RE: NEW drivers ‘lack skills’ (LT June 2).
I do believe night time and motorway lessons should be compulsory to all learning to drive.
A lot do pass their driving test and don’t go on to take the Pass Plus, even though, as an instructor, I strongly recommend it to them and many others instructor I know say the same.
Because it’s voluntary some decide they will save some money and just have a go on their own thinking it’s easy to drive on motorways.
Same applies to bad weather and driving. Many new drivers do not understand the dangers or how to deal with driving on snow or icy conditions or in poor visibility.
During the winter months I encourage all my students who are capable to still take their lesson even when weather is bad so that they gain that experience.
Those that took the opportunity commented after how much better they felt that they now understood how to handle the car in such conditions and admitted they wouldn’t have known what to do without having taken those lessons to gain valuable experience.
Maybe the driving test should become a two-part test – the current test first which may allow them to drive with restrictions alone to gain some experience but then a second test say three to six months later which covers motorway, night and bad weather driving for them to gain their full licence.
Linda Edwards DVSA Fleet Registered Trainer (via email)
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