Driving test update could improve safety for millions
DVSA is making some minor changes to the practical driving test, with the aim of enhancing road safety, addressing collision rates in rural areas, and aligning the test more closely with real-world driving conditions.
Learner drivers in Great Britain will spend more time on higher speed, higher risk roads – such as rural roads – while on their driving test, where location allows. This follows a successful 5-month trial that took place at 20 driving test centres earlier this year.
The changes aim to give learners more real-life experience by testing them on situations they are likely to face once they can drive independently. The changes will not affect the skills that learner drivers need to learn to prepare for their test.
DVSA hopes to better prepare learner drivers, particularly on rural roads, where, between 2019 and 2023, nearly half (48%) of collisions involving younger drivers where someone was killed or seriously injured took place.*
Amanda Lane, DVSA Head of Driver Testing and Driver Training Policy, said:
“Following the success of the recent trial, we’re introducing some subtle but meaningful changes to the driving test to better prepare learners for a lifetime of safe driving.
“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.”
Edmond King, AA Charitable Trust Director, said:
“Rural roads pose a particular danger to young and novice drivers. Our own research has shown young drivers are over-represented in crashes on rural roads, compared to other roads.
“Changes to the driving test to increase the amount of time candidates drive on these roads are important to help reduce this disparity and keep young, novice drivers safe.”
Realistic tests
On 6 May 2025, a trial began in 20 DTCs across Great Britain which saw learner drivers spend more time on high-speed, rural roads on tests. The trial ran for an initial 3-month period before being extended until 6 October 2025. This has now concluded, and DVSA is looking to roll out the adjustments introduced as part of the trial to all DTCs from 24 November 2025.
As well as increasing the amount of time spent on higher-speed roads, the updates involve:
DVSA found that the need to find slower speed areas to perform stops during a test limited the distance and number of roads that could be covered. It is hoped that decreasing the number of stops will provide greater flexibility when planning test routes.
The National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP), said:
“NASP is supportive of any improvements to the driving test that may help to increase the competency and safety of new drivers and work to reduce road casualties.”
Feedback from driving examiners involved showed strong approval for the changes, with 87% saying they wanted the changes to be implemented permanently.
“The changes better reflect more realistic driving conditions,” said one. “The reduction in normal stops has allowed the test to flow more fluently,” another added.
80% agreed that completing the whole test route on sat nav made it more reflective of realistic driving and 77% said that reducing the number of stops resulted in better test flow.
