Mark Rhodes Driving Tuition

Interesting article as the debate on how to keep young drivers safe after passing their test.

New data has highlighted the increased risks faced by newly qualified drivers during their first year on the road.

Aviva found that new drivers are more than twice as likely to make a collision claim in their first year of driving (11%) compared with motorists who have held a licence for longer (5%).

The insurer also found that drivers using telematics policies showed greater improvements in driving behaviour over time.

The findings come as almost 5,000 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving young drivers aged 17-24 in 2024, underlining the continued challenge of reducing harm among newly qualified drivers.

Aviva is calling on Government to consider making telematics policies mandatory for young drivers during their first year of driving. The announcement adds a new perspective to the ongoing discussion about how best to support young drivers during the highest-risk period of their driving careers.

Read the full story here: www.protectyoungdrivers.com/post/new-drivers-more-than-twice-as-likely-to-make-a-claim

Go on Joe, what a brilliant result. Joe passed his driving test on his first attempt with only 3 driver faults.
A superb drive and just in time to wrap up college and enjoy the freedom of driving just in time for summer.

Yes Ruben. A superb test pass first time with only 4 driver faults. Well done a brilliant result. Enjoy the summer both in the car and on the water.

Well I think Louis face says it all, pretty pleased with himself after earning his license first time.
It's been a hell of a journey and watching you achieve this today was more monumental then some will ever know. You've trusted the process, listened to what I have said and controlled those nerves when it truly mattered.

Now the doors will start to open, the courses you can travel to, the freedom all thoroughly deserved. Well done.

Well well well, quite the morning with back to back tests and another pass first time.
Well done Zoe a brilliant drive, controlling the nerves when it mattered and earning yourself a shiny new license passing with only a handful of df.

It's been a pleasure teaching you to drive and watching you overcome various hurdles many focused around the nerves and believe in yourself. Look what you have just proved to yourself, watch out world Zoe is on it.

Aaron sailing through his driving test for the first time with only 2 df. The early start was definitely worth while. A superb drive, displaying all of the elements Aaron worked so hard polishing to give him such an amazing result.
Well done, enjoy the freedom of getting to the surf spots in your own wheels.

April fools......not this time. George being the legend he is with a test right at the end of the day bags himself his licence with only 1 df 😲.

An absolutely brilliant drive. It's been a blast teaching George, endless laughs but listened to every word and with his attention to detail it clearly showed on test.
Perfect timing just before he heads off on holiday you lucky 🤬. Have the best time, celebrate in style, enjoy the wheels with no L Plates and I look forward to keeping up to date with Mr Stones adventures.

Well done sir

Rounding out the week with Oli earning himself his shiny new licence first time. A brilliant drive with only a handful of driver faults.
Well done it's been epic fun teaching you and I look forward to seeing the new whip take shape.

Next steps for changes to the driving test booking service
The rules for booking practical car driving tests are changing to make the system fairer. These changes are part of the outcome of our consultation to improve the way driving tests are booked.
Following the changes announced in January 2026 on limiting the number of times a test can be changed or swapped (from 31 March 2026), we’re now able to confirm the dates for the rest of the planned rule changes:
from 12 May 2026, only learners are allowed to book a test and make changes to their own booking
from 9 June 2026, learners can move their booked test only to nearby centres
Why we’re making these changes
We know this is a significant change for driving instructors.
Misuse of the booking system has made it harder for us to offer slots fairly. The consultation response to this change was split, with some of you feeling strongly that learners should have full control. Others felt just as strongly that instructors need flexibility to manage bookings effectively.
We've made a decision based on the evidence – our consultation found that the majority of learners wanted full control and we have acted to prioritise fairness for learners and tackle exploitation. But we recognise that reasonable professionals disagree on this and we respect that.
Introducing these changes means learners should only ever pay the actual fee DVSA charges.
From 12 May 2026: only learner drivers can book and manage their own test
From 12 May 2026, no-one other than learner drivers will be able to lawfully book or manage a car driving test.
This includes unofficial booking services and cancellation finder services. These services will no longer be able to book tests on behalf of learners and your pupils should not use them.
Any of your pupils who aren’t able to book via GOV.UK and need additional support will still be able to access test booking by calling DVSA’s customer service centre.
Learner declaration
Alongside this, from 12 May 2026, your pupils must confirm when they book or manage their test, that they:
are the learner who is going to take the test
agree to a new set of terms and conditions
This will be through a declaration box on the public online booking service on GOV.UK. Any bookings made through the DVSA customer service centre will need to agree to the terms verbally before making a booking.
Your pupils will not be able to book their test if they don’t do these things.
Changes to the online business service
So that learner drivers are in control of their own personal data, driving instructors and other third parties will no longer be allowed to use the online business service for car driving tests, to:
book tests
change tests
cancel tests
swap tests between pupils
From 9 June 2026: restricting the location tests can be moved to
From 9 June 2026, learners will be able to move a test to only the 3 nearest centres to wherever your pupil’s test is booked on that date.
Reminder on limiting number of times a test can be changed
We previously announced we would be reducing from 6 to 2 the number of times a learner driver can change their test. This change will come into force from 31 March 2026.

Some changes you need to know if you are planning your driving test from Spring onwards

📢 The rules for booking a practical car driving test are changing.

From 31 March 2026, learner drivers and approved driving instructors (ADIs) will only be able to change a driving test booking up to 2 times.

A change includes:
- changing the date or time
- changing the test centre
- swapping an appointment with another learner

If you’re an ADI, please make sure your pupils only book their test when they’re ready as swapping between pupils will count towards this limit. You can set times when you're available to take your pupils to their driving tests. This stops your pupils from booking tests at times that do not work for you.

👉 When this comes into force, everyone with a driving test booked will have 2 changes available, regardless of how many changes they may have already made.

This change is part of the outcome of our consultation to improve the way driving tests are booked.

For more information, visit: https://ow.ly/oqOW50Y849H