News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 08 September 2010
• Details of test
routes to be withdrawn
• Skills boost for new drivers
• Countdown to independent driving
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.
Mike Penning said:
"We want new drivers to be able to drive safely and
independently and learning to drive test routes by rote
isn't the way to achieve this.
"Stopping the publication of test routes will help to
make sure that the driving test better reflects realistic driving
conditions and will give new drivers the skills and confidence
they need to stay safe on the roads."
DSA's Chief Driving Examiner Trevor Wedge said:
"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."
To better assess whether a learner driver is ready to drive
unsupervised, 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.
In January 2010, DSA published independent research showing that
with careful route design, candidates were able to complete the
independent driving tasks without any significant impact on pass
rates. Additional research found widespread support for inclusion
of independent driving in the practical test.
ENDS
To request an interview, please contact DSA press office on 0115
936 6135 or email pressoffice@dsa.gsi.gov.uk.
Isdn facility is available.
Notes to Editors
1. The report 'On the Road to Independence' is
available at: http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=694
2. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is one of the Executive
Agencies that forms the Motoring and Freight Services (MFS) group,
within the Department for Transport.
3. Information on road casualties is available from
dft.gov.uk
4. DSA promotes road safety through setting standards for
drivers, riders and trainers, testing drivers and riders fairly
and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving
Instructors; Large Goods Vehicle Instructors; Fleet Trainers;
`Driving Instructor Trainers and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers;
supervising Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) for learner
motorcyclists; and driver education and the provision of learning
resources.
5. DSA is a trading fund with planned turnover of £201.4
million in 2010/11, largely funded through fees and revenue from
other road safety initiatives. It delivers tests from over 400
practical driving test centres and 158 theory test centres.
6. DSA employs nearly 2,700 staff, of which almost 1,900 are
driving examiners. In 2009/10 DSA conducted 1.5 million practical
car tests, over 55,000 vocational tests. Over 8,500 motorcycle
tests were delivered from 1 April 2009 to 26 April 2009. On 27
April 2009 the new, two part motorcycle test was introduced.
50,778 module one tests and 37,866 module two motorcycle tests
were delivered between that date and 31 March 2009. A total of 1.5
million theory tests were carried out. At the end of 2009/2010
there were around 44,768 people on the Register of Approved
Driving Instructors.
7. DSA was one of the first Government agencies to introduce
an online booking service at direct.gov.uk/drivingtest
Contacts:
DSA Press office
Phone: 0115 936 6135
nds.dsa@coi.gsi.gov.uk