24 August 2010

Get ready for independent driving

From 4 October 2010 your practical driving test will include a section of ‘independent driving’.

During your test you’ll have to drive by either following traffic signs, a series of directions, or a combination of both, for about ten minutes.

If you're asked to follow a series of verbal directions, you'll be shown a diagram to help you.

It doesn't matter if you don't remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Independent driving is not a test of your orientation and navigation skills. Driving independently means making your own decisions - this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going.

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Independent driving video on YouTube

Watch independent driving in action in this video on YouTube. It shows how the examiner will give you verbal directions, and how they will ask you to follow traffic signs. 

Watch the independent driving video on YouTube

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Independent driving: what the trial candidates thought

Find out what candidates and driving instructors who took part in the trials thought about independent driving.

Watch the video on YouTube to see what candidates thought

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'Are you ready?' video

DSA's 'Are you ready?' video - the official step-by-step explanation of the driving test - has been updated so you know what the whole test will look like from 4 October.

Watch 'Are you ready?' on YouTube

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Driving tests are changing: Directgov news report

There's a special news report from Directgov and ITN about the change to the driving test. The video includes details of what's happening and why, and an interview with Sandra Dodson, DSA deputy chief driving examiner.

Watch the Directgov news report.

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Taking your practical test

Information about taking your practical test has been updated on Directgov and Business Link. The information explains what will happen during your test.

These pages have been updated on Directgov:

• practical test for cars explained
• car and trailer practical driving test
• motorcycle practical test explained
• the practical driving test for buses and lorries
• the Cardington Special Test

These pages are being updated on Business Link:

• what you'll be tested on during part two of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• what's involved in the large goods vehicle instructors' driving ability test?
• Driver CPC initial qualification part three - practical test of driving ability
• what the taxi or private hire vehicle driving assessment involves

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Poster in driving test centres

Posters explaining the change to the practical driving test will be in all practical driving test centres.  

• download the poster (PDF, 216Kb)

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Independent driving and dyslexia

As part of the preparations for the introduction of independent driving, DSA has been considering what reasonable adjustments need to be made for people with special needs.

DSA has enjoyed a useful and constructive collaboration with the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) to look at this area.

BDA’s chair, Margaret Malpas, has written an article about independent driving and people with dyslexia. The article explains what the issues are for people with dyslexia and the adjustments that are being put in place.

Read Margaret's article

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9 June 2010

Independent driving explained

From 4 October 2010, learner drivers will be tested on independent driving as part of the practical driving test.

During their test, candidates will have to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both.

To help candidates understand where they’re going, the examiner may show them a diagram.

It doesn't matter if candidates don't remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Watch a news report about independent driving on Directgov.

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Pass rates

Some newspapers have claimed that independent driving would lead to a fall in the driving test pass rate. This claim is based on early research where conditions did not reflect the eventual design of the new element of the test.

Subsequent trials with a larger number of participants and more closely reflecting the conditions in the planned new test showed no significant fall in the pass rate.

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Length of driving tests and test fees

The length of driving tests and test fees will not change when independent driving is introduced in October. Driving test fees can be found at direct.gov.uk/drivingtestfees.

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Categories of tests

All categories of practical driving test will include around 10 minutes of independent driving.

For approved driving instructor (ADI) qualifying tests, this will be in the part two (driving ability) test.

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Manoeuvres

From October, car test candidates (category B) will have to complete one reversing manoeuvre rather than two. The manoeuvre will be selected at random by the examiner from:

• turning in the road
• reversing around a corner
• reverse parking (either on the road, or into a bay)

An emergency stop exercise will still be conducted on one in three tests.

Manoeuvres in all other categories of tests will not be changed. Candidates for the ADI part two (driving ability) test will still have to complete all the manoeuvres.

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Special needs

DSA already has procedures to identify special needs and disabilities when tests are booked online or over the phone. The examiner then knows which type of special needs the candidate has so reasonable adjustment can be made.

For independent driving this could be asking the candidate which method they prefer for the section – in other words, following signs, or a series of directions (a maximum of three) which are supported by a diagram approved by the British Dyslexia Association. In some cases this will be shortened to just two directions.

DSA recognise there are many ways of developing perfectly road-safe coping strategies in order to navigate from A to B and is satisfied that examiners will manage the situation accordingly. Independent driving is a significant road safety addition to the practical driving test but will not prevent candidates from holding a licence.

DSA is determined that no member of society should suffer detriment due to any change we introduce.

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People who don’t speak English

Driving examiners are very experienced at dealing with candidates who speak little or no English and they’ll be able to manage the situation accordingly.

For example, sometimes this will include writing place names so it is clear to candidates where they are being asked to drive to. To help all candidates, when asked to follow a series of verbal directions the examiner can show a diagram, so that they can picture the route they’ve been asked to take.

Just as currently, the candidate can have an interpreter along with them on their test if they wish. Since 6 April 2010 ADIs have been able to act as an interpreter for their own pupils.

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Routes, directions and sat navs

If the candidate goes off-route during the independent driving section, the examiner will get the candidate back on route and continue with the independent driving section wherever possible. The test won’t be terminated.

If the candidate looks like taking a wrong turning, the examiner will control the situation as they do now and preferably step in before the candidate goes off route. If that’s not possible, the examiner will help the candidate get back on route as soon as possible by guiding them with normal directions.

Independent driving is not a test of the candidate’s orientation skills. If the candidate goes off route, but does not commit a fault, there’s nothing to assess. Any faults that did occur would be assessed under the circumstances at the time - as usual. There is no change to assessment.

Download an example of an independent driving route diagram (PDF, 305Kb)

There will be times when, due to poor or obscured signage, the examiner may have to intervene. If this happens the examiner would say, ‘There are no signs here. Just continue ahead please’ and then, ‘Now, carry on following the signs to ……’

If the candidate asks for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will be happy to confirm them. Driving independently means making your own decisions and, just like when driving with friends, this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation on where you’re going.

Independent driving is designed to test the learner’s ability to drive unsupervised and make decisions without guidance and in unfamiliar contexts. DSA is therefore taking the opportunity to review the appropriateness of current route publication practices.

The independent driving section of the test is approximately 10 minutes when you will be asked to drive making your own decisions. A sat nav gives directions in much the same way as the driver trainer, or the examiner, so it’s not appropriate to use for independent driving.

Watch 'Independent driving in the driving test: what is it?' on YouTube

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Guidance and paperwork

The DL25 driving test report form will not be changed when independent driving is introduced, as there is no change to assessment.

ADIs sometimes refer to a document called the DT1. This contains internal operational guidance for driving examiners in the conduct of driving tests. An updated version will be published on DSA’s corporate website at the beginning of October.

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