On November 15, the Government made plans to free up an additional 50,000 HGV driving tests per year by removing some stages from the practical exams. One of the biggest driving law changes was the removal of the B+E test, which drivers needed to pass to be able to tow a trailer or a caravan, which was said to free up 30,000 tests.
The B+E test was scrapped in September, allowing anyone with a standard driving licence to be able to tow a trailer without additional testing.
Further changes to driving tests will allow drivers to take their test in an articulated lorry without the need to pass a previous test in a rigid truck (Category C licence).
According to Driver Hire Training, the average pass rate across these two tests is 54 percent which means, on average, every driver does roughly three tests each to get their full HGV driver’s licence.
Removing this stage testing and just having prospective drivers learn in both vehicles will again free up even more tests.
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A spokesperson for Driver Hire Training also gave an overview of what will change and how it will affect drivers.
They said: “Although the change is partially designed to pass HGV drivers quicker, some instructors are warning that it may take longer to get a student to where they need to be, as the jump from driving a car to a C+E vehicle is more than that of a Cat C truck.
“What some training schools are planning on doing is starting students in a Cat C vehicle for the first three lessons (first nine hours) to get the student used to driving a larger vehicle before they finish the rest of their teaching in an articulated truck.
“Another consideration is that the majority of driving schools will likely have more rigid (Cat C) lorries than articulated lorries (Cat C+E) as stage testing has been in place for 24 years, therefore some may need to look at upgrading their fleet of vehicles.
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“Furthermore, the Government is also looking to remove the reversing and coupling elements from the official test which in turn will make tests shorter, meaning DVSA examiners can do more tests during a single day.
“This part of the test is the first skill drivers are asked to demonstrate and involves blind reversing around corners, as well as proving that they can uncouple and recouple the trailer to the truck.
“This skill will still be examined, but it will be done so under the supervision of the driving schools’ students are learning through.
“The school’s examiner will have to be approved by the DVSA and will also have to be different to the actual person training individuals.”
“With this skill being the first thing students must demonstrate in their test, it can be extremely daunting which often results in some failing disproportionately on nerves over their actual skill level.
“Therefore, it could be a good thing that in future this will be done under different circumstances.
“A negative to the removal of the reversing element from the driving test, is the risk that some less compliant companies, although DVSA approved, may be tempted to exploit this new way of working.
“There is a theoretical risk that some schools could be tempted to boost their own pass rates by being less rigorous in this aspect of their testing.
“So, it is important to make sure that the Government do properly monitor third party examiners to ensure this risk, although hypothetical, does not happen.”
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