On Thursday 1 March 2018 the DVSA announced that for the first time provisional licence holders will be allowed onto the UK's motorways.
At the moment you have to have passed your driving test before being allowed to drive on a motorway, but the announcement means that from 4 June 2018 provisional drivers will be allowed to take motorway driving lessons with an approved driving instructor prior to their test.
What Are The Rules?
Motorway lessons for learner drivers can only be delivered by an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), in a vehicle which is fitted with dual controls.
Why Allow Learner Drivers On The Motorway?
At the moment, as soon as somebody passes their driving test they are legally allowed to drive on the motorway. But does this mean they are prepared for the different challenges they will face?
Allowing learner drivers onto the motorways will help to prepare them for a lifetime of safe driving, and will therefore make the roads safer.
Motorway driving will not be included in the driving test.
Is It Dangerous?
It's fair to say there will be mixed views from other drivers about the safety of allowing learners to drive on the motorway and the decision will no doubt divide opinion.
At the moment most ADIs teach their pupils how to drive safely on dual carriageways at 70mph, and as an ADI I have often found that we are the ones overtaking other drivers because they wrongly think that the National Speed Limit on a dual carriageway is 60mph.
Learning how to overtake safely is a critical element of driving on the motorways and pupils will only be taken out when the ADI feels sure that they can cope with the challenge.
Don't forget - a driving instructor relies on their vehicle being on the road in order to earn a living, so we will most definitely not take any risks.
How Should I Deal With Learner Drivers On The Motorway?
As with all types of road, you just need to give learner drivers plenty of room.
Keep to a safe stopping distance at all times
Give everyone around you plenty of notice if you plan to change lanes
Plan and anticipate well
Stick to the speed limits yourself
That's what learner drivers will be taught, and if everyone drove that way then there would be far fewer accidents on the UK's roads.
You can find more information via the DVSA news page HERE.
WS Driving School currently offers motorway driving lessons to full licence holders on the M6 in Cannock & Stafford. For details about motorway driving lessons with WS Driving School click here.
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