Drivers Who Aren't Yet Professionals Can Drive on Motorways Starting June 4, 2018
Learner drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales can now take driving lessons on motorways as of Monday 4 June 2018. This change aims to improve the confidence of learner drivers and prepare them for driving on motorways unsupervised after passing their driving test.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will not provide additional training for driving instructors on motorway lessons. Instead, learning materials and the syllabus for learning to drive a car are being updated to include motorway lessons. The Highway Code rules on motorways will also be updated to reflect the change.
To take motorway lessons, learner drivers must be accompanied by a DVSA-approved driving instructor and drive a car fitted with dual controls. The car must display L plates on the front and rear if the rooftop box is removed. Driving instructors can choose to use a rooftop box during motorway lessons, based on its instructions.
The purpose of this change is to ensure more drivers know how to use motorways safely. The changes do not introduce motorway driving to the driving test as part of this change. Motorway lessons will be voluntary, with driving instructors deciding when the learner driver is competent enough.
It is important to note that until the law changes, it remains illegal for a learner driver to drive on a motorway. The driving instructor's National Associations Strategic Partnership has produced best practice guidance for motorway tuition, and a downloadable PDF titled 'Motorway tuition guidelines' (116KB) is available for driving instructors.
This change does not apply to learner motorcyclists or those in Northern Ireland. The changes aim to help learner drivers understand motorway specific traffic signs, what to do if a vehicle breaks down on a motorway, and get training on joining and leaving the motorway, overtaking, using lanes correctly, and driving at higher speeds. The Highway Code will be updated to reflect these changes, ensuring that all drivers are equipped with the knowledge needed to use motorways safely.
[1] This change does not apply to learner motorcyclists or those in Northern Ireland.
- In conjunction with the revised rules for learner drivers in the UK, the updated Highway Code will also cover specific motorway traffic signs and driving practices for motorcyclists, addressing the need for separate resources for motorcyclists in Northern Ireland.
- Given the focus on improving driver confidence and safety on motorways, the financial sector may observe a potential increase in the demand for driving lessons among new and experienced drivers, thus presenting an opportunity for the transportation and finance industries to collaborate on associated services.
