New drivers to be tested on savnav

From 4 December 2017, new drivers will spend 20 minutes in their practical test being guided by a satnav device. This is in addition to the independent driving time.

There are also changes to the manoeuvres in the exam with the three-point turn and reverse around a corner being replaced:

Candidates will also be tested on driving into a bay in a public car park and reversing out again or pulling up on a roadside, reversing a short distance, then rejoining traffic. These manoeuvres will replace the three-point turn or reversing round a corner. The length of independent driving will be doubled to 20 minutes.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/15/driving-test-updated-to-include-satnav-training-dvsa

I just read about this. Thank goodness I just passed, I'm not the best with satnav here


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The changes make sense to me!

I'm a big fan of the three point turn, it's a really useful manoeuvre. I can't understand why they would want to let that go.

I think all the changes utilize real life driving scenarios. The satnav is an interesting idea, though not sure if I like it or not. When a satnav goes right, it's great. When it goes wrong, it's really wrong!


Other may disagree on this, but I'm glad that the reverse around corner is being ditched. I've never once needed to do it here, besides on my test. Even my husband's 80 year old grandfather was surprised when I told him I had to do it on my test, as he thought it was an "outdated" maneuver.

What's the special skill about driving while following a sat nav?  Other than not listening if it tells you to drive into a river.

What's the special skill about driving while following a sat nav?  Other than not listening if it tells you to drive into a river.

One skill is NOT to set or change the destination while driving, or in fact touch it all while driving.

I expect they will also be watching at how long the driver takes his eyes off the road to watch the display.

Our son is moving back  from the USA this Fall, and he never uses a satnav, so this is actually a skill he will have to learn.

Yay! Reversing around a corner is something I was extremely reluctant to learn. Yes, we do it if needs must, but it's not something I want to do otherwise.

As far as GPS, well...since I *do* drive with it regularly, I guess it makes sense. But I'm not thrilled about twice as long with the independent driving.

I wonder if you'll get a "minor" each time the SatNav says, "Recalculating" in that huffy, frustrated voice.  Lol!