The Department for Transport is seeking views on introducing mandatory requirements that learner drivers must meet (such as minimum number of hours of tuition/practice) and a minimum time period between passing a theory test and taking a practical driving test for a standard car licence.
The aim is to introduce a structured approach that gives learners more time to increase their competence and experience before taking a test.
The associated questionnaire also poses the question as to whether mandatory requirements should also apply to those who lose their licenses?
The consultation closes on 11 May 2026.
Seeks feedback on proposals to introduce mandatory requirements that learner drivers must meet before taking a practical driving test for a category B licence.
The idea of having to jump through hoops before you can have the opportunity to prove that you are competent to drive seems to be devoid of merit, assuming that guaranteeing more business for driving schools is not in and of itself meritorious.
Like most things driving well takes experience, such as situational awareness of where the car is on the road, how wide it is, how to control it to conditions etc.
See also becoming an airline pilot.
Haven't read the consultation - recently read the consultation on motorcycle learners, which was basically, "here's what we've already decided we're going to do to make minor tweaks, ignoring the obvious change which could actually make a big improvement, now please tell us what you think, preferably agreeing with us via the yes ladder, or not because we've already made our minds up". Don't expect this to be much different, other than that learning to drive a car does not have a so-called "progressive" route.
If there is to be a mandatory minimum flying hours requirement, that would be a minimum number of professional driving lessons. How many hours of lessons did Maureen from Driving School have? Did that make her a good driver? If a candidate is taught to drive by his Dad, who happens to be a Police Class 1 driver, how many paid lessons would he need in order to demonstrate that he had reached the required standard?
Assuming that the standard driving test is "fit for purpose" (perhaps a bit of a stretch, but if not, perhaps the consultation has identified the wrong problem and decided upon the wrong solution), it determines whether or not the candidate has reached the standard of competence appropriate to be licenced to drive solo as a fully qualified driver. Does any of this make the blindest bit of difference if you are from a culture where your cousin takes your driving test for you, and the examiners are told to keep quiet?
What is the problem that putting roadblocks in the way of the candidate having the opportunity to demonstrate his competence seeks to solve?
N.B. Becoming an airline pilot is a very different proposition. There will always be a balance between safety (ensuring a high level of competence) and the practicalities of training. However, it does serve to highlight the biggest reason that the standard of driving on the roads is so poor - drivers are not subject to periodic re-testing or re-training.
Appropriate testing, and periodic re-testing are (or would be) a very good thing. Mandatory commercial training, regardless of the candidates current level of competence, not so much.
If you need training to pass the test, you need training to pass the test. If you don't need training to pass the test, why require training to take the test?
Driving lessons seems so expensive these days, £30 an hour.
I think if the instructor believes the student is ready for their test, they should be the best mentor for the student. They cant stop the student from taking the test too early. But they wont allow their vehicle to be used if the student is completely unlikely to pass. Students coming through the professional tuiton route are vetted informally for their suitability for the test. It would be just excessive beauracracy for these learner drivers.
I think the current system works fine with students under professional tuition. But maybe drivers taught by family need the minimum terms. But how do you enforce this.
I rarely come across issues with p plate drivers on the road. They just drive very slow and taken more time to make decisions and figure out what lane to be in. Its those drivers who are overconfident in their abilities that are a problem on the road.
maybe we should adopt the German system where a new driver has to do so many hours of theory and driving on private roads before being allowed on public roads.
Learner motorcyclists already have to complete Compulsory Basic Training before they can otherwise* ride on the road. This requirement is intended to mitigate the issue that learner riders do not have a supervisor sat immediately to their left, so they have to complete a basic training course to ensure a minimum level of competence in a sterile environment (a coned off car-park) before being assessed riding back to the training centre, and given a chit enabling them to ride on the road generally.
The Germans have a solution to some as yet unspecified problem. Being German it is probably very efficient. And expensive. Are supervised learner car drivers with little to no driving experience a significant problem? The obvious solution to the issue of learner car drivers starting off with little to no driving experience is to require them to display L plates and to be supervised by a qualified driver aged over 21 with at least 3 years driving experience sat in the front passenger seat, and able to grab the wheel, or otherwise take over the driving if it becomes necessary.
The solution of "more training" across the board, before the learner is allowed an opportunity to demonstrate whether he has reached the required level of competence would mostly only be a solution to a shortage of driving examiners/test appointments if the government itself had not reached any discernable level of competence.
*The CBT includes an element of road riding.
Being German it is probably very efficient.
Being German it is probably very bureaucratic.
the really dodgy driving I have witnessed on the roads, is not from newly passed uk drivers.
I suspect a lot of them are foreign drivers who passed in their country and got the license and are now eligible to drive in UK using their foreign license for 12 months before they are required to pass a UK test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSpvLBzoAGg 5 minute test in india.
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