A would-be driver from Leicester has shelled out £2,852 on 92 driving theory tests costing up to £31 each – but without a pass, he cannot take the practical test.

The information, produced from a Freedom of Information request to the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), also showed there is a 46-year-old man who has failed his practical test 20 times.

The hour-long theory test includes multiple-choice questions about road rules, plus a hazard-perception test where participants have to spot developing road dangers on a driving video.

But the theory tests are to get harder – which won’t be good news for the doggedly determined learner. The DSA is to stop publishing the answers, to prevent candidates learning by rote.

Just 15 months ago, the practical test was changed with the introduction of a ten-minute independent driving section. Examinees are told to follow road signs to a place or landmark rather than just be guided by the examiner telling them to turn left or right.

The driving test was introduced in 1935 although it was suspended during the war and the 1956 Suez crisis. Hand signals were abolished from the test in 1975 and the written test introduced in 1996. In 2011, 63% of candidates passed their test.

source: Charlotte Beugge – www.carfinance.co.uk/news    

The IAM is renewing its call on the government to make driving on rural A-roads a mandatory part of the driving test.

IAM research shows that 82 per cent of rural fatal and serious casualties are on single carriageway roads compared with just 18 per cent on motorways and dual carriageway roads*.

However the current driving test fails to take this into account. While good instructors understand that experience on a wide variety of roads in different conditions gives young people the best chance of survival, all too many merely educate up to the existing test standard. Knowledge of parking, emergency stops and low speed manoeuvres is important but dealing with high speed corners, bad weather, and overtaking are far more vital skills.

The recent report from the IAM The fast and the curious*1, found that new drivers themselves felt unprepared for real life scenarios and would welcome extra help.

The IAM has written to the road safety minister to outline its views on how it believes the government should tackle deaths and accidents of the highest risk group on our roads, young drivers. This starts with improving the driving test to include training on our most dangerous roads – single-carriageway rural A-roads.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “More than half the cars on our roads are rated as four or the maximum five star in European safety tests, and the figure is even higher for new cars. Our roads are also getting safer in their design*2.

“But the roads where drivers, especially young drivers, are most frequently killed and injured are still not consistently part of the driving test. The minister recently announced young drivers would be allowed to use motorways when accompanied by an instructor, but it is single carriageway A-roads where the real problem lies.

“Driver and rider error is a contributory factor in two thirds of accidents*3. We can only improve our cars and roads so far. The challenge now is to improve the humans that drive them, to continue our outstanding record of road safety.”

From Monday 23 January, the driving theory test will no longer use pre-published questions in a move to stop candidates from learning answers by rote.

Until now all the questions used in the driving theory test have been published. These changes will mean that learner drivers and riders gain a better understanding of driving theory, because they can no longer rely on simply learning which options are correct for individual questions.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:

“By bringing a stop to publication of theory test questions we aim to encourage candidates to prepare by learning each topic area thoroughly rather than just memorising the questions and answers.

“The intention is to improve candidates’ knowledge and understanding of driving theory, so that they are more able to retain and apply it when they are on the road.”

The familiar theory test books and software still offer revision questions for candidates to test themselves and assess their progress. They now also have exercises so learners can practice applying their knowledge on each topic to case studies. There are also new sections of revision support for motorcyclists and a free e-book for car drivers.

The agency has also launched its first iPhone apps for theory test revision, which also help candidates to study and monitor their progress at their convenience as they approach their test date. These are available from the iTunes Store.

Candidates sitting their driving theory test will face a tougher challenge from today after the exam was reformulated to prevent candidates from memorising the answers.

The changes mean that those preparing for the test will no longer be able to read what questions will be asked and study the correct responses beforehand.

The Driving Standards Agency claims the alterations will mean that learner drivers and motorcycle riders gain a better understanding of driving theory.

Mark Peacock, head of AA Driving School said: “Learners should not unduly worry about the changes to the test. The new test calls for greater understanding, which can be gained from professional tuition and some time spent revising; both of which would have been needed to pass the theory test confidently before the changes.”

The new test coincides with the release of an AA survey that shows one in four drivers do not know who has priority when traffic lights are not working.

The AA/Populus poll of 11,361 drivers showed that 23 per cent thought traffic going straight on had priority at broken traffic lights, while 3 per cent said it was those turning right and 2 per cent those turning left.

In fact, no one has priority in this situation.

However, with a quarter of correspondents answering incorrectly, the AA fears that lives could be put at risk through an ignorance of basic principles.

Almost half (46 per cent) of drivers did not know what a flashing amber light at a pelican crossing meant, the poll also showed.

Drivers aged 18-24 were the most likely to know the answer, with 68 per cent answering correctly. But only 41 per cent of drivers over 65 knew the answer.

Mr Peacock said: “Knowing the theoretical rules of the road is really important for drivers.

“It’s encouraging that young drivers did better in the poll questions than older – perhaps a sign that those who have recently taken a theory test have a better understanding of driving theory than those who took it a few years ago.”

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “By bringing a stop to publication of theory test questions we aim to encourage candidates to prepare by learning each topic area thoroughly rather than just memorising the questions and answers.

“The intention is to improve candidates’ knowledge and understanding of driving theory, so that they are more able to retain and apply it when they are on the road.”

The theory test books and software still offer revision questions for candidates to test themselves and assess their progress, and have exercises so learners can practice applying their knowledge on each topic to case studies.

The agency has also launched its first iPhone apps to help candidates to monitor their progress for the theory test.

source: www.scotsman.com/news

Safety campaigners have said that warnings over drink-driving are failing as new figures showed young drivers are still the worst offenders.

More than 7,200 people were arrested during the Christmas and new year crackdown, the Association of Chief Police Officers said.

About 157,000 drivers were stopped and tested over that time in England and Wales.

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said it was worrying that young drivers continue to have a higher rate of offending at 5.7%, compared with 4% of over-25s.

“Our research shows that half of young drivers don’t know how much they can drink and still be under the limit, so the message is not getting through to them,” he said.

“This suggests that lack of education and confusion over safe limits in today’s drinking culture of huge glasses and ever changing alcoholic mixes may be a key factor in drink-driving, especially for this age group.”

The campaign ran from December 1 to January 1 with officers from 43 forces testing drivers at all times of the day and night.

Deputy Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police Suzette Davenport said: “The consequences of drink and drug-driving are far-reaching.

“It’s not only socially irresponsible but it raises serious issues for those that ignore the risks.

“Those convicted are likely to face a lengthy driving ban and possible loss of jobs and livelihoods, with some even facing imprisonment.”

Motorists face police tests to assess whether they have taken illegal drugs under plans for a new law against “drug driving”.

Young drivers in the UK are involved in too high a proportion of accidents, it has been argued.

Nick Starling, director of general insurance at the Association of British Insurers, told the House of Commons Transport Committee that this group has led to car insurance claims in excess of £20 million in the past, the Press Association reports.

However, road safety minister Mike Penning commented: “We have made the driving test more realistic and less predictable and are considering how to improve training for drivers after they pass their test to help them develop their driving skills.”

Details compiled by motoring organisation Brake have shown that young male drivers are the most likely to be involved in a traffic accident in the UK.

It showed how an 18-year-old male is three times as likely as a 48-year-old to be involved in a crash, while one in five new drivers will have an accident within the first six months of passing their test.