Are learner drivers allowed on motorways and is it in the driving test?
LEARNER drivers can practice their skills on Britain's motorways before they get their full license.
Here we look at what the rules are and whether motorway driving is included in the driving test.
Are learners allowed on the motorways?
As of June, 4, 2019 learners in England, Wales and Scotland have been allowed to take lessons on the motorway.
They must be in a dual-control car with an approved instructor to do so, of course.
In the past, only those who had passed their tests could drive on the motorway but the government said the change would help them gain vital experience.
At the rime, road safety minister Jesse Norman said: "Britain's roads are among the safest in the world, but road collisions remain the second biggest killer of young people.
Are motorway lessons mandatory?
All motorways lessons are voluntary. It is up to the driving instructor to decide when the learner driver is competent enough to have a motorway lesson.
Trainee driving instructors will not be allowed to take learner drivers on the motorway.
Driving instructors are allowed to decide whether or not to keep their driving school roof-top box on during motorway lessons.
However, the car still needs to display L plates on the front and rear if the rooftop box is removed.
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Why were the changes made?
The changes were made to allow learner drivers to get broader driving experience before taking their driving test.
Instructors normally show learners how to join and leave the motorway, and how to overtake and use lanes correctly.
Learner drivers also get a chance to practise driving at higher speeds and put their theoretical knowledge into practice.
The changes came after government research found very few drivers were taking post-test motorway lessons.
The bar on learners using motorways meant they tended to be tackled for the first time by newly qualified drivers, who would often be alone in the car.
Is it part of a driving test?
Even with the new law change, motorists do not have to take part in high-speed driving and can get their licence without ever going on the major roads.
This means that new licence holders can legally drive on motorways for the first time while on their own - despite never having lessons with an instructor while they were a provisional driver.
However, according to a 2018 study conducted by Citroën UK and IAM RoadSmart, 61 per cent of Brits thought motorway driving should become a compulsory part of testing.
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