Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will review the provision of countryside safety in driving theory tests in response to the recent increase in livestock deaths on roads.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keep the content of the theory test under regular review to ensure that it reflects changing real-world conditions and hazards that new drivers need to be aware of. The DVSA consult with stakeholders such as the British Horse Society in developing the test.

The theory test includes a hazard perception test (HPT), where candidates must respond appropriately to developing hazards, such as livestock and wild animals crossing the road. The CGI version of the hazard perception test was introduced in 2015, in response to the need to create more varied hazards that could not be replicated easily by filming hazards. Since 2015, the number of clips depicting animal hazards has been increased, meaning that every candidate who takes the test is presented with at least one animal hazard to respond to.

The theory test also includes a multiple-choice test where candidates must demonstrate their knowledge of the Highway Code. These tests candidates’ knowledge of road signs, road markings and hazards that are relevant to rural driving, such as the increased likelihood of encountering animals, farm vehicles and vulnerable road users like horse riders and cyclists, and how to safely approach and navigate these hazards.