The Department for Transport has announced a consultation into a change of law; which will be the biggest change to the rules around learning to drive in years.
Currently, learner drivers are forbidden from driving on the UK motorway network, which means the first time they may drive on a motorway is as a newly qualified driver – potentially when they’re on their own. Admiral fears this leads to too many inexperienced drivers crashing.
Head of Claims at Admiral, Lorna Connelly explained: “It’s estimated around 12% of accidents where someone is injured or killed involves a driver aged under 20, this is despite them making up only 1.5% of all motorists.* This could be down to a combination of inexperience, over-confidence and the unfamiliar situation of being in a car unsupervised. Expecting these motorists to suddenly drive on a high speed motorway as well is unreasonable. It’s unfair on them and on other road users. The proposals announced by the government make perfect sense to us and we’re sure they will prevent some motorway accidents.”
Admiral has found widespread support from the public for the change of law. It surveyed 1,100 of its customers and found 85% agreed that learner drivers should be required to spend time driving on motorways. Eight out of ten said they wished they had been able to take lessons on a motorway while they were learning to drive.
For many motorists, it takes some time before they feel confident to venture onto a motorway after they have passed their test. Only 38% of the motorists Admiral questioned said they did it within a few days of passing. For 20% it took a few months for 11% it took more than a year, while 4% said they have never driven on one.
Lorna Connelly continued: “The UK motorway network is actually incredibly safe and relatively few accidents happen there. However driving on a motorway is also unlike driving on any other road, you have more traffic travelling at higher speeds and it’s important to use them properly; overtaking correctly, being aware of other road users and using your indicators. If these skills aren’t being taught in a practical way, it could lead to poor driving habits later on.”
|
