INDEPENDENT DRIVING TEST

From 4 October 2010 your practical driving test will include a section of ‘independent driving’. In the independent driving section of your test, you will drive for about 10 minutes. The examiner will ask you to drive by either following a series of directions, follow traffic signs, or a combination of the two.

To help you understand where you’re going, the examiner may show you a diagram. It doesn't matter if you don't remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way, as long as what you do is correct for where you are going and safe. This can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Driving independently means making your own decisions - this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going.

The independent driving route:

If you ask for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will confirm them to you.

If you go off the independent driving route it won’t affect the result of your test unless you commit a driving fault. If you go off the route or take a wrong turning, the examiner will help you to get back on the route and continue with the independent driving.

If there are poor or obscured traffic signs, the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next traffic sign - you won’t need to have a detailed knowledge of the area.

You can’t use a sat nav for independent driving as it gives you turn-by-turn prompts. Independent driving tests how you make your own decisions.

From the 4th October 2010, Independent driving formed an important part of the current driving test. But don't worry, reports from the past and existing pupils, suggests that with the correct tuition, independent driving should not cause you any problems at all, as I will provide you with the correct skills to be able to drive to the correct standard and beyond.