Driving
Thinking about learning to drive? It's an exciting step towards independence, but it's also a big responsibility. Driving is a skill that takes time and practice to master, and there are important rules and challenges you need to be aware of to stay safe on the road. This guide is here to give you the lowdown on what you need to know as a young driver in the UK.
Learning to Drive
So, you've decided you want to learn to drive. Awesome! Here’s how you typically get started:
- Get a Provisional Driving Licence: You can apply for your first provisional licence when you're 15 years and 9 months old, but you can usually start driving a car when you're 17. This plastic card is your ticket to legally learning to drive on public roads. You can apply online via the official government website.
- Meet the Eyesight Rules: Before you even get behind the wheel, you need to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away. Make sure your eyesight is up to scratch – wear glasses or contact lenses if you need them.
- Driving Lessons and Practice: You'll need to be supervised when you're learning. This can be with an approved driving instructor (ADI) or with a friend or family member who is over 21 and has held a full driving licence for at least three years. The car you learn in must display 'L' plates (or 'D' plates in Wales) clearly on the front and rear. While you can drive on most roads, motorway driving is only allowed with an approved driving instructor and in a car fitted with dual controls.
- Pass Your Theory Test: This test checks your knowledge of the Highway Code and your hazard perception skills. You should revise thoroughly using official resources. You must pass your theory test before you can book your practical driving test.
- Pass Your Practical Driving Test: This is the test where you show you can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions. Your examiner will assess your ability to drive independently and perform specific manoeuvres.
- Get Your Full Driving Licence: Once you pass your practical test, you can swap your provisional for a full driving licence! Congratulations, you're now a qualified driver. Remember, you're still a new driver, and the first two years are crucial for gaining experience.
The Highway Code: Your Driving Bible
The Highway Code isn't just a book; it's the set of rules and guidelines that all road users in the UK must follow. Think of it as your driving bible. You'll need to know it inside out for your theory test, but it's even more important to apply its principles every time you drive.
It covers everything from traffic signs and road markings to speed limits, parking rules, and how to interact with other road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Pay special attention to the sections on vulnerable road users and the new 'Hierarchy of Road Users', which puts those who can cause the greatest harm (like car drivers) as having the most responsibility to reduce risk.
Ignoring the Highway Code can lead to accidents, fines, penalty points on your licence, and even driving disqualification. Make sure you understand it and stick to it.
Peer Pressure: Staying Strong Behind the Wheel
Let's talk about something that can be a real challenge, especially for young drivers: peer pressure. When you've got friends in the car, you might feel pressure to drive faster, take risks, or show off.
This kind of pressure is dangerous. Research shows that young drivers with passengers of a similar age are much more likely to be involved in a crash than when driving alone. Your friends' safety, as well as your own and that of other road users, is in your hands.
Remember:
- You are the driver, you are in control: It's your responsibility to drive safely. Don't let others influence you to do something you're not comfortable with or that you know is unsafe.
- Saying no is okay: Your real friends will respect your decision to drive safely. Don't worry about trying to impress anyone by driving recklessly.
- Focus on the road: Passengers can be distracting. If things get too noisy or you're feeling pressured, politely tell your passengers you need to concentrate to get everyone to your destination safely.
- Set expectations: Before you even set off, you could let your friends know that safe driving is your priority.
Mobile Phones: Put It Away!
Using a mobile phone while driving is incredibly dangerous and illegal. It doesn't matter if you're texting, calling, scrolling through social media, or changing your music – if you're holding your phone and using it while driving, you are breaking the law. This applies even when you're stopped in traffic or at traffic lights.
Your reaction times are significantly slower when you're distracted by a phone, making you much more likely to cause an accident.
The penalties are serious:
- You can get 6 penalty points on your licence and a £200 fine.
- If you passed your test in the last two years, getting 6 points means you will lose your licence and have to start the whole learning process again (theory and practical tests).
- You could face a court appearance, a larger fine (£1,000, or £2,500 for bus or lorry drivers), and a driving ban.
The only exceptions for using a handheld phone are in a genuine emergency (calling 999 or 112 when it's unsafe to stop) or when safely parked.
Hands-free devices are allowed, but even these can be distracting. It's best to set everything up (like your sat nav) before you start your journey and avoid interacting with your phone until you have safely parked. The safest option? Put your phone away, on silent, out of reach, until you've arrived at your destination.
Drink and Drugs: Never Worth the Risk
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel. It affects your judgment, coordination, and reaction times, making you a serious risk to yourself and everyone else on the road.
In the UK, there are strict legal limits for the amount of alcohol you can have in your blood or breath while driving. For drugs, it's an offence to drive with certain controlled drugs above a specified level in your blood, even if they are prescription medicines that impair your driving.
The message is simple: if you're driving, don't drink any alcohol, and don't take drugs that could affect your ability to drive safely. This includes illegal drugs and some prescription or over-the-counter medicines – always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure.
Being caught drink or drug driving carries severe penalties:
- A criminal record.
- A minimum driving ban of at least one year.
- An unlimited fine.
- Up to six months in prison for being over the limit or impaired.
- Up to life imprisonment if you cause death by dangerous driving while under the influence.
Beyond the legal consequences, a conviction will massively increase your insurance costs, can affect your ability to travel to certain countries, and may impact future job prospects.
There's no reliable way to calculate how much alcohol will put you over the limit, and you can still be over the limit the morning after drinking. The only safe approach is zero alcohol if you plan to drive.
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