An Aviva study shows younger drivers are 17% more likely to pass their driving test the first time if they have had additional practice with their parents. By contrast, it revealed half of all young drivers who only had paid driving lessons took more than four attempts to pass their test.

Research also shows that more than a quarter of young drivers who did not practice driving with their parents had an accident that required an insurance claim within the first year of passing their driving test.

With young drivers accounting for more than two in five road deaths in the UK, Aviva has launched ‘The Road to Success’, a new online guide that calls on parents to help their children learn to drive.

Nigel Bartram, Aviva motoring expert said: “We appreciate that learning to drive can be a very stressful time for young drivers and parents alike. That’s why we have produced a free guide for parents to download so they can get useful tips and advice on how best to go about preparing their children for the open road.

“Our research shows that young drivers who gain valuable experience behind the wheel under the guidance of their parents are much more likely to pass their driving test first time around than those who only take paid for driving lessons.

“The more experience young drivers can accrue behind the wheel the better drivers they will be, especially if they are practising driving at night and driving in different weather conditions.”