Skip advert
Advertisement

Government plots biggest motoring reform since 1935

New report to be published in October lays out plans for driving revolution - the biggest since test was introduced 80 years ago

Learner driver

The biggest set of motoring reforms since the driving test was introduced in 1935 are being planned by the Government.

Closing test centres, part-privatising the practical exam, upping the age limit for licence renewal and increasing fees for motoring services all feature in a consultation document, according to the Independent on Sunday.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The main target for ministers in the new report is believed to be the driving test pass rate which currently stands at just under 50 per cent. The report states "anecdotal" evidence suggests learners are booking tests after just a handful of lessons over fears they'll have to wait and subsequently failing. The waiting time hit eight weeks last year due to a shortage of examiners - above the Government's six week target.

• Government to tackle pointless road signs

To help, the Independent on Sunday reports that more flexible driving test slots will be introduced including more evening and weekend appointments. Examiners would be asked to take photos of the drivers as soon as they pass, too, so licences can be processed quicker.

However, the report also reveals driving test centres could be closed to cut costs and free up land for housing - while the DVSA and DVLA contact centres could be merged leading to loss of jobs. The Government would ask the private sector to fill any shortfall of examiners or test centres instead.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

• UK Plug-in Car Grant extended to February 2016

Government officials also believe extra revenue can be raised from hiking non-essential services like cherished number plates despite slashing the cost from £105 to £80 earlier this year.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The age limit for when a driver must declare themselves fit to drive could be raised from 70 to 75, too. It follows calls earlier this year to raise the age to 80 to cut costs and reduce adminstration.

The official report, due to be published in October and timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the driving test this year, will form the basis of next year's strategy on the future of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Vehicle Certification Authority (VCA). It builds on the last Government's reforms which merged two agencies to create the DVSA while an attempt to semi-privatise the VCA failed.

• It's official: 15 per cent of MoT verdicts are incorrect

The Department for Transport (DfT) is already conducting separate trials into a new driving test with some learners taking a revised test that features 20 minute independent driving following a sat-nav. The report says to expect more changes to be made to prepare the roads for the future of driverless cars.

The document states: "In the 130 years since Karl Benz built the first modern motor car there has been continuous and accelerated development of automotive technology. Such development will doubtless continue, with the prospect of driverless cars now a real possibility."

A DfT spokesman told the newspaper: “We are currently considering options for developing the motoring services agencies and will consult later in the year. We cannot at this stage comment on the detail.”

What do you think of the proposed changes? Let us know below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
‘Secret’ UK courts are fast-tracking speeding fines say magistrates
Speed camera van window
News

‘Secret’ UK courts are fast-tracking speeding fines say magistrates

New guidance from Magistrates’ Association calls for reform and aims to expose ‘secret’ Single Justice Procedure system
26 Mar 2024
Low on stock: Only 1-in-10 UK supermarkets offer electric car charging
Polestar 2 and LEVC TX connected to Sainsburys EV chargers
News

Low on stock: Only 1-in-10 UK supermarkets offer electric car charging

A survey by Zap-Map and the RAC reveals only 13% of supermarkets are equipped with EV chargers, despite a 59% increase in the past year
22 Mar 2024
Mis-sold car finance scandal: could you be due compensation?
Missold car finance
News

Mis-sold car finance scandal: could you be due compensation?

Did you buy a car on finance between April 2007 and January 2021? You could be owed thousands!
21 Mar 2024

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: classy Audi A4 Avant estate plus 8,000 miles per year for less than £300 a month
Audi A4 Avant driving on UK roads
News

Car Deal of the Day: classy Audi A4 Avant estate plus 8,000 miles per year for less than £300 a month

Our Deal of the Day for 27 March is for those who want a big trunk for all their junk
27 Mar 2024