Take out your driving license
Taking out your driver's license is a whole stage for remembering: the boredom of the tests, the nerves of the first practices, the even greater nerves when it comes to examining either the theoretical part or the practice ... and finally, it's time to get along with the car alone: that's where the complicated things begin, but in the end you'll be able to have freedom and driving will not have any more secrets for you.
After the last reform in the methodology of the classes and exams to obtain the driving license, there have been some changes that seek for the future driver to really know the rules and regulations of driving. The way to pass the theoretical exam has changed and the practical pursues other objectives.
Therefore, the examination based on memorization in the case of the theorist can no longer be surpassed, while in the case of the practical one, a greater exhaustivity on the part of the student is sought when demonstrating his knowledge at the wheel.
Changes in the theoretical questionnaire
The new questionnaires use language that is simpler and easier to understand, but requires more in-depth study to understand the traffic circumstances and apply the appropriate knowledge. In addition, there is much more variety of questionnaires, so it is not easy to memorize them. The fact that the tests were easy to memorize meant that the contents were easy to forget, but in the current way, a greater understanding and assimilation of the contents is sought. For the applicant to become familiar with this test model, there is a self-assessment model on the website of the Traffic Department (www.dgt.es) so that it can be practiced from home.
The new practical exam
The main innovations affect the practical examination are:
- Test duration
The duration will have a minimum duration of 25 minutes for permits A1, A2, B and BTP, and 45 minutes for the remaining permits, except those of classes AM and A, which do not require proof of circulation.
As a general rule, the minimum time for each type of permit will be exhausted. Although there are three situations that will lead to the interruption of the exam: the commission of an eliminatory fault involving a real and concrete danger, when there is a justified intervention of the teacher, and, finally, when there is evidence of a manifest lack of competence of the applicant.
- Previous checks
Before starting the test, each applicant will be asked to carry out some verification or verification, on a random basis, of a series of elements of the vehicle, such as the status of the level of any of the fluids, the pressure or drawing of the tires, the windshield operation, etc.
- Autonomous driving
The applicant must drive independently for 10 minutes at the start of the road test. The examiner can give some indication, for example, to point out the destination, to which the applicant should go by the way he deems most convenient, or give him some guidance to get there. In addition, if the vehicle has a satellite navigation system - and always optionally - it can be used at this time.
- Guided driving
The rest of the test will continue to be guided. The current qualification criteria will continue to be applied. The only novelty is that, during the time of the test, the performance of an efficient driving will be evaluated globally. Driving in an inefficient way will suppose a light foul.
- Communication of the result
When the test is finished, the examiner will inform the applicant, in the presence only of the teacher, the result of the test. This will be accompanied by a brief explanation -which will not exceed a minute and a half or two minutes- and a clear explanation of the evaluation of the test, without entering into a discussion of specific faults.
Teresa Pereda
