Nature and conduct of tests

14.  After regulation 40, insert—

“40A.—(1) Where a test is required to be conducted in two parts, a person taking the test—

(a)must pass the theory test before he takes the practical test, and

(b)shall not be entitled to apply for an appointment (or, as the case may be, be nominated pursuant to regulation 32(4)) for a practical test in respect of a motor vehicle of a class included in category A, B or P until he has been furnished with—

(i)a valid standard theory test pass certificate stating that he has passed the theory test prescribed in respect of that category, or

(ii)a certificate corresponding to such a certificate furnished under the laws of Northern Ireland stating that he has during the relevant period passed the theory test in respect of the same category.

(2) Where a test is required to be conducted in three parts, a person taking the test—

(a)must pass the large vehicle test of driving theory and the large vehicle test of hazard perception before he takes the practical test;

(b)shall not be entitled to apply for an appointment (or, as the case may be, be nominated pursuant to regulation 33(4)) for a practical test in respect of a motor vehicle of a class included in category C or D until he has been furnished with —

(i)a valid large vehicle theory test pass certificate in respect of that category; or

(ii)a certificate corresponding to such a certificate furnished under the law of Northern Ireland.

Content of the tests

40B.—(1) The standard test of driving theory shall—

(a)be conducted as an approved form of examination consisting of 50 questions, the questions being in either multiple choice or multiple response form and testing a candidate on the matters specified in regulation 40C(4) in respect of a vehicle of the relevant class; and

(b)have a duration of 57 minutes or, in the circumstances specified in paragraph (6), 114 minutes.

(2) The large vehicle test of driving theory shall—

(a)be conducted as an approved form of examination consisting of 100 questions, the questions being in either multiple choice or multiple response form and testing the candidate on the matters specified in regulation 40C(5) in respect of a vehicle of the relevant class and the CPC subjects applicable to that class; and

(b)have a duration of 115 minutes or, in the circumstances specified in paragraph (6), 230 minutes.

(3) The standard test of hazard perception shall—

(a)be conducted by means of the exhibition of film clips that take the perspective of the driver of a motor vehicle and show, at some point during each film clip, one or more hazards to traffic occurring on or near the road; and

(b)require the candidate (using electronic equipment provided for the purpose and capable of recording the exact moment of each response) to indicate during each film clip the moment he observes a hazard to traffic on the road.

(4) The large vehicle test of hazard perception shall comply with the requirements set out in paragraph (3) for the standard test of hazard perception and shall be in a form considered appropriate by the Secretary of State for testing the candidate’s competence in hazard perception in relation to vehicles in categories C and D.

(5) The practical test and the unitary test shall each be conducted so that—

(a)subject to paragraph (b), the person taking the test drives, wherever possible, both on roads outside built-up areas and on urban roads,

(b)in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of a class of vehicle included in category A or P, the person undertaking the test undertakes the activities and manoeuvres specified in paragraphs 7 to 15 of Section D of Part I of Schedule 8 on a special testing ground, and

(c)the time during which that person is required to drive on roads is—

(i)in the case of a test taken before 1st September 2008 for a licence authorising the driving of a class of vehicle included in category C, C1, D or D1, not less than 50 minutes;

(ii)in the case of a test taken on or after 1st September 2008 for a licence authorising the driving of a class of vehicle included in category C, C1, D or D1, not less than 60 minutes;

(iii)in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of a class of vehicle included in category B+E, C1+E, C+E, D1+E or D+E, not less than 50 minutes; and

(iv)in the case of any other test, not less than 30 minutes.

(6) The circumstances referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) are that the candidate requires the assistance of a suitably qualified person at the test by virtue of having reading difficulties.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation—

• “an approved form of examination” means a form of examination which is conducted in writing or by means of data recorded on equipment operating in response to instructions given by the candidate; and

• “film clip” means a sequence of visual images displayed electronically.

Passing the test

40C.—(1) A person shall be treated as having passed the theory test described in regulation 40(2)(a) if he satisfies the person conducting the test—

(a)in respect of the standard test of driving theory, of his knowledge and understanding of the specified matters; and

(b)in respect of the standard test of hazard perception, that his performance in the test demonstrates an ability to perceive hazards on the road.

(2) A person shall be treated as having passed—

(a)the large vehicle test of driving theory if he satisfies the person conducting the test of his knowledge and understanding of the specified matters and the CPC subjects; and

(b)the large vehicle test of hazard perception if he satisfies the person conducting the test that his performance in the test demonstrates an ability to perceive hazards on the road.

(3) A person shall be treated as having passed the practical test if he satisfies the person conducting it of his ability to drive safely and to comply with the specified requirements.

(4) The specified matters for a standard test of driving theory in respect of a licence authorising the driving of a motor vehicle of a class included in a category shown in column (1) of the table at the end of this regulation are the matters specified in relation to that category in column (2) of the table.

(5) The specified matters for a large vehicle test of driving theory in respect of a licence authorising the driving of a motor vehicle of a class included in a category shown in column (1) of the table at the end of this regulation are the matters specified in relation to that category in column (2) of the table.

(6) The specified requirements for a practical or unitary test in respect of a licence authorising the driving of a motor vehicle of a class included in a category shown in column (1) of the table are the requirements specified in relation to that category in column (3) of the table.