Majority of Brits still unaware of learner driving law change made five years ago

A lot of motorists might not be aware of a rule concerning learners, even though it was changed a full five years ago.

There’s a lot to remember when driving on the roads, which is probably to be expected as it’s a serious business.

Driving safely is quite literally the difference between life and death, not to mention serious financial expense if you damage your car.

But, is everyone as aware of the rules of the road as they might be?

It would seem not, if a new survey from the AA Driving School is anything to go by.

They asked 13,000 drivers about any bizarre behaviour that they have witnessed on the UK’s motorways, and the results are interesting to say the least.

MediaWorldImages/Alamy Stock Photo

Nearly half - 49 percent - of those asked said that they’d seen someone whizzing down the hard shoulder of the motorway, which is obviously not great.

Around 25 percent said that they’d seen someone stop to urinate on the side of the motorway, too.

What’s more, nearly half of people said that they’d seen someone suddenly crossing over the chevron area after taking the wrong exit on the motorway.

Still, the largest percentages were reserved for those rules that involve learners.

It seems loads of people aren’t entirely aware of what they can and can’t do.

For example, 57 percent were unaware that learners can drive on motorways, so long as they’re with a qualified instructor and in a dual control vehicle.

It’s been five years since that was allowed, so we should all know about it.

However, 83 percent also said that they’d never seen a learner on the motorway.

To be fair, there aren’t many on there, but never?

Mark Born, who is the head of instructor training at the AA Driving School, said that these interested findings suggest that ‘some learners may not be making full use of the law change’.

Antoy SOUTER/Alamy Stock Photo

He added: "We hope that more learners will take up motorway driving lessons to give them a head-start in building confidence and experience around motorway etiquette.

"It may well quash the next generation of middle-lane-hoggers, tailgaters - and those inclined to take a cheeky toilet break on a hard shoulder."

Yeah, please don’t take a wee by the side of the road, nobody needs to see that.

Also, whatever you do, just be safe out there on the motorway, it can be a seriously dangerous place.

But, if you have the confidence, know what you’re doing, and stay within the rules, you’ll most likely be absolutely fine.

Topics: UK News, Cars, Driving

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim