Learner Drivers Can Now Take To The Motorway
Learner drivers of the UK rejoice: your first taste of motorway driving will no longer have to be a buttock-clenching post-test experience. Thanks to a change in the law, drivers on a provisional license will be allowed to take to UK motorways, so long as they are with an approved instructor and using a car with dual controls
Doesn’t that sound more appealing? A recent AA survey found that eight per cent of new drivers put off their first motorway drive for six months, while 27 per cent of the 20,000 people polled admitted they found popping their highway cherry a frightening experience.
The test isn’t changing to accommodate a new motorway section - the law is merely about getting new drivers more comfortable with this initially stressful driving situation. Road safety minister Jesse Norman had the following to say about the change:
“Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world, but road collisions remain the second biggest killer of young people…Allowing learner drivers to have motorway lessons with a qualified road safety expert will help more young drivers to gain the skills and experience they need to drive safely on motorways.”
And just think, it could mean there’ll be a new generation of drivers who actually understand how lane discipline works…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Forbidding learner drivers to take the motorway is an incredibly stupid idea in first place. Knowing how to behave on a motorway is absolutely essential for any driver, there’s no justifyable reason to prevent learner drivers from learning how to drive on a motorway.
If only people actually drove like that…
Wow…
I practiced on the interstates and toll roads by the day after I got my TIPIC (of course with my parents).
I can personally attest to the effectiveness of actual practice.
UK, I know that a large amount of your laws are as backwards as a reverse gear, but .. what? Learners weren’t allowed on motorways while paying to be taught precisely that? No wonder learner drivers are as much of a hazard as they are in the UK with regulations like these.
Good to see a change for once. Makes me kinda jealous tbh
As an Australian, WTF guys c’mon you can do better than this.
This friday is my 20th lesson, which will also be my first motorway lesson, and my practical test is on Wednesday next week, I’m really excited about driving on the motorway and considering that I’m with my driving instructor, it’s a win win situation.
Good luck, mate! :)
TL;DR : You are allowed to drive on the motorways, as long as you are not the one actually doing the driving.
It is time british governement start employing proper car people for car laws, espcially for learners. Of course highway is scary and hard to master when starting, but it is better to do it with a teacher on the side and it should be included in the exam. Otherwise, just bring back group B because less people were endangered
I thought getting ur license in Canada was suspiciously easy but at least we have a part of our testing on a highway. Mine was when it was busy and I don’t think i went above 80kph in the 2 km I did for the test. I would happily have to wait long to be able to drive on my own if it would in turn allow speed limits to be raised.