CHANGES are on the horizon for driving tests across the country.

In order to reduce causalities of young drivers, the Government has proposed changes to the current test to incorporate a more realistic experience of driving.

The trial started earlier this year and involved driving instructors and students from 32 driving test centres across the country taking part in a new version.

The public are now being asked to respond to the changes before a decision is made by filling out a survey before August 25 at 11.45pm.

Arthur Mynott, chairman of the Taunton Association of Driving Instructors, said: “Taunton wasn’t involved in the trial, so it hasn’t impacted on our driving instructors yet.

“I think the main concern is safety. The changes have come about because people that had recently passed their test were asked what else they felt they would have liked to learn.”

“The government is trying to make the changes to replicate real everyday driving.”

The new test includes changes to the ‘show me, tell me’ questions. Instead of one question at the beginning of the test, now potential drivers will answer one ‘tell me’ question at the beginning of the test, and one ‘show me’ question while on the move during the test. Instead of 10 minutes of independent driving, the new test proposes 20 minutes of driving using a satnav that has been programmed by the examiner before the test.

Changes have also been proposed for some of the manoeuvres. Turning in the road and reversing around a corner would be replaced by either driving into and reversing out of a parking bay or pulling up on right-hand side of the road and reversing before rejoining traffic. Reverse parking, either into a parking bay, or parallel parking at the side of the road, remained in both tests.

According to Mr Mynott, who runs his own driving school the Exmoor School of Motoring, two of the changes could cause controversy.

Mr Mynott is concerned about the use of public car parks during the test, although he claims candidates will be able to choose their preferred bay.

There are also questions about the new manoeuvre involving parking on the right-hand side of the road. T, this is because Rule 239, of the Highway Code, says “do not park facing against the traffic flow”. However, in the policy paper entitled ‘Improving the driving test’ from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, dated August 25 2015, section 3.2 states this is perfectly legal.

Mr Mynott added: “The right-hand reversing manoeuvre will only be done in residential areas. I don’t think there will be a problem if people use their common sense.

“In every manoeuvre you are marked on your control and observations, so as long as it is done safely, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Mr Mynott was named member of the year by the Motor Schools Association of Great Britain, for his contribution to road safety. He says that any “decent” driving instructor will continue to teach the old manoeuvres, as well as the newly proposed ones, as they are all everyday skills needed to drive.

More than 6,000 tests were booked by 4,226 candidates and 863 instructors. Around half took the current test, and the rest took the new test. Mr Mynott says that the results were fairly similar with a pass rate of more than 50 per cent for each test.

To have your say on the new changes Visit www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PFKBO.