Overview
- From 24 November 2025, all Great Britain test centres will route learners onto faster, higher‑risk roads, including rural stretches where location allows.
- Independent driving may run up to 20 minutes or the full test using a sat nav, traffic signs, or both, giving examiners wider route flexibility.
- Trial data showed routine stops reduced from four to three and emergency‑stop exercises fell from one in three tests to one in seven.
- The agency frames the move as a safety measure, citing that nearly half of fatal or serious crashes involving 17–24‑year‑old drivers occurred on rural roads between 2019 and 2023.
- Ministers and instructors back the shift, with 87% of surveyed instructors supportive; DVSA says test length and availability are unchanged as separate measures target the booking backlog.