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Driving test changes from December 2017: official DVSA guide

Half of drivers think new practical test should include cyclist awareness

New driving test comes into force in December, but many think it's a missed opportunity...
by Sarah Barth
Sat, Jul 01, 2017 07:35
3

One in three drivers do not think proposed changes to the UK driving test, to be brought in at the end of the year, go far enough.

The practical test is having an overhaul on 4th December 2017, but 33 per cent of motorists feel it could go further to promote road safety.

The Government hopes to make the practical test more up to date and reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on UK roads.

This is especially aimed at those between the ages of 15 and 19 of whom a quarter of deaths are caused by road collisions.

And two in five claim that poor driving is caused by new motorists who have not been taught necessary road skills, according to a new survey.

Changes to the driving test, December 2017
  •  Reversing around a corner -  Removed
  •  Turn in the road (three point turn) - Removed
  •  Increasing independent driving to 20 minutes -  Added
  •  Following directions from a sat nav -  Added   
  •  Answering vehicle safety questions while driving  - Added   
  •  Pulling up on the right-hand side of the road and reversing two car lengths - Added
  •  Reversing out of a parking bay - Added

But the research from Confused.com reveals the planned changes have been met with a mixed response from drivers.

Drivers claim learners would also benefit from getting to grips improved cyclist awareness (49%), motorcyclist awareness (44%), and more experience with urban driving (29%) and rural driving (28%).

And according to drivers, teachings should include mobile phone use (60%), roundabout (57%) and indicating etiquette (52%), and cutting in from a closed lane (48%).

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said: “We hope that the new test will help new drivers to adapt to the modern conditions of our roads, especially through the independent driving task and using a sat nav.

“To make the roads safer, drivers believe more practical changes should have been included in the new updates set to be implemented in December. To help improve the quality of driving on our roads, there is a valid argument that new drivers should be taught general road etiquette and how to treat fellow drivers. This could help to minimise stress levels, road rage, and the risk of accidents, providing all drivers an easy ride.”

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Confused.com

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3 comments

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
1 like

Reversing into a spot at the side of a road (that is acute angled/herringbone) in the flow of traffic is not always possible because people simply drive up your arse even when you might indicate that you are alighting.

I agree it's better to be able to drive straight out rather than not however some instances it's nigh on impossible. with parking bays in car parks there is simply no excuse whatsoever to drive in forwards however.

Still, removing reversing skills for around corners is ludicrous because it has the most amount of observations and car control all at the same time.

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 6 years ago
1 like

Having to reverse out of a parking spot merely indicates an inability to plan ahead or awareness that you have a responsibility as a driver to think of the safety of pedestrians and other road users.

Always park so as to leave frontwards.

1. Better visibilty during a hazardous manouvere. Reversing into the traffic flow is far more risky than reversing out of it.

2. When you arrive, to park, your screens are more likely to be clear so do the hazardous manouvere when you can see properly. When you come to leave your screens may be rained on or misted up.

3. Manouvering on a warm engine is more mechanically sympathetic.

4. Pedestrians are more likely to walk behind you when reversing out of a parking space. They are more likely to be aware of a car reversing into a space.

5. You never know when a quick getaway might be needed.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
1 like

10 hours on how not to drive like a cunt.

then a psyche test.

10 hours of theory/practical why driving at a speed you can stop well within the distance you can see to be clear is one of the most important aspects of driving. To include speed limits are LIMITS not fucking targets and driving with the flow of traffic is bollocks, immitating what other morons are doing (going too fast) is herd mentality and why people switch off and then do dumb shit (which happens tens of millions of times a year)

Improved hazard perception/reaction test

Specific Eyesight test (which needs renewing every two years for all drivers)

Minimum of 20 hours independant driving in all conditions/all roads

Minimum of 5 lessons on how to drive around vulnerable road users, pedestrians, cyclists, equines, emphasis on rights of vulnerable roads and responsibility.

Removing basic driving skills like how to turn in a road and how to reverse round a corner just shows you how utterly ridiculous this all is, clearly being able to drive distracted (whilst operating an electronic device) is more important, totally retarded!

Government simply do not care about driving standards and road safety, wankers!

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