Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce tougher questions in driving (a) practical and (b) theory tests on equestrian road safety.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regularly reviews the questions at the point of test to ensure they remain clear, relevant and effective in assessing candidates’ knowledge.

Questions asked during the practical test are designed to focus on the vehicle itself. This ensures that learners can demonstrate they can safely operate and maintain their vehicle in real-world situations.

Broader knowledge of road rules, hazard perception and theory is fully assessed in the theory test, which is taken before the practical. Together, the two parts of the driving test are designed to complement each other, ensuring new drivers have both the theoretical understanding and the practical skills needed to drive safely and responsibly.

DVSA has recognised the need to promote the recognition of hazards by drivers when sharing the road with horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. These are well represented within the hazard perception part of the test, a CGI video test which requires candidates to identify developing hazards on the road in good time.

Both the multiple choice and hazard perception parts of the theory test are continually being updated and added to, with one of the focuses being on vulnerable road users such as horse riders.