Changes for Learner Drivers?

nahnahnat

I was wondering if anyone could set me straight here. I've been told that as of January 2008 learners will have to take lessons for 1 year before taking the exams. I've searched for information to no avail.
Does anyone else know about this or is just chinese whispers?!

Thanks in advance!

Nat.

Alikay

I'm keen to know too, as DS1 turns 17 in Feb 08. He'd like to drive asap as he does some p/t work about 40 miles away and it could lead to more hours once he has his own transport. We would MUCH prefer him to be on 4 wheels rather than 2, but if this rumour about having to be 18 is true, I'll just have to resign myself to him driving on a busy dual carriageway on a moped/scooter.

Andy_L

It's sort of true, the minimum age at which you can take your test will (may?)be raised by a year to 18 so you could drive (with L plates & supervision) on a provisional licence for a year but don't need a years worth of lessons (say 52 lessons at 1 a week!!)

zappahey

Andy_L wrote: »

It's sort of true, the minimum age at which you can take your test will (may?)be raised by a year to 18 so you could drive (with L plates & supervision) on a provisional licence for a year but don't need a years worth of lessons (say 52 lessons at 1 a week!!)

Do you have any official references for this? I can only find a site which calls it a false rumour.

lindens

Alikay wrote: »

I'm keen to know too, as DS1 turns 17 in Feb 08. He'd like to drive asap as he does some p/t work about 40 miles away and it could lead to more hours once he has his own transport. We would MUCH prefer him to be on 4 wheels rather than 2, but if this rumour about having to be 18 is true, I'll just have to resign myself to him driving on a busy dual carriageway on a moped/scooter.

You can drive a 50cc moped from 16years onwards, not sure if you knew this. My son has got one and has been driving it since Christmas. I only let him have one since he's sensible.

Alikay

lindens wrote: »

You can drive a 50cc moped from 16years onwards, not sure if you knew this. My son has got one and has been driving it since Christmas. I only let him have one since he's sensible.

Yes, I did know...so, unfortunately, does he!! We've managed to distract him from buying one with the promise of help with driving lessons once he's 17, but if the law changes he won't want to wait till he's 18 and will probably end up with a scooter. Luckily at the moment he doesn't quite have the cash for a moped and the insurance, but he's getting there! I'd probably cope with him riding a moped locally, but the location of his p/t work means he'd be riding over 40 miles through Stoke on Trent on some very busy roads, so we'd prefer him to have a car.

lindens

I must admit I would be wary if my son was travelling far, but he only needs it locally and the one time he could use the dual carriageway bypass, he uses the "old road" which is through a couple of villages more suited to 30 mph lol.

From the journey you describe I can't blame you for holding off.
The good thing ( i think??) is my son passed 17 last week and has started driving lessons, and as he also got a fulltime summer job has bought a little fiesta. So the moped's days are numbered. Not sure if thats good or bad really??!!

nahnahnat

Thanks for the replies.

Age isn't an issue as i'm 21. I'm just worried about getting enough money together to learn (and pass!) before January as I can't afford to pay for lessons for a year.

scbk

Alikay wrote: »

Yes, I did know...so, unfortunately, does he!! We've managed to distract him from buying one with the promise of help with driving lessons once he's 17, but if the law changes he won't want to wait till he's 18 and will probably end up with a scooter. Luckily at the moment he doesn't quite have the cash for a moped and the insurance, but he's getting there! I'd probably cope with him riding a moped locally, but the location of his p/t work means he'd be riding over 40 miles through Stoke on Trent on some very busy roads, so we'd prefer him to have a car.

The thing is though...people who hit the road at 16 riding a 50cc tend to be better, safer drivers when they start learning, resulting in less lessons and a lower chance of crashing :A

Also at 17 you can get a 125, if he does his CBT now then on the day of his birthday he can be out on the road, and getting to work faster and cheaper than a car

lindens

scbk wrote: »

The thing is though...people who hit the road at 16 riding a 50cc tend to be better, safer drivers when they start learning, resulting in less lessons and a lower chance of crashing :A

Also at 17 you can get a 125, if he does his CBT now then on the day of his birthday he can be out on the road, and getting to work faster and cheaper than a car

There is something to be said for that. My son (who as I said has been on a 50cc since 16) had his first driving lesson last week and the instructor told him if that had been his test he probably would have passed as his mistakes were all minor. He did a 3 point turn, parrallel parked and even drove on a dual carriageway. So it has obviously given him alot of road awareness already. He can put in for his theory now.

Chall

According to my driving instructor there are a number of possible things that may soon come into force, many of them completely stupid; suggestions include:
-making learner drivers have 50 hours experience before allowing them to take their test
-upping the age to 18
-restricting the amount of passengers new drivers are allowed to drive with after a certain time

How these would be monitored I couldn't say, and in the end none of this would reduce accidents since it's not the age of the person that controls how they drive, it's the person themself.

As well as this, the driving theory test has just been raised in price due to the addition of more questions, next year the price of the practical test will be raised by a massive £8 to £56 meaning people will be paying out almost £150 on their provisional license and to tests without even considering a single lesson, copletely rediculous!!!