Considering letting learner drivers on the motorway

Inked

Nope, the optional course should be made mandatory under a two part practical test, once you have passed part one (the current test), you can then progress to part two

Ayub

I'd be interested in any driving instructor opinions before I give mine.

Sorry have been working on other projects.

djbsom

Ha. I've been reading everyone else's comments but haven't added mine.

I'm lucky in that I have two good stretches of dual that I can use so I can honestly say none of my pupils go for their test without good experience on these 'pretend' motorways.

I'd welcome the addition of motorway tuition to the 'syllabus' as would most other instructors I suspect.
It is crazy that little Johnny can pass his test in the morning in a one litre fiesta and then drive his dad's range rover down the M4 in the evening rush hour quite legally.
There are big changes to the test coming in the later part of this decade though and the motorway tuition is only a small part of it. It's going to be regulated more in line with the German system, so a minimum amount of hours with a professional instructor before the 1st part of the test can be taken then more hours needed before a second test etc. It looks like the first test will be focused on core competencies such as manoeuvres and car control and the second test on 'higher' functions such as forward planning and defensive driving techniques.
Of course this was before Brexit so who knows what the powers to be are planning now.
One thing is certain though, if you have someone in your family circle who is due to learn to drive, get them started earlier rather than later because it will surely only get more expensive whatever the changes bring.

imightbewrong

It's happening

Motorway lessons for learner drivers confirmed for 2018 - BBC News

Greg Hook

About time!

Bl4ckGryph0n

It was mandatory for my test in the Netherlands. After I demonstrated I had car control, I was in my second lesson on the motorway as part of my regular lessons. In my third less my instructor made me go on one of the shortest merges in the Netherlands. Excellent experience to get your speed up, level and merge. Or decide to come to a hard stop until there is space to merge.

I fail to see how it is useful not to let learners on the motorway. And really don't get this comment about when "we" have to concentrate hard. To me that comes across like the nervous driver is you. Surely you need to be aware of your environment at all times and act accordingly? Why would a learner be any different?

Damn I'm still so surprised that my wife who is younger than me never had to do a theory test in the UK.

djbsom

       

This is part of the email to us this morning. There's no specific date yet other than '2018'.

Theseus

Good move if it's implemented properly.

imightbewrong

Does everyone in the Netherlands live near enough to a motorway then?  I think that's one of the problems here with making anything to do with motorways 'mandatory'.

No theory test here either, just missed that one.  My gran drove for over 60 years without issue and never even had a test

Bl4ckGryph0n

Yup. Sorry but I think that is just an excuse. It is an essential part of your training. Heck just see everyday how bad people drive on the motorways. They don't switch lanes, don't look in their mirrors, push in when merging opposed to comming to a hold, don't adjust their speed to the rest of the traffic when merging and so on.