Change to UK Test- Expect The Same Here

brian076

Candidates taking their driving tests from today are being asked to follow, for around 10 minutes, a route that they will be shown in advance. Alternatively, candidates may be asked to follow signs to a destination. The number of driving manoeuvres is also falling from two to one and from now on, the Driving Standards Agency will no longer publish test route maps online.

According to the DSA, the new-look test will better allow examiners to assess whether drivers are ready to drive unsupervised. It stressed that learners can still ask for reminders to help them remember the route, and that they will not be failed for getting lost.

"The test is being improved to help produce safer drivers, but that doesn't mean it's getting any harder," claimed DSA chief driving examiner, Trevor Wedge. "We know many instructors are already teaching independent driving."

Peter Rodger, chief examiner for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, welcomed the change and said it would indicate how candidates coped with "an integral part of day to day driving."

Road safety minister Mike Penning, said: "We want all new drivers to be able to drive safely and independently and are considering how both training and testing can be improved to achieve this."

The Association of British Insurers, meanwhile, is calling for a minimum learning period for new drivers of at least one year. The ABI said that in a poll of 2,500 people, three quarters thought that not allowing learners to take the test for 12 months would help reduce high death and serious injury rates among young motorists.

ADIDriving

This style of test has been in use in various other countries for several years. It idea is that the test candidate would be asked, ' Do you know how to get to X (somewhere several kilometers away).' Then the test candidate chooses which route to take and drives.

That would be a much better way to do it. Then you would not know what to expect and therefore would show if you were a good driver.

jendafer1

I'm presuming that it hasnt changed to that way in the Irish test? They will give notice if they change it over right?! I have my test in a few weeks and havent practiced this type of driving. Although I am quite familiar with my test area, having this thrown out me without prior knowledge would really throw me off!

Captain Havoc

jendafer1 wrote: »

I'm presuming that it hasnt changed to that way in the Irish test? They will give notice if they change it over right?! I have my test in a few weeks and havent practiced this type of driving. Although I am quite familiar with my test area, having this thrown out me without prior knowledge would really throw me off!

No they haven't but that would be so much easier, you have to do one manouver so either a reverse or a turnabout not both. Driving to a destination sounds like a whole easier ball game, not having to pay attention to instructions, I was really nervous on my last test and nearly missed a turn and ended up doing it a bit fast. If I fail again, I'm off across the water to do it

MascotDec85

Captain Havoc wrote: »

No they haven't but that would be so much easier, you have to do one manouver so either a reverse or a turnabout not both. Driving to a destination sounds like a whole easier ball game, not having to pay attention to instructions, I was really nervous on my last test and nearly missed a turn and ended up doing it a bit fast. If I fail again, I'm off across the water to do it

If you aren't fully aware of the area you'd have to pay close attention to road signs (you should be anyway) to get you to your destination so there isn't much more of an advantage imo.

I really can't see them making this easy

Captain Havoc

MascotDec85 wrote: »

If you aren't fully aware of the area you'd have to pay close attention to road signs (you should be anyway) to get you to your destination so there isn't much more of an advantage imo.

I really can't see them making this easy

10 minutes of driving from the test centre is hardly going to be on roads you're unfamiliar with.

MascotDec85

Captain Havoc wrote: »

10 minutes of driving from the test centre is hardly going to be on roads you're unfamiliar with.

You'd think so wouldn't you
But, from experience, the amount of people who are totally unprepared for their test would frighten you!

ADIDriving

Captain Havoc wrote: »

you have to do one manouver so either a reverse or a turnabout not both.

Not sure if I am misinterpreting you. But just to be clear for everyone. You currently have to do both.
It is all explained on this page.
http://www.adidriving.ie/pre-tests

Captain Havoc

ADIDriving wrote: »

Not sure if I am misinterpreting you. But just to be clear for everyone. You currently have to do both.
It is all explained on this page.
http://www.adidriving.ie/pre-tests

We're not talking about the Irish one, we're talking about the English one. The details are in the first post of this thread.

ADIDriving

The thread title does say, expect the same here. The quote you referenced asked if the same was happening here. I felt the point needed to be clarified.
PS The Irish test will be more like that in 2011 / 2012.