The Reason Why The Driving Test Changed In Great Britain

@eelsemaj99

2026-03-10

The only thing I didn’t do that much is drive at night.

I passed in Exeter and I think it’s actually a great place to do it. You can chain together 3 dual carriageways on test if you want, there’s even a place where two split. there are several places where dual carriageways very quickly become rural roads, on test I did one where a dual carriageway led immediately into a tiny village where you can only do 20, and there’s a place where you dart across the traffic onto a single track road.

Oddly enough I feel least confident at urban driving with narrow lanes and cyclists and pedestrians, although they do exist near me there’s a lot of rural driving

@duster. より:

@duster.

2026-03-10

In 1976, Truro, Cornwall. I had about 8 one-hour lessons, and passed my test the first time. I was taught in bad weather, nighttime, etc, but the nearest motorway was 100 miles away in Exeter. I took my test on the dreaded Wednesday, Market Day. I was terrified, but on the way to Truro, my instructor explained that market day meant an influx of cars and pedestrians in town, so more time was spent sitting in traffic and trying to find places to carry out the required manoeuvres. My driving test official was a bit frustrated by it all. I took my motorbike test in 2003 and also passed it on my first attempt. The tester followed me in a car, and I left him at a junction. He came over the radio and told me to pull in and wait for him at a specified location. It took him several minutes to reach me.

@haydnfreeman86 より:

@haydnfreeman86

2026-03-10

I passed my test 2 days ago, first time round. Genuinely didn’t think I would as I was over thinking every little thing. Thankful to my instructor who set a very high standard and also homework with watching your videos Richard! It was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be. Anyone who is doing your test soon, keep calm and relaxed. If you can drive safely, you can pass your test! When I am better off I will contribute as I’m sure your videos helped me pass. Thankyou!

@davidfonghochoo9677 より:

@davidfonghochoo9677

2026-03-10

Thank you so much for all the videos you share. I passed my driving test yesterday.

@TeachSmith より:

@TeachSmith

2026-03-10

Passed my test on Thursday with 4 faults: your videos are excellent and definitely helped me; thank you

@jerryorange6983 より:

@jerryorange6983

2026-03-09

I'm based in London - 20mph zones everywhere. The closest 60 mph road was changed to 40 mph. The fastest route in 40 minutes range is 50 mph.
So if someone can drive up 50 mph and masters an art of driving 20 mph should be ok.

@silvercat18 より:

@silvercat18

2026-03-09

Well, i am nearing my 30th year of driving and dont think i have once attempted to parallel park - i remember the way i was taught it only applied in that make of car as it used certain parts of the doors and structure as markers for when to turn etc - basically useless in any other car i have had. I have done a fair few emergency stops in my time, mainly for surprise deer in the road or other non-person hazards.

I still have painful memories of my driving tests - i passed on the second and wouldnt want to go through that ever again. I really feel for student drivers today, it was awful back then and it must be so much worse, especially with the difficulties of the booking system and the fact that roads are just plain busier and more complex.

@nottjohn9418 より:

@nottjohn9418

2026-03-09

So the standard of driving is going to get worse then? Too many people on motorways (for example) already can't drive properly and this means it's going to get worse.

@timedwards6854 より:

@timedwards6854

2026-03-09

The DVSA, the Driving Test structure and the whole industry is a complete corrupt joke.

@SuperFunkmachine より:

@SuperFunkmachine

2026-03-09

People don't learn to drive in the dark, and we can guarantee nightfall.
Driving at night in urban an rural area is totally different.

@spwicks1980 より:

@spwicks1980

2026-03-09

Colchester? I remember doing mine there. The magic roundabout is always fun.

I was lucky and had an instructor who taught people to be instructors. He could teach anything. Luckily he taught me slip roads and carriage way driving and gave me plenty of advice for motorway driving to prepare me for when i was driving on my own.

@tarnished3571 より:

@tarnished3571

2026-03-09

I have a driving licence but my instructor didn't teach me how to drive on motorways

@HoloDragonPanda より:

@HoloDragonPanda

2026-03-09

It's changing AGAIN?

@Shcotchwisky12 より:

@Shcotchwisky12

2026-03-09

Let me guess they made it more stringent and harder to pass?

@10C45E より:

@10C45E

2026-03-09

I was actually amazed at how easy the driving test was. It was over so fast and I was surprised at what little things I was actually tested on. And I have to commend my driving instructor for teaching me so much before my test, especially so many of the things that he didn't HAVE to teach me..

@mistycat1954 より:

@mistycat1954

2026-03-09

Why are you talking about thing you say yourself you know nothing about , that is ridiculous isn't it ?

@albi7110 より:

@albi7110

2026-03-09

just passed today. cheers for the videos

@PLACESNONDESCRIPT より:

@PLACESNONDESCRIPT

2026-03-08

Why aren’t they choosing to do something about roads with fewer motorist eg roads that other bad drivers use koz drivers in uk are half bad road users they can cost u a mistake in your test day ,someone driving on the far inner right lane and outer right lane with less speeds lane hoagers then when someone fast pacing approaches they emerge to the left lane blundering through that lane change without checking if they are merging safely or not causing u to break lower your speed or be a danger to other road users to avoid that road lane hoagers panick driving ,Dvla shud really do what USA and other nations have choose a driving course or path a place with all the challenges but only people using it is students learning to drive let them take that challenge and try and pass it instead of choosing to use UK roads which some are really gonna fail u even seasoned drivers struggle with the confusion that this roads have either by poor design or lane size or even busy roads with less exit and access feeder roads making them just hazards but everyone have to use them koz they are the main link roads to multiple places it’s absurd

@k956upg より:

@k956upg

2026-03-08

London is so congested thanks to our gov closing so many roads & now open boarders so there building millions of houses for invaders so they need more flexibility in tests or the driver would just sit in a queue the whole test.north London to outer London takes me 25 min at night or 1.5 hours at 4pm.closing routes isn’t saving the world it’s destroying our economy.

@wasifbinlatif3549 より:

@wasifbinlatif3549

2026-03-08

I live in Colchester

@jimmyog より:

@jimmyog

2026-03-08

I struggle to believe that driving instructors would not teach their students how to merge, drive on and exit motorways. That would be unethical and means the instructor doesn’t care about human life.

@CannibalShadow より:

@CannibalShadow

2026-03-08

I remember I actually had to request to get practice on 70mph roads because the guy seemed like he had no intention on taking me on one.

@syedhasan4572 より:

@syedhasan4572

2026-03-08

I was lucky enough to have my driving lessons on:
Normal road,
Big A roads (the ones similar to motorway),
Uphill & downhill
Narrow roads
One way
Narrow roads with 40m speed
Sharp turn,
Complicated roundabouts,
Complicated junctions,
Snow
Frozen road
Maneuvers: 3 point turn, parallel parking, bay parking, reverse round the corner, emergency braking.
Rural driving
City driving.

If you are wondering why so many options, I was failing a lot and my instructor was trying to increase my confidence because apparently my driving was better than the most but I was failing for silly mistakes.

@DankBoyy00 より:

@DankBoyy00

2026-03-08

I never did a high speed road, no motorways or anything like that, still haven't driven on a motorway after over a year of driving. But then I live very rural, I don't have a motorway near me, nearest is about 2 hours away from me.

@hyperlovesyou より:

@hyperlovesyou

2026-03-08

hey iv got a question! what is "a cheeky left" clarkson says this when warning about driving in london and i am baffled by it

@CarterAiLab より:

@CarterAiLab

2026-03-08

more L cars on the M25...can you imagine how much "additional" traffic it will create to the road...it is already an overly congested motorway

@elixier33 より:

@elixier33

2026-03-08

It's not an emergency stop it's a controlled stop.

@WEASELWAZEL242 より:

@WEASELWAZEL242

2026-03-07

I just passed my driving test last Sunday but I definitely didn't learn as much as I should of in my opinion.

@stephaniemillington4321 より:

@stephaniemillington4321

2026-03-07

It was so brutal back when I did my test. It still surprises me how I passed first time.

@Bruhhhh1266 より:

@Bruhhhh1266

2026-03-07

Well I’ve got my test on 8 December 2025

@SelectiveIntent より:

@SelectiveIntent

2026-03-07

70mph was missing, single country roads were missing and a lot was actually missing. On my test, I failed cause my wheel touched a curb during a parallel park, but in my area, you can't park without mounting the curb, so mounting a curb should be taught as well. Also driving in the rain isn't covered well apart from 'distance' but not hydroplaning or how misty/showery it gets when there's dozens of cars on the road and visibility + slowing down + having to check mirrors in situations wherein you can't see a few feet behind you due to the wheel showers coming from every corner. It's a bit of a mess. I can safely say passing the driving test didn't teach me anything, but driving after passing the test was the true test and some mates I know don't even drive outside of their area due to not having the confidence as they've not learned and not all people can put themselves out of that comfort zone.

@lammypie3561 より:

@lammypie3561

2026-03-07

This man doesn’t look old enough to have been driving since 2009! Great vid tho, son has an intensive course in March. We live very rural so reversing is a must due to single track roads and most of the roads are 50/60mph

@raazelb より:

@raazelb

2026-03-07

Mate I love your in depth videos. I agree with you on this. I passed my test whilst living in Hayes and harlington near Heathrow. I learnt all types of road 70mph roads dual carriageways, country lanes. Great opportunity for me to know how to handle all types of roads and dealing with all types of situations. I got taught very well how to utilise my mirrors properly. It's a shame a lot of people to this day have no idea how to handle different roads and only end up driving in their local area and never use the motorways A roads dual carriage ways because they are scared as they have never driven on them. I feel those people have wasted their time learning to drive.

@srikartalari2466 より:

@srikartalari2466

2026-03-07

Thank you for all videos, it helped a lot to pass my test today.

@juoig7799 より:

@juoig7799

2026-03-07

I think every test should perform the emergency stop. If you're driving a 2000 kg vehicle you should know how to E-stop if a kid runs out into the road

@vanityvry より:

@vanityvry

2026-03-06

Our streets are really narrow, they just weren't designed with cars in mind and our houses are solid enough that there's rarely an opportunity to rebuild them further back from the road. It definitely is a bit harrowing, particularly when someone coming the other way has the spatial awareness of a spaniel.

@valtal1154 より:

@valtal1154

2026-03-06

My instructor also pretty much just taught me how to get through the test, never taught me anything properly
I actually passed my driving test on my second try just a few days ago but it definitely wasn't pretty, I'm not happy with my techniques
Even though I live in a different country your videos help me out a lot!

Also it's too bad we don't learn driving with sat-nav and they don't test us on it, would be very useful in these times when most people rely on it. Just one more thing I'll have to learn the hard way I guess.

@GBNoble より:

@GBNoble

2026-03-06

Why they take out the Emergency stop is wild...

Its like they want more accidents...

@CreditsBackBruh より:

@CreditsBackBruh

2026-03-06

I passed in Colchester in 2018 and the route was almost entirely rural other than coming out of Whitehall and old heath to get towards rowhedge and fingeringhoe way. Fortunately I’d done dual carriageway as my instructor used to love using my lesson time for me to take him through the freeport drive throughs in Braintree

@Wardazord より:

2026年3月6日 12:00 AM

@Wardazord

2026-03-06

Just wanted to say due to yourself and my Dad (an HGV driver of 35 years and the best driver I know!), I passed my test on Monday without a single lesson from an actual instructor.

I passed with 2 minors. It was very busy, school-time, afternoon traffic and the test centre (Doncaster) is near a lot of shops (obviously it’s a week before Christmas!). I covered every single type of road / situation; fast link roads and country roads, dual carriageways, a lot of roundabouts and residential streets.

I was unbelievably anxious, yet somehow pulled the best drive of my life out of the bag. I even scraped a curb slightly on one of the pull ups in the first 5 mins and thought I’d failed there and then, turns out it was no issue! Lesson there being to never give up.

Thanks again and keep doing what you do! I’ll be continuing my driving education and looking after that pink license.

Have a great Christmas / New Year!

@tod2009 より:

2026年3月6日 12:00 AM

@tod2009

2026-03-06

Really good video, I agree with your point about doing the test having never driven 70mph road and country roads ect. Luckily last year I did my test and passed in London but I had never done any of this in my lessons, however I had to move to an area which requires all this, so I ended up having to pay extra to practice on 70mph roads after the test in order to gain confidence. Worked a treat as I am now driving without issues.

@rchung9408 より:

@rchung9408

2026-03-05

Could you make a video about driving on single-track roads in rural areas? My instructor told me there aren’t many single-track roads in my area, and I don’t think I’ll have any lessons on this type of road.

@Matobit より:

@Matobit

2026-03-05

it was hard enough already :/

@officialtechnomancer より:

@officialtechnomancer

2026-03-05

Having to take a test to drive is absurd anyway... Kids aboard be driving at age of 8 lool

@angelosterizakis7635 より:

@angelosterizakis7635

2026-03-05

My driving test is in Borehamwood. Despite there being so many single track roads nearby, they don't appear to include them in tests. What they focus on mainly dealing with mini roundabouts in the town centre and the big roundabouts on the A1 and A41. My feeling therefore is that driving tests mostly focus on junctions to ensure safe checks and correctly dealing with priorities. I believe that single track roads, while difficult are not tested because they involve a more casual negotiation.

@nobby8827 より:

2026年3月5日 12:00 AM

@nobby8827

2026-03-05

I’m one of those people in the comments saying I passed my test today (first time) and your videos helped. Thank you!

@stupidoldgamer より:

2026年3月5日 12:00 AM

@stupidoldgamer

2026-03-05

Too many people drive here without a driving license. So we have to modify our driving methods instead of preventing the people causing the incidents from entering cars.

@chikanonso9731 より:

2026年3月4日 12:01 PM

@chikanonso9731

2026-03-04

When you pass your test, it doesn’t matter if it’s first time or fifth time.

The freedom is just too beautiful

@AgamGamez より:

2026年3月4日 12:01 PM

@AgamGamez

2026-03-04

Ive passed this summer and i havent been on a road over 40 mph before getting my license. Honestly i picked it up fairly quickly and never really felt like ive missed out. I did do my test in Pinner, London for those wondering.

@tommyt4062 より:

2026年3月4日 12:01 PM

@tommyt4062

2026-03-04

Back when me and my friends passed our tests I knew two girls who couldn't reverse, one would avoid certain situations and the other would park anywhere but then ask someone to reverse her car out for her.
I always wondered how they passed their tests but maybe they had both been taught using the sticker method?

@ifnotynot より:

2026年3月4日 12:00 PM

@ifnotynot

2026-03-04

Test tomorrow dinner time . Trying get ready .....

@Crazyworld936 より:

2026年3月4日 12:00 PM

@Crazyworld936

2026-03-04

So am I right in thinking that the examiner will not tell you take a right/left etc but just tell you to goto a particular place by either following sat nav or road signs?

@elmorientez3787 より:

2026年3月4日 12:00 PM

@elmorientez3787

2026-03-04

I did driving lessons years ago and failed my test, in my opinion due to a combination of inadequate training and being singled out on a test. My instructor had me do almost constant loops of the same 4 roads over and over with almost no variation. I never did anything on higher speed roads or built up areas with large numbers of parked cars. First thing I got on my test was a dual carriageway, which I was absolutely bricking it doing, on a test that wound up being over an hour. And that was in 2007.

@Mr-x-683 より:

@Mr-x-683

2026-03-04

You seem good instructor but seems like the government makes idiots drivers.

Drift road close to slough is a dangerous road and one month alone I picked 3 cars that slide im the ditch.

On the motorway some people slow downs almost full stop on the slip road on the motorway to wait to join when free…

People don’t know that on the motorway you give when when joining in …

@PeekachChu より:

@PeekachChu

2026-03-04

im 30 and i desperately want to drive but its just to expensive to learn and do the test i still haven't managed. Because it also has a reputation of being hard, i fear even if i fork out the grand to learn , it could cost way more in retests,.

@L.C.Sweeney より:

@L.C.Sweeney

2026-03-04

Emergency stop should be compulsory. I've been rearended by a moron who evidently couldn't do one ...

@whynotblueapples8101 より:

@whynotblueapples8101

2026-03-04

The system of getting a driving licence or becoming a driving instructor is a state run scam.

@XDjohnnyboy より:

@XDjohnnyboy

2026-03-04

After watching this video, im glad im not alone when teaching, and teaching my students fully and not to just pass a test. I have indeed had students mention how their friends have passed in less time and have covered more things in the same time frame. I agree that everyone needs to be taught everything and not to just pass.

@PLACESNONDESCRIPT より:

@PLACESNONDESCRIPT

2026-03-03

In UL rules isn’t the issue it’s the roads it’s the design of the roads that’s the problem

@leslierhodes5467 より:

@leslierhodes5467

2026-03-03

How that gonna help people who lead to drive in the centre of London for an examiner they would have to drive at least 20 to 30 minutes to get out of London if not longer just to get a country route an urban route and could mean all major cities and plus it’s going to make learning to drive more expensive as the examiners will have to make a longer test

@1337_Player より:

@1337_Player

2026-03-03

One of your best videos.

A lot of my pupils used to watch you, and I used to tell them you're not the best driver out there but you are an incredible instructor. Never change.

@jiffray より:

@jiffray

2026-03-03

Good changes to incorporate more real world driving and speed tests up BUT it does not fix the core issue of too few Driving Examiners. Meaning the backlog will remain for the foreseeable future. I recently applied to be a Driving Examiner and can now say I am not surprised the DVSA are struggling to take on examiners which would fix the issue more effectively.

If you get through the hoops and start the 7 week training course and do not pass, you are released from the DVSA and jobless. So you need people that are either currently jobless or in positions where they are willing to risk leaving their current role, and accept the possibility of if they fail, having to apply for another job quickly. Not something many people will be willing to do once they are paying rent/a mortgage.

I passed the first two hoops with good scores but did not meet the standard required at the driving assessment. I have been driving 25+ years with pass plus and completed driving courses in the military. I'm sure I made an error or two during the assessment as nobody is perfect but I did not make any major errors like causing someone to slam on their brakes, being in the wrong lane, me having to slam on my brakes, cutting anyone up etc. It seemed a safe and OK drive.

I thought the purpose of the 7 weeks training is to get suitable candidates up to the standard required. But it seems you have to already be at this unknown standard to progress onto the 7 week course. Also it set alarm bells off when the assessor said he would need to complete the paperwork on the computer and it would spit out a score. So it is determined by a computer with no feedback other than pass/fail with presumably no flexibility or nuance.

For example during my assessment it was raining and I was taken on muddy country roads which were limited to 60mph. I did around 45 - 50mph and I commented the reason for that is the conditions and I am unfamiliar with the roads. I was also constantly checking mirrors & there was nobody around so I was not delaying anyone. However if the computer just asks "Did the candidate travel at the speed limit throughout?" the answer would be 'no' which I'm sure marks me down, but it may not take into account the circumstances, or if the assessor can even put in those extra details.

The salary for the role was £30,500 so a respectable amount but even if you make it £50,000+ I believe the DVSA will struggle due to what I've said above. If you are applying to be a driving instructor you have to pass various tests but at least with those you can repeat and get feedback each time. With the current Driving Examiner role you get zero feedback so even if you did want to apply again in future, you have no idea how to improve/what to fix.

Now the statistic I read of "Only a net 83 more driving test examiners have been hired despite 19 recruitment campaigns since 2021" makes perfect sense. That is almost a recruitment campaign every quarter and still the DVSA have failed to take on enough Examiners due to the flaws in the recruitment process. Without enough Examiners, it does not matter what changes they make to the test, the backlog will always remain.

@heathwoodham6535 より:

@heathwoodham6535

2026-03-03

I'm probably just paranoid but I've seen a lot of people on YouTube that can't drive properly and definitely not safely and most of them seem not to be British. But from what you're saying it is probably because they had instructor in places that don't have the types of roads you mentioned and some of them seem to have not been trained to drive and probably haven't got a license anyway. I like what you showed with the reverse parking into a space very simple and useful. I do a similar thing with forklifts by putting a chalk mark on the mast for different height racking

@benwatkins3794 より:

@benwatkins3794

2026-03-03

Teaching how to pass the test rather than the skills required to do the thing well, that would naturally get you through the test, is common in a lot of industries. Experience should be more important than efficiency.

@patrickparker8417 より: