Independent driving

The ten minute independent driving part of the UK practical driving test was put into place in October 2010. Until that time the practical driving test consisted solely of the learner-driver following step-by-step directions given by the examiner. The change has been made to reflect real life driving conditions, as the moment the examiner gets out of the car having told you that you have passed your test you are on your own. (Of course, your instructor will be with you as you might have failed your test and needed to be with a licensed driver to go home.)

This part of the test is still a part of testing your driving skills and it doesn’t matter if you can’t follow the examiner’s instructions to the letter. You might be given a diagram to follow or the examiner may just tell you where you are going and give you directions on how to get there. He or she may do both, give you verbal directions and show you a diagram. However, if you go off the route, it doesn’t matter, as long as you don’t make any driving errors (such as going the wrong way in a one-way street for example).

You can ask for clarification as you drive and the examiner will tell you where you should go. You should ask at a time when it is safe to do so and that is for you to decide. If you haven’t realized that you have gone the wrong way, the examiner will tell you how to get back on the right route and you will not be penalized. You should realize that even experienced drivers make mistakes when following directions. You will not be expected to do what an experienced driver can’t. The whole point of this new part of the test is for you to show that you are capable of making your own decisions rather than just following instructions.

You will not be able to use a Sat-Nav device as this gives you step-by-step instructions, and the whole point of the examiner not giving you instructions would be negated if you were to use such a device.

If traffic signs are poor or obscured for some reason, your examiner will direct you. It is not necessary for you to be familiar with the route, and from October onwards details of test routes will not be published, so that you cannot memorize the route. You will be tested in realistic conditions.

The Driving Standards Agency has a short video on their YouTube channel which you should watch before your test if you can as it explains the independent part of the test.