Learning to drive has become a rite of passage for 17 year olds in this country. For the teenager it can either be exciting or unnerving – and for parents it is not only expensive but can also be stressful.

But now a new independent information portal for learner drivers and their families, partners and friends has just gone live.  Access is free at http://FirstTimeDriver.info

FirstTimeDriver.info is designed to help learner drivers get started, and features a driving school finder; tips and tools to get through the tests; plus a comprehensive guide to learner and first timer driver insurance.

The site also has its own useful ‘how to’ guides in addition to links to the best of what’s on the Web, including a YouTube channel of videos and its own Q&A community, ‘FirstTimeDriver Answers’ - all integrating with Facebook and Twitter.

Meanwhile, Paul Atkinson, a co-founder of the What Car? Driving School, has warned:  “There are approximately 5,000 partly-qualified instructors teaching right now, which means they are learning on the job.  It’s ludicrous that they can conduct lessons and charge the same rate as a fully-qualified instructor without formally disclosing their status.

“The easy way to tell if your instructor is fully-qualified is by the colour of their windscreen badge.  Part-qualified instructors should display a pink triangular badge whereas the fully-qualified display a green octagonal badge.  We’re going to lobby for changes to the system, but change takes time. In the meantime, we strongly recommend that learners ask if their instructor is a learner, too.”

A recent What Car? poll revealed that most people expect driving instructors to be fully qualified.