Paige Williams is desperate to pass her driving test. Her three-year-old son sometimes has "meltdowns" on public transport, where he might scream, cry or throw himself on the floor, she says. She just wants to be able to visit family and go on day trips more easily. But the 28-year-old single mum, from Barnsley, is having to drastically cut back on how much she spends on food, gas and electricity to be able to afford her £35-an-hour lessons, which she's been having since September. "It's literally scrimping and scraping to be able to manage to get one lesson a week," she says. As the cost of driving lessons continues to rise alongside an already high cost of living, experiences like Paige's may be becoming increasingly common. The BBC has spoken to more than a dozen learners and parents of learners who say they're frustrated by how much they have to pay - and also to instructors who argue that the prices are justified. Driving instructors can charge what they like, and the DVSA does not release official statistics on average lesson costs. But aDVSA surveycompleted by more than 5,000 approved driving instructors (ADIs) in September shows how prices have shot up in recent years. In the survey, the most common price bracket for an hour lesson was £36 to £40 per hour. Just 31.5% of driving instructors said they charged £35 or less per hour - that number had halved since the DVSA's June 2023 survey. While 20.8% said they charged more than £40 an hour - nearly triple as many as in June 2023. For many people, driving is essential for taking their kids to school, going to work or carrying out caring responsibilities. Public transport might be unaffordable, inaccessible or simply not available for some people. Two-thirds of people in Great Britain who commute to work drive in, and 45% of five-to-10 year olds are taken to school by car,Department for Transport figuresfrom 2023 show. Faustina Kamara, a 23-year-old in Birmingham, needs a licence for her dream job - being a runner in the media industry. But the £60 cost of her two-hour driving lessons means she's only having them once a fortnight, which isn't as frequently as she'd like, and means it will delay when she can take her test. She says she'd love to have lessons weekly but it would mean she'd have to cut back on spending money seeing her friends. Other people also say that the high cost of driving lessons means it's taking them longer to learn to drive. Rather than having the two lessons a week she would have liked, Sandra Onuora, a 30-year-old civil servant in Newcastle, had three per month until she passed her test in March. "That was all I could afford," she says. And even then, "I had to take a lot of money from my savings" for her £39-an-hour lessons, she adds. Because she had to space out her lessons more, she had to wait longer until she felt ready to take her test. She'd spend hours every week travelling between her home, her son's childminder's and her office, taking six buses every weekday. "It was a rough year," says Sandra. She would return home "so exhausted". And just as driving lessons become more expensive, some learners are also finding they're having to take more of them. That's because of ahuge practical test backlog, which means learners are having totake lessons for longerto keep up their skills. Keith Rose hasn't been able to book a driving test near where he lives in Bridgwater, Somerset, for his 17-year-old son, Brandon. The best option he could find is an hour's drive away in Newport, Wales, and isn't until September. Keith says that his son is ready to take his test, but will need to keep taking lessons at a cost of £76 for a two-hour session to maintain his skills. "We're being forced into spending money that we don't need to," Keith says. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has acknowledged that waiting times for tests are too long andpledged to reduce the average waiting timefor a driving test to no more than seven weeks by summer 2026. Instructors say that they have little choice but to charge these kind of rates if they want to make a profit. "Prices for driving lessons are where they should be, having been probably under-priced for many years," says Stewart Lochrie, the owner of a driving school in Glasgow and chair of the Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council (ADINJ). "I think the price was overdue a reset." Stewart notes that the UK's more than 41,000 approved driving instructors are having to pay more for the expenses associated with their jobs like buying or leasing a car, fuel, insurance and maintenance. "We have costs to cover as well and if the things that we need to run our business go up, then our prices will have to go up as well," he says. The rising price of lessons "isn't really translating to a pay increase in our pockets," adds Terry Edwards, a driving instructor in Ashford, Kent. His expenses include around £280 a month on fuel, £135 on insurance and £440 on car payments. Other costs include servicing, repairing and cleaning his car. Terry charges £39 an hour, but offers a discount for buying in bulk. While customers "don't generally push back" against his prices, some "try and be a bit cheeky" and ask for discounts, he says. For Amy Burnett, a pharmacy advisor in Glasgow, the prices are so high that she's avoiding learning for the time being. The only instructors she'd found with availability charge between £50 and £60 an hour, she says. "I'm living pay cheque to pay cheque as it is," the 22-year-old says. But she sees being able to drive as an investment in her future - she'd have more freedom and she's had to limit her previous job searches to roles accessible by public transport, she says. Amy hopes to pass her test by the time she's 24 - if she can find a more affordable instructor with availability in her area, she says. Paige, the mum in Barnsley, is sure her frugality will be worth it in the end. Being able to drive would make it much easier for her to return to work, she says. And it would make journeys with her son much less stressful, she says. Most of all, she wants to take her two children to the seaside. "It'd be so good for my son Ronald, with his sensory needs," Paige says. "Getting to go on the little arcade rides and seeing his little face would be lovely."
Driving instructors say rising prices are fair - but learners can't keep up
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Rising Driving Lesson Costs Strain Learners Amid Cost of Living Crisis"
Bbc News
7.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Paige Williams, a 28-year-old single mother from Barnsley, is struggling to afford driving lessons as the costs continue to rise amid an already challenging cost of living. With her three-year-old son experiencing difficulties on public transport, she is eager to pass her driving test to improve her family's mobility. However, the £35-an-hour lessons she has been taking since September have forced her to cut back drastically on essentials like food and utilities to maintain just one lesson a week. This scenario is not unique to Paige, as many learners across Great Britain are expressing frustration over the escalating costs of driving lessons. A recent survey conducted by the DVSA revealed that most driving instructors are now charging between £36 to £40 per hour, with a significant increase in those charging over £40 since earlier in the year. For many, obtaining a driving license is crucial for daily activities such as commuting to work and taking children to school, making the cost of lessons a pressing concern for families in need of reliable transportation.
The rising prices of driving lessons have created additional challenges for learners who are already facing delays in scheduling practical driving tests due to a backlog. For instance, Keith Rose is struggling to secure a test for his son, forcing them to invest in ongoing lessons to maintain their driving skills. While instructors justify the price hikes by citing increased operating costs, many learners are left feeling financially strained. The Transport Secretary has acknowledged the long waiting times for driving tests and has committed to reducing the average wait to seven weeks by summer 2026. Driving instructors, like Stewart Lochrie and Terry Edwards, argue that the current prices reflect the necessary adjustments to cover their business expenses, but this has not alleviated the burden on learners. As individuals like Paige and Amy Burnett contemplate the long-term benefits of driving, they face the immediate challenge of affording lessons, highlighting a significant divide between the necessity of driving and the financial means to achieve it.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article highlights the challenges faced by driving learners, particularly in the context of rising lesson costs amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Personal stories, like that of Paige Williams, illustrate the sacrifices individuals are making to afford driving lessons, which are increasingly out of reach for many. The narrative suggests a growing disconnect between the financial realities of learners and the justifications provided by driving instructors for their price increases.
Economic Context and Rising Costs
The surge in driving lesson prices is presented as a significant barrier for learners. A survey indicates that the majority of driving instructors are now charging between £36 to £40 per hour, with a notable increase in those charging over £40. This pricing trend reflects broader economic pressures, including inflation and increasing living costs, which may resonate with a wide audience experiencing similar struggles in various sectors of life.
Learner Experiences
The accounts of learners like Paige and Faustina Kamara reveal how essential driving licenses are for day-to-day responsibilities, such as commuting to work and caring for children. Their frustrations underscore a societal issue where access to basic services, like driving education, becomes a privilege rather than a right. This narrative could evoke empathy among readers, particularly those in similar situations, fostering a sense of community around shared challenges.
Instructor Justifications
While the article presents the learners' struggles, it also provides a platform for driving instructors to explain their pricing. This dual perspective aims to present a balanced view of the situation, although it may unintentionally alienate learners who feel their financial struggles are not adequately acknowledged.
Potential Public Sentiment and Response
The combination of personal stories and statistical data could galvanize public sentiment against rising costs in essential services. As more individuals identify with the plight of learners, it may lead to calls for regulatory changes or increased support for driving education, potentially influencing policies related to transportation and education.
Impact on Communities and Other Sectors
The narrative resonates particularly with single parents and lower-income families, who may find themselves disproportionately affected by these rising costs. This article could foster discussions in community forums, social media, and among policymakers about the affordability of essential services in the context of broader economic challenges.
Possible Market Implications
While the article focuses more on personal and societal issues, sustained public discourse around the affordability of driving lessons could lead to changes in the driving education market. This might impact driving schools and related businesses, particularly if there is a push for more accessible pricing structures.
Relevance to Current Issues
The article ties into larger themes of economic disparity and the accessibility of education and essential services. These issues are highly relevant in today's socio-political climate, where many are advocating for fairness and accessibility in various sectors.
Use of AI in Writing
There is no clear indication that artificial intelligence was directly involved in crafting this article. However, if AI were used, it might have influenced the structure or language to enhance readability or engagement. The overall tone and relational dynamics between learners and instructors seem to favor human storytelling, focusing on emotional resonance rather than algorithmic efficiency.
Conclusion
The article effectively highlights the growing disparity between driving lesson costs and the financial capabilities of learners. While it provides a platform for both the struggles of individuals and the justifications of instructors, it also invites broader discussions about accessibility and fairness in essential services. The reliability of this report seems solid, as it combines personal stories with survey data, though it may lean towards evoking empathy for learners without deeply critiquing the economic structures at play.