Lifesaving, congestion busting and stress reducing – new lessons are a win-win for all motorway users says IAM RoadSmart

After many years of campaigning by road safety experts, learner drivers will be allowed on motorways as of today – in a move that road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has welcomed and said could save countless lives as well as reduce congestion-causing incidents.

The DVSA announced back in March that learner drivers would be able to take driving lessons on motorways in England, Scotland and Wales from 4 June.

Learners will have to be accompanied by an approved driving instructor and driving a car fitted with dual controls. Motorway lessons will be voluntary and it will be up to the instructor to decide when the learner is competent enough for them.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “IAM RoadSmart strongly welcomes this common-sense change to the law on motorway driving. 

“It has never made sense to us that new drivers on our most important roads learned how to use them by trial and potentially fatal error. The government’s insistence on the use of approved instructors and dual-controlled cars is a welcome safeguard that will ensure consistent levels of training and a proper phased introduction to motorway driving skills. 

“Delays and injuries caused by driver error blight our motorways and with new systems such as smart motorways being widely introduced, it is vital that the level of knowledge and skill among motorway users is improved to keep our key economic routes flowing. 

“Any current drivers who feel the need to refresh their skills or improve their confidence and enjoyment on the motorway can take an IAM RoadSmart motorway module today.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Further information from:

IAM RoadSmart press office – 020 8996 9777 – press.office@iam.org.uk                    

ISDN broadcast lines available

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On Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMRoadSmart                  

On Twitter: @IAMRoadSmart  

IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com                  

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart’s Driver Retraining Academy visit www.iamdra.org.uk        

To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://wwwiamroadsmart.com/local-groups               

ENDS ALL