Minimum age for driving test in uk drivers#
Minimum age for driving test in uk full#

Minimum age for driving test in uk drivers#

Young drivers make up 1.%% of the driver population, but they are involved in 9% of fatal car accidents in the UK. Is increasing the driving age the solution? This sort of behaviour means that accidents are just waiting to happen. Road safety charity Break has published research showing that young drivers are more likely to speed, overtake blindly, drive while under the influence of drugs and alcohol and are less likely to wear seatbelts. While there are things that young drivers can do to reduce the cost of driving, insurance premiums are continuing to grow for this age group.Īs well as being inexperienced on the road, young drivers have been shown to display riskier behaviour. Insurance providers are well aware of this risk, and premiums are higher for drivers under the age of 25 as a result. Young drivers can be overconfident in the physical aspect of driving, which means that they might be less perceptive of hazards – which is where accidents can occur. While the majority of teenagers show responsible driving behaviour, there are of course exceptions to this. Many teenagers learn to drive off-road long before they turn 17 and therefore could pass their test days or weeks after their birthday, putting them at the younger end of the driving age scale. Driving at a young ageĪs there is no minimum lesson requirement or minimum distance driven before you can take your driving test, learners can become drivers shortly after their 17th birthday.

Minimum age for driving test in uk full#

You are allowed up to 15 minor faults during your driving test – if you have any more than 15 or you commit a major fault, then you will fail the test.Īfter passing your test you will be able to exchange your green provisional licence for a full pink one, and you can apply for further licences for different vehicle types such as a motorbike if necessary. The practical driving test lasts for around 40 minutes and includes an eyesight check, questions about car safety and a test of your driving. Once you’re confident that you can drive and have an excellent knowledge of road safety, you can then take your practical driving test. A theory test must be completed for a driver to pass their practical test. Theory test pass rates are falling, which is an indication that the test is getting harder, and some of the hardest theory test questions could stump even the most experienced drivers. Lessons include learning to drive along different roads, learning manoeuvres as well as the Highway Code.Īt any time during the learning process, a learner can take their theory test, which features multiple choice questions and a hazard perception test. Next, you undertake driving lessons either with a qualified instructor or an adult who has over 21 and has held a full driving licence for three years. You can hold a provisional driving licence from the age of 17, which you get by filling out a form and proving your identity for a small fee. The current process for getting your driving licence in the UK is pretty straightforward. Would an increase in the minimum driving age help teenagers become better drivers? With ‘Votes at 16’ becoming an increasingly popular topic, it’s an important question to raise, and while it’s not likely to be popular with the younger generation – could raising the driving age to 18 make our roads safer? Getting your driving licence in the UK While this could be down to the learning process, sometimes reckless behaviour and a lack of respect for the road are to blame – something that has led to calls to increase the minimum driving age to 18 in the past. As new and inexperienced drivers, it’s no shock that teenagers make up a large proportion of road traffic accident victims.

Another week, another headline about a teenage car accident.