The UK driving test is getting an overdue tech infusion
Driving test candidates in the United Kingdom will have to follow directions on a sat nav from December 2017.
In a Gov.UK blog post on Monday, the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) explained how a new sat nav portion of the test will accompany the verbal prompts from the examiner.
The post (via VentureBeat) explains: “The examiner will provide the sat nav and set it up using one of the stored test routes.
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The DVSA says it isn’t testing the ability to set a route on a phone or a satnav, just “the ability to follow directions from one.”
The introduction of a satnav component is one of four changes to the practical tests explained in the video below.
The independent driving portion has been bumped up from 10-20 minutes, while reversing around a corner and turn in the road (three point turn) will no longer be tested.
The examiner will also ask the candidate 2 safety questions during the driving test.
The changes come into effect on December 4.
Is this a necessary change, given how much drivers rely on GPS? Share your thoughts in the comments section. below.