Considering letting learner drivers on the motorway

imightbewrong

Learner drivers: Plan to include lessons on motorways - BBC News

Optionally, if the instructor thinks they are up to it (but then they can drive on the motorway unsupervised as soon as they pass their test, so they better be!)

Sounds like a good idea to me.

hippy240980

I think it's a good idea too.
People need to learn how to merge, keep safe distance and read the road ahead at faster speeds along with other things.
At the moment they pass the test and are left to them selves on how to do it.
It can only make them a more confident and better driver when they do pass the test.

Drd

I agree it's got to be a good idea, but only with certain stipulations. I assume dual control will be a must, but I would also suggest only in reasonable weather, daylight and possibly not during rush hour? There is a good argument for an introduction to motorway driving, but not at times when the rest of us are having to concentrate hard as it is without suddenly coming across a learner having a panic attack.

soupdragon

Good idea IMO too. Its a very different driving experience on the motorway. Maybe they can bring the max speed up to 50 MPH for motorway driving once you've passed your test. And also making motorway driving part of the driving test too.

As above though - you don't want a complete rookie on the motorway. The instructor brings them onto the motorway in the later stages of their learning and as final prep for their test.

EarthRod

Good idea.

...And about bloody time - should have introduced this years ago.

Inked

Surely they should already have been taught how to merge into traffic travelling at the national speed limit and travel at faster speeds before passing their test anyway? There are plenty of NSL dual carriageways where other than having fewer lanes are not much different to motorways.

I'd much prefer that they have actual motorway lessons with an instructor AFTER proving that they have learned the basics well enough to pass the driving test rather than before.

Barbs77

I had a good driving instructed in the run up to my test he spent a lot of time explaining motorway conditions with the offer of a free lesson on motorways when I got a car. But that was is 1987.

jsniper

I did my driving lessons and test in Sheffield so was fortunate enough to have the Sheffield parkway to learn on. That's a busy road with NSL. Had I not had that opportunity with my instructor I'd have struggled quite a lot.

When I passed my test I went on the M1 as my first motorway experience. I was alone but I'd finished work so it was nice and quiet. To be honest, I think that was the best way I could've done it. I went on within a week of passing and experienced everything except heavy traffic.

Retrospectively, I don't think it would be a terrible thing teaching learner drivers how to drive on the motorway as it is a different experience to dual carriageways.

For reference, I passed in September 2015 so not that long ago.

mjn

Should be a two part test really, with the motorway section to be completed in the same way the existing test is done.

Greg Hook

Sounds good to me too. You only have to drive on a motorway for 5 minutes (maybe even less!) to see how poor people are on motorways. From hogging the middle lane, staying out in the outside lane too long and just generally not having a clue.