There are many advantages to learning how to drive under the age of 17. Here is a list of the top 5:
1. It prepares students for the more intense driving they will experience when they take lessons at the age of 17. It also teaches them the responsibility that comes with learning how to drive, showing how driving can be a dangerous activity and how a car can be a lethal weapon.
2. Teaches students how to control the car and builds up their awareness before they have to drive with the worry of traffic. This lessens the chances of a student causing a accident during a lesson because they're fearful of traffic as they are inexperienced.
3. As the lessons are taken without the presence of traffic the students are not distracted or unnerved and pick up the basic skills immediately saving many hours of learning when they do take to the road to start learning how to drive properly.
4. The Driving Standards Agency estimates that the average amount for a learner to pass their driving test is £1500. As discussed above taking under 17 driving lessons means hours of driving on road are vastly reduced because the learner already has the basic skills and this ultimately reduces the overall cost of getting a drivers license by a substantial amount.
5. As students are taking under 17 driving lessons it means they are better equipped for the road when they take their driving lessons at 17 and so pass quicker. This means higher first time pass rates and has been proven with some students being reported to pass their driving test a few months after turning 17 after taking a few lessons on the road to build awareness.
Driving instructors are aware that young students are vulnerable and need more security when behind the wheel of a car and so have extra precautionary measures set in place to ensure their safety and security whilst under their instruction. Special insurance policies are also put into place just for the under 17 learners which cover all accidents and damage which could occur. Any parents that may want to watch their children take their lessons are usually catered for by the driving school who set up designated waiting areas from which parents can watch lessons take place.
Under 17 driving lessons are not only available to just the under 17s but also available to anyone over the age of 14 and is good introduction, especially for nervous drivers who want to gain experience in a less pressured environment.
