'L-Drivers' Face Tougher Test

Learner drivers in NI face changes to both their driving and theory tests.

The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) plans to implement changes to the driving and theory tests over the coming months.

These are as a result of the Learning to Drive consultation carried out by the Department of Environment in 2008 on the way people learn to drive and the way they are tested.

NI Environment Minister, Edwin Poots said: "The modifications to the learning to drive and testing process form the basis of a programme of measures that place a new emphasis on the attitudes, and behaviours, of candidates towards the driving process.

"These new processes should encourage a culture of lifelong learning amongst future candidates, and will contribute to a reduction in road deaths and injuries, particularly amongst newly-qualified drivers," he said, yesterday.

The changes to be phased in will include updating the theory test so that it does more to test understanding of safe driving.

This means that the existing multiple choice format will be strengthened by adding more detailed case studies, which probe a candidate's understanding and knowledge more thoroughly.

Test examiners will also encourage the person presenting the candidate to sit in the car with their student when the candidate takes the practical test and to stay as the examiner gives their pupil feedback.

If the candidate has not passed, the accompanying driver would be better placed to provide remedial and focused training, targeting the specific weaknesses they showed as a result, it is believed.

Meanwhile, the driving test will also incorporate a section of independent driving, where the candidate has to take responsibility for route finding, for example, by following signs, or driving to a local landmark. It is proposed to introduce this during 2011.

In counterpoint, the test will see the reduction of the number of mandatory manoeuvres in the practical car driving test from two to one.

This will free up time during the test to facilitate the introduction of independent driving. As a result, there will be no increase in the length of the driving test and no reduction in the number of driving tests which can be provided, thereby avoiding an increase to the fee for the driving test as a result of this change.

(BMcC/GK)