The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is undergoing several upgrades to better serve the public and is modernising its Learner Driver examinations.

            Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Mr. Kye Rymer said that the DMV has recognised the fact that times have changed and the department will be modernising the testing procedures for the cone and road tests. He said the DMV met with the various driving schools in the Territory earlier this year to ensure that the schools were aware of the new rules being implemented.

            Mr. Rymer said, “We have looked at the process of the road skills test and realised that hardly ever after obtaining a driver’s license, do persons actually use their hand signals while operating the vehicle on the road ways.”

He added that during the testing process, students will now be given the option of using mirrors in the cone test and for parking. Students will be also allowed to use the indicators for signaling rather than using the hand signals.

            Mr. Rymer said while the use of mirrors is now allowed on the cone test, students need to learn the skill of looking over the shoulder while in reverse as it is a skill that proves hand-eye coordination, as well as it is a skill known if mirrors are temporarily unavailable.

The Commissioner said with these new changes which are now in effect, students are still expected to know the hand signals as he/she will be tested on this skill in the initial testing stage before proceeding on the road. He added that after this initial stage of the test is complete, the student will have the liberty to use or not use the hand signals on the road.

 The Commissioner went on to state that recent upgrades at the Department also include a new vehicle license database and new registration stickers.

            He said, “We thought that it was necessary to implement a new licensing sticker. This sticker’s validity is now synchronized with the customer’s insurance policy expiration date and this way the customer can enjoy the full term of the insurance policy.”

            As the Department of Motor Vehicles continues its modernisation initiative, the DMV thanks its customers for their continued patience and ask they continue to cooperate with the Department as they transition into a more modern and efficient licensing authority.