Newly qualified drivers are ill equipped to take to UK roads because the driving test is out of date, according to both instructors and novice drivers in a new research by Direct Line car insurance.
54 % of all drivers said they found the driving test too easy, and 21 % admitted they felt unprepared or incapable of driving alone after gaining a full licence.
In the research, 19 % of all the drivers that Direct Line spoke to said they still struggle to drive at night (11 %) drive on the motorway (19 %) and on icy roads (25 %) because they were never taught the correct technique for driving in different scenarios.
Driving instructors themselves are also calling for the practical test to be strengthened in the rural driving, (88%), motorway driving( 84%) night time driving (72%) and all weather driving (73%).
The instructors' thoughts were echoed, with over half of all drivers joining the call for motorway driving to be added to the test and one third saying night-time driving should be included as compulsory.
I totally agree. I remember my first night drive experience whereby I froze and could not carry on. Why can’t novice drivers have, say, two years to collect certificates of competence from theory, practical, motorway, night driving and possibly skid control then send them all off for their full licence? In themeantime they can drive with limitations.
FemaleFirst - Jackie Violet