The practical driving test is constantly critiqued and suggestions made on how to improve the way the test is conducted. One main suggestion is the emphasis placed on manoeuvres in the practical test.

The practical test currently consists of 35-40 minutes of driving including a 10 minute independent drive and one manoeuvre. There are currently growing concerns over the number of accidents involving new drivers and what can be done to prevent this.

One suggestion is that due to the structure of the practical test, much emphasis is placed when learning to drive on the manoeuvres since they are perceived as the most difficult aspect of driving. However, the time spent in perfecting the manoeuvres is perhaps better spent on providing the learner with great driving experience.

Since manoeuvres are not a factor in reducing the number of accidents on our roads, they should perhaps be signed off by the instructor whilst the practical test would merely focus on whether the learner would be a safe driver.

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Ask any learner – manoeuvres are by far the most dreaded part of learning to drive. These are the bay park, turn in the road, Parallel Park and reverse round a corner. But, these manoeuvres are nothing to worry about.

Firstly, they are a very minor part of the driving test – the main thing about the driving test is the actual driving, if you have a good drive then you are more than likely to pass your driving test.

Most learners will agree that the turn in the road is the easiest of the lot whilst the Parallel Park and the reverse round a corner are somewhat more difficult. They require much multitasking, memory and coordination.

Jane Hunt of Britannia Driving School says, ‘If you break down the manoeuvres into simple steps, the task becomes less daunting’.

The main thing to remember with these manoeuvres is as long as you remember your observations (for other road users and the kerb) and you maintain control of the vehicle, you will be fine.

Simon Bush of Britannia Driving School reassures learners, ‘Very few people fail on a manoeuvre.’

Britannia’s advice is practice the manoeuvres by breaking them down, remember your observations and be confident because the likelihood of failing your test because of the manoeuvre is very small. Just remember, you will only get one manoeuvre on the test, you have around 30 minutes of driving to get through as well.

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Beijing police have being accused of sexism towards female drivers after safety tips targeted at female drivers were published on their blog account.

The post, title ‘Female drivers, please pay attention and avoid driving mistakes’, police identify common mistakes which they believe are made by female drivers which include a lack of sense of direction, forgetting to release the handbrake whilst driving and failing to change gear. The police then proceed to give tips accordingly.

Police also identified another error which they regard common amongst female drivers and that is their alleged inability to remember roads and directions.

The post has attracted significant response namely from women, commenting that the faults pointed out are common to both sexes. One poster responded, ‘If this post appeared in the United States. I could go to court and sue them.’

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Joseph Lewis, 26, passed his driving test just seven weeks after a complicated operation to prevent him from a lifetime of blindness and enabled him to see. He had suffered with poor vision his whole life and had developed cataracts six months ago, forcing him to lose the little sight he had.

The life-changing operation removed the cataracts and replaced his natural lenses with artificial ones which have been surgically implanted into his eyes and work in the same way as the most advanced lenses in a pair of glasses.

Lewis had always wanted to be able to drive but it seemed impossible for him to do so but this operation has now enabled to him to drive.

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Changes are being made to the issuing of licences to young learners. A Green Paper is due to be published by ministers which recommends a one-year ‘learner stage’ beginning at 17, during which drivers would have to have at least 100 hours of daytime and 20 hours of night-time practice under supervision. Learners can then only take their test at 18 and will be issued with a 12-month probationary licence and would be required to display a green ‘P’ plate.

During the probationary stage, drivers would have a curfew between 22:00 and 05:00 and all those under 30 will be banned from carrying any passengers under 30.

Jane Hunt ADI of Britannia Driving School argues ‘education and changing driver attitude is the key to improving safety’.

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Ministers plan to ban people from taking the driving test in a foreign language amid fears that they are unable to read English road signs. Further, the case of the Mandarin translator for the theory test who was jailed for 12 months for fraudulently indicating the correct answers to the theory test questions has caused concerns that interpreters enable learners to cheat.

The current rules allow the theory test to be sat in 19 foreign languages, aided by either an interpreter or voiceovers, and permit learners to attend the practical test with a translator.

In a consultation run earlier this year over 70 per cent of people supported the ban of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters on tests.

The changes are designed to mimic driving in real life and it is feared that in a lot of cases interpreters may be giving more help than they are supposed to.

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It has been found that more than 4 million people aged over 70 have full UK driving licences with 191 people a century old or more. The country’s oldest licensed driver is an 107-year-old woman.

Motorists over 70 must declare that they are fit to drive every three years without the need for a medical exam; calls have been made for a full medical examination by a doctor to be carried out before they are deemed fit to drive. Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation said ‘many motorists simply do not have a realistic view of their capabilities’.

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