“Leave extra room around learners”, warns AA Driving School.

The request comes after one in ten admit they don’t leave enough space when following a car with L plates.

On your case

New research conducted by The AA Driving School reveals that 2% of drivers admitted to tailgating learners, and 11% admitted they didn’t leave more space in front of themselves if they were following someone with L plates.

The figure for tailgating is slightly higher among younger drivers than older ones, and fewer younger drivers leave more space in front of themselves than older drivers do.

Road blockers

Other road users often view learner drivers as slow and holding up traffic, in the same way they view caravans and mobile homes.

As such, there is often a line of other vehicles behind them, all wanting to overtake at the earliest opportunity.

Thus, 25% of respondents said they would be more likely to overtake a learner driver.

Again, this was higher in the younger age categories than older, with Northern Ireland the area of the UK most likely to do this, with almost half (49%) of drivers saying they would.

Levels of understanding

Displaying an L plate indicates a driver is unqualified and still under supervision, so they should be given more space and tolerance.

The AA Driving School wanted to assess the behaviour of qualified drivers around learners.

Whilst some of the positive behaviours scored highly, such as two-thirds giving way to learner drivers, some of the negative behaviours scored worryingly highly, too.

Other negative behaviours the survey questioned included changing routes to avoid a learner driver (18%) and being less likely to give way to a learner – 10%.

Furthermore, 14% of drivers openly admitted they get impatient when following a learner driver.

No change

These figures broadly remain the same as a similar survey of drivers five years ago.

The new survey also looked at attitudes toward newly qualified drivers who display a P-plate.

Almost a third (28%) admitted not leaving extra space or tailgating someone displaying a P-plate (1%).

Drivers also admitted they get impatient when following a car displaying P plates (7%), change routes to avoid a driver displaying a P plate (6%), and are less likely to give way to a car displaying P plates (7%).

 

Driver attitudes

  Displaying L Plate % Displaying P Plate %
I would be more likely to tailgate someone 2 1
I would be more likely to give way to someone 67 45
I would be more likely to change route to avoid someone 18 6
I am more likely to drive slower if behind someone 17 12
I leave more space in front if following someone 89 72
I get impatient following someone 14 7
I would be more likely to overtake someone 25 15
I would be less likely to give way to someone 10 7

 

Worrying drivers

Camilla Benitz, Managing Director of AA Driving School, says the results are “alarming”, especially when it comes to young and newly qualified drivers who really should be able to relate to the learner in front.

“So many drivers don’t give learners the respect they deserve when they meet them on the roads. Especially worrying is that the age group most guilty of this are the ones who have recently passed their tests.

“Gaining lots of on-road experience prior to passing their test is really valuable for learner drivers.  It’s important other road users treat  learners, and new drivers, with patience and sympathy – after all, they were in their shoes once.  A bit of extra room can help ease the pressure on a new or learner driver, as well as giving you more space and time to react should they do something unexpected.

Highway Code

Rule 217 of the Highway Code advises drivers on how to behave around learners and inexperienced drivers.

Rule 217:

Learners and inexperienced drivers. They may not be so skilful at anticipating and responding to events. Be particularly patient with learner drivers and young drivers. Drivers who have recently passed their test may display a ‘new driver’ plate or sticker (see ‘Safety code for new drivers’).