The driving test has undergone its biggest changes in over 20 years.

The Driver and vehicle standards agency (DVSA) has introduced a new format to combat the number of young people who are involved in fatal road accidents.

There were 1710 reported road deaths in the year ending June 2017 and with Road collisions accounting for over a quarter of all deaths of those aged between 15 and 19, the (DVSA) are acting to help prevent such incidents.

The driving test has been changed so that learners can be given a more realistic and modern representation on how to drive correctly.

The biggest change sees the independent drive being extended from 10 to 20 minutes with learners following directions given by a sat nav. However, 1 in 5 tests will not include the sat nav as part of the test.

 

Driving instructor Richard Capewell thinks it is a good idea to implement the sat nav but also shares his concerns about them. “All young drivers find the technology easier and it’s a natural progression for them because they adapt to technology quicker”

“However, it is about how to educate them to use it safely. I believe the more technology and distractions you have in a car, the worse your driving can be. You have less time to react to an immediate situation on the road if you keep glancing at your sat nav”

“All cars will be equipped with sat navs in the next 3 years, so I suppose it does make sense to implement them in to the test now”

Along with the independent segment of the test being changed, the manoeuvres are also being revamped to make the driving assessment more realistic.

Learners will no longer have to reverse around a corner or turn in the road as these have been replaced by:

• PullIing up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic
• Bay parking

The new manoeuvres are believed to be more essential to a learner. However, Mr. Capewell also expressed his concerns for one of the changes.

“We are teaching a skill that’s illegal and creating a precedent by it. Learners will think it’s a natural thing to do but it’s not. There are more effective ways to park at the side.”

“The driving exam is getting better but there still needs to be changes to make it safer”

One learner driver Millie Dickinson who has previously failed the old test is hopeful that the new changes will help succeed in passing but also improve her safety on the road.

“I have been learning how to use the sat nav and I actually find it easier than listening to the examiner because you can keep checking if you’re on the right path”

“Although, I do understand how you may lose concentration if you keep focusing on it more than the road”

“I think it will make roads safer because learners are gaining a fairer experience of a drive”

Only time will tell if this will be the biggest step forward in reducing the amount of young lives lost n the road.