The Cost of driving lessons will rocket under a plan to cut the death toll of young drivers- but critics fear it might push youngsters into driving illegally.

The scheme to provide more rigorous training and testing for learners and instructors could see the cost of a typical course of lessons rise from £900 to £1500.

Ministers are set to propose a longer tuition period, during which learners will be tested on certain skills, such as motorway and night driving, before taking the main driving test.

Driving Instructors’ Association Chief Eddie Barnaville warns that the average fee for a one-hour lesson will rise from £22 to £32, adding: ‘If instructors are obliged to attain higher qualifications, they will almost certainly pass those costs on to the customer’.

Andrew Howard, AA head of road safety, said: ‘If learning to drive becomes too difficult and too expensive people will turn away and may take to the road without any proper training or qualification’. Every week in Britain 14 young drivers and their passengers are killed. Men aged 17 to 20 are almost ten times more likely to be killed or seriously injured, than men aged 40 to 59.

Parents, are your kids literally driving you round the bend by getting you to teach them to drive?

Do your best efforts end in blazing rows and even worse?

According to a new report there’s a good chance they do, because a third of parent-child driving lessons lead to misery.

Trouble is, 50% of parents feel they can’t say no to their youngsters’ pleas to take them out. And of those nearly half admit they’ve not done any preparation for teaching their children to drive.

A survey by driving school BSM shows that parents’ lack of confidence and poor knowledge puts relationships under strain. It can also seriously impair learner drivers’ development. The study called the “Reluctant Instructor” shows that:

A third of learners have had to swap places with their parents as a result of the tense atmosphere.

A quarter of parents have had to grab the car controls from their child.

One in five learners have had to pull over to the side of the road in order to avoid a dangerous situation.

A third of parents have lost their tempers, with arguments carrying over from driving lessons into the home.

One in 20 learners feel their relationship with their parents has worsened as a result.

Top psychologist and counsellor Dr Aric Sigman said "Teaching children to drive is one of the most challenging experiences of being a parent.
"Letting a teenager take control of the wheel can be an uncomfortable role reversal and requires an unprecedented level of trust."

The survey also shows that parents’ poor preparation can also make learners nervous – a third admit they make more mistakes than when out with their instructors. Mixed messages also cause problems, with a massive 75% of learners saying the advice of parents contradicts their instructors.
BSM road safety consultant Robin Cummins said: "As a father, I know how difficult and frustrating teaching teenagers can be.

"However, parents can play an invaluable role.

"A balanced mix of professional training and responsible private practice can significantly improve the chances of passing the test."