Young Drivers minimum period before they can pass their driving test

The Transport minister has suggested ways to ensure that young drivers have necessary experience before they can pass their driving test. 

As part of a plan to improve safety standards on the road, the Government is considering making young drivers wait before they can pass their driving test. The Department for Transport is taking a number of ideas into account, which should increase the timeframe between a young driver obtaining their provisional licence and then taking their practical test. 

Stephen Hammond, Transport Minister unveilved that we are about to see from the department a huge piece of work going to consultation on particular ideas, this will focus on people between the ages of 17 and 24. He explained that the department recognise that this is the most vulnerable age group on our roads. 

Hammond explained that the issue stems from young drivers participating in crash courses, which means that they can pass their driving test just weeks after obtaining their provisional license. He said that there is definitely evidence suggesting that people should have a certain period of time in between gaining their provisional licence and taking their driving test, so that they gain proper experience of the road. He went on to say that he believes this is rather powerful. He explained that he believes that somewhere between six and nine months is an appropriate time frame. He also revealed that the department are looking at working with the insurance industry to try and potentially offer incentives to do a post test lesson on night time driving or motorway driving, along with an insurance fee trade off. Or if not, how they would be able to encourage people to do it as part of their training post test.