Whilst you do not necessarily need to use a dual control car for your driving test, most instructors will buy or hire one, because doing so helps to ensure the safety of the learner driver, the instructor and other road users.
There are a lot of rules when it comes to using a car for a driving test, but nothing is stopping you from using your own car as long as it meets these guidelines, and you do not have to modify it to add dual controls in these circumstances.
If that is the case, however, why are they used for driving lessons and tests, and why should you strongly consider using a dedicated instructor’s or examination car fitted with these dual pedals?
To explain why, it is important to explain what dual control is, why instructors use it, and how it keeps other road users safe but also equips you with the confidence and support to do your best to pass your test.
What Is A Dual Control Car?
A dual control car is a vehicle fitted with an additional set of pedals typically located in the passenger-side footwell. For automatic cars, this will be an additional brake pedal, whilst an additional clutch pedal is installed in manual cars.
They are typically used by driving instructors as a way to immediately take control of a situation where they lose control of the vehicle or otherwise cannot safely control the car, stopping or at least significantly reducing the likelihood or impact of a crash.
Whilst almost always used for safety reasons, there are also practical ways they can help a new or very nervous driver, such as by helping them to practice changing gears by managing the clutch, although this should be used sparingly.
Dual control pedals tend to take one of two forms:
- Static – The pedals do not move in relation to the learner driver and act independently
- Passive – The pedals move in sync with the standard driving controls, allowing instructors to feel how the driver is using the car
Who Invented The Dual Control Car?
The inventor of the dual control car was believed to be the Central Motor Institute, a company owned by Colonel Harold Atherton, one of the founders of the Motor Schools Association in 1935.
This development coincided with the introduction of the formal driving test in 1935, and according to the Driver Education Research Foundation, one of the primary goals of the MSA was to mandate or strongly encourage the use of dual control cars by driving instructors.
The reason for this was not just based on the safety credentials; Colonel Atherton just so happened to own a company that made dual controls and wanted to use his leverage to push for their use to increase sales.
Whilst done for far from altruistic reasons, Colonel Atherton’s intentions ultimately were not only broadly successful but helped to keep drivers safer and feeling more confident.
Do You Legally Have To Learn In A Dual Control Car?
For some lessons, it is legally required for approved driving instructors (ADIs), but even with those use cases notwithstanding, ADIs and learner drivers alike often prefer them to be there rather than not.
Specifically, following a 2018 law change, learner drivers can learn to drive on the motorway if and only if:
- They are accompanied by an ADI
- They are driving a dual control car
Outside of this, you can theoretically learn to drive or practice with a friend or family member in any car of the type you want to learn in, which can include personal cars or ones without dual controls.
In general, however, ADIs and trainee instructors tend to prefer using dual control cars for safety reasons and to help improve the efficacy of their lessons.
Can Any Car Become A Dual Control Car?
Most dual control cars are hired from a specialist, but there are adaptable systems of dual control pedals that can be adjusted to fit in most cars with at least two seats.
Because the dual control system fits in the passenger footwell, the biggest determining factor for the suitability of a dual control car will be the amount of space on the passenger’s side, although other design features or strange pedal positions can make installation more complex.
In either case, dual controls need to be professionally installed into a car and reported to insurers as a legal modification.
The small hatchbacks typically used by approved driving instructors are often ideal to be fitted with dual controls due to the space in the passenger footwell.
Why Do Instructors Use Dual Control Cars?
Aside from legally requiring them to teach a learner driver on the motorway, dual control cars are often a vital tool ADIs use to ensure that their learner drivers stay safe at all times and that the instructor can take control of an out-of-control vehicle.
They can also help with complex driving situations such as hill starts in a manual vehicle, where a learner driver may struggle with the order of switching gears and effectively managing the clutch without stalling the car.
Whilst this is not always necessary and some drivers learn quickly enough, some people need more hands-on help, and instructors can directly intervene to build the foundations for safer driving down the road.
As well as this, driving instructors are often trained to be acutely aware of the conditions around them, and having access to driving controls can help them to intervene in dangerous situations where instant action is required.
How Do Dual Control Cars Help Learner Drivers?
Dual control cars should be treated like stabilisers on a bicycle; they are there to help you feel safe but should not be relied upon long term.
Learner drivers get the most benefit from dual controls when an instructor explains why they are used, what would have happened if they had not intervened, and what they can do to avoid the same situation in the future.
This can help give learner drivers peace of mind and slowly build their confidence before letting them transition to a more independent approach to learning.