There has been one exam topic that has dominated the conversation among my A-level students over the past year. One which frustrates, angers and excites students more than any other it seems. It is not an A-level exam, however. It is their driving test. This is a national test with an average pass rate of only 47%, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). A new generation of 17- and 18-year-olds across the country have been seeking to pass their driving test on top of preparing for their sixth-form studies and the numbers have built up considerably in recent months due to a backlog caused by the Covid-19 lockdowns. However, this is a group that is not being properly catered for and is being priced out of the market because of their youth.
It is estimated that young drivers aged 17–24 now spend £2,229 a year, on average, to be able to keep a car on the road. This makes the cost of car ownership unaffordable for many young motorists who are either in full-time education or starting out in the world of work. Even those who are financially supported by their parents will find this too expensive.
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