Helping Learner Drivers
Helping Young People Learn to Drive and Ride Safely
The best way to learn to drive is to take professional lessons with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and additional private practice supervised by a parent or friend. This helps the learner to practise what they are being taught in their professional lessons in a wider range of driving situations.
Motorway Driving Lessons
From June 4, 2018 learner drivers can take driving lessons on motorways in England, Scotland and Wales. To drive on motorways learner drivers must be accompanied by a professional driving instructor (an ADI) in a dual controlled car that is displaying L plates or has a driving school rooftop box. Motorway lessons are not compulsory and it is up to the driving instructor to decide when the learner driver is competent enough. Motorway driving is not being introduced into the driving test.
Private practice on other roads will also help them to pass the driving test. However, the aim is not to pass the test as quickly as possible, but to help the learner driver get as much supervised driving experience as possible while they are learning. The more driving experience they get at this stage the better.
As soon as a learner driver passes his or her driving test, and can drive unsupervised, their risk of crashing increases dramatically. However, research shows that the more driving experience learners obtain, in a wide range of driving situations, the safer they are likely to be when they start to drive on their own.
This website will help you to:
During the learning period
- Ensure the learner meets all the legal requirements for learning to drive
- Ensure you meet all the legal requirements for supervising them during private practice
- Allow the learner to get as much supervised practice as possible
- Keep in touch with your young driver's instructor and co-ordinate what happens in private practice with what happens in the professional lessons
- Get the most benefit from practice drives
After the test
- Encourage your young driver to take further training
- Encourage them to take out telematics-based motor insurance
- Consider making a Parent/Young Driver Agreement
- Increase their supervised experience by letting them drive you on family trips
Set a good example in the way you drive.
