16-year-olds can now legally drive small cars

Yes.
I was riding a motor bike to travel to work at age 16.
It has been well proven that the acident problem is not with age, but is always the first year regardless of what age you start or indeed what you start as.

I presume that driving these things will also appeal to a large number of people over seventeen who are not interested in taking [or capable of passing] a driving test or who cannot afford the insurance for a motor car – or is there some restriction not mentioned in the article? And what are the insurance implications?

Personally I’d rather see people driving these LQ’s on the roads at 28 mph max instead of the mobility scooters [at 8 mph] which seem to be very vulnerable with their tiny wheelbase, little wheels, and lack of protection

In all honesty – I am not happy about it because a great many ‘accidents’ by young people have little to do with the speed but simple poor driving – Ex if driver at 28mph making a mistake hits another car or m/cycle head on going 50 mph – resultant damage the same as hitting a brick wall at 78 mph. The only thing is if both are cars the human damage is probably lower. But I’m not hopeful especially in London..

I agree with Malcolm M, any new driver regardless of age should pass a basic skills test at an off road venue prior to being let loose on the roads, Although I am not against the use of these vehicles I would worry that some drivers would find it frustrating sitting behind them at 28 mph and attempt dangerous maneuvers to overtake.

The problem is that at 16 there can still be a huge difference in maturity. And what 16 year old can afford the insurance? So I’m not in favour of reducing the driving age.

All good points so far, but John Ward has spotted the key issue, which John’s article emphasizes: it’s a moped or these quadricycles – and it’s already the law whether we like it or not. As time goes by there will be more and cheaper quadricycles, but they will still be far more expensive both to buy and insure than the small 50cc motorcycles and scooters (legally, mopeds) which our 16-year-olds and others now ride in their millions.

But the quadricycles will be safer by far, by far than anything on two wheels: for the user, for passengers, for other road users and for pedestrians who may be in a collision with them. And as for the overtaking problem on roads with a speed limit over 30mph – well, how would you overtake a scooter? Or a farm tractor? Safely, I hope – whether in a hurry or not, and without crowding the slower vehicle off the road!

It has been decided that 16-year-olds can drive these ‘cars’, so we might as well wait and see what happens. Those who do drive them will be better prepared for driving ordinary cars.

I wonder if 16-year-olds will be able to afford the cost of these cars, even second-hand, including insurance and fuel. Mum and dad might have to make it a combined birthday and Christmas present.

Within a 30 mph limit note how many people are happy to stick to this speed.
Outside a 30 mph limit just think of the effect of these slow vehicles on impatient drivers. Overtaking a moped needs little space but these cars will require much more space (mobility scooters have already been mentioned) to overtake and then the traffic in the opposite direction becomes involved too. I regard the emergence of this new vehicle with much trepidation.

I think its a better idea than a youngster on a moped to be honest and a little safer, Where i live i always see young riders with there friends riding close together which always looks quite dangerous, I think they would feel more responsible having a car and when you take the cost into consideration i dont think they will be that keen on upsetting mum and dad! I hope this will be the way forward for younger drivers and hopefully bring down insurance costs to them too as they will have a little more driving experience building up some no claims too!

Note that they are often used in France by people who have lost their licence for drink driving. We could see the same happen here…

Does this provide a vehicle option to drivers who have lost their licence?

Hello I’ve bought my 16 yr old daughter a micro car I can not get it insured until her 17th birthday why? Also it’s says she can drive solo with L plates is this correct? plze help someone