Driving Instructors and accompanying drivers will from the 6th April 2010 be allowed to act as interpreters where necessary on practical driving tests.

Previously only a person who is not the candidates driving instructor has been allowed to fulfil this vital role where there has been a language problem.

This is may be of particular interest to driving test candidates who are deaf or Hard of Hearing and may require BSL language support at times while on test. Under this new arrangement instructors who use BSL will be permitted, when requested by the candidate or examiner to assist with any communication problems that may arise at any time during the test.

Where the DSA is notified of a serious hearing dificulty during the application process, the examiner will be allowed extra time to conduct such a test. This extra time is allowed also on tests where the candidate may have a physical disability. This takes pressure off the candidate and examiner,allowing extra time entering the car, more stops for communication/interpreting etc. The route used for the test would remain the same as for a standard test and therefore the driving time would be of the same duration. 

As you would expect, if the accompanying driver or instructor is found to be assisting the candidate in any way other than by interpreting the content of what is required to be said, then the driving test will be stopped and ithe incident recorded.

This is a most welcome development as it will help to remove what has been previously an additional unfair pressure put on a minority of driving test candidates.