How’s My Driving? - Safe Driving Blog Tips

With approximately 1.6 million driving tests taken in the United Kingdom every year, new driving test legislation will undoubtedly have a ripple effect across the road safety community. This week the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced the following proposed changes to the practical driving test:

- Increasing the independent driving section to 20 minutes, previously only 10 minutes

- Requiring candidates to follow directions from a sat nav

- Replacing current manoeuvers such as ‘reverse around a corner’ with more real life scenarios such as driving into and reserving out of a car parking bay

- Requiring the candidate to answer a minimum of one vehicle safety question whilst driving, for example, asking how and why they would use their rear heated windscreen

DVSA Chief Driving Examiner, Lesley Young, said: “Research has shown that new drivers find ‘independent driving’ training valuable, as they can relate it to driving once they’ve passed their test.”

Here at How’s My Driving? we think these changes to the practical driving test will have a positive effect on road safety, as it will encourage a more ‘real life’ approach to learner driving. Do you agree? Voice your opinion in our Road Safety Community!