DRIVING TEST IS 75 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR!

2010 is the 75th Birthday of the UK drving test. As the result of an increase in road deaths the driving test became compulsory.

The first to pass was Mr Beene of Kensington who paid 7s/6d (37p). The cost today is £62 for the practical test plus an initial £31 for the theory test.

Up until 1935 people often learnt to drive from the person who sold them the car and when the driving test was introduced there were no test centres so candidates had to arrange where to meet the examiner.

In 1935 nearly 250,000 people applied for the test which had a pass rate of 63 per cent; considerably higher than the current nationwide average pass rate of 45%! Since the first test in 1935 over 90 million driving tests have been taken in the UK. Over one and a half million tests are undertaken each year and a total of 32 million people in the UK (70% of the adult population) hold a driving licence.

As a result of the driving test, road deaths dropped by a 1,000 (14%) in 1935 from the 1934 number of 7,343 at a time when there were only 500,000 cars on the road. Today there are 28 million cars on the UK's roads and in 2009 there were 2,538 road deaths.

A separate test was introduced for automatics in June 1969, arm signals were dropped in May 1975 and reverse parking introduced in April 1991. "Show me, tell me" questions on vehicle controls and maintenance were added in September 2003.

A separate theory test came in July 1996, replacing Highway Code questions at the end of the test. The test became touch screen in 2000 and a hazard perception element, using video clips, was introduced in 2002.

In 1935 the government introduced the driving test with an information film narrated by World Speed Record-holder and Bluebird driver Sir Malcolm Campbell. Its aim was to give an outline of the test and, to quote Sir Malcolm, "to promote the courteous and safe use of the highway". Sir Malcolm tells candidates "Don't be nervous" for what he describes as a series of very reasonable tests. He also warns "Never drive like this chap. It's a jolly nuisance to following traffic and puts a big black blot on the driver's copy book" and to "study your Highway Code, think what you're doing, drive with care and consideration". After 75 years, Sir Malcolm's advice still holds true!

NEW INDEPENDENT DRIVING ELEMENT OF THE PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST

The practical driving test is to be revamped in an effort to make it more relevant to real world driving situations. From 4th October 2010 the practical driving test will include an "independent driving" element where the pupil will be asked to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs or a combination of both. To help the pupil to be clear about where they're going when following a series of directions, the examiner can show them a diagram of the route. The DSA say "it doesn't matter if candidates don't remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers". The "independent driving" element will not increase the cost of the test and only one reversing manoeuvre, instead of the current two, will need to be undertaken in order that the duration of the test remains the same. More detailed information will follow soon!

HAZARD AWARENESS TEST

Try this Observation, Anticipation and Hazard Awareness Test

If you're not anticipating that something may be there and you're not looking for it...You won't see it! Expect the unexpected!

INDIAN DRIVING TEST

Worrying stuff!