{"id":3082,"date":"2020-05-28T12:29:33","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T11:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/?p=3082"},"modified":"2020-05-28T12:29:34","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T11:29:34","slug":"future-driver-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/future-driver-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Future of Driver Testing Unveiled"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In an exclusive interview with Public Technology<\/em>, digital chief at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Alex Fiddes, unveils the DVSA\u2019s blueprint for the future of driver testing in the UK. Despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, the DVSA is making great strides in introducing tech to driver testing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In April, the DVSA launched 30-second video clips<\/a>, each showing different driving scenarios, which replaced written case studies. Fiddes said that this is just one of many incremental changes that the DVSA has planned to digitise driver testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already, the DVSA is exploring the possibility of implementing virtual reality headsets as part of the theory test, to make video clips more lifelike and immersive. The DVSA is also looking at how the driving theory test is conducted. Longer-term, the agency hopes to make the theory test available remotely, online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in order to make the theory test<\/a> available remotely, Fiddes acknowledged that there needs to be significant developments in biometric tools to combat the security challenges. Fiddes said:  \u201cEye-tracking and facial recognition\u2026. on a small scale these products are available, but that hasn\u2019t really scaled up into a really secure service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technological changes to practical driver testing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While technological changes to the driving theory test continue to be a work in progress, practical driver testing has already seen some advancements. Fiddes said: \u201cThe DVSA\u2019s fleet of almost 1,700 driving examiners are now all equipped with iPads, with which they mark candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the DVSA has reduced its paper usage by around three million sheets a year. Plus, switching to a digital marking system has meant that information can be circulated more freely, quickly and securely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiddes said: \u201cThe in-car iPads allow examiners, at the end of the test, to automatically transfer the data to the DVSA and email the candidate with their result.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DVSA has said that its goal is not to turn to technology for the sake of it, but to improve the experience for theory test and practical driving test<\/a> candidates, while improving workflow for the agency\u2019s employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the DVSA\u2019s digital chief did acknowledge that technology is not the solution for everything. Fiddes said: \u201cDigital is not the right approach for everything, and sometimes you have to be brave enough to say \u2018we need to stop\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DVSA remains true to its objective, whether that\u2019s through the use of technology or not, to make Britain\u2019s roads and drivers safer, and giving them a better experience during a lifetime of safe driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Booking a Driving Theory Test<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

UK theory tests are currently suspended until 31 May,\u00a02020. However,\u00a0the suspension doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t be prepared for your theory test once lockdown measures are lifted. Our site is packed with free resources you can use to get ready for your theory test.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this\u00a0<\/strong>recent blog<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for some fun theory test revisions ideas. To book a theory test ahead of coronavirus lockdown measures being lifted,\u00a0<\/strong>visit this page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In an exclusive interview with Public Technology, digital chief at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Alex Fiddes, unveils the DVSA\u2019s blueprint for the future of driver testing in the UK. Despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, the DVSA is making great strides in introducing tech to driver testing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1263],"tags":[79,144,86,168],"class_list":["post-3082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-driving-test","tag-driving-test","tag-driving-test-candidates","tag-theory-test","tag-theory-test-candidates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3082"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3084,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3082\/revisions\/3084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}