MAGAZINE: 80 years since driving tests were introduced in the UK

In 1935, a Mr Beene of Kensington became the first person to pass the driving test, paying 37p in today’s money to take it.
Driving test anniversaryDriving test anniversary
Driving test anniversary

80 years on and a lot has changed on British roads with the number of cars soaring from only around 2 million back then to 27 million vehicles on the road in 2015.

According to a new report by Saga Motor Insurance, it’s now the over 50s who account for nearly half of all motor transport spending, spending £42.4 billion in 2014 and clocking up 7,270 miles a year.

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Furthermore, during the last decade the number of people in their 60s and 70s who hold licences has increased much faster than all age groups combined, with a big surge in car ownership of the over 70s.

So what else has changed since Mr Beene’s test? Watch the video to find out.