Potential changes for learner drivers

A recent report issued by the government suggests some major changes to the way we may learn to drive in the future. The report suggests that the age at which we can obtain a provisional driving license be raised from 17 to 18, but there are also some huge changes suggested as to the way in which drivers will learn.

The new proposals state that learners should undertake a minimum of 100 hours supervised driving over a twelve month period with 20 hours of night-time driving included. This could work out to be very expensive for anyone learning to drive, and as there is already a shortage of driving instructors, would there be the tutors to cope with demand?

The report goes on to suggest that a curfew be issued to anyone who has recently passed their test, limiting them to driving only between the hours of 10am and 5pm. Another rather odd suggestion is that anyone under the age of 30 should not be allowed to drive with passengers who are under the age of 30. This could be very inconvenient for someone with a younger partner or with children!

The need to increase the driving safety of young and inexperienced drivers who make up a large proportion of accident cases is important, but are these proposals going a step too far?

Photo credit: DavidDMuir / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND