ICBC scraps secondary road exams for novice drivers starting this fall

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Potential drivers across the province will no longer see a long wait when it comes to taking a road test.

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) announced on July 22 it had eliminated secondary road tests for Novice drivers in its graduated licence program (GLP), set to begin on Oct. 19.

In a statement, the ICBC said the graduated licence program was introduced 25 years ago, and it was time the province “made some changes to align B.C. with evolving road safety practices and graduated licensing programs in other jurisdictions.”

“Road safety remains our top priority,” reads the release. “The GLP will continue to allow new drivers and riders to develop the skills they need to be safe on our roads.

After this date, class 7 novice drivers and class 7 or 8 novice drivers with a clean driving record will no longer need to get a second test to make the jump to a restricted class 5 licence, with those eligible subject to a driving record assessment, where they must demonstrate safe driving skills.

Those who upgrade will still be subject to a 12-month probationary period. 

Drivers under 25 years old will still need 24 months of clean driving to be eligible for a class 5, while those over 25 need only 12 months of clean driving.

One driver from the peace region spoke to Energeticcity.ca about the prospective changes coming to the GLP on the condition only her first name be used.

Megan is a 25-year-old living in Fort St. John and says she has had her N licence for the past four years.

She claims due to warning lights on her car’s dashboard, she has been unable to actually take her road test.

She says the lights are “nothing serious” and are related to the car’s advanced age.

“The lights are from my tire pressure monitor,” wrote Megan in a statement. “My car is so old there isn’t an option for monitored plugs.”

“I don’t have any family in the area that can let me use their vehicle for the test.”

The removal of secondary driving tests in lieu of a driving record assessment will “benefit” not just herself but older drivers holding an N licence.

While driving tests for L to N licences continue currently, the changes will come into effect on Oct. 19. All driving tests thereafter will be cancelled.

Visit ICBC’s website for further information on the changes.