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The Driving Test DSA now demands that the Theory Test must be passed before candidates may book a Practical Test. The driving test is conducted by a Driving Standards Agency Driving Examiner and the test is about 40 minutes in duration. In this time the Examiner will check the candidate has the correct type of driving license and may check to see if the candidate has passed the Theory Test.The examiner will then ask the candidate if they wish their Driving Instructor to join them on the test . They will then go on to check the candidate's eyesight meets the legal requirement. On arrival at the candidate's vehicle the Examiner will ask some questions relating to the vehicle's safety and operation, this is known as 'show me tell me'. A list of the 'show me tell me' questions is available to read and download from the DSA's web site .www.dsa.gov.uk. Once this has been completed the Examiner will brief the candidate on how the driving part of the test will be conducted and then invite the candidate to start the test. The Examiner will choose a route that will test your skills in all aspects of driving from open road motoring where speed limits may be faster, to town driving where you will encounter many different hazards. You will also go in to residential roads where you will carry out manouvers involving reversing procedures. The Examiner will not only be looking at your control of the vehicle but also your general awareness, including effective use of mirrors, how you interact with other road users, observation skills,when to signal etc. You may also be required to carry out the emergency stop procedure . As of the 4th October 2010 a Ten Minute independent driving element has been introduced .(see below) If you drive safely and make no more than 15 driving errors (nobody drives perfectly) you will pass. However if you make just 1 serious or dangerous fault you will have to re-sit the whole driving test again. New Practical Driving Test! Changes to the practical driving test came into effect on October 4th 2010. There have been some new elements introduced and some minor changes to the previous test. Only ONE! of the four manoeuvres involving reverse gear will be required on the test. Candidates won't know which one it will be so will still need to learn all of them . This allows the examiner more time to assess your driving. The most significant change to the test is the introduction of the "INDEPENDENT DRIVING" element . This new part of the driving test will require the candidate to navigate and drive completely unaided for about ten minutes without any directional instructions from the examiner . Candidates will be given a destination to head towards , such as---- "Follow the traffic signs/markings towards Brighton"---- or given a diagram/map and verbal directions,such as---- "End of road turn right,take the second road on the left ,at the roundabout turn right at the 3rd exit"----and so on. During this stage of the test the candidate will need to be able to make their own decisions on , when and where to turn , what route to take in roundabouts , crossroads , traffic lights etc and will still be expected to make normal progress , adhearing to speed limits ,use of mirrors ,signaling ,traffic signs ,pedestrian crossings etc. You will not be marked down for taking the wrong route or forgetting which way to go, this is not a memory exercise and even the most experienced drivers can go wrong occasionaly. Even with the change to only one reversing manoeuver being required there should still be no increase to the time on test .The current test is app 40 mins in duration . . No increase in the Test Fee is expected ,currently set at £62.00 . DSA has now produced some video footage available to view which helps explain the "INDEPENDENT DRIVING" element.Click on the picture below .  To book a practical test use this link. www.dsa.gov.uk (Practical Test) The Driving Examiner Remember...It is not the examiner who fails you.... it's you and how you drive. |
