UK driving lessons to change - learners will be allowed on motorway - Polidicks

[B]Learner drivers are to be allowed to have driving lessons on motorways in an attempt to cut the death toll among novice motorists. [/B] The change, which will come into force next year, is intended to end the situation in which young drivers can be confronted with traffic driving at speeds of 70 mph or above without any preparation. Under the plans announced by Mr Penning, [B]it will be possible for learner drivers to undergo some training on a motorway but only if accompanied by a qualified driving instructor.[/B] The change, however, will not be made compulsory because of the difficulties learner drivers in remote areas of the country would face in finding a motorway within a reasonable distance of where they lived. According to figures compiled by the Department for Transport 82 drivers under 21 were involved in fatal motorway crashes between 2006 and 2010. [B]The initiative reflect growing ministerial concern at the current testing regime which, it is felt, does not prepare drivers for life behind the wheel [/B] Since taking office [B]Mr Penning has stopped driving test centres publicising the routes which will be used during the examination.[/B] He has also [B]banned the publishing of answers to the theory test to prevent candidates learning by rote.[/B] In a further change Mr Penning [B]plans to ban trainee driving instructors giving lessons unless they themselves are supervised by a fully qualified colleague. [/B] Currently trainee instructors can give tuition and the only indication a pupil has that their teacher is not fully qualified is a small screen sticker. The changes were hailed by Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety. “[B]This is good news. It will end the ludicrous situation where people can live near a network of motorways and pass their test without ever having been on one,[/B] “ he said . “It will mean that properly supervised young drivers can learn how to drive on a motorway with somebody beside them,” a spokesman said. [B]“These roads are, after all, our safest roads.” [/B] [url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8941211/Learner-drivers-to-be-allowed-on-motorways.html[/url]

oh god

Wait, your learners couldn't drive on motorways? My first time driving was on a 12 lane highway, during rush hour. I didn't die. I was scared shitless, but my driving instructor knew what he was doing.

Oh god, fucking learning drivers on highways They usually go really slow and basicly blocks the entire lane with a vehicle going at 60 kph

I'd rather have student drivers go out onto a motorway with someone else in the car than go out by themselves once they've only had experience on city/back roads.

Well, the current test is not fit for purpose by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm fairly convinced this won't make much difference.

I admit when I first used a motorway after passing my test I was scared, but when I got on it I realised how easy it was to use. They're the easiest and safest roads to use, people are just put off by the speed as they spent all their lessons doing 30mph through back streets.

It's pretty weird that it wasn't allowed before. Even here in Germany it's part of the driving lessons and you HAVE to do it.

I'm for this. At least it builds confidence for when they later venture out alone for the first time. Motorways are a piece of piss to drive but I can see why they would be intimidating to a new driver so best to face this fear with an experienced tutor in the car rather than alone. Can't see it causing too many problems so long as tutors make students get up to speed in time for joining the motorway and teach them to be certain before moving for an overtake.

[QUOTE=Firewarrior;33640441]It's pretty weird that it wasn't allowed before. Even here in Germany it's part of the driving lessons and you HAVE to do it.[/QUOTE] I heard that in Germany you need to take an extra test to drive on the Autobahn. Is that true? Also, I drive on motorways and I'm still considered a learner, it's not that scary, and I doubt it will be the first place a learner will drive on.

They are always a risk to the traffic

[QUOTE=dbk21894;33640309]Wait, your learners couldn't drive on motorways? My first time driving was on a 12 lane highway, during rush hour. I didn't die. I was scared shitless, but my driving instructor knew what he was doing.[/QUOTE] This is what we did too

What, that's first allowed now? Been forever like that here in Norway. Actually, the whole driving course can take up to several months, while I heard in the UK you can finish in like a few weeks?

[QUOTE=Carne;33640584]What, that's first allowed now? Been forever like that here in Norway. Actually, the whole driving course can take up to several months, while I heard in the UK you can finish in like a few weeks?[/QUOTE] Well the average is about 20 - 30 hours so depends on how long your lessons are and how close together they are, I did 1 hour a week

[QUOTE=Whomobile;33640508]I heard that in Germany you need to take an extra test to drive on the Autobahn. Is that true? Also, I drive on motorways and I'm still considered a learner, it's not that scary, and I doubt it will be the first place a learner will drive on.[/QUOTE] Well, it's part of the driving lessons. You have to do "Sonderfahrten" which include driving on the Autobahn and driving at night. When you do your driving test it's part of your driving test.

Good get more learner drivers on the motorway it's far fucking safer than the retards to drive now.

What, I got on the motorway when I couldnt even shift gears properly (second lesson). Who the fuck tought it would be a good idea to leave this out in the first place.

Good. They need to know what the hell they're doing on the motorway. I can't count the number of dipshits in my area that don't know how to merge on(Stopping/slowing/watfing down the on-ramps being most popular), don't know how to handle getting onto/off of hard shoulders without getting flattened, don't seem to grasp how to get off the highway properly, and generally just make it a mess. Having some semblance of education in the regard would cut down on it a bit.

When I was on the motorway somebody decided just to turn around, and start driving the opposite direction. wat.

If they allow them to drive on the motorway after having some decent road lessons then sure, but don't get them going on there before they've done so. The reason they drive slow in the first place is because it's probably their first couple of lessons(or they are just shit).

I think this been done before. My Dad said he used to drive on the motorway during his lessons.

Wait, you guys weren't allowed on highways? Not that it matters that much. Driving on the highway is actually far easier than navigating a crowded city.

[QUOTE=Jasun;33640983]When I was on the motorway somebody decided just to turn around, and start driving the opposite direction. wat.[/QUOTE] You mean like this? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK9-Ikcu0sY[/media]

It is kind of a good idea really, its probably for the best that the first time people drive on a motorway they are with someone who is actually teaching them.

I think I would have benefited from this to be honest but meh, Norwich isn't very near any motorways and that's where I had all my lessons

One of my first times out learning to drive I was taken out on a highway at rush hour during blizzard conditions, it was actually pretty fun.

[QUOTE=Watevaman;33640337]I'd rather have student drivers go out onto a motorway with someone else in the car than go out by themselves once they've only had experience on city/back roads.[/QUOTE] Learners can still go on A roads, some of them are pretty much motorways with fewer lanes, so we learn the skills needed on a motorway through that. Not sure what exactly the requirements of a road is before it's classified as a motorway, since some motorways only have 2 lanes anyway.

How did you learn driving on motorways before? I was allowed to drive on one during one of the earlier driving lessons and even though I was pretty scared at first it went really well. The driving instructor wouldn't have let me do it if he didn't think I was ready. What was much worse was that after about 5 minutes into my first driving lesson ever I already had to drive in inner-city traffic!

[QUOTE=dbk21894;33640309]Wait, your learners couldn't drive on motorways? My first time driving was on a 12 lane highway, during rush hour. I didn't die. I was scared shitless, but my driving instructor knew what he was doing.[/QUOTE] you learn in automatics so all you do is press a pedal to go and one to stop.

What? I went on the motorway starting from my 2nd-3rd lessons and went on it every lesson after that?