Many motorists admit they were keen to pass their driving test quickly, even though large numbers do not recall being taught key road safety skills.

The revelations come courtesy of new research from the AA Charitable Trust.

With ongoing pressure on driving test availability across the UK, waiting times remain high, and policymakers are considering reforms, including a proposed minimum learning period, which may also improve road safety outcomes for new drivers.

Rush to pass

The survey, conducted by Yonder and based on responses from 12,182 AA members, found that 67% of drivers said it was important to pass their test quickly.

While most recalled being taught core manoeuvres such as emergency stops, many reported gaps in other essential safety topics.

Fewer than one in ten respondents said they remembered being trained on issues such as driver distraction or cyclist awareness, and only 14% recalled learning about fatigue, despite tiredness being a recognised contributor to serious crashes on UK roads.

The research also highlighted generational differences in driving education

Younger drivers were far more likely to recall being taught about modern risks:

  • 56% of 18–24-year-olds remembered learning about distraction, such as mobile phone use, compared with 7% of 65–74-year-olds and 6% of those over 75.
  • 12% of young drivers recalled being taught the “Dutch Reach” method for opening car doors safely around cyclists.
  • Older drivers were more likely to have learned traditional skills such as hand signals (76% of over-75s versus 30% of 18–24s).
  • Teaching of the Highway Code was also higher among older drivers, with 89% of 65–74-year-olds recalling it, compared with 76% of 18–24-year-olds.

Waiting for a test

The findings emerge against a backdrop of persistent, record waiting times for driving tests across the country.

Extended waiting times have prompted concerns that learners may feel pressured to book tests as soon as possible, potentially before they have fully developed confidence and experience.

Road safety campaigners argue that longer waiting times can allow more practice, but also warn that excessive delays risk causing frustration, repeated test bookings adding to waiting lists, and financial hardship and inequality.

Policymakers have been exploring ways to balance capacity pressures with improved training standards.

Call for time

The AA Trust has welcomed government consideration of a minimum learning period for learner drivers, saying it could help address skills gaps identified in the research.

However, the Trust believes more robust measures may be needed.

Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust, said: “Passing your driving test is a huge life milestone so it’s understandable so many drivers say how fast they could pass was really important to them.

“However, the experience you gain as a learner driver is incredibly important — the more situations you experience and the greater depth of your experience, really help improve your safety as a new driver.”

He added that it was “particularly concerning” that many drivers did not recall lessons covering topics such as rural roads, vulnerable road users and distraction.

King said the proposed minimum learning period was a positive step but argued that peer-age passenger restrictions for newly qualified drivers would have an even greater impact, citing evidence from other countries where such measures have reduced crashes among young drivers.

Partnership in attitude

Alongside the research, AA Driving School announced a partnership with the road safety programme The Honest Truth, which was launched on 13 May at the Young Driver Focus conference.

The programme aims to integrate road risk education into lessons, addressing issues such as peer pressure, distraction and decision-making in real-world scenarios.

Core to the syllabus are ten “Truths” designed to prepare learners for the risks they may face once qualified and to improve attitudes and behaviours among new drivers.

The AA Trust will sponsor the programme’s Seatbelt Truth as part of its ongoing Buckle Up campaign, reinforcing the message that all occupants should wear seatbelts on every journey.

The long game

Road safety experts consistently highlight that newly qualified drivers, particularly young motorists, are disproportionately involved in serious collisions.

Campaigners argue that better pre-test education, clearer risk awareness, and targeted post-test restrictions could all help reduce casualties.

With test backlogs, policy reforms and new training initiatives all under discussion, the debate over how best to prepare young drivers continues, balancing the desire to pass quickly with the need to build lasting road safety skills.

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