DRIVING STANDARDS
AGENCY News Release (DSA 34/08) issued by The Government News
Network on 6 August 2008
The consultation
period on Learning to Drive - which considers possible changes to
the way new drivers are trained and tested - has been extended by
an extra 30 days and will now conclude on Monday, October 6.
Launched on May 7, 2008, by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, the
consultation has been extended to allow extra time for
participation by young people, especially those in education, at
universities, colleges and schools.
The consultation is being conducted by the Driving Standards
Agency and DSA chief executive, Rosemary Thew explained: "We
have had good turnouts with strong attendance at events from those
involved in learner driver training and other road safety professionals.
"However, one of our main target audiences are the younger
generation and a mainstay of this consultation is about better
driver education at an earlier stage and how we can help learners
develop into safe and responsible drivers."
"The information obtained from this consultation will be
used to help reform and re-shape our national driving test. This
is an important process and that is why we are extending the
consultation period to reach out to and attract greater
participation from younger audiences."
The DSA consultation is already backed by motor racing star David
Coulthard who is urging road users to have their views heard on
proposals for improved driver training and testing. David wants
road users to speak to the DSA during the five-month nationwide consultation.
He commented: "One in five deaths on British roads involves
newly-qualified drivers. I was appalled to hear that the
statistics are so high. I know how much young people enjoy the
freedom that driving brings, but it is also a huge responsibility
that must be taken seriously.
"Changing the way that people are taught to drive, and
making the test more real, can only be of benefit. The Government
has set out proposals to change this system - and now it's up
to you to have your say. We all use our roads in one way or
another, so it is important you register your view before the
consultation closes."
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is keen to look at the way drivers
are trained and tested with the objective of ensuring
newly-qualified drivers possess the safety skills needed to drive
on Britain's busy roads.
During the consultation the DSA aims to gather opinions on a
range of proposals, including;
* Changes to the theory test
* Making the practical test more realistic
* Providing a pre driver qualification in road safety
* Introducing a student workbook
* Providing more information to help choose a driving instructor
* Further options for learning and qualifications
Visit http://www.dsa.gov.uk/learning
to drive to take part in the consultation and let us have your views.
Timing:
* Consultation on the proposals runs for 20 weeks up to October 6.
* Some trialing for new elements in the test is already in
progress, and work is advanced on drawing up a new syllabus.
* No changes will be made to the test until Ministers have fully
considered the results of the consultation and any proposed
changes have been assessed.
* The Driving Standards Agency plan that young people in Scotland
will be able to start studying for a foundation qualification in
safe road use from Autumn 2008. Other pieces of the programme -
such as changes to driving tests - could be in place within two or
three years.
Proposals for changing the test include:
* Updating the theory test to do more to assess a
student's understanding of safe driving, using new types of
questions such as case studies
* Considering whether the theory test question bank should
continue to be published.
* Introducing independent driving to the practical test when the
candidate is asked to set their own route for part of the test and
'situational judgement' when the candidate is asked to
explain what they did in a situation and why.
* Revising the number of manoeuvers in the practical test and the
way they are carried out
* Splitting the theory and practical tests into modules, to
enable learners to pass elements of the test as they learn and
better feedback at the end of the test, whether successful or not.
Background:
The Department for Transport announced plans in February 2007 to
consult on a fundamental reform of driver training and testing as
part of the second review of its road safety strategy.
The review promised a new framework for driver education,
training, testing and lifelong learning, including developing and
refreshing skills, remedial training, work-related driving and
support for drivers at various stages of their driving career to
develop and maintain safe driving for life.
Key facts about learning to drive (all for Great Britain)
* Two million people take a car driving test every year.
* The pass rate is 44%, so the average learner takes more than
two tests before passing.
750,000 people qualify for a license every year - three quarters
of these are under the age of 25.
* Current average cost of a lesson is approximately £21 - up to
£28 in London. The average learner has 52 hours of lessons and
spends £1,500 learning to drive.
* Current fees for the driving test (for a car) are £30 for the
theory test (which includes the hazard perception test); £56.50
for the practical test (£67 if you want an evening or weekend).
* A newly qualified male driver faces an insurance premium from
£1,200; and a female driver of same age faces a premium from £800.
* The current car driving test is in two parts:
1. the theory test - a multiple-choice answer knowledge
assessment (since 1996); and
2. a computer screen-based hazard perception test (since 2002).
The practical test - of general driving on the road and standard
manoeuvers - the three-point turn, reversing round a corner, and
emergency stop. This part of the test also includes an eye sight
test, and a 'show me-tell me' test of knowledge of the
car (since 2003)
Main points in reform proposals
The Government proposes to reform the way people learn to drive,
and the way they are tested. The proposed changes fall into 4 main areas:
1. An improved learning process, so that candidates are better
prepared for the test and beyond, without necessarily increasing
the costs of learning to drive
2. Improved and broader driving tests that give a more realistic
assessment of whether someone is ready to drive on their own
3. Further options for learning and qualifications to help
develop well-rounded drivers and
4. Better information about instructors and improved instructor training.
ENDS.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency * of
the Department for Transport. See http://www.dsa.gov.uk
2. The DSA's vision is "Safe Driving for Life"
with an overall mission to contribute towards a Government target
of achieving a 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or
seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group up to 24
years, by 2010.
3. Current information on road casualties is available from the
Department for Transport website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
4. The Agency's aim is to promote 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 an expected turnover of around
£199 million for the year 2008/9, fully funded by fee income and
revenue from its activities.
6. DSA employs over 2,700 staff, of which some 2,000 are driving
examiners based at over 400 test centres across mainland Great
Britain. In 2007/2008 the Agency conducted 1.8 million practical
tests for car drivers, over 95,000 vocational tests and 94,000
motorcycle rider tests. A total of 1.7 million theory tests were
carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were
around 43,600 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
7. DSA was one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an
online booking service. Candidates can book and manage their
theory and practical test appointments on line at http://www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest
* Executive agency:
An executive agency is semi-detached from its parent department
and manages its own budget with freedom from ad hoc, day-to-day
intervention and much of central, government-wide regulation. They
are run under the organisation and direction of a Chief Executive
recruited through open competition. An executive agency has
accountability for the performance of specific operational tasks
as a corporate unit, including focused performance targets set by
the parent department and personal accountability of the chief
executive for performance.
* Trading Fund:
A trading fund is a means of financing trading activities
undertaken by Government that would previously have been financed
by annual appropriation from Parliament. A trading fund permits
the establishment of a self-accounting unit that remains under the
control and management of Ministers and accountable to Parliament
through Ministers, but has greater freedom to manage its financial
affairs. Effectively that means the trading fund body can use its
income to settle its liabilities and retain year-end cash balances.
Establishing the trading fund does not alter the Agency's
constitutional position and it remains part of the Department for Transport.