The driving test is changing

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that the driving test in England, Scotland and Wales will change from Monday 4th December 2017.

The changes are to include the independent driving part to increase to 20 minutes, during this time candidates will need to be able to drive without step by step directions from the examiner, the use of a sat nav may be used instead to direct candidates.

The examiner will provide and set up the sat nav so candidates are not expected to do this and you may not bring your own to the test, you must use the one provided and follow the examiners sat nav.

One in 5 tests will not use a sat nav, here candidates will need to follow traffic signs instead.

Some reversing manoeuvres will be changed, candidates will no longer be asked to carry out a turn in the road or reverse around a corner, you will still be taught these during lessons though as it is still part of the syllabus of learning and you still need to know how to do these. Instead on test you may be asked to complete the parallel park exercise at the side of the road or carry out the park in a bay exercise (Bay park), this will either be by being asked to drive forwards into the bay, then reverse out, or reverse in to the bay and drive out again.

You will also be asked during the test to pull over to the right-hand side of the road, reverse back about 2 car lengths and then move away again to re-join traffic flow.

The vehicle safety questions, you will still be asked 2 of these, known as show me tell me questions, the tell me will asked at the start of test before you start driving and the show me question will be asked while driving, such as showing how to turn on the demisters or show how to wash the windscreen.

Read more about the changes here
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-test-changes-4-december-2017