Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has launched a brand-new Safe Driving for Life website – which goes live today (Wednesday 28 April). The new site includes exciting new features to help your pupils pass their theory test first time. And it will provide valuable information for road users throughout their driving lifetime.
Here, they will share plans to officially launch the website to learner drivers and their family and friends later this Spring.
How the site works
The site has replaced the existing Safe Driving for Life site, keeping popular content such as the free practice theory tests, the shop and blogs, with the addition of new content and features to the site.
The new site includes loads of free information for your pupils, including practice theory tests, a traffic signs quiz, practice hazard perception tests, plus loads of helpful advice.
The site will also replace the DVSA Learning Zone which will be merged into the Safe Driving for Life website.
If any of your pupils have an existing Learning Zone subscription with 3 months or less to go, they will continue their theory test revision on the current DVSA Learning Zone. This will ensure they do not lose their progress. DVSA are unable to transfer their progress across to the new site.
Anyone with a 12-month subscription will be emailed clear instructions on how to move to the new site so that they can start using the new features.
DVSA will directly contact everyone with an existing Learning Zone subscription to explain what this means to them.
Exciting new features
The new site has a refreshed look and feel and is easier to navigate to help you and your pupils find the content you’re looking for.
Initially DVSA have worked on designing new features for car learner drivers as they learn for a longer period of time and work closely with their instructor. Most motorists will take a car test before taking a test in any other category and what they learn from learning to drive a car will form their base road user knowledge and understanding.
Car test candidates will now be able to share their theory test revision progress with their driving instructor through the website. DVSA are hoping to make this feature available to you and your pupils in the future.
There’s a new test readiness tool that shows your pupil when they’re ready to take their theory test. It does this by monitoring their knowledge and understanding over time. This feature is now available for your pupils to use.
These features were developed using learning science and feedback from ADIs, who said these features would help them to plan lessons.
The learning experience simulates the real test environment so your pupil will become familiar with, and prepared for, the actual event.
The site will use time and repetition to check your pupils’ knowledge and understanding. It will also ask your pupil questions about their worst performing areas.
DVSA have grouped topics together and split each topic into a study section and practice section. That way, you and your pupil can monitor progress and you’ll know when they’re ready for their test using the ‘test readiness’ tool.
Testing new features
DVSA want to make sure the new features work for driving instructors and their pupils. So, DVSA are working with NASP and a small group of driving instructor volunteers and their pupils to test the new functionality in a live training environment.
DVSA will share this feedback with you as soon as they can. They will also use this feedback to design and develop future features for trainee vocational drivers and trainers.
Advertise on the new site
If you’re interested in advertising on the site you can contact dvsaadvertising@media-shed.co.uk for more information or to request a media pack.
What’s next
DVSA will be contacting everyone with a theory test booking to let them know about the new site and explain how they can use the learning modules to track their progress and know when they are ready to take their theory test.