It’s been over a decade since I did my car driving test. Back then, the government presence on t’internet was somewhat shocking; hell, the BBC had only just figured out online content.

So I missed out on the fact that apparently driving test routes have been online for a while.

Personally, I think that’s a bit stupid. Back when I were a lad, the instructor showed you most of the main obstacles, and gave heads up of what sneaky tricks the examiners liked to use (examples: poorly signed turning lanes, that sort of thing). But they didn’t train you in exactly the test route that was being used – I’m not even sure if they knew it. And I’m definitely sure that knowing it would have been detrimental to my chances of passing. If all you know is the exact test route, then any tiny variation from that route (caused by road works, etc) is going to throw you massively.

So, worryingly enough, I’m in favour of this.

The details of driving test routes will no longer be published online by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said.

Test routes used by test centres are currently published online, but this will stop when new routes are introduced on 4 October.

The DSA wants to make the driving test “more representative of real driving”.

Good show.

Interestingly enough, it’s only three years since I went through the process again for motorcycles. But again, I don’t recall being taught the test route, just the main obstacles on it. That said, I’m not sure that the place I learned had any belief in an Internet…