Satnav in driving test - always?

[Walkingtheplank]

DD has her driving test on Monday first thing. Someone mentioned Satnavs to her today and she's just realised that she has to use one as part of the test. She had no idea, has never used one and her instructor has never mentioned it.

Is it right that she should expect to have to use one? She is having a meltdown, especially as her test is at 8am using a very busy High Street. She feels she has quite enough to be looking out for without having to keep an eye on a screen.

I believe its part of the test now

I believe it's about 80% that are expected to follow the satnav and 20% to follow road signs.

Sat nav is much easier even if she hasn't used it before, she just follows a close up map, that makes turns much more difficult to miss!

Yeah both sons have had this in tests. Phone instructor tomorrow for clarification and a lesson using it. If it makes you and more importantly her feel better, both lads said it’s easier using it ! Good luck to her for Monday

I had to follow road signs on my minibus test last year.

Yes. It was definitely used extensively on DD's recent one. The examiner only directed her much later in the the test.

Yes it's on all tests now, has been for about 5 or so years. You have to be able to use one to pass.

I took (and passed) my test 3 years ago so what I say was true then. They are not always used in the test, but usually are. They take up a portion of the test time. The other portion is as usual, receiving directions from instructor. The occasions when sat nav is not used in a test are when the instructor decides (beforehand, randomly) to use "follow signs for...." instead. The sat nav system is provided by the instructor with pre set navigations. You'll be able to find out online what type they use so she can familiarise herself with it. I can't recommend enough searching her test area on YouTube where (if it's popular) she might find driving instructors doing actual drives of the test routes used!

To add, she may get lucky and get the following road signs (I had that and I had been fully expecting and new how to follow a sat nav - so I was thrown off briefly, did pass though!)

*knew

Thanks everyone!
I really don't understand why the instructor has not mentioned this. How strange.