After a five-month trial, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that it will be introducing three important changes to the test from tomorrow – Monday, 24 November.

First, there will be a reduction in the number of stops during the test, dropping from four to three. Second, the frequency of emergency stops will also be reduced significantly. The current ratio of emergency stops is one in three tests – this will be changed to one in every seven.

The DVSA says that the need to find roads that are suitable for emergency stops to be carried out safely has been impacting which routes can be used during the test both in terms of numbers and distance.

Finally, more time will be given to driving on rural routes and faster-moving roads in the independent driving segment.

Reduce risk

The reason for shifting focus to faster roads and rural routes is because so many young people are dying on our roads each year. According to data from a House of Commons Library briefing, 48% of crashes that led to serious injury or death involved drivers aged between 17-24.

The aim is to test learners on how they drive on these road types to ensure they have the skills needed to navigate them safely and confidently.

“To keep all road users safe, it’s crucial that the practical driving test assesses learners on the skills required to drive in the real world.”

• Amanda Lane, DVSA Head of Driver Testing & Driver Training Policy

Clear evidence

The changes have been trialled at 20 test centres to measure their success. After extending the trial from three to five months, it soon became evident to the agency the new approach works.

The changes have also proved to be popular with examiners involved in the trial according to feedback the DVSA received:

“The reduction in normal stops has allowed the test to flow more fluently.”

“The changes better reflect more realistic driving conditions.”

“At first, I thought the changes were a bit unnecessary, we already had routes covering high-speed and rural roads. But including those roads in all tests, instead of relying mainly on town driving, is a much better reflection of real-world conditions.”

What it means for you

The changes will not impact on the test you take – it will still run for the same duration and you can still expect to be tested on all the essential skills.

However, you should notice that the experience is smoother and more reflective of what it’s like to drive in the real world. If you have any queries, ask your driving instructor.

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