Calls to lower the driving age below 17
Fri, 14 Apr 2023
Young Driver, a driving school specializing in driving lessons for those not yet of a legal driving age, is challenging the age limit for driving on public roads, claiming that 17 may not be the best age to start learning how to drive.
The driving school surveyed 2400 parents, over 400 past pupils and 69% of driving instructors to determine the best age for young drivers to begin learning.
Young Driver found that two-thirds of driving instructors believe that children learn better before they turn 17. Additionally, 82% of the surveyed parents believed that children aged 10 to 17 were more receptive to messages around risk and safety than over 17s.
The findings also revealed that drivers who had taken pre-17 driving lessons with Young Driver were significantly less likely to have an accident in the critical first six months after passing their driving test than the national average, with statistics dropping from one in five to one in 29.
According to Sue Waterfield, head of marketing at Young Driver, there are sensible reasons why young people should not drive on public roads before the age of 17, but that does not mean they cannot start learning to drive before that age.
Waterfield added that younger children are sponges who soak up all the practical information about how to physically drive and are also very alert to the safety aspects of driving. Younger children can take their time and really help them feel comfortable with the controls of the car and things like braking distances and blind spots, before they get anywhere near a real road.
The survey also found that three-quarters of the instructors surveyed (74%) said that those who had pre-17 driving tuition usually need fewer on-the-road lessons. Additionally, 79% of instructors felt they could teach more in an hour at a private Young Driver venue than an hour spent on the road.
Driving instructor Anaya Saddall said that when teaching someone aged 17 or 18, their minds are not always focused on driving, and they tend to think about other things such as work, exams, friends, social media, or what they are doing that evening.
However, younger kids concentrate and focus, and their minds are focusing 100% on driving. Saddall added that one reason they often learn more in half an hour than 17-year-olds learn in an hour is that the older age group tends to have more preconceived ideas from parents and peers, which can add complications.
Overall, the findings suggest that younger children can benefit from starting driving lessons before the age of 17, which can help reduce the time and money spent on tuition once they are old enough to get their provisional licence and take their test.
What is the best way to insure a learner driver?
