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Better testing for better drivers
From23 January,driving theory test will no longer use pre-
Until now all the questions used in the driving theory test have been published. These changes will mean that learner drivers and riders gain a better understanding of driving theory, because they can no longer rely on simply learning which options are correct for individual questions.
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:
“By bringing a stop to publication of theory test questions we aim to encourage candidates to prepare by learning each topic area thoroughly rather than just memorising the questions and answers.
“The intention is to improve candidates’ knowledge and understanding of driving theory, so that they are more able to retain and apply it when they are on the road.”
The familiar theory test books and software still offer revision questions for candidates to test themselves and assess their progress. They now also have exercises so learners can practice applying their knowledge on each topic to case studies. There are also new sections of revision support for motorcyclists and a free e-
The agency has also launched its first iPhone apps for theory test revision, which also help candidates to study and monitor their progress at their convenience as they approach their test date. These are available from the iTunes Store.
Changes to the theory test: the facts
The Driving Standards Agency sent this bulletin at 12-
Changes to the theory test: the facts
From 23 January 2012 the theory test will be made up of multiple-
The reason behind the move is to stop candidates from simply memorising theory test questions and answers and learning by rote.
DSA theory test books
Revision materials still available
New official driving and riding theory books were published in September 2011 to help candidates prepare for the test and for life on the road.
The new books contain:
new sections of text for motorcyclists, a free e-
questions and answers for revision, including practice for case studies
the official DSA explanations for every revision question, helping candidates fully understand the answer
This approach to learning will help candidates to gain a better knowledge and understanding of driving theory which will help them respond correctly to the new, reworded live questions used in the actual test.
No changes to the format of the test
No changes are being made to the format of the theory test. It will still be made up of a multiple-
The time allowed and the pass marks will stay the same.
New theory test books published
New official driving and riding theory books will be published this month to help candidates revise in preparation for changes to the test in January 2012.
Since theory tests began in 1996, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has published the questions and answers from the question banks for all categories of tests for cars, motorcycles, lorries and buses.
However, DSA announced last November that it was to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers, with unpublished questions being used from January 2012.
DSA's chief executive Rosemary Thew said: "The reason behind the move is to stop candidates from simply memorising theory test questions and answers and learning by rote. The new books contain questions and answers for revision and also explain the theory behind each question.
"This approach to learning will help candidates to gain a better knowledge and understanding of driving theory which will help them respond correctly to the new, re-
Other theory test products including CD Roms, downloadable PDFs and ebooks have been revised too and will be published shortly after the theory test books are published on 19 September.
The agency has also launched its first ever mobile phone apps for theory test revision, which have been developed to help candidates learn in this way.
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Unofficial driving test booking websites: advice for customers
Directgov is the only official driving test booking website.
Other websites offer driving test booking services, but might charge extra administrative fees on top of the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) fee. Those websites are not run by or connected to DSA or Directgov.
DSA recommends that all learner drivers book their driving test through the official booking service on Directgov by visiting direct.gov.uk/drivingtest.
If you have used an unofficial website
DSA gets complaints from customers who have used unofficial booking websites. In most cases these websites are doing nothing illegal. This means that DSA's powers to respond may be limited.
If you have used an unofficial booking website, you might have seven working days to cancel your order and get all your money back. However, this will depend on the terms and conditions of the website you used.
You can find more information about your consumer rights on Directgov. You can also use template letters to complain to businesses. Each letter includes details of the law that you want the trader to follow.
Internet, mail order and telephone shopping
Making a complaint -
Create a complaint letter from a template
What DSA is doing about unofficial booking websites
DSA takes consumer protection very seriously. So, DSA is:
protecting its trademarks to make sure they are not:
used to advertise unofficial booking sites in search engine results
used as part of website addresses for unofficial booking websites
asking the Advertising Standards Authority to make sure unofficial booking websites are following the rules in the UK Code of Non-
asking local Trading Standards to investigate those unofficial booking websites that appear to be misleading consumers
What DSA is doing to promote the official booking service
DSA makes improvements based on learner drivers' feedback to promote the official booking service. For example DSA:
made sure that the official Directgov website pages appear at the top of search engine results where possible
created videos showing how to use the practical test booking service -
reminded learner drivers on Twitter and Facebook about using the official booking service on Directgov
What approved driving instructors (ADIs) can do
DSA is encouraging ADIs to remind their trainees to use the official booking service by visiting direct.gov.uk/drivingtest.
If ADIs run their own websites they can also link to the official booking service. The best links to put on your website are:
direct.gov.uk/booktheorytest -
direct.gov.uk/bookpracticaltest -
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Uninsured drivers face new crackdown
New powers to tackle uninsured driving will come into force within months, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.
Under the new powers it will be an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
Currently every responsible motorist pays an average £30 each year within their premiums to cover crashes involving uninsured and untraced drivers. It is also estimated that uninsured and untraced drivers kill 160 people and injure 23,000 every year.
Mike Penning said:
"Uninsured drivers push up premiums for other motorists and often drive with no regard for other road users, so it is vital that we do everything we can to keep them off the roads.
“More than 400 uninsured vehicles are already being seized by the police every day but it is simply not possible to catch every uninsured driver in this way. That is why we are bringing in these new powers which will help us to take targeted action while freeing up police time to deal with the hard core of offenders.”
Ashton West, Chief Executive at the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, said:
“Today’s news marks a significant step forward in the fight against uninsured driving. This means that as enforcement can take place for both keeping and driving a vehicle without insurance there will be no place for illegal motorists to hide.
“Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) will complement and run alongside existing police roadside enforcement, which has already reduced uninsured driving by 20 per cent.”
Under the new system:
the DVLA will work in partnership with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to identify uninsured vehicles will receive a letter telling them that their vehicle appears to be uninsured and warning them that they will be fined unless they take action the keeper fails to insure the vehicle they will be given a £100 fine the vehicle remains uninsured -
Vehicles with a valid Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) will not be required to be insured.
The Department for Transport today made the Commencement Order to make it an offence to be the registered keeper of a vehicle which does not have insurance, as well as regulations to support this. Further regulations will be made shortly, allowing the scheme to come into force in the Spring.
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 -
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.
Routes, directions and sat navs
If the candidate goes off-
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 -
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.