Learning to Drive

Average driver takes three years to feel confident behind the wheel research by a leading Insurance Company found. The average new driver only feels truly confident after three years behind the wheel and after clocking up more than 20,000 miles*, new research by The Co-operative Insurance reveals. According to the study into driving confidence, it also takes the average motorist four months to pluck up the courage to drive on a motorway and four and a half months before they feel ready to drive long distances.

It also takes three months before new drivers will attempt to park in a multi-storey car park and two months before they’ll leave their local neighbourhood.The study also reveals that even long after passing their driving test, many drivers still struggle to get to grips with the road, with motorway driving a cause for worry amongst a quarter (25%) of motorists. Night-time driving is another confidence barrier, as nearly a third (30%) of people struggle to drive in the dark. A quarter (25%) of drivers also say they lack confidence in their ability to park. At Enhanced our highly experience driving instructors knowledge of this area of learner uncertainty – and it is not just learners who need help with driving confidence – help to develop the pupils confidence over numerous road types and weather condition. We pride ourselves on our calm and positive tutoring to enhance the confidence of our pupils. “Our findings remind us that the road can be a daunting place for new drivers and that many motorists lack confidence despite clocking up hundreds of miles on the road. This shows that whilst driving lessons give people the basics in how to drive, the real learning and confidence-building only happens when the L plates are removed.” And when it comes to the sexes, men have more confidence behind the wheel than women do, with eight in 10 men (80%) agreeing that they are confident drivers compared to just six in 10 women (64%). According to the findings, men also believe they get to grips with the road quicker than women, with just one in five males (19%) believing that it takes ‘a long time’ to master the road compared to more than one in four (28%) females. However, whilst men have more confidence in their driving abilities. Insurance company’s own data shows that women drive more safely. According to information collected from insurance schemes, which gives discounts to motorists who drive well, twice the number of new female drivers get the top score for good driving compared to new male drivers. At Enhanced, by giving regular feedback and guidance on how to improve driving, as well as by imparting knowledge and experience, we aim to help create a generation of safe young drivers who can tackle the road with the right level of confidence.