Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says the new look driving test, which it helped to design and evaluate, will deliver ‘big safety benefits and save lives’ by including more real life situations and introducing new drivers to the latest technology.
The new format was test driven by thousands of leaners before it final implementation on yesterday.
Those who had taken the new test were more confident and crucially, for IAM RoadSmart, had undertaken slightly more driving on country roads and dual carriageways.
| It is well known that learners who practice more in a wider range of traffic situations make safer drivers in the long run.
Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said, “Experts from IAM RoadSmart have helped to design and evaluate the new elements of the test and we are very excited about the road safety benefits it could deliver. “Our key aim was to ensure the test reflects the real world as much as possible and also encourages learners to gain experience of as wide a range of traffic situations as possible. By doubling the independent driving element of the test and introducing a sat-nav for an unknown route new drivers will have to practice more. |
The changes include:
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“A common criticism of the old test was that it always used the same well known routes which L drivers could learn by rote! The new reversing manoeuvres replace the three point turn which no one ever used and dealing with a bay is much more like everyday parking.
“Finally, asking questions whilst driving can help the learner to multi task and deal with passengers. New drivers with relevant skills and more experience can only be good news for road safety.”
