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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Driving on a business park at 16?

34 replies

Hairydogmummy · 07/11/2020 20:26

My ExH took our son who is 17 next Sat to drive around a business park near his house. Most if not all offices were closed but I think it was highly irresponsible. If security had called police or something had happened DS could have been in big trouble.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 07/11/2020 20:28

Oh dear, that's not good. It would have been ExH in big trouble though surely? Has DS got his provisional licence and insurance ready for next week?

Brainwave89 · 07/11/2020 21:09

Used to find a lonely and deserted car park when my kids were first learning to drive, but they would have been insured at the time.

1Morewineplease · 07/11/2020 21:11

If your son is 16 then it's illegal. You need to be 17 to get a provisional licence.

WeakAsIAm · 07/11/2020 21:15

Only driving on a public highway requires insurance & a driving licence.
Sounds like DS had a bit of harmless fun, no harm done relax.

Mycircusmymonkey · 07/11/2020 21:15

It’s not private land as it’s considered accessible to the public (like a supermarket car park) so yes they were breaking the law

Sparklingbrook · 07/11/2020 21:15

DS2 had a few lessons with an Under 17 driving school at an airfield. It wasn't cheap but well worth it as when he had his first official lesson he already knew the basics.

Sparklingbrook · 07/11/2020 21:16

@WeakAsIAm

Only driving on a public highway requires insurance & a driving licence.
Sounds like DS had a bit of harmless fun, no harm done relax.

Business parks around here are on public highways.

Smellbellina · 07/11/2020 21:16

I don’t think he would be in trouble so much as your ex

LaurieFairyCake · 07/11/2020 21:18

It would be exes problem not the kids

I can't get worked up about this crime, where I grew up we all learned to drive on abandoned air fields/farms

Ponoka7 · 07/11/2020 21:18

I'd say it's something that a lot of people do. He wouldn't have been in 'big trouble' . Have you seen the pathetic sentences given for really dangerous driving? The security would have flagged them down and asked them to stop.

How much of a fuss are you making of this?

megletthesecond · 07/11/2020 21:19

This is what we did in the 80's before Sunday shopping, everywhere was empty. Dad used to let us slowly drive round while guiding the steering wheel. I would have been about 12+.

Sparklingbrook · 07/11/2020 21:19

Kettledodger · 07/11/2020 21:20

No you don't need to be 17 for a provisional license. You are able to apply at 15 and nine months to get it at 16. You can drive a moped at 16 as long as you do CBT (compulsory basic training)

Original poster

Hairydogmummy · 07/11/2020 21:20

Hopefully he won't do it again. He's got his provisional and insurance ready but obviously doesn't kick in till next week when he's 17. He's done a lot of the young drivers lessons. I guess they both would have been in trouble if they had been caught. I also don't get why he didn't wait to give him the car till next weekend and then go and practice down there. I'm pretty sure it's public roads apart from the car parks not that it would have helped I don't think if something happened.

OP posts:

Lazypuppy · 07/11/2020 21:21

Thats how i learnt to drive at the start, thought most people did.

OP i don't understand why you are so angry

keeprocking · 07/11/2020 21:23

@Brainwave89

Used to find a lonely and deserted car park when my kids were first learning to drive, but they would have been insured at the time.

DIdn't we all, of a certain pre-24 hour shopping age, start in the Asda car park, other supermarkets were available? They even painted nice white lines to help Ours started at about 15 on private land like that, OH said that even older people started on deserted airfileds! It allowed the new driver to master the clutch, practice steering and general control before they were let lose on the road. Sometimes I cringe when learners are crawling along a busy main road.

Sparklingbrook · 07/11/2020 21:23

Anyone that takes a teenager out for driving practice needs nerves of steel, I definitely wouldn't have wanted to do it any sooner than was legal.

Original poster

Hairydogmummy · 07/11/2020 21:24

@Ponoka7 I've not made a fuss at all. I've not said anything to the ex and just said I didn't approve to my son. It's right opposite a huge supermarket which would have been busy and on the edge of the house by estate he lives on so not like a deserted area at all.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hairydogmummy · 07/11/2020 21:25

I'm not @Lazypuppy just a little concerned.

OP posts:

GreasyFryUp · 07/11/2020 22:09

School playground here. 30 years ago. Not all secure like these days. First lesson just turned 16. Stop worrying.

Nicketynac · 07/11/2020 22:35

We were discussing something similar in work recently. Colleague's relative sat and passed his test a few days before his 17th but couldn't send away for license until he turned 17. He had been out driving with his parents since getting his provisional at 16 and my colleague refused to believe it was wrong. Only exemption we could find was that having certain disabilities allow you to learn sooner.
I was surprised he was allowed to sit the test.

Scarby9 · 07/11/2020 22:49

I started driving at around 14 or 15 on the old airfield between us and my grandparents' house, having steered the car along their farm drive since the age of 8 or so.
The airfield was great - shared with other learners and lots of model aeroplanes. Loads of flat open concrete.
About 20 years ago they put up barriers to stop you driving in. We always chant, 'It's 'elf 'n' safety gorn maaaad, I tell ye' when we drive past. Happy days!
But no, even in those far off , less safety conscious days, we would not have been allowed behind the wheel on a public road.

yelyah22 · 08/11/2020 00:43

Business parks are still roads, so if he'd been caught he'd have lost his licence, so I can see why you're concerned.

Having said that, I used to drive my friend's £200 ancient Fiesta round his village at 16 without a care in the world so at least he's doing it under adult supervision!

PegasusReturns · 08/11/2020 00:49

It’s illegal because business parks (and virtually all private spaces which can be accessed by the public) are deemed public highways and therefore the RTA applies.

If DS had been caught he’d have been prosecuted for driving without a license and insurance. These are easy prosecutions for the police as they’re largely administrative so they almost always proceed.

DS would have lost his license meaning he would be delayed in getting a license and more importantly he’d never be able to afford insurance, making driving lawfully in the future virtually impossible.

I’d be very cross.

Bwlch · 08/11/2020 00:57

Only driving on a public highway requires insurance & a driving licence.
Sounds like DS had a bit of harmless fun, no harm done relax.

Having read this, I wouldn't...

"I drove my 16 year old son to an industrial estate at 4.30pm on a Sunday afternoon and I let him practice a 3 point turn and reverse corner in my car with me sitting beside him. The police turned up and questioned us then impounded my car and have given my son a driving with no insurance form and told me him that he will go to court."

www.pattersonlaw.co.uk/faqs/teaching-son-drive-industrial-estate/

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