On 4 OCTOBER 2010, the driving test was changed to include a new 10-minute section
on “independent driving” where the candidate will be required to navigate as well
as drive competently. In other words, during this part of the test, the examiner
will not issue turn-by-turn instructions for the route like “take the next road on
the right”. Instead, the examiner may ask the candidate to either: (a) follow road
signs and markings at junctions towards a local destination (e.g. the hospital);
or (b) follow a brief verbal instruction such as “Take the second left, then the
first right and then turn right at the roundabout” or (c) a combination of both.
A simple diagram may be used to show the route to follow (click here to see an example).
Click here to view a DSA video about independent driving on YouTube.
This section of the test is supposed to more closely mirror real-world driving,
especially when you’re out on your own after passing your test and may have to ask
the way. The duration of the overall test has not changed. To allow for the introduction
of the independent drive section of the test, the number of reversing manoeuvres
in the test itself has been reduced from two to one.
