Get ready: independent driving

“Examiner staff at all grades have worked hard to establish suitable routes.”

Great progress is being made towards the implementation of independent driving on 4 October, which affects all practical test candidates for all vehicle categories.

In April, changes to practical car test legislation were laid in Parliament, reducing the number of mandatory manoeuvres (from October) and providing greater flexibility in route creation.

Examiner staff at all grades have worked hard to establish suitable routes that include the independent driving section – either following road signs, following verbal directions or a combination of both types. This exercise is now complete and the number of routes devised is approximately 5000.

For some routes a ‘diagram’ will be shown to the candidate to support the verbal directions section. Production of the large

8 Despatch Magazine www.dsa.gov.uk

number of diagrams required is now under way. This exercise will be completed over the summer.

In May our test centre staff were issued with guidance notes and a training DVD.

Looking forward there’s more to do but clear plans are in place. In July a fresh round of communications for candidates will be launched. A YouTube video will be released in addition to an updated ‘Are You Ready?’. Test Centre posters will be displayed and candidates will receive an email pointing them to the films. You can keep up to date with this by signing up to DSA Direct.