‘I’m a car expert – 15-year-olds drivers will lead to widespread law changes’

New driving law proposals which could see 15 and 16-year-olds allowed on British roads have been called out by a classic car expert. 

Wayne Scott, spokesperson for the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs’ said the scheme would force decades-old rules to be ripped up to cater for younger motorists. 

He insisted the scheme wouldn’t help the motor industry and could risk a surge in illegal driving. 

The warning comes as campaigners close in on a historic Parliament debate with over 94,000 people now lending their support to an online poll. 

Mr Scott told Classic Car Weekly: “The federation and its clubs are always keen on any opportunity to get young people into historic vehicles but there’s no indication that this is aimed at that goal, nor that it will actually help at all. 

READ MORE ‘Nonsense’ plan to let 15-year-olds drive takes step closer to Parliament debate

“Furthermore, other laws will have to be changed to accommodate it. For example, you can’t legally buy petrol until you’re 16. 

“You also don’t qualify for minimum wage nor can you enter full-time employment until 16 – so how are these children supposed to buy and run a car? You cannot apply for finance to buy a car at that age either. 

“Then there is the difficulty of insurance and the risk profile of having a child at the wheel of a car will likely create an impossibly high premium that would prevent any 15-year-old ever affording insurance, risking an increase in non-insured drivers on our roads.”

Campaigners said the current system which usually only lets youngsters start driving at 17 was “unfair”.

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They even suggested the rule was “inconsistent” with the Equality Act as they called for a widespread drop by at least one or two years. 

Last month, the Department for Transport reacted to the demands but officials shot down the requests. 

They claimed 17-24-year-olds remain one of the “highest road casualty risk groups” with males most affected.

Last year, the rate of killed and seriously injured (KSI) casualties per billion miles was a whopping four times higher for male car drivers between 17 and 24 than all motorists aged over 25.

They added: “The Government has no current plans to lower the legal driving age. This is because young drivers remain as one of the highest fatality groups.

“The Government is committed to improving the safety of all road users, especially young drivers who are at a greater risk of being involved in a collision. Decisions on the minimum driving age requirements have been taken and maintained based on years of detailed evidence. 

“The Government considers that the current minimum driving age requirements for obtaining a driving licence are consistent with the Equality Act 2010 as they can be objectively justified for the reasons set out below.”

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