What the DVSA's driving test changes mean for learners

The DVSA has made changes to the UK driving test to allow more actual driving time, especially on the faster rural roads where most fatalities happen.

Did you know that the DVSA made some changes to the UK driving test recently?

60% of all deaths on UK roads happen on rural roads, and young drivers are especially at risk. To address this and make the driving test more relevant to real-life driving and the risks involved, the changes below have been introduced to allow more actual driving time, especially on faster roads.

• Reducing the number of stops during the test from 4 to 3.
• Lowering the frequency of emergency stop exercises from 1 in 3 tests to 1 in 7.
• Adding flexibility to the independent driving segment — this can be following a sat nav, traffic signs or both — to run for the full duration of the test.

Driving instructors are trained to support learners in developing the skills they need for a lifetime of safe driving on all types of roads and situations. Practice in the most challenging and potentially dangerous environments should be a core part of every instructor's syllabus.