Learner drivers are set to face a ‘new’ driving test later this year after the the biggest overhaul in the history of the assessment are announced.
Learners attempting to gain their license from December 4th will have to prove they can safely use a sat-nav to pass their driving test.
Other changes to the test that were announced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) include doubling the length of independent driving to 20 minutes.
Learners will also be asked one of the two vehicle safety questions while they are driving.
Manoeuvres such as reversing around a corner will be scrapped and replaced with more common scenarios like driving into a parking bay.
Transport minister Andrew Jones claimed the measures will help save lives.
He said: “We have some of the safest roads in the world but we are always looking to make them safer.
“These changes announced today will help reduce the number of people killed or injured on our roads and equip new drivers with the skills they need to use our roads safely.
“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.”
Road traffic accidents account for over a quarter of all deaths of teenagers aged 15-19 and is the biggest killer of young people.
DVSA chief executive Gareth Llewellyn said: “It’s vital that the driving test keeps up to date with new vehicle technology and the areas where new drivers face the greatest risk once they’ve passed their test.”
“Making sure the driving test better assesses a driver’s ability to drive safely and independently is part of our strategy to help you stay safe on Britain’s roads.
