What year did driving tests become compulsory in the UK?

Answer 1

A brief history of the U.K. driving test:


1903 - Driving Licences are introduced; they originally cost five shillings (25p) and were renewable every three months from the post office.

1930 - Age restrictions and a form of driving test is brought in for disabled drivers. Full licences for disabled drivers valid for a year. The Road Traffic Act 1930 introduces a licensing system for P.S.V.s. (Public Services Vehicles).

1931 - P.S.V. drivers could be required to take a test, at discretion of Traffic Commissioners. First edition of the Highway code introduced.

16th February 1934 - Licences for lorry drivers are introduced under the Road Traffic Act, 1934. The licensing authority may require the applicant to submit to a practical test of their ability.

1935 - Voluntary testing is introduced by the Road Traffic Act, 1934, to avoid a rush of candidates when the test becomes compulsory. Mr. J. Beene is the first person to pass his driving test, at a cost of 7s/6d (37.5p).

1st June 1935 - Compulsory testing brought in for all drivers who started driving on or after 1 April 1934: around 246,000 candidates apply. The pass rate is 63% with 250 examiners taking at least nine, and up to sixteen, half-hour driving tests a day. Examining staff also make all test bookings. There are no test centres, examiners meet candidates at a pre-arranged spot such as a car park or railway station. Anyone buying a driving licence must put ‘L’ plates on the car and eventually take a driving test to get their full licence.

2nd September 1939 - Driving tests suspended for the duration of World War Two and resumed on 1st November 1946. During the war, examiners are designated Traffic Officers and supervise fuel rationing.

1st January 1940 - HGV licences and tests are suspended during World War Two.

18th February 1947 - A period of a year granted for wartime provisional licences to be converted into full licence without passing the test.

1950 - The pass rate for the driving test is 50%.

19th October 1956 - The test fee doubles from 10 shillings, to £1.

24th November 1956 - Testing suspended again during the Suez Crisis. Learners are allowed to drive unaccompanied and examiners help to administer petrol rations. Testing is resumed on 15th April 1957 and has continued uninterrupted ever since.

1959 - Examiner training is transferred to the newly acquired Stanmore Training School. Up until now, examiners have been trained ‘on the job’.

1963 - New grouping systems are introduced for driving tests and driving licences. A distinction is made between the test of competence and the test of fitness. The Road Traffic Act 1962 permits riders to ride motorcycles of more than 250cc after passing their test. Mopeds are placed in their own vehicle group for driving test purposes.

1st May 1965 - The application form for a driving licence is revised. The distance from which a driving test candidate must be able read a number plate is changed to 67 feet for 3 1/8 inch high characters.

10th May 1967 - The Road Safety Act 1967 paves the way for regulations covering the licensing and testing of H.G.V. (Heavy Goods Vehicle) drivers.

2nd July 1968 - The test fee rises to £1.15 shillings.

2nd June 1969 - Vehicles used in the test must not have dual accelerator control unless this has been made inoperable. A separate driving licence group for automatic vehicles is introduced. Candidates are required to produce their provisional driving licence to the examiner at the test and sign the examiner’s attendance record. Examiners may refuse to conduct a test if these requirements are not fulfilled.

25th June 1969 - The Vehicle and Driver Licences Act introduces new regulations, including a licence fee increase and the specification of vehicle groupings for the purposes of driving tests.

4th August 1969 - An up-to-date scheme is introduced for licensing and testing new lorry drivers.

1970 - The new H.G.V. test prompts a change in P.S.V. testing. Until now vehicle inspectors have carried out P.S.V. driving tests: this is taken over by examiners who are now H.G.V. qualified.

1972 - The demand for driving tests rises by 20%, and a further 15% in the following year, leading to a huge backlog of tests.

May 1975 - Candidates no longer have to demonstrate arm signals.

July 1976 - The Driving Establishment for testing examiners moves to Cardington. Newly recruited ‘L’ test examiners undergo four weeks of training.

March 1985 - P.S.V. driving tests become compulsory. Up until now, Traffic Commissioners decided whether local applicants took the test.

1988 - From now on driving tests are conducted under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

1st October 1989 - Prompted by allegedly high accident figures, the old-style ‘Part 2’ motorcycle test, where the examiner stands by the roadside, is replaced by the new, more demanding ‘pursuit test’. The examiner now follows the candidate on a motorcycle or in a car and maintains radio contact during the test.

1st April 1990 - The Driving Standards Agency (D.S.A.) is created as an executive agency of the Department for Transport.

1st May 1990 - Examiners give candidates a brief explanation of faults committed during the test, plus advice on areas for improvement.

November 1995 - The 'Pass Plus' scheme is introduced to help newly qualified young drivers gain valuable driving experience and reduce the risk of them being involved in an accident.

1st July 1996 - A separate written theory test is introduced, replacing questions asked about the Highway Code during practical test.

1st January 1997 - A new test category is created for a car with large trailer (B+E). Licence categories and tests are introduced for Direct Access and small motorcycles. The written theory test is introduced for L.G.V. and P.C.V. drivers.

1st March 1997 - Photographic I.D. is now required for both practical and theory tests.

1st June 1997 - If a new driver gains six or more penalty points during the first two years of driving, they lose their licence and must retake both the theory and practical driving test before being allowed back on the roads.

29th September 1997 - For car and motorcycle drivers, the minimum wait between tests of the same category is reintroduced for unsuccessful candidates, set at ten days. For lorry and bus driver testing, a minimum wait of three days between tests of the same category for unsuccessful candidates is introduced.

6th April 1999 - Cars being used for a driving test must now have a front passenger seat belt, head restraint and a rear-view mirror.

4th May 1999 - Changes to the ‘L’ test include extending the length of the test, randomising the emergency stop manoeuvre and failing candidates for committing 16 or more driving faults.

4th January 2000 - The touch-screen theory test is introduced.

1st February 2001 - People gaining a full car licence must now take C.B.T. (Compulsory Basic Training) before being able to ride a moped (50cc or less).

19th December 2001 - Candidates can now book their theory test via the internet.

14th November 2002 - A hazard perception element is introduced into the theory test; this uses video clips to test candidates’ awareness of hazards on the road.

1st September 2003 - 'Show me/Tell me' vehicle safety questions added to the beginning of the driving test.

24th October 2003 - Candidates can now book their practical driving test via the internet.

Answer 2

Driving Test Introduced

Answer 3

I'm pretty sure some sort of biometric way of checking identities will soon be used, the DVLA says it will be cracking down on non UK licences soon as many are fake, they will be checking with the issuing country first before people will be allowed to drive in the UK.

Answer 4

1935. They were postponed during the war and started again immediately after the war.

Answer 5

Think it was around 1937, brought in by a man called Lord Hore-Belisha, who also gave us the belisha beacon pedestrian crossing

Answer 6

1935.

Answer 7

agree with twisted