New Driving Test
 

I understand that from December 4th this year the new driving test will include the ability to use a sat nav including positioning it correctly and following instructions. It will not include the 'turn in the road' i.e. 3 point turn or reversing round a corner. Surely it more important to be able to manoeuvre a vehicle than know how to rely on a device which will often send you on a goose chase.

Re: New Driving Test
 

could definatley do with a bit more emphasis on how to park and where to park and more explanation as to what a red traffic light means

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Cannot see any reason to include a sat nav in a driving test., be much better teaching people to drive without a mobile phone.:rolleyes:

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Cannot see how using a satnav is important. The ability to read the road...road signs and the minds of other drivers is much more relevant.

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Especially to those who drive taxis with the name of something large on the side...a shortened version of Maximum.

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Satnavs are built into many new cars, maybe they want to make sure you can operate the controls of the car in a same manner.

Re: New Driving Test
 

Knowing about road signs is included in the written test. I think being able to handle a vehicle is far more important. As you say Neil many new cars have sat nav inbuilt .Thank goodness ours does not. The voice keep piping up would drive me mad. I know from friends experiences with them they can send you way out of your way. I much prefer to read a map before setting off and making a note of road numbers. It is no trouble pulling up in a layby and checking if need be. I would not be surprised if some young ones these days have not the faintest idea how to read a map.

Re: New Driving Test
 

You can switch them off.

Satnavs are very good, you can't read a paper map while driving but the satnav will keep directing you. Many are now internet connected and know where traffic jams, road closures etc are and will take you around them.

A paper map was only correct when printed. Satnavs can be updated and many do it themselves so they are more accurate than paper maps

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The thing is, a satnav is quite distracting...and I would say it is on a par with a mobile phone...I never use satnav. I prefer to check on the route before leaving home and then follow the road signs.( though I do not drive much these days)
I also think it is a bad move to remove basic driving techniques from the test.
I can understand that most modern cars come with satnav, but the ability to read the road and follow road signs is paramount.

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I do agree, a sat nav is a wonderful aid to driving usually when we are in an area unknown, (most folk only travel within 30 miles of their comfort zone, unlike professional drivers) though I think I would prefer a test that shows people competent with the minimum of incoming information such as road signs before they move on to the extra distraction of a sat nav.

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If someone cannot turn a car around i.e. 3 point turn or reverse around a corner they should not pass a driving test. Goodness knows cars are so much easier to handle now than years ago with having power assisted steering .

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Thing is, a sat nav is not fitted to all cars, in fact it is only high end cars that get fitted with it - it is an optional extra.
So IMO it should not be a required part of the test - instead things like simple maintenance, how to check that lights actually work etc. should be.

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They might also consider adding a couple of more categories to the test.
Driving while texting.
(Send and receive 6 texts while not hitting more than one car or pedestrian)
Driving while eating.
(Steer with your knees while eating a greasy cheeseburger without staining clothes)
Non Alcoholic driving while drinking.
(Consume a large beverage in heavy traffic with no more than one spill)
Driving while putting on makeup.
(Multiple categories; Female, Male, Transgender, Rock Star)
Safe Road Raging.
(Swerving to cut off a specific target vehicle while endangering at least 3 others)
Pedestrian Scattering
(Accelerate towards an occupied pedestrian crossing and brake at the last moment)
(Extra points for tire squeal)
Driving with earbuds.
(Earbuds playing 100 decibels of music through fast moving heavy traffic)

It is the world in which we live!

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I wonder if the motorcycle driving test will include reading a a satnav.

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you forgot dogging etiquette ......

its all well teaching people what light setting to have in various weather conditions but just because its dark it dosnt mean its ok to drive on to a car park with full beam on

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We have to have priorities, of which the main ones are, how can I drive more selfishly?
Cutting across a lane to turn right.
Parking half on and half off the pavement (points will be deducted if either a/ your mirror isn't in the way, or b/ you haven't left your door open to block the rest of a pedestrians way).
Ignoring the fact that right/left indicator or hazard lights are on while driving.
Turning right or left and only using indicators when 3/4 of the way across the junction, this seems to apply more to BMW drivers, are their indicators THAT difficult to turn on?
Flashing your main beam not to allow the guy that wants to turn right in front of you to turn, but because you recognised the driver three cars behind him.

The list goes on and because of which our insurance always goes up!
:cool:

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Please include indicating before you are halfway round a mini roundabout.

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How about a section where you have to recognise and avoid a Max private hire vehicle.
Only applies to East Lancashire, other areas nominate their own local private hire cars.

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I like the new driving test rules its good to see them keep up to date with tech

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It isn't the tech that is important. It is the ability to control a vehicle safely and to be able to read the road and follow road signs.
I have been a driver since 1980. I do not need sat nav, I can read road directions and if I am going somewhere that is unfamiliar to me I resort to information online, I can read a map.
Sat nav's are distracting in much the same way that a phone is distracting, they are unreliable and can lead you to unsafe/unsuitable routes.

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I passed my driving test in July 1957.
I was a professional driver from 1966 until I retired in 1998.
None of the vehicles I drove had a satnav fitted and through the use of maps, a few minutes advance planning plus a few notes jotted down I managed to find my way there and back from as far north as Dounray power station near John O Groats with a 38 ton tanker to as far South and east as Lake Garda with a coach load of passengers.
My last two cars have had factory fitted satnavs and I find them useful only to warn me of speed cameras.

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Its the mentality of some young uns need,need, need,:rolleyes:

New Driving Test
 

I travel around a fair bit sometimes and find satnavs very useful, they can calculate the best route for different circumstances and warn of traffic jams and guide you around them if possible. I don't think they are any more distracting than someone in passenger seat giving directions.
Shouldn't be part of the Driving test though.


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Re: New Driving Test
 

The only time our sat nav has warned us of a traffic jam was when we were sitting in it.
Yes, they might warn of speed cameras, but these are usually marked anyway, (Bright yellow and also signposted)and if you really need one of these contraptions to warn you of such things, then perhaps you should be on the bus.:)

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I must admit that I use google maps for going anywhere I don't know. I find using one very handy.

However, this puts approx £70 onto the cost of a driving test, because the trainee will likely need to get one.

Satnav sellers will love this.

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Wouldn't be a shock to me if backhanders were part of this new driving test.:rolleyes:

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Tester provides the one for the test, I would guess an instructor will need to get one though.


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Which would mean any new driver would have to be familiar with one, backhanders from the makers odds have just increased imho.:D

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That's what I meant about instructor having one, it'll be made part of the lessons I guess.


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I know it is a long time since I learned to drive, but my instructor had the most up to date car at the time.
I feel sure that driving instructors will have cars with sat nav.
I think that most people have professional driving instruction.
I took my test in the instructors vehicle.

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Unless they use the satnav on their phone. I use google maps because it's internet linked and calculates the best route based on current traffic and it knows about traffic jams before you get to them. Non internet linked satnavs are old school now but still work especially if you're somewhere with no phone signal

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i once found myself approaching someone in the fast lane of a motorway at night who was stationary with his huge fold out map out looking to see where he was

id say satnavs were safer too :)

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Hope yeh took his reg and reported the clown.

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i couldnt really complain i was driving towards him........



JOKING

yes i did

Re: New Driving Test
 

similar situation to me plus you,ve got a tongue in your head also. only got lost once trying to find buchanan bus station in glasgow and that was due to not understanding a word the locals said plus i,m not called jimmy. even found the notorious stadium mk though. my cars are too old for sat navs but purchased one of those divices that warn of fixed and mobile cash cows.