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Prospective drivers in England and Wales may soon face a mandatory waiting period of up to six months between their theory and practical driving tests, according to BBC reporting.
The government is expected to announce the measure, subject to a period of consultation, as part of a broader road safety initiative set to launch Wednesday.
The forthcoming strategy is also anticipated to include proposals for a reduced drink-driving limit in England and Wales, aligning them with the regulations already in place in Scotland.
These proposed revisions to driving regulations are aimed at significantly decreasing the number of road fatalities and serious injuries in Britain, targeting a 65% reduction over the next decade and a 70% reduction for children under the age of 16.
Statistics indicate that approximately one-fifth of all deaths or serious injuries resulting from road traffic incidents in 2024 involved a young, newly licensed driver.
Government officials suggest that implementing a minimum timeframe between the theory and practical tests will afford learner drivers enhanced opportunities to refine their skills, including gaining experience in diverse driving conditions.
The Department for Transport is slated to consult on options of either a three- or six-month minimum learning period.
This period would encompass both informal learning, such as practice with parents or guardians, and formal instruction from certified driving instructors.
Evidence gathered from international studies suggests that the introduction of minimum learning periods could potentially decrease collision rates by as much as 32%. Currently, individuals can begin driving lessons at age 17 and schedule a practical test immediately after passing the required theory exam.
The majority of driving tests conducted in Britain are taken by individuals under the age of 25. Data from 2024-25 shows that roughly 55% of tests were administered to drivers between the ages of 17 and 24.
Aspiring drivers are presently facing an average waiting time of approximately six months for practical test appointments, a consequence of backlogs stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. These delays are projected to persist until late 2027.
The proposed changes could effectively put an end to the practice of teenagers passing their driving tests shortly after their 17th birthdays, raising the minimum age of newly licensed drivers to at least 17 and a half.
There have been persistent calls for the implementation of “graduated driving licences” (GDLs) in the UK. Various countries employ different forms of GDLs, which can include restrictions on carrying passengers or prohibitions against nighttime driving for newly qualified drivers.
Advocates for GDLs include bereaved parents of young individuals who have lost their lives in road accidents.
Sharron Huddleston began campaigning for GDLs eight years ago following the death of her daughter Caitlin, who was killed in a car crash at the age of 18.
While Sharron supports the proposed minimum learning period, she emphasizes the need for “post-test safety precautions as well.”
The driver, Skye Mitchell, who also died in the crash, had passed her driving test four months prior.
Sharron believes that Caitlin “would still be here” if the UK had adopted graduated driving licences that restricted newly licensed young drivers from carrying passengers of a similar age.
“All the girls [in the car] were 18,” she stated.
“This is the strongest element of a graduated driving licence that would save many young lives.”
The AA has expressed support for the government’s announced measures, but characterized the failure to introduce GDLs as “a missed opportunity.”
Its president, Edmund King, told the BBC that “all the evidence, from Australia, from Canada, from other countries” demonstrates that limiting the number of same-age passengers in a vehicle for the first six months of driving “will save lives.”
Regarding the learning period, he commented, “That will help, but the question is: does it go far enough?”
The BBC previously reported in October that further research into headlight glare would be incorporated into the road safety strategy.
Alisa Fielder, a 21-year-old from Surrey, passed her driving test as a teenager but was involved in a car accident a year ago while attempting to overtake a lorry on a motorway. While no one was injured, her car was totaled.
“I took too long checking the blind spot and all the cars in front had stopped,” she explained.
“If I had maybe taken some more lessons then I would know that you can’t really take that long.”
She refrained from driving for a year following the accident. She has since completed an informal assessment with the charity IAM RoadSmart to rebuild her confidence and identify areas for improvement.
“I wasn’t driving to the best standard and that’s why I had a crash.”
Alisa believes that the process of becoming a more proficient driver should extend beyond passing the initial driving test. “Maybe more lessons that you’re required to take with a professional.”
Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated that young people constitute only 6% of all drivers, but are involved in nearly a quarter of all fatal and serious collisions.
“Inexperience puts drivers, their passengers, and other road users at greater risk,” she asserted.
The proposed learning period “is all about supporting young drivers to develop the confidence they need to stay safe and giving them more time to build their skills and gain experience in different driving conditions.”
Experts are urging those who must drive in the snow to prepare themselves and their vehicle.
Drivers could be fined for excessive revving, harsh braking or performing stunts.
Pothole claims to Welsh councils rise 26% since 2021 – but most are refused, with Carmarthenshire rejecting over 99%.
The crossing would be outside a Caterham school where parents have expressed concerns about safety.
Dorset Council previously said there was a risk of a fatality unless stabilisation works went ahead.
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