Learner drivers across the UK are being urged to take note of new driving test changes introduced as part of a nationwide trial aimed at improving road safety. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has launched a three-month pilot scheme at 20 test centres across the country. 

The goal is to better prepare learners for real-world driving conditions, particularly on rural and high-speed roads where nearly half of all young driver casualties occur. According to experts at Carwow, the new measures will affect thousands of learners and are set to run until August 2025. While the overall structure and length of the practical driving test will remain the same, three significant updates have been rolled out.

The first change is a reduction in the number of stops during the test (from four to three),  which allows more time to be spent on high-speed and country roads. 

Emergency stop exercises will also now take place in just one in seven tests, instead of one in three. 

Finally, examiners will have more flexibility to extend the sat nav-led independent driving section, potentially using it for the full test.

A DVSA spokesperson said: “This trial is about giving learners a more realistic experience before they pass, especially in the types of environments that pose the biggest risk to them.”

The 20 test centres taking part in the trial are: Avonmouth, Bishopbriggs, Bolton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Dudley, Halifax, Hendon, Hereford, Hornchurch, Isleworth, Maidstone, Middlesbrough, Musselburgh, Norris Green, Norwich, Nottingham (Chilwell), Oxford, Portsmouth, and Wakefield.

Learners with upcoming bookings at these centres will be contacted directly and offered reassurance about the updates.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the changes form part of a wider plan to cut accidents involving newly qualified drivers. 

Meanwhile, the DVSA is also working to tackle record-long waiting times for driving tests. 

With over half of UK test centres now facing delays of six months or more, new measures have been announced to add 10,000 extra test slots each month.

The agency has pledged to recruit hundreds of new examiners and bring back overtime pay to clear the backlog.

Emma Bush, the managing director of AA Driving School, said: “Many people, particularly young people, need to pass their driving test for their job or to access education. 

“Unblocking the system by creating extra tests will help ensure people are not being held back due to a lack of a driving licence.”

The DVSA is also cracking down on fraud and the resale of test slots, having closed 800 business accounts and updated its booking rules.

Learners are encouraged to book early, avoid unverified booking sites, and keep practicing to stay test-ready.