United Kingdom driving test
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The United Kingdom driving test first introduced in 1934 is a test which United Kingdom drivers must pass to obtain a full driving licence. Different tests are available for users of different vehicles, from car drivers, to motorcyclists and HGV drivers. In Great Britain it is administered by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). The test is separated into three distinct parts: a multiple-choice theory test, a hazard perception test and the practical test. It is necessary to pass all three parts before a full driving licence is granted.
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[edit] Theory test
The driving theory test was introduced in July 1996 as a written examination and updated to a computer based test in 2000. From November 2002 onwards, there are two parts to the theory test: the multiple-choice test and the hazard perception test. Both must be taken and passed in the same session in order to obtain a theory test certificate, which can then be used to book the practical driving test within two years[specify] of the theory pass.[1]
Around 1.6 million people sit the examination on an annual basis, with a pass rate of around 43%.[1]
[edit] Multiple-choice test
The multiple-choice test involves answering a number of questions, selected randomly from a bank of over 1200, about a wide range of driving topics, such as vehicle mechanics, the Highway Code and driving law.[specify] The questions that may be asked and the length and pass mark of the test depend on the kind of vehicle for which the test is being taken.
For car drivers and motorcyclists, this test lasts 57 minutes and involves answering 50 questions. To pass, 43 of the 50 questions must be answered correctly.[1] For lorry and bus drivers, 60 questions are asked over a 70-minute period, and 51 out of 60 must be answered correctly to pass.[specify] Prior to 3 September 2007, the car and motorcycle multiple-choice tests comprised 35 questions, with a pass mark of 30.[specify] [1]
[edit] Hazard perception
The hazard perception test was introduced in November 2002.[specify] The scientific input behind the test is provided by the Transport Research Laboratory.[specify]
[edit] Format
Examinees watch fourteen one-minute clips filmed from the perspective of a car driver and have to indicate, usually by clicking a mouse button or touching the screen, when they observe a developing hazard. All of the clips will include one developing hazard, and one will include two such hazards. The sooner an examinee reacts to a developing hazard, the more points are scored, from five down to one, with no score if the examinee reacts too late. Thus the maximum possible score is 75. The pass mark is 44 for car drivers and motorcyclists, 50 for bus and lorry drivers, and 57 when qualifying as an Approved Driving Instructor.
For the purposes of the test, a "developing hazard" is defined as something which requires the driver to adjust speed and/or direction. Potential hazards are hazards that no immediate action needs to be taken, but are worth observing in case their status changes. Clicking on potential hazards is acceptable, but the scoring window only opens if that hazard develops, thus examinees have to remember to react if the status of a hazard changes, and not just when the potential hazard is first spotted.
[edit] Comments
Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman has said that the introduction of the hazard perception test was one of the "most significant changes" to the driving test,[1] and claims that "Research has identified this [competence at recognising hazards] as a key road safety skill."[2]
[edit] Criticism
The implementation of the Hazard Perception Test is commonly criticised. Each hazard in a clip has a five-stage window to determine the scoring and whether a user has noticed the hazard or not. A user taking the test may click before the scoring window opens and fail the clip, rather than gaining extra points for noticing the potential hazard early. Note that this is unlikely to happen, since the scoring window usually opens as soon as the hazard begins to occur. Hence, any clicks before that point are either for a different hazard, or coincidental guesses. The problem can also be eradicated by clicking two or three times in succession for a single hazard - indeed, this is recommended by most training software.
Only the timing of the "click" is recorded, rather than a screen position. This means that, if a user is watching (for example) a lorry at the left hand side of the screen, they might click to register it as a potential hazard. The developing hazard, however, could actually be on the right hand side of the screen as a dog (for example) wandering in to the road. The user would still gain marks for this hazard, despite the fact they actually registered a click for a different hazard and missed the marked hazard altogether.
A user will also be penalised for clicking too many times during a clip. Although the user could genuinely be suggesting many hazards - such as road signs and concealed entrances - they could be marked as cheating and fail that clip. It could be argued that the user should gain extra points for noticing this, rather than lose the clips points altogether for clicking too much. However, the limit is set high enough to allow even very paranoid clicking, so this should not concern most people.
Users often come out of the test explaining how they hadn't made conscious effort to recognise hazards, yet still managed to pass. This may be due to an effect of expertise, whereby expert drivers can respond automatically to developing hazards or to contextual information indicating that a hazard may be about to appear. However, the extent to which an expert driver can respond automatically using a non-driving interface such as a button press or mouse click is questionable. Furthermore, experts may use automatic 'hypothesis-testing' strategies that evolve as the presence of a hazard is confirmed or disconfirmed. Research into the concept of situation awareness has provided significant theoretical background for these claims and indications for future revisions of hazard perception tests, e.g. Banbury and Tremblay (2004).
[edit] Practical test
It is necessary to have passed both components of the theory test before sitting this exam. Passing this test then entitles one to hold a full UK driving licence.
[edit] Format
The practical test is taken on the road, with the examiner directing the candidate around a pre-determined (but unknown to the candidate) route. The examiner marks the candidate for driving faults (commonly called minor faults or minors), serious faults, and dangerous faults (collectively referred to as major faults or majors). A candidate will fail the test if he or she accumulates any "major" faults, or more than fifteen "minors". If a candidate acquires several (three or more) driving faults in the same category, the examiner may consider the fault a recurring and dangerous habit and mark a serious fault in that category. The test usually lasts 30 to 48 minutes in a standard test, or one hour when the candidate is taking a test after having their licence revoked.
[edit] Eyesight test
Before getting to the car, the examiner will ask the candidate to read a car's number plate at a distance. The distance required is 20.5 metres for an old-style plate (A123 ABC) and 20 metres for a new style plate (AB51 ABC). If the candidate needs glasses to do this then these must be the ones worn whilst completing the rest of the test. If the candidate fails to read the first number plate correctly, then the examiner asks the candidate to read a second number plate. If the candidate cannot correctly read the second number plate, then the examiner must use a tape measure to measure the correct distance between the candidate and a third number plate. If the candidate cannot read the third number plate, then the candidate is deemed to have failed and the test will not continue.
[edit] "Show me, tell me"
Before the candidate is taken out onto the road, the examiner asks two basic questions about car maintenance and safety. These are always phrased in the form "Show me..." and "Tell me..."; for example:
- Show me how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.
- Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil.
A failure to answer one or both of these questions correctly would result in a minor driving fault being marked against the candidate.
[edit] Manoeuvres
During the test, the examiner will ask the candidate to carry out any TWO manoeuvres from the following list:
- Turn in the road
- Reverse around a corner to the left or right
- Bay park (only in test centre car park)
- Parallel park by the side of the road
The examiner may also, optionally, ask the candidate to carry out an emergency stop exercise.
Manoeuvres are selected at random by the examiner selecting a sheet at the test centre, which also determines the test route, and if an emergency stop is done (1 in 3).
Candidates taking the test after having their licence revoked must carry out ALL manoeuvres.
[edit] General driving
Usually, the time taken in finding an appropriate place for the candidate to carry out the two manoeuvres and driving to an appropriate stretch of road bearing the national speed limit satisfies the minimum amount of time required on the test. This naturally involves a certain amount of general town driving, during which faults can be gained. If the minimum amount of time has not been satisfied, the candidate may be asked to drive around to satisfy it. The candidate will also be asked to pull up on the left of the road and stop before moving off again on a gradient, on the flat and behind a parked car.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- DSA Practical Test website
- DVA Practical Test website
- Official Show Me, Tell Me questions
- Explanation on Eyesight Check before the Practical Test
- DSA Internal Guidance document for examiners
- DSA Hazard Perception Test information
- DSA Information for Car Drivers
- DVTA information about Theory Test
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