For years there has been a disparity between the age a person can apply for their provisional licence (15 and a half) and the age they can actually start practicing (17). Nowadays, there are driving centres across the UK, which provide schemes for those under 17 to practice the basics of driving.

Why Implement Under 17 Driving Lessons?

Worryingly, it would seem the current ethos among learner drivers is 'learn cheap, pass quick'. A learner driver should not seek to rush their learning experience. It takes time and a lot of practice to learn all the little nuances about driving. Trying to rush the process could cause them to glaze over vital information. These driving lessons, for under 17 year olds, give teenagers a firm footing for when they turn 17. They provide an educational advantage and means the learning process starts years before they can even contemplate getting their full licence. At InsureLearnerDriver, we prefer to promote the ethos 'learn for life, not just for the driving test'. We encourage young adults to use these sessions, to get as much practice as possible before their driving test.

Young Driver Danger

We've said it before; young drivers are the highest risk group for insurers. In terms of temporary, annual, even learner driver insurance, they are the age group that receive the highest premium prices. Almost ¼ of drivers aged '18 -24' have an accident within the first few years of passing their driving test. Clearly, society will only benefit from young people racking up the experience before getting on the road independently.

Save Money?

Taking these driving lessons could even end up saving people money! The more a young adult can learn before turning 17, the less driving lessons they'll need going into the future. They will already be confident with the basics and can quickly move on to the more technical elements.

Do These Driving Lessons Work?

Reviews are often quite positive, with young people and parents alike finding them informative and entertaining. Charlie, a student of ‘StartinYoung’, attended a few of these under 17 driving lessons before he turned 17. He managed to pass his driving test with only 10 hours of driving tuition. Here is a quote from a mother, who let her child attend an under 17 driving session with 'Driveb4uTurn'...

“My 11 year old son thoroughly enjoyed his 2 hour session with the driving instructor.” Carolyn Tandy (2015), driveb4uturn17.co.uk.

It would seem these sessions aren't just effective, but fun too. It's probably why some companies have even started marketing the driving lessons as birthday party ideas. Obviously, these  sessions are not as intensive as the driving lessons they would receive at 17, nor are they a replacement. They are, however, a great opportunity for young people to experiment with the driving basics (cockpit drill, safety checks, moving off, pulling over) before starting lessons at 17. This can be a huge benefit, if not for learning skills then perhaps just for improving their confidence. (See example curriculum - Solway).

Where Can I Do These Driving Lessons?

There are locations all over the UK; here are a few good examples below:

• Belt Up – Paulton House, Somer Valley Enterprise Park, Paulton, Bristol, BS39 7SX
• DriveCarDrome - Car Drome Learner Centre – Upper Rainham Road Hornchurch Essex RM12 4EU
• Drive b4 u turn 17 – Barton Stacey, Hampshire SO21 3RQ
• Under 17 driving – Dunsfold Aerodrome, Dunsfold Park, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8TB
• Startin Young – 213 Newtown Road, Worcester, WR5 1JB
• Slyde - Central Park Stadium, Church Road, Eurolink, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 3SB

To wrap things up, here’s a video from 'Beltup', demonstrating just what under 17 driving lesson looks like.