Details on changes to the UK driving test have been revealed by the Driving and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA). Among the changes are a series of new ‘show me, tell me’ questions which are now being shared with the public.
The changes to the driving test, which will take effect from 4th December, are the biggest in more than twenty years. Among the updates coming, the independent driving session will last 20 minutes instead of 10 minutes.
An assessment on the driver’s ability to follow sat-nav instructions will also be added. The ‘show me, tell me’ portion of the test, which up until now usually takes place prior to the learner driver setting-off, will now add an additional 10 questions to its line-up. It’s also more likely that the questions could be asked while the car is being driven rather than prior setting-off.
The ‘show me, tell me’ questions which learner drivers could be asked already covered topics such as how the driver would switch their car’s headlights from dipped to main beam or how to check the handbrake for excessive wear.
New questions cover additional subject matters such as how to wash the front and rear windscreens and how to set the rear demister.
The changes to the driving test coming into effect this December have been brought in so that the test represents more ‘real life scenarios’.
List of ‘Show me’ questions from 4 December 2017
- When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen?
- When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the front windscreen?
- When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd switch on your dipped headlights?
- When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd set the rear demister?
- When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd operate the horn?
- When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd demist the front windscreen?
- When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd open and close the side window
List of ‘Tell me’ questions from 4 December 2017
- Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.
- Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.
- Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.
- Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.
- Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.
- Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.
- Tell me how you’d check the direction indicators are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.
- Tell me how you’d check the brake lights are working on this car.
- Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey.
- Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use it/them. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.
- Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on.
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient oil.
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant.
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
