Nearly a fifth of UK motorists think they would fail a driving test if they had to take it again.
Those were the startling findings of a study by Young Driver, the organisation which offers driving tuition to 10-17 year olds, and equates to almost 7 million drivers on UK roads who doubt their own competence behind the wheel.
The most pessimistic are the over 65s, with almost a quarter of drivers in that age group fearing they would fail to meet pass standards for the driving test if they were to take it today. There were regional differences too - 30% of drivers in Newcastle think they would fail their driving test if they retook it now, compared to just 9% in Edinburgh and 10% in Birmingham.
Parking manoeuvres represented the biggest area of anxiety for drivers, with 28% admitting they struggle to parallel park and a quarter admitting they try to avoid having to reverse into a parking. More than a quarter of drivers say that their parking worries are so severe they regularly park some distance from where they ideally would do in order to find an easier spot.
Other areas of concern were the turn in the road, with 16% per cent saying they would need more than the usual three point turn.
Young Driver, the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving lessons, has produced a series of ‘How To’ videos to help drivers master everything from parallel parking to reversing round a corner. And although they were produced for the 10-17 year olds Young Driver teaches, the group’s research shows they are just as useful for parents needing a refresher too.
Kim Stanton, head of Young Driver, said: “When you learn to drive you are taught specific techniques to help you get your parking and reversing spot on, every time. But once you pass your test, unless you continue to use these techniques, the skills can quickly fade. Our new research shows that before long, many drivers are actively avoiding having to try, even if it means parking a long way from their destination and walking the rest of the way to avoid certain parking spaces!
“We produced a selection of ‘how to’ videos to help our pupils, who range in ages from 10 to 17, by giving them a chance to study the key techniques online before and after their lessons. But it seems our new video training might be handy for mums and dads too, with many current drivers needing to brush up their skills! Tricky parking spots can often be avoided, but what about when it comes to life and death situations such as emergency stops? Many of us say we can’t remember the last time we had to perform one in real life – which is obviously a good thing – but are we confident we could do it correctly if the need arose?”
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