Young drivers think 'test should be tougher'
Published On 6 June 2007
Instructors and new motorists want the driving test made tougher so insurance premiums come down, new research indicates.According to Direct Line, 75 per cent of driving instructors believe the test should be made tougher to make sure novice drivers are prepared to drive alone.
Similarly, 21 per cent of new drivers admitted that they are unprepared or incapable of driving alone after gaining a full licence.
It is also possible that a more rigorous driving test would make young drivers safer, thereby cutting insurance premiums for them. The research found that people wanted more training on rural roads (88 per cent), motorways (84 per cent) and at night (72 per cent).
"Road crashes are the number one killer of people in their teens and twenties in the UK," said Emma Holyer, Direct Line's motor spokesperson.
"The Direct Line study has revealed the extent to which people feel the driving test has under-prepared them for the roads, and in the interests of safety, we are calling on the Driving Standard Agency to improve the test."
Recently the AA revealed that the average car insurance premium in the UK was £802 in the first quarter of the year. However, young drivers typically pay far more than this as they are at more risk of having an accident.
