Could you be facing driving restrictions?

Currently, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is proposing that young people should spend at least a year learning to drive. The ABI also wants a lower alcohol limit for new drivers and a ban on intensive courses as the only method of learning. So, what does RED think?

For us, the issue is not how long a young person spends learning to drive but the quality of lessons and the quality of assessment. Some of our students quickly learn a safe driving style and with young people facing rising living costs (take university tuition fees for example), making them spend more than necessary on driving tuition is unreasonable.

Young drivers work extremely hard to pass their tests, with lessons often being supplemented by independent practice in a parent’s or guardian’s car. Learners should be monitored on an individual basis and should not be penalised for their efforts to achieve a good standard of driving.

Should learners be banned from taking intensive driving courses as their only method of passing? RED thinks not. The learning style should match the learner. After all, everyone learns differently, right?  Rather than a  ban, there needs to be an emphasis on providing a better quality of intensive course with better tuition and instruction.

We do, however, see some positives from ABI’s review. RED completely agrees that no blood alcohol should be allowed during the first six months of driving and the opportunity to learn to drive from the age of 16 and a half would be beneficial to all, giving young drivers the possibility of gaining more experience before being qualified!

With so many issues to debate, what do you think? Tweet or Facebook us your thoughts.