There are several indications that there is potential for improving the current British practical driving test. The sharp decrease in accident liability, much of it associated with experience rather than age, during the first few years of driving (Maycock et al, 1991; Forsyth et al, 1995) invites us to search for ways of accelerating this process and preventing people from driving unsupervised until it has taken effect. Research (e.g. Hall and West, 1994; Parker et al, 1995) has shown the importance of driver attitudes and driving style as predictors of accident liability - predictors which are hardly covered in the current driving test. Detailed analyses of minor errors made during test show that changing the failure criterion might help to screen out drivers with high accident liability (Maycock and Forsyth, 1997). Indications of the importance of `higher order' skills also encourage the belief that the test could be improved. This paper discusses some of the issues associated with assessing driving tests, and describes possible modifications to the test that the project is considering.
Abstract