Wroot1 Driving School

19/11/2025

The DVSA have today confirmed that adjustments piloted earlier this year will now be rolled out from 24 November 2025. The changes are designed to make the test more reflective of real-world driving and to improve safety for young drivers, who remain disproportionately involved in serious collisions on rural routes.

According to DVSA, between 2019 and 2023 almost half of all fatal or serious collisions involving younger drivers occurred on rural roads. The agency says the expanded use of these roads during the test will help build confidence, competence, and better risk-management skills among new motorists.
What is changing

The updated test structure allows examiners, where local roads permit, to spend a greater proportion of the assessment on rural, high-speed, and otherwise demanding environments. Alongside this, several operational adjustments have been confirmed:

• The number of compulsory normal stops is being reduced from four to three
• Emergency stops will now take place in around one in seven tests instead of one in three
• Examiners will be able to extend independent driving up to the full duration of the test, whether using a sat nav, traffic signs, or a mixture of both

The Driving Instructor's Association say that "This move should encourage pupils, parents and trainers to spend more time developing driving skills (and safety) on high-speed roads in the pre-test training period, versus many pupils traditionally seeing driving on motorways, dual carriageways and high-speed rural roads as more of a post-test developmental focus.

To support pupils, parents and trainers in this regard, we have developed a knowledge hub purely focused on driving on high-speed roads that all drivers can benefit from – visit drivinghub.co.uk for more information.”

DVSA has confirmed that the changes will not alter test length or reduce the volume of tests available.

The national standard for driving remains unchanged, and the skills required to pass the test are not being added to. However, trainers should expect test routes to place greater emphasis on:

• Hazard perception and risk management at higher speeds
• Overtaking decisions, following distances and speed adaptation
• Cornering judgement on rural roads
• Managing independent driving for sustained periods

12/11/2025

To all students and their parents. It appears that the government are finally trying to do something to prevent the ridculous current situtation of booking practical tests and the exploitation by thir-party companies. In the meantime I implore you not to book via third-party websites or social media links. I would hate to see you out of pocket and frustrated like this young lady:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cdjr0w3w1g1o

Today (the 12th November) there was an update on driving test booking rules consultation and reducing waiting times.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, updated the Transport Select Committee (TSC) on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times.

In the coming months, DVSA will:

1. Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests.

2. Introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.

3. Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting timesDriving test rules are to change in bid to stop bots booking slots

Only learner drivers will be able to book driving tests in plans aimed at reducing long waiting lists and preventing slots being sold at inflated prices. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said limiting third parties from reselling slots would stop people being "exploited" by online bots.

But she admitted to MPs on the Transport committee that waiting times for driving tests would not be brought down to seven weeks by summer 2026, the most recent deadline she set.

The average waiting time was 21.8 weeks at the end of June.

13/07/2025

At 7.50pm, 13 hours and fifty minutes after the leaving of Liverpool, I crossed the finish line aboard my trusty steed. It was a great ride and a lovely experience riding alongside the canal all that way. I thoroughly recommend you go and try it for yourself, but not in one day, that is such a silly idea!
Thank you to everyone for your support and most importantly we have raised over £2000 towards the goal of having an eco-friendly, planet-saving heating system. Let's go green 👍🏻
Now I wonder what's next 🤔

06/07/2025

This week, a short break from work for another charity challenge.
Tonight I am pre-positioning for a major challenge to my little (and I mean little) legs. At 6am tomorrow I will set off to cycle the full length of the canal from Liverpool to Leeds (only 128 miles) completing it in just one day. This is to raise funds to replace our broken church heating system with something 21st century and carbon net-zero, we want to warm the church, not the planet.
Any sponsorship or words of encouragement will be greatly received (but the sponsorship is best ok 👍🏻) or alternatively you can tell me that I'm too old and I'll never make it (negative psychology might work). Thanks and please check out my page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/andrew-wroot-3
Never too late to donate 👍🏻🚴🏻

31/05/2025

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vnp4j2811o

An interesting read and seems to underline the fact that Wroot1 is good value for money (just saying😉)

Paige Williams, a single mum from Barnsley, says she's having to drastically cut back on spending to afford her £35-an-hour driving lessons.

21/11/2024

Dear everyone who has something to do with Wroot1
Please excuse this impersonal, reasonably ingenuous message that I am forcing you to read. I just need to make yourself aware of 2 very important things:
1. Normally at this time of year I send out the updated price list for the following year. Not so this time around, good news as I have decided to keep the same lesson rate for 2025. So, you can go and spend your hard-earned pennies on something else instead (see Point number 2 below).
2. Also at this time of year I often join in the Skipton Santa Fun Run. Although my marathon days are well behind me now, I like to go yo-ho-hoing with the hordes of santas who kick off the Skipton Christmas festivities. As is my want, I do it to raise money for some worthy cause, this year I am running (nay hobbling with a sore ankle) as one of the Holy Trinity Heating Heroes, who are trying to raise enough money to turn the Church at the top of the High Street carbon neutral. It’ll only cost a half a million pounds to replace the defunct heating system and install the air-source heat pumps and all the new techno stuff, but if everyone I know could spare a quid or two then it would go some way to get this iconic community building warm again, without warming the planet. So please consider giving that bit of brass, that you were putting aside for the ’25 price rise, to something very green that will benefit future generations. And please cheer on Santa 1131 when you see him hobble by. Thank you muchly and wishing you a Happy Christmas (ho ho ho) from Santa Andrew at Wroot 1🧑‍🎄
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/htskipton-heating-appeal

18/10/2024

Dear Students and parents,
The message is out there, please don't inadvertently give out your personal details and licence details to scammers or third-parties. Please talk to me at how best to book your test.
Thanks 👍🏼🚗

Figures released by the DVSA show learner drivers are waiting up to six months for a test in the south.

02/12/2023

Dear Student/Family Member/Billpayer,
As always, towards the end of the year and like any responsible business, I conduct a review of expenditure/costs/income etc. This review has shown that it is necessary for me to raise the present rates, but only in-line with the current rate of inflation. I firmly believe that these prices remain competitive and are as good value as they have always been.
With effect from 1st January 2024 the following charges will apply:
1 lesson £35
6 lessons £196
12 lessons £386
Any lessons bought before 31st December 2023 will still be honoured at their original price for a period of 6 months (ie until 30th June 2024)
I thank you for your understanding and for your continued support.
Best Wishes
Andrew
Wroot1 Driving School
CEO/Senior Instructor/Accountant/Car Cleaner

27/11/2023

Exciting times ahead for all you manual students. Watch this space 🚗

26/11/2023

Not the fastest Santa in the pack but it's been some time since those heady marathon runs and there's been quite a few flapjacks and cappuccinos in the interim years. Thanks to all those who sponsored me (it's still not too late if you would like to join them) and for your encouraging words of support. Have a great Christmas everyone ho ho ho 🎅🏻🎄x

24/11/2023

Against my better judgement (and my wife's good advice), I shall be donning the all red suit this Sunday 26th November 2023, to join in the great Skipton Santa Fun Run. Please cheer us on if you are there, and if anyone would like to make a donation ( I shall be sending any collected monies to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance), please PM for details. Yo ho ho and all that jazz 🎅🎄