The DVSA has recently begun a three-month trial to update practical driving tests across the UK, in a bid to reduce casualties involving young drivers. Learners in selected locations across the country will be encountering new driving test routes, which will involve real-world experience on rural and high-speed roads.
The pilot scheme comes as a result of alarming safety figures which show that almost half (48%) of all young driver casualties take place on rural roads – the most hazardous high-speed environments for motorists with little to no experience.
The trial will continue until August 2025 and will impact 20 driving test centres across the country, including in cities like Cambridge, Cardiff, Oxford and Middlesbrough. It is thought that thousands of learner drivers will be affected by the changes.
The DVSA has confirmed that the duration of practical tests, and what is currently included, will not change. However, three significant updates to the structure of test routes are being introduced, which includes the following:
- The amount of stops during tests will decrease from four to three, which means that more time can be spent driving on high-speed routes and rural roads.
- Emergency stops during tests will occur less frequently, as a result of improved car safety standards such as the mandatory anti-lock braking system (ABS).
- Examiners will have the versatility to prolong the independent driving section of tests, using satellite navigation which may be used throughout any given test.
The DVSA has stated that the new changes have been put in place to better reflect “real-world” driving conditions, and to make learners more prepared for challenges after passing their driving tests.
Test centres involved in the three-month trial will have up to four participating examiners, and DVSA officials will be in touch with all learners with upcoming bookings at these centres to talk through the changes and provide reassurance.
After the trial ends in August, the DVSA intend to share the results of the trial with the driving instruction industry.
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