As, with many other 17 year olds, you want to get a provisional licence and learn to drive there are a few things you should do to keep you safe and legal. You can apply for your provisional driving licence three months before your 17th birthday or 16 if you are disabled and receiving mobility allowance. You will not be able to drive legally on public roads in the UK till you are 17, even if you receive your provisional licence before then. You can however start practising on private land as long as the site has a gate and is away from public roads.

Another good thing to check before you book your driving lessons is your eyes. You must make sure that you can read a number plate from about 5 car lengths away; if you cannot read it then you will need your eyes tested by an optician before learning to drive. If you already wear glasses or contact lenses you must wear them at all times when driving even if you do not need to wear them all the time.

When you are practicing driving in a car that is not a driving instructors you will need to display ‘L’ plates on the front and back of the vehicle (Wales requires ‘D’ plates instead); you must ensure that they can be seen by other drivers and pedestrians easily. The ‘L’ plates must be taken off or covered up if a fully qualified driver takes the wheel.

Once you have sorted these things out you can be safe in the knowledge that you are legal and safe to drive and start booking your driving lessons with a driving school in Newcastle, a driving school in Sunderland or one that’s local to you.