DRIVING TEST CHANGES
25 September 2003 - AA

Candidates taking the practical driving tests will now have to show that they are able to carry out routine maintenance checks that have the long-term effect of enhancing safety.

The new ''show and tell'' questions will require candidates to point and explain to examiners where and how to check tyres, brakes, fluids, lights, reflectors, direction indicators and horns. Motorcycle candidates will also be asked about the vehicle''s chain and emergency stop switches.

A candidate who answers one of the questions incorrectly will incur one ''driving'' fault while getting all five questions wrong will result in a ''serious'' fault. Candidates fail the practical driving test if they accumulate 16 or more ''driving faults'', or one ''serious fault'' or one ''dangerous fault''.

Safe for Use
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA), which administers driver testing in the UK, says that the the new aspects of the driving test cover basic safety checks drivers need to do to make sure their car is safe to use. Candidates will not be have to touch hot engines or actually check fluid levels but will have to know how to check these.

Technological advances mean that increasing numbers of cars are now fitted with electronic diagnostic systems that provide information about the state of fluid levels and tyre pressures. The DSA says candidates will be allowed to refer to a car''s information system to answer questions about fluid levels or tyre pressures.

New Questions
Car-driving candidates will be asked two questions, one being a ''show me'' type with the second dealing with a ''tell me'' situation. The sort of questions candidates could be asked include:

Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil.
Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine coolant level and tell me how you would check that the engine has the correct level.
Identify where the windscreen washer reservoir is and tell me how you would check the windscreen washer level.
Open the bonnet, identify where the brake fluid reservoir is and tell me how you would check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
Tell me how you would check that the brake lights are working on this car.
Tell me how you would check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.
Tell me where you would find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.
Tell me how you would check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.
Show me/explain how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.
Show me how you would check that the headlights & tail lights are working.
Show me how you would check that the direction indicators are working.
Show me how you would check that the horn is working (off road only).
Show me how you would check the parking brake for excessive wear.

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