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Learner drivers on motorway

Lessons on Motorway driving among changes to the driving test from next year, in a bid to reduce fatalities

Learner drivers on Motorway

By Julie Sinclair

08th December 2011

Learner drivers are going to be let loose on the motorway from next year, the Government has announced, in a radical new move designed to improve young driver skills and reduce fatalities.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning told the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) that it was questionable whether the driving test did anything more than train drivers to pass a test, and that a raft of changes were being made to correct that.

Significantly, he said the Government would finally tackle the issue of learners currently being banned from the motorway, stating: “I will allow driving instructors to teach on the motorway before their test.”

Penning said he also hoped to improve driving standards by putting a stop to trainee instructors being allowed to teach. “I was shocked when I discovered my daughter could be taught by someone that wasn’t qualified. I assumed they would be,” he said.

“But it’s entirely possible that they wouldn’t, as they can teach while they are training. I’m going to put a stop to that. They need a qualified instructor to teach them.”

The IAM’s latest report reveals that 62 per cent of young male novice drivers think they are more skilful than the average driver. Department for Transport figures, however, reveal almost one third of car occupant fatalities are drivers aged 17-24, or their passengers. Male drivers aged between 17-29 are also more than twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured as young female drivers.

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13 Comments

After passing the test.

Make it compulsory for driving schools/instructors to give at least 1 hour's driving lesson on a motorway, to those who have passed the test, before a driving licence is issued by DVLA.

There are practical problems with this, in that if you live on the Norfolk or East Coast there is no motorway nearby but I think it's worth trying.

By adrian65allain on 8 December, 2011, 5:31pm

What about the East Coast??

How will learners be able to afford motorway lessons if the live at the East Coast? There are people such as those living here at Great Yarmouth that are a two hour drive away from the nearest motorway, thats a four hour lesson before you have even had the instruction on the actual motorway!!!

By Correcting_Reports on 8 December, 2011, 5:39pm

About Time

My wife is German, and in Germany lessons on the autobahns are compulsory, as are night lessons, and the only people allowed to train drivers are qualified driving instructors, you cant just put L plates on your car and teach your kids for instance as you can here. Eye tests are also compulsory from a Govt/DVLA recognised optician, you cant just read a number plate, its also law that if you wear glasses the photo on your licence must show you wearing them, here in the UK, DVLA advise taking glasses off for your picture, its about time the test was toughened up.

By Shaun34 on 8 December, 2011, 5:43pm

Only if you're close to a motorway

It's a good idea to get practice on a motorway with an instructor, 3 years after my test I still haven't been on a motorway! Being from Great Yarmouth it's too far to get to a motorway as a learner. I was told that I could do Pass Plus with the instructor, getting to the motorway and back would be the whole course done!

By rp_17 on 9 December, 2011, 12:32am

Good Idea, if it's only with qualified driving instructors.

As someone who passed the driving test in 1969, I feel it would be good to have a broader experience of driving, including motorway driving. However, the cars should have proper, highly visible" L "Plates and not just stick-on ones on the family car. The worry is that, without dual controls, the learner might get into a situation where they cause an accident which would be impossible for other drivers to avoid. When I passed my test, the entire course of lessons and the test cost £11.00. I doubt that would pay for one lesson now.

By n50pap on 9 December, 2011, 2:59pm

Professional opinion

Speaking from a qualified DSA ADI'S perspective (and keeping it short). Firstly, I read somewhere that an official had been quoted saying that pupils will now be able to drive up to speeds of 70mph. He obviously needs a few lessons as we all know that unrestricted dual carriageways are already set at this upper limit. Furthermore, 70mph DC's are more dangerous than Mways as there are far more hazards such as junctions, traffic lights, roundabouts and even pedestrian crossings - to name a few. I could go on for hours but just a couple more points; Pass Plus (or similar) should be compulsory, BEFORE test. Finally, all this talk of outrage over 'trainee' instructors being able to teach; I partially agree, at least the way it's allowed presently. BUT I definately believe that parents (so many of whom think they know much more than they actually do), should NOT be allowed to accompany L drivers. I know it may take the pupil longer to learn and cost more money etc. but my first priority has always been SAFETY FIRST & LAST.

By AshridgeDrivingSchool on 11 December, 2011, 3:18pm

More from an ADI

I have to address the issue of remoteness from a motorway. It's the same with Pass Plus issues of driving in difficult weather conditions - it's done as a theory exercise intertwined with the current lesson. A competent (and no, not all ADI's are competent) ADI will be perfectly able to Q&A and to some extent practically simulate conditions not present at the time. As I previously mentioned, dual carriageways have many similar components and issues as Mways.
I agree with n50pap's comments on 'L' plates. It is something I have raised with other instructors too. The legal dimensions of the 'L' graphic are very precise. So how on Earth can you slap one on a bonnet that is near horizontal, thus considerably distorting/laterally compressing the sign.
Wow, I sound like a real moaning old driving instructor...pupils liked me - honest :-)

By AshridgeDrivingSchool on 11 December, 2011, 6:14pm

Essential proposal


There should be a two-stage driving test (e.g., up to 50mph/excluding motorway and over 50mph/including motorway).

The standard of driving on motorways is getting worse. (Inside passing should be allowed on motorways - or lane hogging resulting in disqualification!) Learner drivers should have motorway-driving experience but only if accompanied by a qualified instructor or after passing a first-stage test.

Probation plates should be mandatory for, say, 12 months after passing a driving test.

ADI's grade should be made public and ADI's required to state their grade (in my experience some low grade ADI's are not even competent drivers themselves, and are incompetent teachers!)

Some ADI's concentrate on teaching people to pass the driving test, with insufficient emphasis on teaching people to drive safely.

I can see the point about unqualified ‘instructors’ accompanying learners but, to my mind, becoming a good driver is as much about having driving experience as being taught - the important thing is that unqualified 'instructors' should concentrate on facilitating driving experience and not teaching). Perhaps the middle road is that learners should only be accompanied by drivers who have passed some advanced test (e.g., IAM) and or have, say, 5 years driving experience?

Re Pass Plus – I understand that insurers have found it does not reduce claims!

By Chrisandrea on 13 December, 2011, 11:44am

Good idea but..

But what about those in their 40's and 50s who think they are driving gods, hanging 3 inches off your rear bumper or thinking they own the middle lane.

I do approx 30k a year and the majority of bad drivers on the motorway are middle age thinking they are indestructible. The majority of the younger generation at least understand lane priorities as a lot of us did Pass Plus, which is more than can be said for the older! I know this generation think they are so great behind the wheel but they need to realise they are just as dangerous if not worse as they are so complacent. The test they passed was a joke, I had one guy who must have been approx 50 tell me that the NSL on a dual carriageway is 60!!!

Educate those who think they know it all too been the point!

By AndyG on 13 December, 2011, 12:31pm

The basics...

I think the whole issue or bad driving comes down to three basic things which are probably no longer considered appropriate ie Mirror, Signal, Manouvre! Few people check their mirrors on a regular basis or at the relevant moment, few people indicate an appropriate time BEFORE carrying out the manouvre (it is usually an afterthought!) and many people are either too hesitant, or pull into a box junction or roundabout but then stop for someone else rather than getting out of the way causing a huge snarl up behind them. All ages are guilty. Grrrrr.

By alex34197 on 13 December, 2011, 12:42pm

Improving young driver skills and reducing fatalities

Anyone would think computers hadn't been invented. Insurance companys know who's had an accident and where, when and roughly how it happened. Police spend thousands investigating and recording the details of accidents. Properly anaylised, this information should tell us precisely where there are common problems that need to be addressed. Whilst Mike Penning's guess about the fitness (or not) of our current driving test may sound plausible, it's his opinion, just like all of the comments above. Statistically the UK's roads are already far safer than Germany or France so it would be nice if the government would look at the facts before making it worse by guessing how to improve it.

By MightyAntar on 13 December, 2011, 7:17pm

Motorway Instruction a must

I can only agree with the many comments about the standard of M/way driving. I too loathe the CLODS. (Centre Lane Owner Drivers Society) but equally many more dangerous feats are witnessed everyday with serious accident potential. Regardless of distance, At some stage in their motoring career people from even the most rural areas will encounter a motorway. Cost is not the issue but safety is, they just need to budget for it, . All new drivers should have training which more closely matches modern conditions including motorways. I cannot understand why all the clutch control and manouvring stuff etc is not done like a motorcyle CBT before learners even get on the road. Then they can concentrate on achieving a safe and progressive standard of driving before being let loose.
On the subject of P plates, it would make sense for a further driving assessment after 12 months and before the plates can be removed. - We may be safer than Germany or France but every death is one too many and young drivers are 3 times more likely to die. No room for any complaciency based on statics which conveniently do not take into account the serious near misses or non reported accidents

By jules2477 on 15 December, 2011, 6:52am

Look at the stats and then act

MightyAntar makes a good point.

By Chrisandrea on 19 December, 2011, 6:07pm

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