New Style Driving Test
| New style driving test will 'deliver big safety benefits and save lives' says IAM RoadSmart Britain's biggest independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says the new look driving test, which it helped to design and evaluate will deliver 'big safety benefits and save lives' by including more real life situations and introducing new drivers to the latest technology. The plans were announced by the Government on 30 December last year and will take effect from today (4 December). The new format was test driven by thousands of leaners before it final implementation. Those who had taken the new test were more confident and crucially, for IAM RoadSmart, had undertaken slightly more driving on country roads and dual carriageways. It is well known that learners who practice more in a wider range of traffic situations make safer drivers in the long run. The changes include the following: Independent driving part of the test will increase from 10 to 20 minutes Following directions from a sat-nav Reversing manoeuvres will be changed (reverse around a corner and the three point turn will no longer be tested), but you will be asked to do one of three possible reversing manoeuvres instead including parking in a bay Demonstrating vehicle safety knowledge while you're driving Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: "Experts from IAM RoadSmart have helped to design and evaluate the new elements of the test and we are very excited about the road safety benefits it could deliver. "Our key aim was to ensure the test reflects the real world as much as possible and also encourages learners to gain experience of as wide a range of traffic situations as possible. By doubling the independent driving element of the test and introducing a sat-nav for an unknown route new drivers will have to practice more. "A common criticism of the old test was that it always used the same well known routes which L drivers could learn by rote! The new reversing manoeuvres replace the three point turn which no one ever used and dealing with a bay is much more like everyday parking. "Finally, asking questions whilst driving can help the learner to multi task and deal with passengers. New drivers with relevant skills and more experience can only be good news for road safety." |
You will be aware of my views as expressed when I replied to a post dated 8 November 'Driving Instructors Rally Against Changes to the Test'. However I would also like to clarify a few points in this particular post if assumptions or misunderstandings arise as a result of reading the above quotes.
ReplyDelete"By doubling the independent driving element of the test and introducing a sat-nav for an unknown route new drivers will have to practice more."
The driving part of the test lasts approximately 40 minutes, 20 of which will follow the sat nav.
(1) How much practise does one need to follow directions from a sat nav.
(2) If during the satnav part of the test directions are not followed turn by turn, it is not a fault or result in a fail.
(3) One fifth of 'Independent Driving' will not be performed by following the satnav but by following a route via road signs.
"A common criticism of the old test was that it always used the same well known routes which L drivers could learn by rote!"
(1)Half of the route will still be conducted in the same manner as before.
(2) The satnav being used for the test is the TomTom Start 52 and will have pre-programmed 20 minute sections of the various routes. The same satnav is being purchased by driving instructors! Why???? Because you can Save, retrieve and edit your routes!!!! It won't be long before some bright spark will be putting these on the internet for down load.
Bill M