Safe Speed Forums

Driving test shake-up 'will be a major overhaul'
By David Millward, Transport Editor
Last Updated: 9:55AM BST 07/05/2008

The biggest shake-up of the driving test in more than 50 years is set to be unveiled by the Government today.
A long-awaited consultation paper will outline radical changes aimed at better assessing whether a candidate is fully prepared to take to the roads.

The measures are designed to cut the number of deaths and injuries caused by novice motorists.

Ministers have decided to focus on the how young motorists are trained before they take their test - and on the test itself - rather than on imposing curbs once a full licence is issued.

As a result this is expected to see a major overhaul to the practical test which has been have been largely unchanged since 1947.

This could see some manoeuvres being taken out of the test itself. Instead it could be left to driving instructors to certify that the candidate is capable of performing them before they even sit the exam.

They are also likely to be given less “turn by turn” instructions. Instead they could be told to follow road signs to a destination.

This, it is believed, would give a more realistic appraisal of a candidate’s ability to cope with real life driving situations.

It is also intended to tackle the way in which young drivers are taught, with instructors often taking them repeatedly around a well-established test route. Stricter standards are also expected to be set for driving instructors as a result of the overhaul.

The changes are also expected to include the need for candidates to take a number of lessons from a Government-approved instructor.

This would stop parents giving their children instruction, although they would still be free to take them out onto the road for additional practice.

Other changes expected to be unveiled today are expected to include driving instruction being included as part of vocational training offered to teenagers who stay at school beyond the age of 17.

The plans have caused some concern among driving instructors, including Chris Fanshawe, who is also an author on the subject.

“Until now the way in which driving instructors have got high pass rates is to take pupils around the test route time after time,” he said.

“Even if they change the syllabus, there will be the same problem unless they overhaul how candidates are marked.

“At the moment it is done by a checklist and drivers can be failed for small technical errors such as stalling the car, rolling back a few inches on a hill or touching the kerb on a three point turn.

“What is essential is that the examiner takes an overall view of the candidate’s driving, rather than looking out for small errors.”