New Driving Test Will Reduce Number Of Passes
Thursday, 17. June 2010
If you have a friend or family member likely to take their driving test this year they may need to get a move on and get it done by October when the test gets a lot tougher. The biggest change to the current test will be the need to drive the car around a town simply following road signs in order to promote ‘independent decision making’ in new drivers. This new part of the test is seen as ‘effortful, mentally demanding and frustrating’ by the Driving Standards Agency who believe this change will see a serious cut in the pass rate. Trials have indicated that pass rates would drop from 42% to 18%. Whilst this will seriously reduce the number of drivers on the road it really doesn’t address the real problem and that is the need to prepare drivers for driving alone in all conditions. This includes motorway driving and even more important rural driving where 71% of road deaths occur. Calls have continued that tests should also include a skid pan test training drivers to control a vehicle in rain and ice. Having said that you may want to get junior signed up sooner rather than later for the test if you are to avoid the expense of a lot more driving lessons. By Graham Hill
