat nav
  • 78.6% agreed with the plans to change how the reversing manoeuvres are tested
  • 78.4% agreed with asking the ‘show me’ question while the candidate is driving

Helping you through a lifetime of safe driving…

Transport Minister, Andrew Jones, said,

“Our roads are among the safest in the world. However, road collisions are the biggest killer of young people.

These changes will help us to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads and equip new drivers with the skill they need to use our roads safely.”

DVSA Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said,

“DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving.

Making sure the driving test better assesses a driver’s ability to drive safely and independently is part of our strategy to help you stay safe on Britain’s roads.

It’s vital that the driving test keeps up to date with new vehicle technology and the areas where new drivers face the greatest risk once they’ve passed their test.”