Motorists have “lost respect” for learner drivers, according to a driving instructor who says frustration and aggressive behaviour on the roads are becoming increasingly common.
Mike Nunn, 53, who teaches in Lincoln, said incidents of impatience, close following and unsafe overtaking have become routine during lessons. He believes standards have declined in recent years, particularly since the Covid-19 lockdowns.
One of his former pupils, Louis Clayton, 27, from Scampton near Lincoln, recently passed his test and described feeling “the jitters” while learning due to the behaviour of other motorists.
Pressure Behind the Wheel
Nunn said tailgating and overtaking in inappropriate places regularly place learners under pressure. In some cases, he warned, it can lead to students making decisions they would not otherwise take.
“It can make them act in ways that wouldn’t normally be safe because they feel pressured,” he explained.
On one occasion, while teaching a pupil, a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction collided with his car during what he described as a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. The other driver failed to stop.
“It was a hit and run,” he said. “If that doesn’t show a drop in standards, I don’t know what does.”
He suggested that periodic retesting could help reinforce standards, adding that driving should be regarded as a privilege rather than a right.
Learners Feeling the Strain
Clayton began lessons around a decade ago before taking a break, eventually passing his test on his first attempt earlier this month. Over that period, he said he noticed a change in attitudes from other drivers.
He described frequent tailgating and recalled one incident where a motorist repeatedly sounded their horn and shouted while he was attempting a hill start.
“I’ve found that people have become more impatient,” he said. “If you have a bad enough experience, it can really strike fear into you.”
Collision Figures Raise Concern
According to the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, there were 329 collisions resulting in serious injuries on Lincolnshire’s roads in 2025, up from 310 the previous year. Fatal incidents fell from 51 to 37 over the same period.
Simon Outen-Coe, from the partnership, urged motorists to reflect on their own conduct.
“We need to avoid distractions, be patient and concentrate,” he said. “We must look honestly at ourselves as road users and recognise the personal responsibility we all carry.”
The Psychology of Blame
Dr Nathan Heflick, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Lincoln, said research shows people often instinctively blame others for mistakes made on the road.
When drivers err themselves, he explained, they are more likely to attribute it to external factors such as stress or weather conditions, protecting their self-esteem and perpetuating a cycle of feeling blameless.
Legal and Insurance Considerations
Malcolm Tarling, who has nearly four decades of experience in the insurance sector and previously worked with the Association of British Insurers, advised drivers to remain calm following a collision.
While politeness is important, he cautioned against immediately admitting fault at the roadside.
“You can be calm and polite,” he said, “but that is not the same as accepting responsibility.”
Insp Jason Baxter of Lincolnshire Police said road rage itself is not a specific offence, but behaviour arising from it can quickly become criminal.
“It could easily escalate into a public order offence or even an assault,” he warned.
He encouraged motorists who capture footage of dangerous driving to submit it through the force’s Operation Snap portal, which can lead to prosecution where appropriate.
Nick Freeman Comments
Learner drivers are not the real problem. They are but one small piece of the huge frustration drivers face every journey they make. They have to navigate appalling pot hole ridden road surfaces ; have the patience of Job to deal with the numerous lane hoggers ; congestion is getting worse as every day goes by and a free stretch of road is often governed by a speed below the national speed limit and for no good reason. Factor in unreliable and inaccurate information on our “ smart motorways “ , and then work out the spiralling cost of participating in this road traffic debacle. Little wonder every motorist should probably have a therapist in the passenger seat!
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