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Three-point turn may be dropped from UK driving test | Three-point turn may be dropped from UK driving test |
(35 minutes later) | |
The three-point turn could be dropped from the UK driving test as part of biggest update to the exam in 20 years. | The three-point turn could be dropped from the UK driving test as part of biggest update to the exam in 20 years. |
Under a revised practical exam, learners may also be asked to use a satellite navigation system instead of following road signs. | Under a revised practical exam, learners may also be asked to use a satellite navigation system instead of following road signs. |
About 1,000 learners will take part in a trial of a new practical exam. | About 1,000 learners will take part in a trial of a new practical exam. |
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said any eventual changes would be subject to full public consultation. | The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said any eventual changes would be subject to full public consultation. |
"We are carrying out initial research to explore how the driving test could better reflect real-life driving," said a DVSA spokesman. | "We are carrying out initial research to explore how the driving test could better reflect real-life driving," said a DVSA spokesman. |
The DVSA is an agency of the Department for Transport and sets the standards for driving and motorcycling in the UK. | |
The theory test was introduced in 1996 and a section where motorists are asked to find their own way to a destination - aimed at assessing "independent driving" - in 2010. | |
Under the other changes being considered, drivers may no longer need to reverse around a corner. | Under the other changes being considered, drivers may no longer need to reverse around a corner. |
The DVSA said drivers may instead be asked to focus on more realistic everyday manoeuvres, such as reversing out of a parking bay, or re-joining the flow of traffic from the side of a road. | The DVSA said drivers may instead be asked to focus on more realistic everyday manoeuvres, such as reversing out of a parking bay, or re-joining the flow of traffic from the side of a road. |
But reverse parking - either into a parking bay or parallel parking - would remain as one of the manoeuvres candidates could be asked to perform, a spokesman said. | |
The two vehicle-safety questions are currently asked at the start of the test. In future, one these may be asked while the candidate is driving. The DVSA said a candidate, for example, may be asked to show how they would operate the rear heated screen while driving. | |
The driving test | |
The Driving Instructors Association welcomed the plans. | |
Its chief executive Carly Brookfield said: "DIA has been heavily involved in the scoping of this project and is enthusiastic about the opportunity it presents to evolve the L-test to a level where it more realistically assesses a candidate's ability to competently and safely manage road based risk and driving in real life, on real roads." | |
RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "We all rely on our sat navs but they are not infallible and it is when they have led us down a dead end that we need to know how to do a three-point turn. | RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "We all rely on our sat navs but they are not infallible and it is when they have led us down a dead end that we need to know how to do a three-point turn. |
"It's fine to add some aspects to the test but we should be cautious about removing the basics." | "It's fine to add some aspects to the test but we should be cautious about removing the basics." |
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