Comment: Independent driving is a welcome step forward
To help make the driving test more representative of real driving, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will no longer publish details of test routes, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.
Currently test routes used by each driving test centre are published online but this will stop when new routes are introduced at the beginning of October.
This change is being made to support the introduction of independent driving, which will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in more realistic driving situations rather than memorising a particular test route.
This decision has already met with approval from the Institute of Advanced Motorists:
“Making the test more true to life is a definite step forward – the more realistic the examination process the better. All new drivers have to learn that multi tasking – controlling the car, looking out for hazards and planning ahead while navigating – is an integral part of day-to-day driving. Driving instructors will no doubt learn the routes over time, and use them when teaching, but there is at least some reflection of reality in that most of us drive familiar routes most of the time,” says Peter Rodger, IAM Chief Examiner.
"Evidence shows that the biggest challenge newly qualified drivers face after passing their test is learning how to cope when they no longer have their instructor there to help and prompt them. We want to make sure that new drivers and riders are ready to make their own decisions when driving alone; learning how to do that in preparation for their test should lead to better and safer drivers,” commented DSA’s Chief Driving Examiner Trevor Wedge.
Independent driving will be introduced into the test on 4 October 2010. Candidates will drive for about 10 minutes, without step-by-step direction from their examiner. This will involve either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both. To help candidates visualise the directions, the examiner may also show them a simple diagram. The remainder of the test is unchanged.
See also:
No comments yet
