Questions on vehicle safety are to be introduced to driving tests

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In a bid to improve road safety and reduce accidents questions covering vehicle safety are to be introduced into driving tests from July  - 12th June 2008

From the 1st July 2008 driving tests in the UK will have questions included about vehicle road safety in an attempt to reduce road accidents.

Though there will not be extra questions, there will be a wider range of questions with the introduction of vehicle safety questions covering the use of wipers, demisters, brake lights, fog lights, head restraints, ABS warning lights and their correct usage, and control of their switches.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) introduced in September 2003 the "Show me tell me" questions on safety for all vehicle test categories. They said at this time they would review these questions, which are in conjunction with the EC 2nd Directive as to what subjects can be covered, and this has now taken place.

The new questions will cover the basic knowledge a driver should have to perform basic safety checks on a vehicle before driving it.

The insurance industry should welcome the changes with road accident claims being reduced with better road safety knowledge acquired by new drivers helping to reduce the number of car accidents.