The year 2012 could be an exciting one for anyone taking driving lessons. Road safety minister Mike Penning MP announced yesterday that provisional licence holders would be allowed on the motorway network, but only as part of a driving lesson with a qualified driving instructor.

Motorway driving will not be added to the driving test, however. That's because some drivers don't have easy access to a motorway, in the UK's most remote places.

The MP also said he hoped to improve driving standards by putting a stop to trainee instructors being allowed to teach. “I was shocked when I discovered my daughter could be taught by someone that wasn’t qualified. I assumed they would be,” he said. "But it’s entirely possible that they wouldn’t, as they can teach while they are training. I’m going to put a stop to that. They need a qualified instructor to teach them."

Press reports:

• Daily Telegraph
• MSN Cars
• Auto Express

09/12/2011