In October 2010 the driving test changed to include a 10 minute independent drive where the candidate would be asked to follow either a series of directions or follow road signs to some destination or a combination of both.
The DSA also decided to create new test routes and not publish them. I have been recording the routes my learners get taken on and been publishing them here. I have also added "notes" to them with some challenging questions in red to make you think. You will benefit from thinking about these or discussing them with your instructor! If you don't fully understand what to do or why, at these places, you have a very high risk of making a serious error and failing your test! Understanding is far better than just memorising!! Believe me.
[NB: update, 15 Feb 2012, I have noticed recently the test centre has been making changes to some routes and some may differ slightly from what I have published here. However, the differences are not significant and what I have here is pretty close to what you will encounter on your test, however as I discover the changes I will update the routes I have put up.]
I have also included pictures of the double mini roundabouts near Bletchley College/ and at B&Q. You can Download and print them for your personal use with those routes that take in those roundabouts.
Understanding better than Memorising:-
I also have a challenge for you. I ask this of all my learners and generally, they don't know, even though they have passed their theory. It illustrates that knowing what a road sign means is not the same as understanding what it is telling you! Click on the icon below labelled "Morrisson's". It is a photo of the entrance to the Westcoft Local Centre (you'll see same signs on either the H7 or V2 side). You will see FOUR very large road signs. Why are there FOUR big, hi‑viz signs at this junction but not at the one further down the road? What are these signs telling you and what action, if any, should you take? Note it also says "SLOW" on the road. "How slow" is "slow"? What are you going to choose as your speed and what influences your choice? These are things every driver needs to consider, although I often ask full licence holders the same question and even they don't always give me a good answer! We need Drivers that think, not trained monkeys "performing" for a test. We want drivers who understand what they are looking at, not just able to regurgitate the name of a road sign without knowing why the council put it there!
B&Q
college
route 3 step 13
Morrisson's
test route 01 dec 2011 10:14am
View 01Dec11_10:14 in a larger map
test route 20SEP11 08:10am:-
View 20SEP11_08:10am in a larger map
Siân's test route 11Aug11:-
View route 11Aug11 in a larger map