Kentish Express Ashford & District
Satnavs in tests
The UK driving test is set to feature satellite navigation and new manoeuvres from early 2017, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced.
At present, the ‘independent driving’ section of the test is just 10 minutes long, but the DVSA wants to extend this to 20 minutes and ask candidates to follow directions from a satellite navigation system, rather than following road signs.
A statement from the DVSA said: “These changes are designed to help reduce the number of collisions on higher risk roads – most fatal collisions are on this type of road, and using satnavs will open up routes to include these. More than half of car drivers are now using satnavs and the Government wants new drivers to be trained to use these safely.”
The new test will also see manoeuvres such as reversing around a corner replaced with “more real-life scenarios”, such as driving into and reversing out of a parking bay.
DVSA chief executive Gareth Llewellyn said: “Great Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world. But there is scope to do more to keep road users safe – particularly newly qualified drivers.
“Making sure the test better assesses a driver’s ability to drive safely and independently is part of our strategy to help every driver through a lifetime of safe driving.”
The changes to the test are subject to the outcome of research and feedback from a six-week consultation which closes on August 25 but the proposals seem to have the backing of the driver training industry.
Mark Peacock, head of driving school BSM, said: “The proposed changes to the practical driving test – particularly the extended independent driving and use of a satnav – should help to produce better, safer motorists.”
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “We know that new drivers are a higher risk on the roads, therefore we need to better prepare them for real-world driving. These changes will test drivers in a more realistic manner which is essential once their L plates are removed.”