With a growing belief that UK driving tuition should begin much earlier than it does at present, Book Theory Test Today looks at the example being set by Finland.
Arguably, the UK leads the way in many areas, but UK driving tuition is considered to be falling behind the tuition offered by other countries. Although just 1.5% of the motoring population is made up of 17-19-year-old motorists, they account for 12% of all fatal and serious accidents that occur on UK roads each year.
Additionally, 23% of all 18-24-year-old motorists end up having an accident within the first two years of passing their DVSA practical driving test. With a high volume of young drivers, particularly males, likely to be injured or killed on UK roads, is UK driving tuition at fault?
Baffling
Experts say that figures concerning young motorists and road accidents are baffling, considering that they are shown to have the best reaction times behind the wheel of a vehicle. So, why does the number of young drivers involved in collisions keep on rising?
There’s an argument that lack of experience is the culprit. Experts ascertain that lack of driving time and not driving skills is the biggest reason behind the high volume of accidents, but what can be done to the tackle the issue?
UK driving tuition failing
Where UK driving tuition is failing, Finland’s tuition excels and Britain could learn from their example. Finland is regarded by many experts as having one of the toughest driver testing systems in the world.
Driving tuition in Finland begins long before a teenager even gets behind the wheel of a vehicle. The basics of road safety are taught in the school classroom as part of the country’s national curriculum.
Two years to get a full licence
From classroom driving tuition to a achieving a full driving licence it can take up to two years in Finland. Pupils are required to attend a driver training school, which goes beyond teaching how a car moves forwards and backwards, it gives primary focus to the safety of drivers, passengers and other motorists.
The course also provides valuable car maintenance tuition to make learners aware of what to check to ensure their vehicle is road safe. They’re given in-depth teaching on tyre pressures, fluid levels, checking brakes and lights.
As well as operating a vehicle, Finnish learners are taught to drive on slippery roads, a required feature given the extreme weather conditions that the country is subjected to. But, more importantly, this kind of training teaches them vital car control skills.
Many UK driving experts believe this kind of training should feature in the UK driving tuition model. After all, Britain does encounter extreme weather conditions and if a young motorist is clued up about how to handle a car in the event of a skid, surely such tuition should be introduced.
Finnish learner drivers take two tests
It’s true! Learners in Finland have to take a summer driving test and a winter driving test. Experts in the UK believe that this is something that could be applied in Britain, but in a different way. For example, there could be a town and country driving test and a motorway driving test.
Also, Finnish drivers, by law, have to undergo 20 theory test related lessons and complete 30 hours of practical driving. But, even if they meet these criteria, they’re not permitted to hold a full, unrestricted licence until the age of 20.
Expensive to learn in Finland
The Finnish system does make learning to drive much more expensive compared with UK driving tuition. However, because there are fewer collisions in Finland, emergency and health services save money and young drivers are not hit with massive insurance premiums, so the cost balances out.
Book Theory Test Today says: “Surely the prospect of saving lives and reducing serious injury as a result of road accidents should lead to UK driving tuition being revised. For the sake of making learning to drive more expensive, countless lives could be saved.â€
Book Theory Test Today offers an intermediary service assisting clients with booking a UK theory test, or practical test, at test centres across the nation. The service also supplies resources to help you prepare for your theory test – Ready to take your theory test? Book your theory test online today…
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