The latest Covid guidelines now make it your personal choice to wear face coverings for driving tests and lessons. All other restrictions regarding the driving tests have now been removed which means the driving test will be conducted in full, even if a serious fault is committed and instructors are once again allowed to sit in the back of the test.

Anyone with a test booked before the end of the current lockdown should receive an email from the DVSA. For a practical test a new test date later in the year will be given but for a theory test you should receive an invitation to re-book.

The DVSA has announced that driving lessons can resume on July 4th. Theory tests will be also resume on this date and practical tests will resume on July 22nd.

The DVSA announced today changes to the driving test which are set to commence on the 4th December 2017.

The new changes include the use of a sat nav and drivers will also be expected to answer a vehicle safety question whilst driving.

The reverse around the corner will be replaced by new manoeuvres such as driving into a parking space and then reversing back out safely.

DVSA has launched a consultation on changes to the driving test today (Thursday 14 July).

The DVSA wants to make sure the test better assesses a driver’s ability to drive safely and independently in modern driving conditions.

The changes are to:

• increase the ‘independent driving’ part of the test from 10 to 20 minutes
• ask candidates to follow directions from a sat nav during the ‘independent driving’ part
• replace the ‘reverse around a corner’ and ‘turn in the road’ manoeuvres with more real-life scenarios, eg driving into and reversing out of a parking bay
• ask one of the vehicle safety questions (known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions) while the candidate is driving

The deadline for giving your views is Thursday 25 August 2016

The Department for Transport (DfT) have launched a consultation to ask motorists for their views on automated and driverless cars being used on Britain’s roads

Under the proposed measures, rules will be changed to allow advanced driver-assisted and automated and driverless cars to be insured for road use.

Cars using advanced driver assistance features to change lanes and park by remote control are expected to be on sale on Britain in the next 2 to 4 years.

Automated and driverless vehicles are expected to be on the roads any time from the mid 2020’s onwards.

Under the proposals:

• the Highway Code and regulations will be changed to support the safe use of remote control parking and motorway assist features
• insurance law will be changed so that, in future, motorists who have handed control to their self-driving cars can be properly insured

NEW! No Age Limit for Off-road Under Age Driving Lessons

There is now no age limit for pupils wanting to learn to drive a manual car off the road. If you are at least 1.5m (4′ 10″) tall then you are old enough. You must also be able to read a car number plate, with or without glasses, at a distance of 20.5 metres (that’s about the length of a cricket pitch). This provides an excellent opportunity for more young people to gain the experience of driving in the safe environment at Dunsfold.

For more information please contact me on 07846642277.

Driving test examiners will stage a two-day strike on 19 and 20 November in a dispute over working hours.

The Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents around 1,600 Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency staff, will walk out over new working patterns.

The union says these changes to work hours will mean members working longer shifts.