UK driving instructors suggest teenagers should begin learning the basics of driving long before they are legally eligible for a license, arguing that gradual instruction improves confidence and vehicle control.
The survey was commissioned by Young Driver, a UK driver training company offering private road courses for children as young as nine. Findings from 120 British driving instructors show strong support for early training.
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SubscribeOnly 5 percent of surveyed instructors consider 17 to be the ideal starting age for driving lessons on public roads in the UK. Meanwhile, 88 percent believe students acquire driving skills more easily at a younger age, favoring 14 as the optimal starting point.
Proponents argue that spreading instruction over several years allows mechanical skills such as steering and braking to become second nature before new drivers face public traffic challenges.
Addressing Road Anxiety and Skill Development
Lance Peake, chief instructor at Young Driver, noted that starting earlier lets older teens focus on traffic awareness and hazard perception rather than mechanical anxiety.
The average age for passing a driving test in the UK has climbed toward 25, driven by instructor shortages, testing backlogs, and rising learning costs.
A similar trend appears in the United States, where fewer teenagers rush to get their driver licenses compared to previous decades, prompting discussions about alternative training timelines.
Although private property practice and karting offer early vehicle control experience in various regions, formal instruction for children well below licensing age remains uncommon worldwide.