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UK Driving Tests Are Going To See Some Pretty Big Changes

UK Driving Tests Are Going To See Some Pretty Big Changes

Important for anyone planning to take their test.

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Some pretty big changes to British driving tests are going to be brought in before the end of the year.

Wannabe motorists will now be tested on their ability to use a sat-nav, rather than road signs - which I guess makes sense, since everyone uses one now anyway. And the time of 'independent driving' will be doubled, from 10 minutes to 20, according to the Mirror.

Do you think this new test seems harder or easier? Credit: PA

Reversing around a corner is out, but will be replaced with one of three manoeuvres including parking in a bay or parallel parking. But the length of time the test takes won't be changing and neither will the price.

I think probably the most important change is that everyone who took their test prior to 4 December will now say it was more difficult when they took theirs. Meanwhile everyone who takes it after this date will say there's no way those who passed previously would have managed it the 'new' way. A bit like GCSEs and O Levels.

Gareth Llewellyn, chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), said: "Great Britain's roads are among the safest in the world. But there is scope to do more to keep road users safe - particularly newly-qualified drivers.

"Making sure the test better assesses a driver's ability to drive safely and independently is part of our strategy to help every driver through a lifetime of safe driving."

The new test aims to encourage independence. Credit: PA

The changes have been introduced following a period of testing at centres across the UK.

Director of the RAC, Steve Gooding, reckons the changes are a good thing, to keep new drivers in touch with the modern world.

He said: "These proposed changes recognise that it is more important for candidates to demonstrate the capability to drive independently on high-risk roads than being able to reverse flawlessly into a quiet cul-de-sac.

"The new approach will be deemed a success if, in the longer term, it produces better-prepared drivers and we experience fewer road casualties.

"In the meantime we hope these common sense changes will be rolled out swiftly."

But if you're hoping that the new rules might make for an easy ride, then sorry to break it to you, but the pass mark is staying the same - no more than 15 'minor' faults and no serious or dangerous ones.

Source: Mirror

Featured Image Credit: Inbetweeners/Channel 4

Topics: Driving, Driving test, Cars