From October 4th 2010,The driving test will be change for good.

Introduction of competence to drive independently:
You will have to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both.

Reducing the number of reversing manoevers from 2 to 1:
In introducing independent driving, the DSA plan to reduce the number of reversing manoevers to just one. This will give more time to concentrate on your driving.

"If the candidate goes off-route during the independent driving section, the examiner will get the candidate back on route and continue with the independent driving section wherever possible. The test won’t be terminated.

If the candidate looks like taking a wrong turning, the examiner will control the situation as they do now and preferably step in before the candidate goes off route. If that’s not possible, the examiner will help the candidate get back on route as soon as possible by guiding them with normal directions.

Independent driving is not a test of the candidate’s orientation skills. If the candidate goes off route, but does not commit a fault, there’s nothing to assess. Any faults that did occur would be assessed under the circumstances at the time - as usual. There is no change to assessment." - DSA

Refresher driving lessons are getting more and more popular, find out more about it here...     (click)