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Young drivers 'unprepared' for life on the road

A new report suggests driving lessons are failing to prepare young people for life on the road.

A survey of young drivers in our region found a fifth of those involved in an accident felt it could have been avoided if they'd spent more time learning to drive.

The survey was carried out by carried out by The Co-operative Insurance, and involved 2,000 drivers between 18 and 30 years old. The findings of the survey show:

  • 40% of young drivers in the East of England say they have had an accident while driving.
  • 20% feel this this could have been avoided if they had taken more time to learn to drive before passing their test.
  • 60% think that people should have to learn to drive for a certain period of time before taking their driving test.

The Driving Instructors' Association agrees there is an issue and says it is important young people have enough lessons before taking their test.

There is no mandatory requirement to learn for a minimum period with a qualified professional instructor. There is an advisory guidelines of 46 hours, with a further 20 hours accompanied practice with a parent, but many pupils are focused on the lowest number of lessons for the cheapest price. We need to start getting parents and learners focused on what an important life skills learning to drive is, and investing in the right number of lessons with a properly qualified, professional instructor

– Driving Instructors' Association