AA Trust introduces motorway lessons
The AA Charitable Trust has set aside £20,000 to fund motorway driving courses for drivers who missed out on the opportunity to have a motorway lesson pre-test.
A law change earlier the month permitted learner drivers on motorways. However, many drivers who passed their tests before then (75%) said they felt unprepared for motorway driving despite gaining a license. Nearly one in 10 avoided motorways altogether for at least six months.
The new courses will be given by AA Driving School instructors and last two hours.
Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust, said, ‘It’s clear from our research that motorway driving has been a significant hurdle for many drivers to overcome after their test and that being allowed on these roads whilst learning is welcomed by the majority of drivers. However, there will be many qualified drivers out there at the moment who have perhaps recently passed their test and have just missed out on this opportunity. This is why the AA Trust has set aside significant levels of funding for free motorway training and we would encourage any newly-qualified driver to take up the training.
‘It is ironic that so many drivers avoid motorways after passing their test when, statistically, they are our safest roads. It will also provide a great opportunity to educate a new generation of drivers about avoiding many drivers’ pet hates such as middle lane hogging, tailgating and swooping. It is somewhat perverse that five minutes after passing the driving test a new driver could venture alone onto a motorway without having had any motorway tuition.’
