Timeline of Road Safety and the Driving Test in the UK
• Emile Roger was the first to buy a manufactured petrol driven Benz in 1888 in Paris.
• 1907 saw the introduction of metered cabs in London
• 1931 saw the introduction of The Highway Code and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers could be forced to take a test.
• 1934 saw the introduction for lorry drivers being submitted for test under the Road Traffic Act 1934- and ‘Belisha’ beacons were introduced to provide advanced warnings for new pedestrian crossings.
• 16th March 1935 was the introduction of voluntary testing-Mr J Beene was the first person to sit the practical test.
• 1st June 1935 was compulsory testing for all riders and drivers who started driving on or after 1sr April 1934.
• Examiners met candidates at garages/shops as there were no test centres and there were 250 examiners to start with.
• 1937 saw the introduction of car speedometers and safety glass windscreens. The introduction of provisional licences for lorry drivers.
• 2nd September 1939 tests were abandoned due to WWII and examiners were re-deployed to deal with road traffic and fuel rationing crises.
• 1946 testing was resumed after the WWII.
• 1950- the pass rate was 50%.
• 1951 zebra crossings were introduced.
• March 1st 1956 provisional licences were valid for 6 months.
• 1959- M1 was opened, it didn’t have any speed limits, central reservations and no street lighting.
• 1964- The introduction of the voluntary register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) was set up under the Road Traffic act 1962. ADIs had to pass a stringent set of practical and written examinations.
• 8th October 1967 saw the introduction of drink drive laws. The legal limit was 80mg in 100ml of blood.
• 2nd June 1969 saw the revised additions to the driving test. Candidates were not allowed to present a car with dual accelerator unless it was inoperable; and a separate driving licence for automatics was introduced.
• 1970 all ADIs had to be registered.
• 1972 witnessed a 20% increase for the demand of a driving test.
• 1973 crash helmets were made compulsory
• May 1975- demonstration of arm signals were scrapped.
• 1976- full licences were valid to the age of 70 years.
• 1982- provisional licences were extended to the age of 70
• 1985-PSV tests were compulsory. Traffic commissioners decided if applicants took a test.
• Driving tests were conducted under the conditions of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
• 1990- The DSA became an executive agency under the Department of Transport. No provisional licence holder was able to carry pillion passengers and the minimum age of accompanying a learner driver was 21 years and must have a licence for a minimum of three years.
• 1995- the Pass Plus was introduced.
• 1996- a separate written theory test was introduced, and the questions on the Highway Code were scrapped during the test.
• 1991- photographic evidence was introduced to be able to sit both theory and practical exams.. If a new driver accumulated 6 points or more within the first two years of being a driver had to re-sit both the theory and practical exam.
• 1999- the new addition of the Highway Code giving up-to-date legislation to ALL road users was introduced.
• May 1999 saw the test being lengthened and ‘emergency stop’ manoeuvre was randomized. The introduction of 15 driver faults was introduced. If a candidate exceeded the amount, their test resulted in a fail.
• 2000-the touch screen theory test was introduced
• 2001- the introduction of touch screen theory tests was introduced.
• 2002- the Hazard Perception test was included with the theory test.
• 2003- saw the introduction of booking tests online.
• ‘show me tell me’ was introduced to the practical exam. Test candidates have to demonstrate basic car maintenance knowledge prior to sitting an exam.
• 2007- the newest edition of the Highway Code was introduced.
• 2008- the assessment of eco-driving was introduced to the practical test.
• September 2009- a case study was introduced to the theory test.
• April 2010- candidates were encouraged to take their instructors with them on the practical exam.
• October 2011-independent driving was introduced to the practical exam.
• 2013- DSA launched a consultation of proposals to modernize driver training and including changes to the ADI register.
