Satnav use in the new driving test

It is to be hoped that all these new drivers setting there sat nav on there phones do it before turning their engines on, or they may lose their licence before they have even got it.

Steve

I wouldn't mind betting that some of it is intentional.  If you have a large car e.g. a Discovery, some of the spaces are hardly big enough.  I'm sure some park in between to avoid their car being bashed by other car doors.

I'm fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you view it) as I have a disabled badge and can use larger spaces.  Just take a look at how many folk park badly in disabled spaces.  I'm guessing next to none.

David 

I use the satnav on the phone, usually held and controlled by my OH in the passenger seat.  She finds maps really difficult (!!) and has to turn the map around according to which way we are going etc.  

David

It is just dumbing down the test to what those who expect driving to be a right and not a privilege are able to do.

Without the three-point-turn and reverse-round-corner there will be no reversing in the test at all.  So there will be drivers who expect never to reverse - and that is how they will drive.  Only park in the car-park when there are two vacant bays in-line and they can drive through; no turning back even when the sat-nav tells them to turn round.

Navigating with a map is not about looking at the map all the time. It is about working out the route and committing it to memory by using the brain. Turning the map around is a clear sign of no spatial awareness, which is where doing nothing but responding to instructions from an electronic voice takes one as well.

Bring on the driverless cars as that is where this is taking us!

Sat navs are a great aid to motoring , but they are just that an aid .They are only as good as their mapping systems, if they are not current and road routing has changed , without correct road sign reading ,you are an accident waiting to happen.

About 2 hours ago.

Agreed.

Driving instructors usually teach people how to pass their test (not how to drive) and if there is no reversing in in the test, they will never be taught how to reverse.

We can probably expect more dings on our cars, caused by people who cannot control their vehicle (but are very good at doing what a sat nav tells them to do).

I can still remember asking my instructor "How come we never drive around the set driving test routes, like everyone else whose learning does?"

He replied "Because I'm teaching you how to drive, not how to pass a test".

So true......

As  a  non- sat  nav  user  a  thought  just  came  bubbling  up    !!

Will  the  Relevant  Testing  Authority  have  a  list  of  "Preferred"  sat  navs  to  be  used  in  the  test  ??

The  reason  I  ask  is,  I have  seen  the  videos  of  vehicles  going  into  too  narrow  roads,  towards  low  bridges,  and,  on  one  occasion,  half  way { !! }  through  a  ford.  Now  should  this  happen  using  the  approved  kit,  will  they  be  liable  as  in  " Well,  you  told  me  to  use  it" 

P.S. / Edit  :--  will  the  SatNav  become  a  compulsory  part  of  the  vehicle  that  you  are  in  ??

I could do with some sat nav lessons but don't think it should be part of the test.  I found out how to put in favourite places last year in France.  Now I can't seem to do it again!  Off to see if I can find an online manual.