I think this will be beneficial to many people. Being able to take your test at the site you practice on instead of going to a test centre. What do you think?
Yes, it’s a brilliant idea. We were the trial site for the UK and have operated our own test centre since April 2008 with massive success.
The DSA are now pushing for trainers to operate their own centres as the DSA will loose many of their sites with the closure of VOSA sites around the country. (DSA are tenants of VOSA throughout the UK). This is the reason that the braking exercise was abolished and the reversing exercise shrunk.
For us it works extremely well as we are around 15 miles from any other test centre. However, I feel for the trainers who are much closer to DSA centres that are now being asked to fund their own centre. Be aware that the payment from DSA to the trainer for the use of the centre is ZERO unless they permit other trainers to have tests on site in which case there is a tiny sum (not enough for 2 gallons of fuel) for each test.
Although it works brilliantly for us, I don’t believe it’s the trainer’s responsibility to provide facilities for the DSA following the closure of their own centre. But that’s a political matter and the argument will rumble on forever.
Pete 
From the point of view of a trainee, I completely agree.
I passed my C+E at a training centre where the DSA conducted the test. There were several benefits:
- Not having to drive to and from a VOSA test centre.
- All my training time was spent in training on known test routes without having to travel miles to get onto such routes.
- My test reversing was done in the same place I had practised it (same markings, same cones,etc).
- I didn’t feel too much ‘out of my comfort zone’ on test day.
It definitely worked for me.
Alan
great idea, however a driver should be able to drive anywhere having been taught to drive. the reverse i fully agree with but test a road is a road and no matter what road it is if you are on test you should be competent enough to drive the road if not should not be on test.
discoman:
a road is a road and no matter what road it is if you are on test you should be competent enough to drive the road if not should not be on test.
A fair point - that is why it is called a test. If you are competent enough you will pass, if not you will fail.
However, please tell me which trainers do NOT take their trainees around the test routes if they have the opportunity. Not many is my belief.
And the examiners will know this and, no doubt, take it into consideration in their testing.