You’re more likely to Pass Your Practical Driving Test in ‘Modern’ Car
The practical driving test has been criticized because modern motors make passing too easy, experts say. Those taking the test in cars with semi-autonomous gadgets get an unfair advantage over candidates taking the exam in older motors. There’s now talk of introducing a ‘standardised’ car for all tests to level the playing field.
Despite an overhaul of the UK practical driving test, which will be rolled out nationwide on 4 December, 2017, experts say that a number of learner drivers taking their motoring exam are getting an unfair advantage. How? Hi-tech devices are helping them to avoid accidents.
Apparently, the driving test is failing to keep up with technology, meaning that those candidates taking their test in older cars are losing out. Correct us if we’re wrong, but isn’t it a good thing if technology is helping learners avoid road accidents during the test? Not only is it safe for them, it protects test invigilators, pedestrians and other road users.
Why have Experts got a Bee in their Bonnet about the Practical Driving Test?
Apparently, too much tech makes learner drivers lazy and complacent. With blind spot monitoring systems, speed limit detection, collision warning and lane keep assist now available on most cars used during the practical driving test, experts are worried that learners aren’t actually learning anything because it’s all done for them.
There are fears that test candidates won’t be penalised with minor faults for failing to check blind spots or reacting late to vehicles in front and straying from the lane they’re meant to be in because cars are constantly directing them with reminders throughout the test.
Standardised Cars for the Practical Driving Test
To prevent candidates with modern cars getting an unfair advantage, there’s talk of an ‘exam car’ that could be used for all driving tests. Such a system exists in Latvia, where video surveillance equipment is used to enable exams to be analysed if a test result is appealed, and to stamp out the corruption of examiners.
However, introducing an ‘exam car’ in the UK would be a bad idea according to some. Firstly, cost would be an issue. To maintain a fleet of exam cars would increase the cost of the test beyond the current £62 fee – to offset the recent reductions to the driving theory test.
Meanwhile, a standardised exam car could make the test harder to pass. Director of the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding, said: “Levelling the playing field by dropping learner drivers into an exam car for their test sounds good in theory but bad in practice.”
“Ultimately, it is down to instructors to enter their pupils for a test when they are confident they have the right attitude to be a good driver as well as the mere technical skills,” he added.
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