A recent study has unveiled the regions in the UK showing the most interest in learning to drive, with Manchester emerging as the top contender.
The assessment conducted by insurance specialists at Howden Insurance combined government data on the number of provisional licenses in various areas with Google search trends for terms related to learner drivers. This resulted in the creation of an index ranking the UK areas with the highest interest in learning to drive.
The findings indicate that Manchester is leading the pack as the city in the UK with the most interest in learning to drive, earning a score of 16.86 out of 20 points. With over 39,912 provisional licenses per 100,000 residents, Manchester boasts the second-highest number of provisional license holders in the UK, equivalent to approximately one-third of the city’s population.
Wigan follows closely in second place with a score of 15.62, holding the third-highest number of provisional license holders in the UK at 39,729 per 100,000 residents, making up around 40% of the town’s populace.
Birmingham secures the third spot with a score of 15.01, garnering the highest number of Google searches related to learner driving in the UK. The city’s focus on terms like ‘driving test booking’ and ‘driving instructor near me’ accounts for nearly half of all searches.
Reading and Salisbury claim the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with strong interest shown in learning to drive through high numbers of provisional license holders and Google searches related to driving.
The UK areas most interested in learning to drive
Liverpool, Norwich, Lincoln, Coventry, and Mansfield also make it to the top ten list, showcasing significant interest in learning to drive.
Reflecting on the analysis, a spokesperson from Howden Insurance highlighted intriguing trends in urban mobility and infrastructure based on the varying interest levels in driving across different cities in the UK.