In my line of work, it’s common for people to want to talk about the driving test, how they’d change it (usually either making it harder to pass or making it so bureaucratic that it would become unmanageable) and ultimately whether it’s fit for purpose.
I don’t usually take part too much in these conversations.
They bore me to be honest and I don’t like the idea that my generation was
allowed to pass a relatively easy driving test and now acts as a gatekeeper
trying to deny others the same chances in life.
What do we think the purpose of the driving test is?
In my eyes, it’s a basic entry level qualification, aimed at
allowing novice drivers to demonstrate that they know the rules and that they’re
generally safe to drive on the roads so that they can gather experience on
their own. It’s not supposed to represent the be all and end all of driving
practice and in a perfect world, those passing the test would plan immediately
to join their local IAM Roadsmart group and look at raising their driving
skills to higher standards… I’ve got to say that addressing the reasons why
this doesn’t happen so much is a bigger issue to me than making the driving
test harder.
Somebody passing their driving test today, will almost
always go straight home and call their insurance company. Once insured, they’ll then go out on one of several journey’s….
pick up some friends, go to the local MaccyD's, go to college, go to the gym or
go to work – all of those journey’s are normally about 30mins in length and
will usually include local roads.
The driving test of course, is 35-40 minutes in length and
includes a mixed variety of local roads and having passed it, the driver has
demonstrated that they’re capable of driving in the situations listed above.
Although the cat B licence allows it, the driving test isn’t
there to prove that people can start work as delivery drivers running up and
down the length and width of the country in massive transit vans with weight
limits, height restrictions and time pressures. Nor is it there to give us
certainty that somebody is capable of driving 200 miles to Butlins for a stag
do with 4 friends in the car, drinking, shouting and bantering each other
without mercy.
Within the driving lessons, thanks to European research done
in the noughties and the GDE Matrix that came out of that research, we try to
discuss these situations and encourage the pupil to talk about how they’d react
and deal with them with the aim of at least trying to make it a bit less
unfamiliar when it happens… but it is something for which we can’t offer
practical experience and people respond to situations differently.
Learner drivers have also receive training in this problem
through their school years with regular visits and talks given by emergency
services and road safety charities hoping to improve attitudes to the use of
the roads.
Overall, I think the current driving test works pretty well
myself. It covers 95% of the driving needs of new drivers and in recent years,
the DVSA has added more independent driving and a greater focus on parking to
it whilst removing examiner input and reducing the amount of manoeuvring and
pulling over that is done. They’ve all been good, positive changes in my
opinion and I can’t think of ways in which I’d improve it further without
appearing to just wanting to stop people moving on in life. I notice that with
the New Driver’s Act and the black box insurance deals, it isn’t anywhere near
as common as it used to be to see new drivers driving badly after they’ve
passed their tests and with the uk’s annual road death’s also dropping, it’s
hard to take seriously complaints that it isn’t working.
We should direct our road safety efforts in other directions
I think.
Nick Heath Driver Training helps people of all levels and abilities with their driving. Established in 2005 and based on the South Cheshire / North Staffordshire border in the UK, I can help you to obtain a licence, become a driving instructor, regain your driving confidence or reduce your road risk for work purposes. I am a regular contributor to local and national radio when driving items come up in the news and am willing to contribute to the wider driver training conversation
Anyone wanting more information should call 0800 8 20 2038
