Driving safety

Learning to drive is an exciting time. Being able to drive opens up opportunities to travel and for work, but it's important to drive safely.

Crucial: Getting a lift can feel safer than driving, but passengers may also be at risk. Always make sure the person driving has a current driving license and is okay to drive, for example: has not been drinking or taking drugs.

Learning to drive

When you are sixteen you can learn to drive a moped, and when you are seventeen you can learn to drive a car. You can apply for your license three months before your sixteenth or seventeenth birthday.

To get your first provisional driving license online for a car, motorcycle or moped you need to:

1. Go to www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence
2. Fill in the online form
3. Pay the fee

You then need to learn to drive, and pass your driving test.

Crucial: Want to get started on learning to drive right away? Companies like Young Driver offer experiences and lessons to people as young as eleven.

Driving with a disability

Many people with disabilities find driving can help their mobility. 

If you have a disability, and are old enough to drive, the Regional Driving Assessment Centre can help. They provide specialist driving instructors, and occupational therapists to assess capability. 

Alternatives to driving

For some people in Oxfordshire driving may not be the best choice. There are lots of alternatives like:

• Active travel
• Cycling
• Public transport 

What works best for you and your travel needs may change during your lifetime. But everyone can learn ways to travel that meet their needs.