In an earlier post I touched on the fact that the driving test and driving tuition is going to change. Some of those changes have been decided upon, and the DSA is in the process of introducing them.
There will be several stages to the introduction of these changes and the following is stage one, taken from the summary of the main decisions of the DSA from the report on the Learning to drive consultation
1. Continued roll out across Great Britain of the new pre-driver qualification in safe road use.
2. Introduction of a partial credit for the theory test for those awarded the new pre-driver qualification in safe road use – target date October 2009.
3. Introduction of case studies for the theory test for learner drivers with the next update of the theory question bank – target date October 2009.
4. Continued research and trialling of driver training syllabus and workbook, attitude adviser, record of test readiness, independent driving and 3D animation.
5. A trial to assess the effectiveness of the proposed new learning to drive syllabus – By March 2010 .
6. Undertake a consultation on modernising driver training including proposals to enable a more informed choice of instructor – by March 2010.
7. Analysis of the implications of separating the published theory test questions, from the theory questions used in the actual test – by Spring 2010.
Then during the 2010/2011 financial year the following decisions will be implemented:
1. Introduction of an assessment of competence whilst driving independently into all practical tests for learner drivers – shifting the current emphasis on manoeuvring and creating the opportunity to open out test routes and increase the driving time by reducing the number of special manoeuvres – target date October 2010.
2. Supervising drivers to sit in on car practical tests and debrief – Target date October 2010.
3. Continue research and trial the use of 3D animation by spring 2011 for:
the current hazard perception test
the 2nd generation hazard perception test
introducing situational judgement into the theory test
4. Introduce a new, improved Pass Plus scheme – by March 2011
The full report can be found on the DSA website in the form of a PDF file.
I intend to write a further post on these changes to show how they will directly affect you as learners.
