Covid crisis leads to learner-driver jitters

PANDEMIC anxiety is seriously impacting younger learner drivers as they take to the road for the first time, according to a study.

The survey by L-plate motorist insurance specialist Veygo found 36 per cent of UK learners between the ages of 16 and 30 reported feeling more nervous during their lessons as a direct result of the Covid crisis.

And 44 per cent of young drivers who failed a test in the last 18 months said stress directly contributed to their result.Moreover, 38 per cent of learners said that measures such as wearing a mask and having windows open was having an effect on how quickly they learn to drive.Some 28 per cent said the Covid rules made them feel anxious, 22 per cent claimed they affected the quality of their driving and 21 per cent found them distracting.Meanwhile, 24 per cent were also nervous about being in close contact with someone outside their household.The number of driving tests taken is also massively down, with about 693,000 taking place between April and December last year, as opposed to 1.2million in the same period in 2019.But there are positives – the pass rate is up on pre-pandemic levels, standing at 51 per cent for the period from April 2021 to now, compared with 46 per cent during the year from April 2019 to the end of March 2020.That may be partly down to spending more time at the wheel – 44 per cent of those surveyed said they practised driving with a relative as well as an instructor.And the test centres with the highest pass rates in the UK from April 2021 to date are all in Scotland, with Mallaig topping the tables with a 93 per cent success rate.

That’s followed by Mull (87 per cent), Ballater (86), Islay and Crieff (both 84).Veygo’s David Roberts said: “Passing your test is