Driving test: Learners must be able to use sat navs

Learner drivers will have to be able to follow
directions from a sat nav and drive into a
parking space to pass their test.
Ministers have announced four changes to the
current test which will come into force on 4
December.
Drivers will also be expected to answer vehicle
safety questions while on the move and complete
20 minutes of independent driving rather than 10.
The RAC Foundation said it would be a "far more
realistic assessment".
Changing behaviours
The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency
(DVSA), which is in charge of running driving
tests and approving instructors, said it wanted
the test to have "more real life scenarios" such
as driving into and reversing out of a parking
space.
It said it wants the test to reflect the changing
behaviours of drivers.
Manoeuvres such as "reverse around a corner"
will be replaced in the new test and examiners
will test a driver's ability to use a sat nav as an
alternative to following road signs.
About half of all car drivers now have a sat nav
and using them teaches drivers to better manage
distractions, the DVSA said.
The "show me" and "tell me" question at the
beginning of the test will become a "show me"
question while driving such as asking candidates
to use the rear windscreen heater.
The DVSA said increasing the time candidates
had to do independent driving would allow the
examiner to better assess the driver's ability to
drive safely on high risk roads.
Currently, learner drivers spend a large amount of
test time on low risk roads such as housing
estates.
Transport minister Andrew Jones said despite the
UK having some of the safest roads in the world,
the government was "always looking to make
them safer".
Mr Jones said: "Ensuring the driving test is
relevant in the 21st century - for example, the
introduction of sat navs, will go a long way
towards doing this."
Evolving technology
The DVSA said a public consultation on the
changes received almost 4,000 responses, with
71% agreeing with asking candidates to follow
directions from a sat nav.
Some 88% agreed with increasing the length of
the independent driving part of the test, it said,
while others agreed with the changes to the
reversing manoeuvres and "show me" questions.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: "We
are very supportive of the revisions DVSA is
making to the practical driving test, which will
mean candidates undergo a far more realistic
assessment of their readiness to take to the road
unsupervised.
"Much has changed since the first driving test
was taken in 1935, and it must be right that the
test evolves, just as the cars we drive are
themselves changing to incorporate ever more
driver assist technology such as inbuilt sat nav
systems.
"Novice drivers need to demonstrate the right
skills and driving style to cope with the new
environment."
In December 2016, the Department for Transport
announced plans to allow learner drivers on the
motorway. Results from this consultation will be
released later this year.
Disabled Motoring UK also supports the changes
because many disabled drivers use sat navs
regularly.