50 days until learners are allowed on the motorway

harrow

Full Member
Posts
7,611
Likes
10,083
50 days until learners are allowed on the motorway

News story

Learner drivers on motorways from 4 June 2018

Learner drivers can take motorway driving lessons with an approved driving instructor from 4 June 2018.

Published 12 August 2017
Last updated 1 March 2018 — see all updates
From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Traffic sign
From Monday 4 June 2018, learner drivers will be able to take driving lessons on motorways in England, Scotland and Wales.

This will help to make sure more drivers know how to use motorways safely.

At the moment, you can only have motorway lessons after you’ve passed your driving test. Some newly-qualified drivers take lessons through the voluntary Pass Plus scheme.

How the change will work
Learner drivers will need to be:

accompanied by an approved driving instructor
driving a car fitted with dual controls
Any motorways lessons will be voluntary. It will be up to the driving instructor to decide when the learner driver is competent enough for them.

Until the law changes, it’s still illegal for a learner driver to drive on a motorway.

The change only applies to learner drivers of cars. Learner motorcyclists won’t be allowed on motorways.

Trainee driving instructors won’t be allowed to take learner drivers on the motorway.

Motorway driving isn’t being introduced to the driving test as part of this change.

Making sure road users are ready for the change
The change is being well-publicised so that:

driving instructors and learner drivers are prepared
other road users know what to expect
The Highway Code rules on motorways will be updated.

Driving near learner drivers on the motorway
As with any vehicle on the motorway, keep a safe distance from a learner driver in front of you. Increase the gap on wet or icy roads, or in fog.

You should always be patient with learner drivers. They may not be so skilful at anticipating and responding to events.

Driving instructor vehicles and training
Driving instructors can decide if they want to use a driving school rooftop box during motorway lessons, based on its instructions.

The car will need to display L plates on the front and rear if the rooftop box is removed.

Driving school car
It will be up to the instructor whether or not they keep their driving school rooftop box on the car.
Guidance for driving instructors
Learning materials and the syllabus for learning to drive a car are being updated to include motorway lessons.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency won’t give driving instructors extra training on providing motorway lessons.

The driving instructor’s National Associations Strategic Partnership has produced best practice guidance to help instructors.

Download ‘Motorway tuition guidelines’ (PDF. 116KB)

Preparing drivers for a lifetime of safe driving
The changes are being made to allow learner drivers to:

get broader driving experience before taking their driving test
get training on how to join and leave the motorway, overtake and use lanes correctly
practise driving at higher speeds
understand motorway specific traffic signs
understand what to do if a vehicle breaks down on a motorway
improve their confidence to drive on the motorway unsupervised after passing their driving test

The link to check it out direct,

Learner drivers on motorways from 4 June 2018 - GOV.UK

:wave:
 
About time, the fastest roads arguably we don't coach on

I don't think they will make it a legal requirement considering parts of the UK miles from a motorway

At one stage youngster were getting a discount on insurance from doing the Pass Plus not heard much about that recently probably don't know many youngsters

Channa
 
Yeah I think its good to give experience in as many situations as possible. I would like to see a compulsory section for winter driving on a skidpan as well
 
Might be good if they did it for all ‘experienced’ drivers from what I have seen.
Obviously would not be required for BMW drivers.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What do I know......I thought they were there already, hogging the middle lane.
 
I spent 8 years as a driving instructor, and always wanted it to be part of the driving test, but after my pupils past I always offered them two hours of free motorway lessons most took me up on this but many didn’t.
I have always felt that before anyone is allowed to drive on a motorway they should have to take a separate test, and not until at least two years after passing a normal test so that they have gained some driving experience.
 
Rather them get the chance with a qualified driver instructing them than they do it alone and get it wrong. I think its a good idea
 
As a retired driving instructor, I agree.

Pass Plus - the problem with that was that the insurance companies who supported the scheme and gave a discount tended to be the more expensive ones - so most times the course cost more than the saving, so folk wouldn't do it. For some reason, the majority of young folk think they can learn to drive on a shoestring and won't pay any more than they absolutely have to. Equally, parents who should have the advantage of life experience and know better also think the same. They will stump up £50 - £60 or more per hour for a mechanic to work on their car but are horrified if a driving instructor tries to charge them more than £20 an hour.

(Prices for both may have increased since I retired.)
 

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top