DVSA Introduces New Changes to Driving Tests to Improve Rural Road Safety
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has launched a new trial aimed at improving road safety for young drivers by giving them more experience on rural roads. According to GB News, the initiative, which began on [date], will affect thousands of learners at 20 driving test centres nationwide.
The trial, which will run until August 2025, is designed to better prepare new drivers for the challenging conditions they will face after passing their test by offering more "real-life" road experiences. GB News reports that the need for change comes after reports found that rural roads have been considered among the most dangerous high-speed roads for inexperienced drivers.
Statistics show that 48% of casualties in collisions involving young car drivers occur on rural roads, compared to 42% for other age groups. The trial aims to plug this safety gap by creating more realistic testing conditions that reflect "real-world" driving scenarios. Up to four examiners will participate at each of the 20 test centres throughout the UK, with the DVSA stating that the trial is designed to improve road safety by better replicating the challenging conditions new drivers face.
The trial will introduce three key changes to driving test routes without altering the content that learners need to know or the overall test duration. These changes include updates to the number of stops during the test, which will be reduced from four to three, allowing for more time on higher speed roads. Additionally, the frequency of emergency stops will change from one in three tests to one in seven, reflecting improvements in vehicle safety technology since Anti-lock Braking Systems became mandatory in new cars in 2004. The third change offers flexibility to extend the independent driving section using sat nav from the current 20 minutes to potentially the full test duration.
According to GB News, the trial will take place at test centres including Avonmouth, Cambridge, Cardiff, Hendon, Maidstone, Norwich, and Oxford, among others. The full list of 20 participating centres also includes Bishopbriggs, Bolton, Dudley, Halifax, Hereford, Hornchurch, Isleworth, Middlesbrough, Musselburgh, Norris Green, Nottingham (Chilwell), Portsmouth, and Wakefield.
The DVSA stressed that the changes have been designed to allow more time on rural and high-speed roads without altering what learners need to study or practice. Test content and duration will remain unchanged, with the DVSA contacting affected learners to provide reassurance about the modifications. Once concluded in early August 2025, the agency will share results and next steps with the industry.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander recently addressed the issue of rural road safety for new drivers as part of the Government’s broader road safety initiatives. When questioned by the Transport Committee about potential restrictions for new drivers, Alexander clarified: "We’re not currently considering a Graduated Driving Licence, which would restrict new drivers from driving with additional passengers in the car. More broadly, your question about things like night driving, rural collisions and the experience of rural driving that’s part of the work that is underway at the moment."
The changes will impact practical tests at roughly 20 different centres across the UK. The DVSA practical test trial will be in place until August 2025, and officials will contact learners with tests booked at these centres to reassure them about the changes.
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Source: GB News.
