Overview

• The trial, which began on May 6, 2025, aims to address high casualty rates among young drivers on rural roads, where 48% of their collisions occur.
• Key changes include reducing mandatory stops from four to three and decreasing emergency stop frequency from one in three tests to one in seven.
• Independent driving using a sat nav has been extended from 20 minutes to the entire test duration to better reflect real-world driving conditions.
• The DVSA is contacting learners with tests booked at the 20 participating centres to inform them of the changes and reassure them that test content remains unchanged.
• The trial will run until August 2025, after which findings will be reviewed to determine if the changes will be implemented nationwide.