A new section is due to be introduced into the practical test on the 4th October 2010, called 'The Independent Driving Test'. At the Really Good Driving School we're fully prepared to deliver the tuition required for all our learner drivers. For an outline of the new driving test procedure watch the video below.
Independent Driving in the new driving test
The new October test will ony consist of one manoeuvre taken from any of the four manouvres being taught at the moment by driving schools. This is to give an extra 10 minutes for further road procedure driving which is completly independent of being told where to go. Here are the details:
The learner driver will be told to pull up at the side of the road and then asked to carry out an independent driving session for 10 minutes.
A verbal instruction will be given to follow a directional road sign until further instructed - that is - follow the direction signs to a place name.
Or a diagram will be shown that shows a route consisting of 3 junctions which the learner driver must memorise and follow the designated route without any further instruction from the examiner.
A combination of following road signs and the showing of a diagram can also be used
How will the learner driver be marked? The learner driver will be marked in the same way that they are marked now regarding the mirror/signal/manouevre procedure. A driving test fail will not occur for taking wrong directions, providing they are legal turns. What will happen though is most candidates will:
Not Signal
Signal too late
Signal too early
Forget to check mirrors
Check mirrors too late
Forget selecting an appropriate gear which might have a knock on effect of stalling
The driving test as it is today is robotic as far as the mirrors/signal/manouevre procedure is concerned because when a new driver is told to turn right or left it triggers off mirrors/signal/manouevre, whereas left to their own device, anything can happen. This new independent driving test is meant to simulate driving a car as you would once the test has been passed i.e there is no one around who will tell you where to go, you will have to look at signs and keep your car safe.
Providing instructors do not encourage learner drivers to remember a set route, then it could have a beneficial effect in giving confidence to a new driver. It will mean more driving lessons for the average learner and one way to reduce the cost of learning to drive would be to book an intensive driving course where the independent driving is built into the lessons without extra cost.
