If you’re learning to drive soon, listen up—driving test routes are getting a shake-up across the UK in a move to help reduce the number of young drivers involved in crashes, especially on rural and high-speed roads.
The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) has launched a three-month trial that’ll run until August 2025, updating practical test routes at 20 centres around the UK—including Cardiff, Cambridge, Oxford, and Middlesbrough.
Why it’s happening
Stats show that 48% of young driver casualties happen on rural roads. They're fast, often unfamiliar, and notoriously risky for new drivers. The goal? Give learners more experience with the kinds of roads they’re most likely to struggle with after passing.
What’s changing?
The test itself won’t get longer or harder, but three big updates are coming to the test route format:
- Fewer stops – You’ll now stop three times instead of four, which means more time driving on faster or rural roads.
- Less chance of doing an emergency stop – Only 1 in 7 tests will include it now (down from 1 in 3), thanks to modern car safety tech like ABS.
- More sat nav driving – The independent driving part could last for most of your test now, giving you more time to follow real-world directions.
According to the DVSA, these changes are designed to better prepare learners for life after the L-plates come off.
What if you’re booked in?
If your test is at one of the 20 trial centres, you’ll be contacted directly by the DVSA. Up to four examiners per centre will be running the updated tests, and the agency is keen to reassure learners that the core test format isn’t changing—just the roads you’ll drive on.
No new restrictions (for now)
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that there are no plans to introduce a Graduated Driving Licence, which would add restrictions for new drivers (like not driving at night). This trial is purely about giving learners better experience before they pass.
Where are the trials happening?
Here’s the full list of centres involved:
Avonmouth, Bishopbriggs, Bolton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Dudley, Halifax, Hendon, Hereford, Hornchurch, Isleworth, Maidstone, Middlesbrough, Musselburgh, Norris Green, Norwich, Nottingham (Chilwell), Oxford, Portsmouth, Wakefield
The DVSA will share the results with instructors and trainers once the trial ends.
In other good news, the government’s also adding 10,000 extra test slots per month to help cut those frustrating wait times.
