the new driving test
Sarah Ganderton
In line with new EU guidelines, many European countries are currently updating their driving tests. The new test effective in The Netherlands since last year could be a huge influence on the new reforms to be announced in the UK.
75000 people currently qualify for a full driving licence each year in the UK. Three quarters of those new drivers are under the age of 25 and one in five will have an accident within the first 6 months of driving. With such statistics in mind, the government is looking to reform the driving test to make new drivers much safer on the roads.
News of what precisely is required in the reformed driving test will be announce by the Driving Standards Agency in June 2009 following consultations with groups involved in driving tuition including the Driving Instructors Association. These are some of the government’s proposals:
The Hazard Perception Test
This is assessed alongside the theory test before the practical driving test can be taken. Government proposals look set to turn the existing Hazard perception test into a three-dimensional experience in an effort to involve candidates more in the experience and to gain more from it.
Psychometric Profiling
Current driving tests assess driving skills, hand/eye/foot coordination, manoeuvring skills and knowledge of the Highway Code, but driver attitude is not assessed. In advance of government announcements, the DIA has made psychometric profiling available to its 14500 members to help them assess driving school candidates. This helps to provide information on personality specific training needs, to evaluate and address how personality traits such as concentration, attitude and patience levels could impact on a candidate’s ability to learn to drive.
Work Books
Suggested by the DSA as long ago as 2001, The DIA has approved the use of work books throughout a candidate’s learning. This could be signed off by the instructor to show progress made by the candidate in completing particular manoeuvres, and could be used to count towards the driving test itself in the same way as coursework impacts on exam results. Work books would help to show a candidates continuing ability while the test shows only the candidates ability on a given day. Such work books could even be used towards a proposed NVQ or City and Guilds qualification in driving education leading to further incentives for new drivers to continue learning about road safety after passing their test.
Resolving Traffic Issues
Candidates could be required to resolve traffic issues either through conversation with the examiner being given a case study as an example and asked to talk it through, or through a commentary on their own driving, explaining each decision as it is made along the way.
Independent driving
The DSA has suggested there should be an element of independent driving in the newly reformed test in order to assess a candidate’s ability and safe driving behaviour. This would include following a route either to a known destination, or following a list of instructions given at the beginning. This would be a more realistic test of how the candidate will perform when left alone to drive to work for instance. Manoeuvres could be assessed in a similar way with the candidate being advised which manoeuvre to carry out but independently deciding where and how to turn or park.
Environmentally Friendly Driving
The new Dutch test also includes an understanding on how to drive more efficiently, from checking tyre pressures, to efficient gear changing and anticipating traffic situations in advance, rather than using excessive braking. As well as being better for the environment, through using less fuel, driving more efficiently involves being more aware of the traffic and potential hazards all around so also leads to safer driving.
Mandatory P Plates
Green P-Plates are currently not a legal requirement in the UK though some drivers who have newly passed their test chose to apply them to their car to warn other drivers of their low skill level on the public roads. The DIA has suggested these should be made mandatory for new drivers for a particular period after their test.
References:
Driving Instructor (Magazine) - May/June 2009
Driving Magazine for the Advanced Driver and Rider - November 2008
www.direct.gov.uk/en/transport/highwaycode
