Increase in learner drivers taking automatic driving tests because of the surge of electric vehicles
The UK is witnessing a significant shift in the type of vehicles on its roads, with the number of automatic cars steadily increasing. According to data from Solera cap hpi, more and more drivers are opting for automatic vehicles, a trend that is expected to continue as the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars approaches in 2030.
Emma Bush, the managing director of the AA's driving school, has attributed this trend to the lower day-to-day running costs of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids. These vehicles offer fuel and maintenance savings that are increasingly attractive to drivers.
The DVSA's data shows that in 2023, 470,000 out of the 1.8 million driving tests taken across Britain were in automatics. However, it's important to note that drivers who pass their test in an automatic car are limited to a Category B Auto licence, which restricts them to automatic vehicles. To gain a full licence, drivers must pass their test in a manual car.
The rise in automatic cars is also reflected in the number of automatics on the road. More than 15.5 million automatic cars are now on the UK's roads, more than double the 7.1 million registered in 2014. This represents almost three in ten cars on British roads, a statistic that has risen by 118% between 2014 and 2024.
The Labour government, elected last year, has reinstated the 2030 deadline for banning new petrol and diesel sales, after former prime minister Rishi Sunak had pushed it back to 2035. This decision is likely to further propel the trend towards automatic and electric vehicles.
While electric models remain more expensive upfront than their petrol, diesel, or hybrid counterparts, the price gap is narrowing. This, combined with the significant fuel and maintenance savings, is drawing more and more drivers towards EVs and hybrids.
Ms Bush also noted that drivers and learners are 'becoming confident with the idea of their driving future being electric'. As the UK moves towards a more sustainable and electric future, the need to know how to drive a manual car is becoming 'irrelevant to many'.
However, it's worth mentioning that the driving school with the highest number of customers taking their driving test in an electric vehicle in Germany in 2023 is not publicly specified in available data.
In Northern Ireland, licences are issued separately, so the trends may differ from those in the rest of the UK.
In conclusion, the UK is experiencing a shift towards automatic and electric vehicles, a trend driven by lower running costs and the upcoming ban on new petrol and diesel sales. As the price gap between electric and traditional vehicles narrows, we can expect this trend to continue.
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