Millions of motorists could be in favour of lowering the legal driving age, which could see thousands of new drivers hit the road.
New research has shown that more than a quarter of drivers (28 per cent) would support lowering the legal driving age.
Almost half of the people surveyed said that young motorists learning to drive at an earlier age would be more responsible behind the wheel.
More than two in five said it would also be a benefit to allow young people more time to learn before reaching adulthood.
Northern Ireland is set to introduce new measures requiring prospective motorists to have a minimum six-month learning period before they can take their test.
Other common reasons in favour of lowering the legal age include giving young people greater independence (35 per cent) and the argument that the current system does not prepare learners (32 per cent).
Opinions differ for parents with younger children, with just 34 per cent saying they would be happy for their children to hit the road at an earlier age.
The majority, 55 per cent, said they preferred for their children to wait to drive until they turn the current legal age.
Many motorists are in support of lowering the legal driving age
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PA
Tom Banks, motoring spokesperson at Go.Compare, said it was “clear” that many parents can see the benefits of allowing young people to learn how to drive.
He noted that young drivers would be helped by “building responsibility and confidence over time” while they learn how to be safe on the road.
Despite this, more than one-third of survey respondents said they thought 18 was the most appropriate age for someone to get behind the wheel.
This indicates support for raising the legal driving age, currently set at 17, although people can apply for a provisional licence at 15 years and nine months.
Britons are able to apply for a provisional driving licence once they turn 15 years and nine months old
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PAMr Banks continued, saying: “However, the hesitation around early exposure shows that safety remains a top priority.
“While a significant chunk of parents would support a younger age limit, our figures indicate that the majority wouldn’t be ready to see rules change just yet.”
When learning how to drive, the vehicle must display an L plate the whole time, drivers must be supervised by a suitable adult, and they must have a provisional licence.
Some rules differ across the UK, including speed limits, with learners restricted to 45 miles per hour in Northern Ireland.
Minister Liz Kimmins alongside students at Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen, who learnt about Graduated Driver Licences
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DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURENorthern Ireland will soon introduce Graduated Driving Licences, which place fresh restrictions on learner motorists before they can get their licence.
Measures will include a mandatory minimum learning period of six months, nighttime driving rules, a programme of training and the requirement to display a distinguishing mark on the car for two years after receiving a full licence.
The Department for Infrastructure stated that the measures will be introduced to crack down on road safety incidents involving younger people.
Data from the DfI shows that 164 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions where a driver between 17 and 23 was responsible in 2024.