'Hard' driving test made easier

THE driving test is to be changed to simplify the questions and to give examiners more say on deciding competent drivers.

More than a third of the 514 possible test questions will be affected by proposals being examined by motoring agencies, police and psychologists to bring them in line with modern-day driving.

Some questions will be dropped because they are causing too many mistakes while others are being brought in on themes such as greener driving and considerate road usage.

The list of questions will no longer be secret and certain of them will be made public, especially those on road safety, so that they can be learned better.

Examiners will get more responsibility to decide competence in the practical test, with less emphasis on simply totting up errors.

More examiners are also to be hired to bring down the average waiting time for a test from five months to three and a half months.

Once passed the test, new drivers will be encouraged to take further training with their six-point probation licences being upgraded to the full 12 points after two years instead of the present three if they complete a course.

In France points are deducted from a licence for driving offences.
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