The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is making a number of adjustments to tests from November 24 including reducing the number of stops
Learner drivers will focus more on faster and rural roads during their practical tests, where possible, from November 24. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced the change, among a number of other adjustments, to better reflect real-world driving conditions, particularly on rural routes, following a five-month trial at 20 test centres earlier this year.
House of Commons Library data reveals that nearly half (48%) of crashes involving car drivers aged 17 to 24 resulting in death or serious injury between 2019 and 2023 occurred on rural roads, compared with 42% for drivers outside that age bracket.
Roads minister Simon Lightwood said: “We’re doing all we can to make our roads safer. By focusing more tests on higher speed roads we’re tackling one of the biggest risks for young motorists, helping to reduce collisions and save lives.”
Amanda Lane, DVSA head of driver testing and driver training policy, said: “High speed roads, particularly those in rural areas, are among the most treacherous for novice drivers. To keep all road users safe, it’s crucial that the practical driving test assesses learners on the skills required to drive in the real world.”
Other changes to the test include:
- Reducing the number of stops during the test from 4 to 3
- Lowering the frequency of emergency stop exercises from 1 in 3 tests to 1 in 7
- Adding flexibility to the independent driving segment (this can be following a sat nav, traffic signs or both) to run for the full duration of the test.
The DVSA has stated that the need to find slower speed areas for stops during a test restricts the distance and number of roads that can be included. The hope is that reducing the number of stops will allow for more flexibility in planning test routes.
The agency further clarified that these changes will not affect the timing of tests or the number available. There is a significant backlog of driving tests, which the DVSA attributes to increased demand and people booking tests much earlier than previously.
As of the end of October, there were 642,000 learner drivers in Britain with a future test booking. Some 182,000 tests were conducted last month, marking a 9% increase from 168,000 in October 2024.
Last week, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that military driving examiners would be deployed to test civilians. Other strategies aimed at addressing the backlog include tackling the issue of people reselling tests for profit.
Only learners – not instructors – will be permitted to book slots, and they will also only be able to move the location of tests to a centre near the original booking.