Driving test: Learners must be able to use sat navs

[dutchman]

Learner drivers will now have to be able to follow directions from a sat nav and drive into a parking space to pass their test



Ministers have announced four changes to the current test which will come into force on 4 December.

Drivers will also be expected to answer vehicle safety questions while on the move and complete 20 minutes of independent driving rather than 10.

The RAC Foundation said it would be a "far more realistic assessment".

The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which is in charge of running driving tests and approving instructors, said it wanted the test to have "more real life scenarios" such as driving into and reversing out of a parking space.

It said it wants the test to reflect the changing behaviours of drivers.

Manoeuvres such as "reverse around a corner" will be replaced in the new test and examiners will test a driver's ability to use a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs.

About half of all car drivers now have a sat nav and using them teaches drivers to better manage distractions, the DVSA said.

The "show me" and "tell me" question at the beginning of the test will become a "show me" question while driving such as asking candidates to use the rear windscreen heater.

The DVSA said increasing the time candidates had to do independent driving would allow the examiner to better assess the driver's ability to drive safely on high risk roads.

Currently, learner drivers spend a large amount of test time on low risk roads such as housing estates.

In December 2016, the Department for Transport announced plans to allow learner drivers on the motorway. Results from this consultation will be released later this year.

Disabled Motoring UK also supports the changes because many disabled drivers use sat navs regularly.

[Melisandre]

Will you pass if it guides you over a cliff or into rivers as like in the past.

[dutchman]

Will learners now need to pay extra for a car with sat-nav so they can practice using it?