North East learner drivers face new overhauled test from today

New driving test rules introduced today will see learners having to follow a sat nav and answer safety questions while driving.

The changes are aimed at modernising the test to better challenge prospective drivers on the actions they'll be performing on the roads.

There are now also less manoeuvres that prospective drivers can be asked to complete during the examination and they'll be asked to drive independently for longer.

The four changes to the driving test that learner drivers need to know, include:

• increasing the ‘independent driving’ part of the test from 10 to 20 minutes

• asking candidates to follow directions on a sat nav as an alternative to following road signs

• replacing current manoeuvres such as ‘reverse around a corner’ with more real life scenarios, such as driving into and reversing out of a parking bay

• asking one of the two vehicle safety questions while the candidate is driving, for example, asking candidates to use the rear heated screen

Disruption is expected today for test takers as examiners take strike action - following disagreements with the government over contract terms.

Paul Watson is the North East spokesperson for Road Safety GB - he said:

"Aged 17-25 you are seven times more likely to be killed on a road than a driver aged 25 or over. The changes to the driving test are really to address those collision problems, but also prepare a young driver for a safe lifetime of driving."

"The fact that the independent driving part of the test includes Sat Nav - when you look at the stats over 50% of people use them in cars - and i think the fact that they're embracing technology should make our young drivers a lot more safer on the roads."